Dr. Jun Zeng, an associate professor at the Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, specializes in soil biology and biochemistry. With over a decade of experience, he focuses on identifying novel microbial strains and enzymes that can degrade persistent organic pollutants like polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances. Dr. Zeng employs molecular biological tools to monitor degradation processes, characterizing microbial communities and their functions. He has authored more than over 50 scientific publications, with more than 2000 citations.
Institute of Soil Science, CAS
No. 71 East Beijing Road, Nanjing, 210008, P.R. China
E-mail: jzeng@issas.ac.cn
Research Areas
[1] Identification of microbial strains or enzymes that can transform persistent organic pollutants like PAHs and PFASs.
[2] Investigating the biodegradation of organic pollutants in soil microcosm experiments sheds light on the crucial role of soil microbial communities in determining pollutant fate.
[3] Unveiling real-time responses of soil microbial communities to organic pollution, with the goal of identifying specialized communities for long-term monitoring or bioremediation of pollution.
Education
09/2008-07/2011: Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Ph.D. Environmental Sciences
09/2003-07/ 2006: Huazhong Agricultural University, M.S. Microbiology
09/1999-07/2003: Huazhong Agricultural University, B.S. Environmental Sciences
Experience
09/2011- present: Institute of Soil Science, CAS. Assistant professor, Associate professor
10/2019 -09/2020: University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Visting schloar
Publications
1. ZZ Gao, M Yan, XJ Xiang, Q Wang, YC Wu, X Song, XG Lin, F E Loffler, J Zeng#. 2026. Colorimetric Fluoride Screen Reveals Defluorination Capacity in Growing Microbial Cultures. Environmental Science & Technology Letters, 13 (3): 353-359 (# Corresponding author)
2. ZZ Gao, XJ Xiang#, M Yan, YQ Liu, YC Wu, X Song, XG Lin, F E Loffler, J Zeng#. 2026. Cometabolic defluorination of two poly-fluoroalkyl substances by a new Sphingopyxis isolate. Water Research, 290:125149 (# Corresponding author)
3. M Yan, TT Peng, L Zhao, QG Li, RN Wu, YM Wang, YC Wu, Y Teng, XJ Xiang#, J Zeng#, XG Lin. 2024. The roles of organic amendments and plant treatments in soil polychlorinated biphenyl dissipation under oxic and sequential anoxic–oxic conditions. Environmental Research, 262, 119943. (# Corresponding author)
4. M Yan, ZZ Gao, XJ Xiang#, Q Wang, X Song, YC Wu, F E Loffler, J Zeng#, XG Lin. 2024. Defluorination of monofluorinated alkane by Rhodococcus sp. NJF-7 isolated from soil. AMB Express 14:65. (# Corresponding author)
5. J Zeng, RN Wu, TT Peng, QG Li, Q Wang, YC Wu, X Song, XG Lin. 2023. Low-temperature thermally enhanced bioremediation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon-contaminated soil: Effects on fate, toxicity and bacterial communities. Environmental Pollution, 335, 122247.
6.J Zeng, YJ Li, YL Dai, QH Zhu, YC Wu, XG Lin. 2023. Soil drying legacy does not affect phenanthrene fate in soil but modifies bacterial community response. Environmental Pollution, 331, 121909.
7. J Zeng, YJ Li, YL Dai, YC Wu, XG Lin, Effects of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon structure on PAH mineralization and toxicity to soil microorganisms after oxidative bioremediation by laccase, Environmental Pollution. 2021, 287(15) :117581
8. J Zeng, QH Zhu, YC Wu, J Shan, R Ji, XG Lin, Oxidation of benzo[a]pyrene by laccase in soil enhances bound residue formation and reduces disturbance to soil bacterial community composition, Environmental Pollution. 2018, 462-469
9.J Zeng, XJ Liu, L Song, XG Lin, HY Zhang, CC Shen, HY Chu, Nitrogen fertilization directly affects soil bacterial diversity and indirectly affects bacterial community composition, Soil Biology and Biochemistry. 2016, 41-49
10.J Zeng, XG Lin, J Zhang, H Zhu, H Chen, MH Wong, Successive transformation of benzo[a]pyrene by the laccase of Trametes versicolor and the pyrene-degrading Mycobacterium strains, Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology. 2013, 97: 3183-3194
11.J Zeng, XG Lin, J Zhang, XZ Li, MH Wong, Oxidation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons by the bacterial laccase CueO from E. coli, Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology. 2011, 1841-1849
12.J Zeng, QH Zhu, YJ Li, YL Dai, YC Wu, YH Sun, LY Miu, H Chen, XG Lin, Isolation of diverse pyrene-degrading bacteria via introducing readily utilized phenanthrene, Chemosphere. 2019, 534-540
13.J Zeng, QH Zhu, YC Wu, H Chen, XG Lin, Characterization of a polycyclic aromatic ring-hydroxylation dioxygenase from Mycobacterium sp. NJS-P, Chemosphere. 2017, 185:67-74
14. J Zeng, QH Zhu, YC Wu, XG Lin, Oxidation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons using Bacillus subtilis CotA with high laccase activity and copper independence, Chemosphere. 2016, 148:1-7
15. J Zeng, XG Lin, J Zhang, XZ Li, Isolation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons degrading Mycobacterium spp. and the degradation in soil, Journal of Hazardous Materials. 2010, 718-723