Zixi Wang | Paleobotany | Best Researcher Award

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Dr. Zixi Wang | Paleobotany | Best Researcher Award

Researcher at Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology, CAS, China

Dr. Zixi Wang is a dedicated researcher at the Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, with a specialized focus on fossil plant research from the Mesozoic and Cenozoic eras. Her work explores plant diversity, evolution, and paleoecological patterns, significantly contributing to the understanding of ancient plant-environment interactions. She has participated in and led several national and institutional research projects, resulting in a solid portfolio of publications in reputed scientific journals. Dr. Wang’s citation index reflects the impact of her contributions to the field of paleobotany. In addition to her academic research, she is actively involved in science outreach initiatives, such as the Choerospondias Fossil Science Exhibition, bridging the gap between scientific discovery and public awareness. Her membership in national paleontological societies further highlights her engagement with the scientific community. Dr. Wang’s achievements demonstrate her as a promising and impactful researcher in the field of plant evolution and fossil studies.

Professional Profile 

Education 🎓

Dr. Zixi Wang has built a strong academic foundation in the field of paleobotany through rigorous education and specialized training. She obtained her advanced degrees from prestigious institutions affiliated with the Chinese Academy of Sciences, where she developed deep expertise in geology and fossil plant research. Her academic journey emphasized the study of plant evolution, paleoenvironments, and fossil diversity, laying the groundwork for her research career. Throughout her education, Dr. Wang received comprehensive training in paleontological methods, stratigraphy, and paleoecological reconstruction, equipping her with the analytical skills necessary for high-impact research. Her academic background also included active participation in fieldwork, fossil identification, and laboratory analysis, which later translated into her successful involvement in major national research projects. The combination of theoretical knowledge and practical experience gained during her education has positioned Dr. Wang as a competent and insightful researcher in the study of ancient plant life and their environmental contexts.

Professional Experience 💼

Dr. Zixi Wang has accumulated extensive professional experience as a researcher at the Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, where she has been actively engaged in the study of fossil plants. Her work focuses on the diversity, evolution, and ecological significance of Mesozoic and Cenozoic flora. Over the years, she has led and contributed to several high-level national research projects, demonstrating her capability in both independent and collaborative scientific investigations. Dr. Wang’s professional expertise includes fossil analysis, paleoenvironmental reconstruction, and the interpretation of plant-environment interactions across geological timescales. In addition to her research responsibilities, she has contributed to science outreach and education, including organizing public exhibitions to promote paleobotanical knowledge. Her publications in reputable international journals underscore her scientific productivity and recognition in the field. Through her professional journey, Dr. Wang has established herself as a respected and capable expert in paleobotany, contributing meaningfully to evolutionary plant science.

Research Interest 🔬

Dr. Zixi Wang’s research interests center on the evolution, diversity, and paleoecology of fossil plants, with a primary focus on the Mesozoic and Cenozoic eras. She is particularly interested in understanding how ancient plants interacted with their environments and how these interactions shaped the development of modern ecosystems. Her studies involve detailed analyses of plant fossils, including mosses and angiosperms, to reconstruct past vegetation patterns and climate conditions. Dr. Wang is also deeply engaged in exploring the origins of modern plant diversity through fossil evidence, contributing to broader evolutionary and ecological theories. Her work often integrates fieldwork, fossil taxonomy, stratigraphic analysis, and paleoenvironmental modeling. In addition, she has shown a strong interest in science communication and education, using exhibitions and public outreach to highlight the importance of paleobotanical research. Dr. Wang’s interdisciplinary approach allows her to make valuable contributions to the understanding of plant evolution across geological time periods.

Research Skill🔎

Dr. Zixi Wang possesses a diverse and well-developed set of research skills that underpin her contributions to paleobotany. She is highly proficient in fossil identification and classification, particularly of Mesozoic and Cenozoic plant species, which forms the core of her evolutionary studies. Her skills extend to stratigraphic analysis, paleoecological reconstruction, and sedimentological interpretation, allowing her to place fossil findings within accurate geological and environmental contexts. Dr. Wang is adept at conducting field expeditions, collecting and preserving plant fossils, and applying laboratory techniques to analyze their morphology and structure. She also demonstrates strong capabilities in scientific writing, data interpretation, and the use of paleontological databases for comparative analysis. Her experience in managing research projects and contributing to interdisciplinary studies highlights her ability to collaborate effectively and think critically. These research skills have enabled Dr. Wang to contribute significantly to understanding ancient plant life and to produce impactful, peer-reviewed scientific publications.

