My research is aimed at plant systematics, genomics, and evolution, with a particular focus on the following areas: 

1) Phylogeny and evolution of complex plant groups 

Centered on the biodiversity hotspots of tropical and subtropical Asia, we use bioinformatics to reconstruct the "Tree of Life" and the evolutionary history of ecological and economical plant groups such as the ginger family and the bamboo subfamily. Our goal is to decipher the major factors that triggered species diversification and environmental adaptation in these groups. 

2) Evolution of plant key characters 

Combining comparative genomics and multiomics, we investigate the origins and evolutionary mechanisms of key plant traits to reveal the genomic underpinnings of major evolutionary events in plants.

Sept. 2013-June 2019: Ph.D., Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Kunming Institute of Botany, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences 

June 2018-May 2019: Visiting Ph.D. student, Ecology, Evolution and Environment Biology, Columbia University 

Sept. 2009 -July 2013: B.S., Forestry, Zhejiang Agricultural and Forestry University

   

April 2023-present: Associate Professor, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences 

April 2023-Oct. 2023: Assistant Professor, Germplasm Bank of Wild Species, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences 

Sept. 2019-April 2023: Post-doctoral Researcher, Germplasm Bank of Wild Species, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences

(1) Guo Cen; Ma Peng-Fei; Yang Guo-Qian; Ye Xia-Ying; Guo Ying; Liu Jing-Xia; Liu Yun-Long; Eaton D.A.R.; Guo Zhen-Hua^*; Li De-Zhu^*.2021. Parallel ddRAD and genome skimming analyses reveal a radiative and reticulate evolutionary history of the temperate bamboos, Systematic Biology, 70(4): 756-773. 
(2) Guo Cen; Luo Yang; Gao Lian-Ming; Yi Ting-Shuang; Li Hong-Tao; Yang Jun-Bo; Li De-Zhu^*.2023. Phylogenomics and the flowering plant tree of life, Journal of Integrative Plant Biology, 65: 299-323. 
(3) Ma Peng-Fei^#; Liu Yun-Long^#; Guo Cen^#; Jin Gui-Hua^#; Guo Zhen-Hua^#; Mao Ling; Yang Yi-Zhou; Niu Liang-Zhong; Wang Yu-Jiao; Clark L.G.; Kellogg E.A.; Xu Zu-Chang; Ye Xia-Ying; Liu Jing-Xia; Zhou Meng-Yuan; Luo Yan; Yang Yang; Soltis D.E.; Bennetzen J.L; Soltis P.S.; Li De-Zhu^*. 2024. Genome assemblies of 11 bamboo species highlight diversification induced by dynamic subgenome dominance, Nature Genetics, 56: 710-720. 
(4) Hu Xiang-Zhou^#; Guo Cen^#; Qin Sheng-Yuan; Li De-Zhu^*; Guo Zhen-Hua^*. 2024.Deep genome skimming reveals the hybrid origin of Pseudosasa gracilis (Poaceae: Bambusoideae), Plant Diversity, 46(3): 344-352. 
(5) Guo Cen; Guo Zhen-Hua^*; Li De-Zhu^*. 2019. Phylogenomic analyses reveal intractable evolutionary history of a temperate bamboo genus (Poaceae: Bambusoideae), Plant Diversity, 41(4): 213-219. 
(6) Qin, S.Y., Zuo, Z.Y., Guo, C., Du, X.Y., Liu, S.Y., Yu, X.Q., Xiang, X.G., Rong, J., Liu, B., Liu, Z.F., Ma, P.F.*, Li, D.Z.*. 2023. Phylogenomic insights into the origin and evolutionary history of evergreen broadleaved forests in East Asia under Cenozoic climate change. Molecular Ecology, 32(11): 2850–2868. 
(7) Ye, X.Y., Ma, P.F., Guo, C. Li, D.Z.*. 2021. Phylogenomics of Fargesia and Yushania reveals a history of reticulate evolution. Journal of Systematics and Evolution, 59: 1183–1197. 
(8) Zhang, Y.X., Guo, C., Li, D.Z.*. 2020. A new subtribal classification of Arundinarieae (Poaceae, Bambusoideae) with the description of a new genus. Plant Diversity, 42: 127–134. 
 (9) Guo, Z.H.^#, Ma, P.F.^#, Yang, G.Q.^#, Hu, J.Y.^#, Liu, Y.L.^#, Xia, E.H., Zhong, M.C., Zhao, L., Sun, G.L., Xu, Y.X., Zhao, Y.J., Zhang, Y.C., Zhang, Y.X., Zhang, X.M., Zhou, M.Y., Guo, Y., Guo, C., Liu, J.X., Ye, X.Y., Chen, Y.M., Yang, Y., Han, B., Lin, C.S.*, Lu, Y.*, Li, D.Z.*. 2019. Genome sequences provide insights into the reticulate origin and unique traits of woody bamboos. Molecular Plant, 12: 1353–1365. 
(10) Ye, X.Y., Ma, P.F., Yang, G.Q., Guo, C., Zhang, Y.X., Chen, Y.M., Guo, Z.H., Li, D. Z.*. 2019. Rapid diversification of alpine bamboos associated with the uplift of the Hengduan Mountains. Journal of Biogeography, 46(12): 2678–2689. 
​(11) Yang, G.Q., Chen, Y.M., Wang, J.P., Guo, C., Zhao, L., Wang, X.Y., Guo, Y., Li, L., Li, D.Z.*, Guo, Z.H.*. 2016. Development of a universal and simplified ddRAD library preparation approach for SNP discovery and genotyping in angiosperm plants. Plant Methods, 12: 1–17.