Microbial environmental adaptation and ecological functions

Researchgate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Cong-Wang-28

GoogleScholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=8gavKggAAAAJ&hl=en

• Feb 2019 – Mar 2020
  Visiting Graduate Student, Stanford University, USA

• Sep 2014 – Jul 2020
  Ph.D. in Science, South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, China

• Sep 2010 – Jun 2014
  B.Sc. in Science, Ludong University, China

• Feb 2025 – Present
  Associate Professor, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, China

• Oct 2020 – Feb 2025
  Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, China

（1） Dispersal changes soil bacterial interactions with fungal wood decomposition, ISME COMMUNICATIONS, 2023, Co-first author
（2） Resource allocation theory reveals sulfur shortage for microbes under phosphorus amendment in tropical forests with divergent land use history, SOIL BIOLOGY & BIOCHEMISTRY, 2023, First author
（3） Bacterial genome size and gene functional diversity negatively correlate with taxonomic diversity along a pH gradient, NATURE COMMUNICATIONS, 2023, First author
（4） Long-term phosphorus addition downregulates microbial investments on enzyme productions in a mature tropical forest, JOURNAL OF SOILS AND SEDIMENTS, 2020, First author
（5） Responses of soil microbial community to continuous experimental nitrogen additions for 13 years in a nitrogen-rich tropical forest, SOIL BIOLOGY & BIOCHEMISTRY, 2018, First author

Long-Term Research Focus and Future Directions in Microbial Ecology

I have long been engaged in microbial ecology research, with a focus on uncovering the strategies by which microorganisms adapt to environmental changes and exploring the mechanisms by which microbial communities drive ecosystem processes. This work aims to provide a theoretical foundation for understanding microbial responses to global environmental change. In recent years, my research has concentrated on large-scale environmental gradient sampling combined with multi-omics approaches, including metagenomics and metatranscriptomics, to reveal macro-scale distribution patterns of microbial genomic traits and to investigate the genetic basis of microbial adaptation to environmental change. Related findings have been published in Nature Communications, Soil Biology and Biochemistry, ISME Communications, and include one highly cited paper. I have served as principal investigator for multiple projects funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC), including General, Young Scientist, and Special Postdoctoral Fellowships. I also serve as a youth editorial board member of Biodiversity and as a reviewer for journals such as PNAS.

My future research will focus on two major directions:

1. Utilizing multi-omics molecular tools and integrating large-scale field surveys with controlled experiments to explore, at the genomic level, the mechanisms by which microbes adapt to changing resource availability and environmental stress. This work will contribute to advancing microbial ecological and evolutionary theory and deepen our understanding of microbial responses to global change.

2. At the community and population levels, elucidating the coupling between microbial genomic traits and key ecosystem functions—such as plant growth, soil carbon sequestration, and nutrient cycling. By applying artificial intelligence, we aim to develop predictive models that link microbial genomes to ecosystem functions, while also mining microbial "genomic dark matter" to support sustainable development.

Joining our research group offers the opportunity to gain a comprehensive research worldview spanning from micro- to macro-scales, master cutting-edge microbial omics techniques, understand the logic behind microbial adaptation to the world, and harness microbial resources to enhance human well-being. We welcome those who love embracing nature and are eager to explore the unknown.