ZHAN Xiangjiang Ph.D. 

Education background

Dr. ZHAN Xiangjiang got his bachelor degree in 2000 from Henan Normal University, received his master degree from Beijing Normal University in 2003 and Ph. D from Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences in 2006. From 2008 to 2013, he was a postdoctoral fellow at School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, UK.

Work experience

He joined the Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences as a full professor in 2014, which was supported by the “The Recruitment Program of Global Youth Experts” of China. Currently, he is the principal investigator of Lab of Population and Evolutionary Genetics.

Research field

Avian population genetics, Evolutionary genetics of birds and small mammals

Award

Dr. ZHAN was a recipient of Distinguished PhD dissertation of Chinese Academy of Sciences (2008).

Project

1)    The Recruitment Program of Global Youth Experts: conservation genomics and evolutionary genetics;

2)    National Natural Science Foundation--Outstanding Youth;

3)    National Key Programme of Research and Development, Ministry of Science and Technology;

4)    Newton Advanced Fellowship, Royal Society, UK

His research team focuses on population genomics, evolutionary genetics and ecology studies on animals, especially birds and small mammals living in extreme environment.

Qinghai-Tibet Plateau is one of the most important biogeographic regions in China with unique environment conditions and species diversity, and also have been influenced by human activities. Wild animals in this area are ideal objects to study population adaptive evolution. His team is using genetics and genomics approaches to study the population genetics and adaptive evolution of mammals and birds distributed in the region. Based on field work, laboratory experiments and bioinformatics analysis, they aim to elucidate the evolutionary processes of target species and aid the management and regulation of wild populations.

1.    Pan SK, Bruford MW, Wang YS, Lin ZZ, Gu ZR, Hou X, Deng XM, Dixon A, Graves JAM, Zhan XJ*. 2018. Transcription-associated mutation promotes RNA complexity in highly expressed genes-a major new source of selectable variation. Molecular Biology and Evolution, 35: 1104-1119.

2.    Pan SK, Zhang TZ, Rong ZQ, Hu L, Gu ZR, Wu Q, Dong SS, Liu Q, Lin ZZ, Deutschova L, Li XH, Dixon A, Bruford MW*, Zhan XJ*. 2017. Population transcriptomes reveal synergistic responses of DNA polymorphism and RNA expression to extreme environments on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau in a predatory bird. Molecular Ecology, 26: 2993-3010.

3.    Dixon AD, Li XH, Rahman L, Batbayar N, Zhan XJ. 2017. Characteristics of home range areas used by Saker Falcons (Falco cherrug) wintering on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. Bird Conservation International, 27: 525-536.

4.    Dahal N, Lissovsky AA, Lin ZZ, Solari K, Hadly EA, Zhan XJ, Ramakrishnan U. 2017. Genetics, morphology and ecology reveal a cryptic pika lineage in the Sikkim Himalaya. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, 106: 55-60.

5.    Bruford MW,…. Zhan XJ. 2015. Prospects and challenges for the conservation of farm animal genomic resources, 2015-2025. Frontier in Genetics, 6: 314.

6.    Zhan XJ, Dixon A, Batbayar N, Bragin E, Z Ayas et al. 2015. Exonic versus intronic SNPs: contrasting roles in revealing the population genetic differentiation of a widespread bird species. Heredity, 114: 1-9.

7.    Jarvis ED,……, Zhan XJ…... 2014. Whole genome analyses resolve early branches in the tree of life of modern birds. Science, 346: 1320-1331. 

8.    Zhan XJ, Pan SK, Wang JY, Dixon A, He J et al. 2013. Peregrine and saker falcon genome sequences provide insights into evolution of a predatory lifestyle. Nature Genetics, 45: 563-566.

9.    Zhao SC, Zheng PP, Dong SS, Zhan XJ#, Wu Q et al. 2013. Whole-genome sequencing of giant pandas provides insights into demographic history and local adaptation. Nature Genetics, 45: 67-71. (#contributed equally) 

10.   Zhan XJ, Zheng YF, Wei FW, Bruford MW & Jia CX. 2011. Molecular evidence for Pleistocene refugia at the eastern edge of the Tibetan Plateau. Molecular Ecology, 20: 3014-3026.