• Foraminiferal taxonomy, phylogeny, and diversity

• Foraminiferal molecular biology and experimental ecology

• Global change

• International standardization

• Coral genome and evolution of ancient marine environment

• 2011-2012  Visiting Scholar，School of Ocean and Earth Science, Tongji University, China

• 2004.3-2004.4  Visiting Scholar，Alfred-Wegener-Institute (AWI), Germany

• 2002-2005  Ph. D. in Department of Organismal Biology, University of Salzburg, Austria. Thesis: Taxonomic Investigations of Soil Ciliates and Ecological Investigations of Ciliates from Marine Waters, Sediments and Salt Ponds. Supervisor：Prof. Dr. Ulrike-G. Berninger

• 1999-2002  PhD. in Department of Oceanography, Inha University, Inchon, Korea. Thesis: Ecology and Taxonomy of Ciliates in Tidal Flats and Salt Ponds around Gyeonggi Bay, Yellow Sea. Supervisor：Prof. Joong Ki Choi. obtained the second Ph. D degree in 2010 from Inha University, Korea. Received the second doctorate in 2010.

• 1990-1999  Ocean University of China. Thesis: Studies on Free-living Ciliated Protozoa in Marine Waters, with the Ecological Studies on Strombidium sulcatum. Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Weibo Song.

I currently serve as the Executive Vice Editor of the International SCI Journal of Sea Research and Manager of ISO/TC8/WG15 Ocean Negative Carbon Emissions and Carbon Neutrality. I am also a Member of the PICES Working Group, Director of the Shandong International Marine Standards Innovation Center, Director of the ONCE International Standards Research Center, and Expert on Carbon Peak and Carbon Neutrality in Qingdao. Our research focuses on marine biodiversity and global change, as well as international standardization. We study the environmental adaptability and genomics of calcareous organisms such as foraminifera and corals and have established standardized techniques for investigating sediment interstitial organisms. 

       We have undertaken over 50 scientific research projects, including those by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), the National Standards Committee, the National Natural Science Foundation of China, the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and the Ministry of Science and Technology. We led the development of China's first international standard for marine surveys (ISO 23040:2021), providing a strong scientific basis and technical support for China's international marine field negotiations and survey activities  

        I have published over 90 research papers (including over 50 SCI papers), 5 monographs, 3 national invention patents, 2 international standards, 7 national standards, and 1 industry standard. Our research results were recognized as one of the top ten advances in marine science and technology in China in 2021.

• 2005.5- present: Professor at Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences; Professor at University of Chinese Academy of Sciences

• Methods and techniques of oceanographic investigation

• Biological investigation technology of sediment gap

• Biooceanographic survey methods and techniques (marine benthic survey techniques)

• The basic principle of Biostatistics and the teaching of SAS application

• Protozoan ontogeny

• Associate Editor, Journal of Sea Research (since 2021)

• Manager & Convenor, ISO/TC8/WG15 Ocean Negative Carbon Emissions and Carbon Neutrality (since 2023)

• Member, PICES (North Pacific Marine Science Organization) WG-OCN

• Associate Editor, Frontiers in Marine Science (Indian Ocean Bottom Biodiversity Special Issue) (since 2020)

• Committee Member, ISO/TC 8/SC 13 Marine Technology Branch of International Organization for Standardization (since 2017)

• WoRMS Expert in Foraminifera species verification in Chinese waters

• Executive Director, Submarine Exploration and Development Branch of China Ocean Engineering Consulting Association (since 2019)

• Director, Benthic Animal Credit Committee of the Marine and Limnological Society (since 2016)

• Director, Micropaleontology Branch of the Chinese Zoological Society (since 2015)

• Director, Protozoan Branch of the Chinese Zoological Society (since 2012)

• Member, Chinese Zoological Terminology Approval Committee (since 2014)

• Editorial Board Member, Journal of Ocean University of China (Natural Science Edition) (since 2019)

• Member, Shandong Provincial Professional Standardization Technical Committee (since 2023)

• Top 10 Marine Science and Technology Advances in China in 2021 by the China Society of Oceanography and Limnology

• Top 10 Marine Science and Technology Advances in China in 2021 by the China Ocean Society

• First Prize, 2021 Marine Science and Technology Award

• Institute of Oceanography, Chinese Academy of Sciences 2021 Major Achievement Award

• Shandong Province 2021 High Level Standardization Award

• 2022 Qingdao Standardization Subsidy Award

• 2018 Qingdao Standardization Subsidy Award

• International Awards of Paul Brönnimann Foundation, Geneva, Switzerland (2014-)

• 2013 Qingdao Standardization Subsidy Award

• Second Prize, Marine Science and Technology Awards of State Oceanic Administration (2012)

• Yanli Lei and Tiegang Li, 2016. Atlas of Benthic Foraminifera from China Seas The Bohai Sea and the Yellow Sea. Springer-Verlag GmbH, Germany and Science Press, Beijing, 399 pp.

