Ying Zhang, PhD, Professor
School of Resource and Environment
Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, China
Email: zhangying_neau@163.com
Phone: +86-451-55190030
Address: 600 Changjiang Road, Xiangfang District, Harbin 150030, China
Bio
Professor Ying Zhang is a distinguished scholar in environmental science and engineering. She received her PhD in Environmental Engineering from Harbin Institute of Technology and has extensive postdoctoral experience at the University of California, Berkeley and the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. She holds the prestigious title of National Distinguished Professor (Changjiang Scholar) and is a recipient of the National Outstanding Youth Science Fund. She has been honored with the National "Hundred, Thousand, and Ten Thousand Talents Project" as a Young and Middle-aged Expert with Outstanding Contributions, the Heilongjiang May Day Labor Medal, and the National Excellent Teacher award. She has published over 528 papers in top-tier environmental journals. She holds 25 authorized invention patents and has edited/co-edited 12 textbooks. Her research has earned 13 scientific awards, including the First Prize of Heilongjiang Provincial Science and Technology Award and the Second Prize of the National Environmental Protection Science and Technology Award.
Research Interests
Environmental protection and remediation; Soil pollution and bioremediation; Biochar and black soil health; Organic pollutant ecotoxicology; Water treatment and resource recovery
Education
· Ph.D. in Environmental Engineering , Harbin Institute of Technology, China (2002)
· M.Sc. in Soil and Groundwater , Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel (2006)
· M.Sc. in Agricultural Ecology , Northeast Agricultural University, China (1997)
· B.Sc. in Soil and Plant Nutrition , Northeast Agricultural University, China (1994)
Professional Experience
· Dean, Professor & PhD Supervisor , School of Resource and Environment, Northeast Agricultural University (2009–2024)
· Postdoctoral Fellow , University of California, Berkeley, USA (2006–2007)
· Postdoctoral Fellow , Harbin Institute of Technology, China (2002–2005)
· Associate Professor , Northeast Agricultural University (2002–2005)
· Lecturer , Northeast Agricultural University (1999–2002)
· Visiting Scholar – National Institute for Environmental Studies (Japan) & Seoul National University of Science and Technology (Korea, 2004); Chinese University of Hong Kong (2008); Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine (Japan, 2008); Hebrew University of Jerusalem & Czech University of Life Sciences (2009); California Polytechnic State University (USA, 2010); Hungarian Science and Technology Alliance (2011)
Honors & Awards
· National Distinguished Scholar (Special Appointment Professor), Ministry of Education, China
· National Outstanding Youth Science Fund (NSFC, 2016)
· State Council Special Allowance Expert
· National “Hundred, Thousand, Ten Thousand” Talent Project – “Outstanding Young and Middle-aged Expert”
· Heilongjiang Provincial May 1st Labor Medal
· Heilongjiang Provincial Advanced Individual in Ecological Environment Protection
· National Outstanding Teacher
· First Prize, Heilongjiang Provincial Science and Technology Award (Natural Science, 2015)
· Second Prize, National Environmental Protection Science and Technology Award (2014)
· First Prize, Heilongjiang Agricultural Science and Technology Award (2018, 2015, 2014)
· Heilongjiang Youth Science and Technology Award (2009)
· And other 13 provincial/ministerial awards
Editorial & Professional Memberships
· Editorial Board Member – International Journal of Agricultural and Biological Engineering , Biochar , Carbon Research
· Vice Chair , Division 1 – International Union of Soil Sciences (IUSS)
· Vice Director , Ecology and Agriculture Committee – National Science and Technology Leading Talents Alliance
· Head , Heilongjiang Science and Technology Specialists Group for Black Soil Program, Ministry of Science and Technology
· Council Member – Soil Science Society of China; Chinese Society of Plant Nutrition and Fertilizers
· Member – International Cooperation and Exchange Committee, Soil Environment Committee, Soil Chemistry Committee, Soil Engineering Committee of the Soil Science Society of China
Selected Research Grants (as PI)
1. Mechanisms of Synergistic Regulation of New Biofertilizers and Black Soil Health – NSFC Joint Fund (U21A20238), 2022–2025
2. Ecotoxicological Effects of Rare Earth-Heavy Metal Interactions on Soil-Plant Systems – NSFC International Cooperation (4196114403), 2019–2022
3. Functional Biochar for Remediation of DEHP-Contaminated Black Soil – NSFC General (41877128), 2019–2022
4. Toxic Effects of Phthalates on Aquatic Organisms – Heilongjiang NSFC Key Project (ZD2020C001), 2020–2023
5. Black Soil Pollution and Bioremediation – NSFC Distinguished Young Scientists Fund (41625002), 2017–2021
6. Typical Agricultural Pollution Remediation and Resource Utilization – Ministry of Agriculture Outstanding Talent and Innovation Team (2016–2020)
7. Proteomic Responses of Cucumber to DBP Stress – NSFC General (31470550), 2015–2018
8. Non-point Source Pollution Control in Ash River Ecological Reserve – National Major Science and Technology Project (2012ZX07201003), 2012–2016
9. Phthalate Pollution and Bioremediation in Greenhouse Soils – National 863 Program (2012AA101405), 2012–2015
10. Biosorbents for Iron-Manganese Contaminated Groundwater – NSFC Young Scientists Fund (41101526), 2012–2014
Selected Publications
1. A multiple Kirkendall strategy for converting nanosized zero-valent iron to highly active Fenton-like catalyst for organics degradation. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. 2023, 120(39): e2304552120
2. Synthetic Microbial Community Promotes Straw Humification and Improves Soil Organic Carbon in Cropland. Environmental Science & Technology. 59(48): 25960-25972
3. Surfactant-Triggered Alkyl-like Radical Formation in Anaerobic Thermally Activated Persulfate System for Deep Removal of Highly Chlorinated Contaminants. Environmental Science & Technology. 59 (2025) 27730−27739
4. Enhanced Phytopathogen Bioflm Control in the Soybean Phyllosphere by the Phoresy of Bacteriophages Hitchhiking on Biocontrol Bacteria. Environmental Science & Technology. 2025, 59, 21, 10334–10346
5. Nitrogen availability regulates the effects of straw incorporation on soil organic carbon functional pools. Soil Biology and Biochemistry 212 (2026) 110017
6. Ball milling-assisted preparation of N-doped biochar loaded with ferrous sulfide as persulfate activator for phenol degradation: Multiple active sites-triggered radical/non-radical mechanism. Applied Catalysis B – Environmental. 316(2022)121639
7. Free radicals-triggered reductive and oxidative degradation of highly chlorinated compounds via regulation of heat-activated persulfate by low-molecular-weight organic acids. Applied Catalysis B – Environmental. 2022, 310: 121359
8. Free Radicals-Triggered Reductive and Oxidative Degradation of Highly Chlorinated Compounds via Regulation of Heat-Activated Persulfate by Low-Molecular-Weight Organic Acids Applied Catalysis B – Environmental. 310(2022)121359
9. Effects of common environmental endocrine-disrupting chemicals on zebrafish behavior. Water Research, 2021,117826.
10. Multi-omics profiling reveals elevated CO2-enhanced tolerance of Trifolium repens L. to lead stress through environment-plant-microbiome interactions. Environment International. 194（2024）109150
Textbooks (Editor-in-Chief)
· Soil Pollution and Prevention , China Forestry Press, 2012
· Introduction to Environmental Science , China Forestry Press, 2012