Award and Honor🏆

As of now, Dr. Zixi Wang has not listed specific awards or honors in her nomination application; however, her selection and active participation in multiple prestigious national and institutional research projects reflect the scientific community’s recognition of her capabilities and contributions. Being entrusted with roles such as principal investigator and key collaborator in government-funded paleobotanical studies indicates a high level of professional trust and respect. Additionally, her contributions to public science education—such as organizing the Choerospondias Fossil Science Popularization Exhibition—showcase her commitment to both academic excellence and societal engagement, often acknowledged informally within the scientific outreach community. Dr. Wang’s consistent publication record in reputed, peer-reviewed international journals further affirms her research credibility. While formal individual honors may not yet be documented, her growing body of impactful work positions her as a promising candidate for future accolades in the fields of paleobotany and evolutionary plant sciences.

Conclusion📝

Dr. Zixi Wang is a strong and deserving candidate for the Best Researcher Award, especially in the field of paleobotany and fossil plant research. Their work is impactful, well-documented through peer-reviewed outputs, and supported by national-level research projects. While some enhancement in professional visibility (e.g., editorial roles, global collaborations) could strengthen their profile further, their current credentials clearly meet the core criteria for this award: originality, research contribution, societal outreach, and academic rigor.

Recommendation: ✅ Nominate for Best Researcher Award — Highly Suitable.

Publications Top Noted📚

  • 2024 – A new amber outcrop from the Late Cretaceous of Xingning Basin, South China
    Journal: Palaeoentomology
    Citations: 2

  • 2024 – First fossil record of Pelekium (Thuidiaceae) from the middle Miocene Zhangpu amber in Asia
    Journal: Historical Biology
    Citations: 4

  • 2023 – A new Trapa from the middle Miocene of Zhangpu, Fujian, southeastern China
    Journal: Palaeoworld
    Citations: 4

  • 2023 – First fossil record of Canarium (Burseraceae) from the middle Miocene of Fujian, southeastern China and its paleoecological implications
    Journal: Palaeoworld
    Citations: 5

Prof. Dr. Xiao-Qing Liang | Paleobotany | Best Researcher Award

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Prof. Dr. Xiao-Qing Liang | Paleobotany | Best Researcher Award

Prof. at Yuxi Normal University, China.

Prof. Dr. Xiao-Qing Liang is a distinguished paleobotanist and biogeographer at Yuxi Normal University, China, specializing in Cenozoic fossil flora and paleoenvironmental reconstruction in Yunnan—one of the world’s key biodiversity hotspots. His research integrates paleobotany, paleoecology, and climate modeling to investigate how geological and climatic shifts, such as the uplift of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, have influenced plant evolution and biogeographic patterns. He has led multiple nationally funded projects and published extensively in high-impact journals like Review of Palaeobotany and Palynology and BMC Evolutionary Biology. Notably, his discoveries of transitional fossils such as Primotrapa and ancestral Ulmus have filled major gaps in plant evolutionary history. Prof. Liang’s work bridges scientific research with conservation practice, contributing foundational knowledge to conservation paleobiology. He is also an active member of several academic societies and collaborates widely across disciplines. His contributions make him a leading figure in evolutionary botany and environmental change studies.

Professional Profile 

Education 🎓

Prof. Dr. Xiao-Qing Liang received his academic training in botany and paleobotany through rigorous graduate and postgraduate education in China, culminating in a Ph.D. in Paleobotany. His doctoral research focused on fossil plant taxonomy, paleoecology, and the evolutionary history of Cenozoic floras, laying the foundation for his later work on climate-vegetation interactions and paleogeographic reconstruction. Following his Ph.D., he completed a competitive postdoctoral fellowship at the renowned Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, where he deepened his expertise in plant fossil analysis and multidisciplinary approaches to historical biogeography. This advanced academic background has equipped Prof. Liang with a unique ability to connect fossil evidence with modern ecological and climatological data. His educational path reflects a deep commitment to scientific excellence and has shaped him into a leading researcher in the fields of paleobotany, paleoecology, and conservation biology. His training also enabled him to lead national research projects and mentor future scientists.

Professional Experience 💼

Prof. Dr. Xiao-Qing Liang has extensive professional experience in paleobotany, paleoecology, and plant biogeography, with a primary academic appointment at Yuxi Normal University, China. Over the past decade, he has led and contributed to numerous nationally funded research projects, including several as Principal Investigator under the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC). His professional work focuses on reconstructing Cenozoic vegetation and paleoclimate in Southwest China, particularly in Yunnan Province, a global biodiversity hotspot. He completed a prestigious postdoctoral fellowship at the Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, where he refined his expertise in fossil plant analysis and climate-vegetation interactions. Prof. Liang has published widely in top-tier journals and is an active member of several national scientific committees, including the Botanical Society of China and the Paleontological Society of China. His professional career is marked by interdisciplinary collaboration, scientific leadership, and contributions to both academic research and environmental conservation policy.

Research Interest 🔬

Prof. Dr. Xiao-Qing Liang’s research interests lie at the intersection of paleobotany, paleoecology, paleogeography, and paleoclimatology, with a special focus on the Cenozoic era in East Asia. His work aims to uncover how ancient plant life responded to major geological and climatic events, such as the uplift of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and the transitions between the Oligocene and Miocene epochs. He is particularly interested in reconstructing past environments using fossil records and integrating these with modern ecological and climatic data to understand long-term patterns of biodiversity and evolution. His research has led to the discovery of key transitional fossils, enabling new insights into plant lineage development and historical biogeography. By bridging paleontological data with current environmental concerns, Prof. Liang’s studies contribute to the emerging field of conservation paleobiology, offering predictive frameworks for how modern ecosystems may respond to climate change. His interdisciplinary approach connects botany, climatology, and evolutionary science.

Research Skill🔎

Prof. Dr. Xiao-Qing Liang possesses a robust set of research skills that span paleobotany, stratigraphy, paleoecology, and quantitative paleoclimate reconstruction. He is highly proficient in fossil identification and classification, with a specialization in Cenozoic plant taxa, and adept at interpreting the morphological and anatomical features of plant fossils to infer their evolutionary relationships. He skillfully integrates paleontological data with modern ecological databases and uses paleoclimatic modeling tools to reconstruct ancient environments and biogeographic patterns. His ability to synthesize multi-source data—from field excavations to laboratory analysis—demonstrates his methodological versatility. Prof. Liang also excels in academic writing and publishing, with numerous high-impact articles in peer-reviewed journals. Furthermore, he has demonstrated strong project management and leadership abilities as Principal Investigator on several nationally funded research projects. His collaborative approach allows him to work effectively across disciplines such as climatology, geology, and environmental science, making his research both rigorous and broadly impactful.

Award and Honor🏆

Prof. Dr. Xiao-Qing Liang has earned recognition and honors for his outstanding contributions to paleobotanical research and plant evolutionary studies in China. He has been the recipient of multiple prestigious research grants, including several from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC), reflecting national acknowledgment of his scientific leadership and innovation. His selection for the Yuxi Normal University Talent Introduction Program further highlights institutional recognition of his academic excellence and potential. As a senior member of the Botanical Society of China and council member of its Paleobotanical Committee, Prof. Liang plays an influential role in shaping national paleobotanical research agendas. He also holds committee memberships in the Paleontological Society of China and the Yunnan Provincial Paleobotany Specialized Committee, underscoring his professional standing in the scientific community. These roles and awards are a testament to his leadership, scholarly impact, and continued contributions to the advancement of paleobotany and environmental science.

Conclusion📝

Prof. Xiao-Qing Liang exhibits exemplary qualifications for the Best Researcher Award in Paleobotany & Evolutionary Biology. His work demonstrates a deep and innovative understanding of plant evolution and climate interaction over geological timescales. The integration of academic research with conservation policy and education further amplifies the real-world relevance of his contributions.

Recommendation: Strongly support nomination for the Best Researcher Award in Paleobotany & Evolutionary Biology.

Publications Top Noted📚

  • Zhang, J., D’Rozario, A., Wang, L., Liang, X., & Zhou, Z. (2023). Geographical and morphological changes of conifers in Yunnan, China during the Cenozoic in response to climatic changes. Review of Palaeobotany and Palynology, 318, 104986.