• ISO 23040:2021 Marine environment impact assessment (MEIA) — Specification for marine sediments in seabed areas — Survey of interstitial biota. ISO copyright office, Geneva, Switzerland, 1-102pp. ICS 07.080; 13.020.99; 47.020.99. (The first Author)

• ISO 22787:2023 Marine technology — Marine environment impact assessment (MEIA) — Technical specification for marine biotic survey in the international seabed area — General principles and definitions. ISO copyright office, Geneva, Switzerland, 1-22pp. ICS 13.020.30. (The participation Author)

• GB/T 34656—2017. Specification for marine sediment interstitial biota survey. National Standard of the People’s Republic of China. Standard Press of China Beijing, 2017. 106 pp. (The first Author)

• National Standard of the People’s Republic of China Specifications for marine sediment interstitial biota survey GB/T 34656—2017. Standard Press of China, Beijing, 2021. 153 pp. (The first Author)

• GB/T 42629.3-2023. International Code of Conduct for the Investigation of Submarine Areas and High Seas Environment Part 3: Marine Life Survey. (The participation Author)

• HY/T140-2011. Specifications for the Survey of Marine Microbenthos. Marine Professional Standard of the People’s Republic of China. China Standard Press, Beijing, 2011. 30pp. (Authors: Yanli Lei and Kuidong Xu)

• Yanli Lei*, Tiegang Li*, Zhimin Jian, Rajiv Nigam (2017). Taxonomy and Distribution of Benthic Foraminifera in intertidal zone of the Yellow Sea, PR China: Correlations with Sediment Temperature and Salinity. Marine Micropaleontology, 133: 1-20. JCR: Q1 (SCI, Corresponding author)

• Yanli Lei*, Tiegang Li*, Rajiv Nigam, Maria Holzmann, Man Lyu (2017). Environmental significance of morphological variations in the foraminiferAmmonia aomoriensis(Asano, 1951) and its molecular identification: A study from the Yellow Sea and East China Sea, PR China.Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, 483: 49-57. JCR: Q1 (SCI, Corresponding author)

• Yan Li Lei, Tie Gang Li*, Hongsheng Bi, Wen Lin Cui, Wen Peng Song, Ji Ye Li, Cheng Chun Li (2015). Responses of benthic foraminifera to the 2011 oil spill in the Bohai Sea, PR China. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 96: 245-260. JCR: Q1 (SCI, Corresponding author)

• Yanli Lei*, Chengchun Li, Tiegang Li, Zhimin Jian*, The effect of temperature and food concentration on ingestion rates of Quinqueloculina seminula on the diatom Nitzschia closterium, Journal of Foraminiferal Research, 2019, 49(1): 3-10. JCR: Q2 (SCI, Corresponding author)

• Yan-Li Lei*, Karen Stumm, Stephen A. Wickham, Ulrike-G. Berninger, Distributions and Biomass of Benthic Ciliates, Foraminifera and Amoeboid Protists in Marine, Brackish and Freshwater Sediments, Journal of Eukaryotic Microbiology, 2014, 61: 493-508. JCR: Q2 (SCI, Corresponding author)

• Tianzhen Wu, Yanli Lei*, Zhimin Jian*, Amplification of Immune Genes in Ancient Stony Corals for Adapting to Unstable Marine Environments, Ocean-Land-Atmosphere Research, 2024, 3(2024): 1-13. (Science Partner Journals, Corresponding author)

• Shuaishuai Dong, Yanli Lei*, Tiegang Li, Yifei Cao, Kuidong Xu, Biocalcification crisis in the continental shelf under ocean acidification, Geoscience Frontiers, 2023, 14(2023): 101622. JCR: Q1 (SCI, Corresponding author)

• Yifei Cao, Yanli Lei*, James Kar–Hei Fang, Tiegang Li*, Molecular diversity of foraminiferal eDNA in sediments and their correlations with environmental factors from the Yellow Sea, Ecological Indicators, 2023, 142: 109294. JCR: Q1 (SCI, Corresponding author)

• Tianzhen Wu, Yanli Lei*, Zhimin Jian*, DNA repair-related genes are the key for stony coral ancestors to survive under elevated levels of UVR, Frontiers in Marine Science, 2023, 10: 1-9. JCR: Q1 (SCI, Corresponding author)

• Shuaishuai Dong, Yanli Lei*, Hongsheng Bi, Kuidong Xu, Tiegang Li*, Zhimin Jian*, Biological Response of Planktic Foraminifera to Decline in Seawater pH, Biology, 2023, 11(98): 1-12. JCR: Q1 (SCI, Corresponding author)

1. Push type quantitative stratified sampler, utility model, 2012, second author, patent number: ZL. 201220424708.6

2. Rocker screw quantitative stratified sampler, utility model, 2012, first author, patent No.: ZL. 201220422505.3

3. Rocker screw quantitative stratified sampler and its use method, invention, 2012, second author, patent number: 201210305268.7

4. Push type quantitative stratified sampler and its use method, invention, 2012, first author, patent number: 201210305266.8

Foraminiferal taxonomy, phylogeny and diversity; Foraminiferal molecular biology; foraminiferal experimental ecology, Global change

Guided students

Yingying He, master, 070703-Marine Biology

Jiadong Wang, master, 070703-Marine Biology

Lu Wang, master, 070703-Marine Biology

Man Lyu, master, 085238-Bioengineering

ShuaishuaiDong, doctor, 070703-Marine Biology

Man Lyu, doctor, 070703-Marine Biology

Haotian Li, doctor, 070703-Marine Biology

Junfeng Shi, doctor, 070703-Marine Biology

Meng Li, doctor, 070703-Marine Biology

Qingxia Li, doctor, 070703-Marine Biology

Yangyang Shen, master, 070703-Marine Biology

Wenlong Fa, master, 085238-Bioengineering

Yifei Cao, doctor, 070703-Marine Biology

Jiaxin Chen, master, 070703-Marine Biology

Jiawen Liu, master, 086000-Biology and Medicine

Now guiding students

Yinuo Li, Master's degree students, 070703-Marine Biology

Tianzhen Wu, Doctoral students, 070703-Marine Biology

Wenlong Fa, Doctoral students, 070703-Marine Biology

Yuting Jiao, Master's degree students, 086000-Biology and Medicine