Date & Time

Time: 10:00-11:00 am (CST), Nov.10th

Venue: IB 1010

Zoom ID: 715 337 7467

*Light refreshments will be provided

Speaker：

Prof. Ya-Jou (Helena) Chen

Assistant Professor of Environmental Science

Abstract：

Power, J.F., Carere, C.R., Lee, C.K. et al. Microbial biogeography of 925 geothermal springs in New Zealand. Nat Commun 9, 2876 (2018).

https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-018-05020-y

Join Dr. Ya-Jou Chen to discuss the unique microbial communities of hot springs! While this paper describes the hot springs in New Zealand, Dr. Chen is leading her own expeditions to hot springs in China. Come prepared having read the paper and enjoy the discussion. If you have questions, contact Dr. Chen via ya-jou.chen@dukekunshan.edu.cn.

BIO： 

As an environmental microbiologist, Dr. Chen is dedicated to bridging the gap between microbiology and geochemistry, uncovering the unknown in this interdisciplinary field. Her work involves conducting fieldwork to understand diverse habitats and ecosystems using knowledge from microbial ecology.

During her Ph.D. at Monash University in Australia (2016-2020), she explored marine sandy sediments, uncovering unconventional biogeochemical cycles. