Junqin Li | Microbial Ecology | Best Researcher Award

Published on by Natural Scientist Awards

Dr. Junqin Li | Microbial Ecology | Best Researcher Award

Teacher | Guizhou Normal University | China

Dr. Junqin Li is a dedicated teacher and researcher at Guizhou Normal University, specializing in ecosystem ecology with a strong focus on the role of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi in regulating carbon–nitrogen cycling in grassland ecosystems. He earned his Ph.D. from Northeast Normal University in 2022 and has since established himself as a promising scholar in plant–soil interactions under global climate change. His research highlights the interactive effects of AM fungal symbiosis and climate change on ecosystem-level carbon inputs and outputs, as well as the mediation of carbon and nitrogen allocation following litter decomposition, thereby clarifying critical processes in ecosystem sustainability. Dr. Li has published 27 peer-reviewed SCI papers in respected international journals, accumulating 429 citations with an H-index of 10, reflecting both productivity and influence in his field. He has secured multiple funded projects, including grants from the National Natural Science Foundation of China, the Natural Science Foundation of Guizhou Province, and the Guizhou Provincial Department of Education. His international collaborations include joint publications with renowned scientists such as Prof. Raúl Ochoa-Hueso (University of Cádiz), Prof. Scott L. Collins (New Mexico State University), and Prof. Jennifer A. Rudgers (New Mexico State University), underscoring his active role in global ecological research networks. His recent publications, including studies on microplastics’ effects on plant development and the stability of AMF communities in grasslands, further demonstrate his commitment to advancing ecological knowledge. Through his innovative research, growing academic recognition, and dedication to teaching, Dr. Li continues to make valuable contributions to ecosystem science.

Profile:  Scopus

Featured Publications

Li, J., Zhang, X., Wang, Y., & Liu, H. (2025). Polyethylene microplastic: Impacts on ryegrass seed germination and seedling development. BMC Plant Biology.

Li, J., Chen, Y., Wu, Q., & Zhao, L. (2025). Shrub encroachment enhances AMF network stability and complexity, while cropland destabilizes AMF communities in a subtropical alpine grassland. BMC Biology.

Li, J., Ochoa-Hueso, R., Zhang, W., & Ma, X. (2021). Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi mediate grassland responses to global change: Evidence from soil carbon and nitrogen cycling. Biology and Fertility of Soils, 57(6), 823–835.

Li, J., Collins, S. L., Wu, Z., & Zhang, Y. (2021). Grassland ecosystem responses to climate extremes: The role of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in carbon and nitrogen dynamics. Ecology, 102(12), e03459.

Li, J., Collins, S. L., & Zhao, Q. (2022). Decomposition-mediated shifts in carbon and nitrogen allocation in grassland ecosystems regulated by AM fungi. Journal of Ecology, 110(8), 2035–2048.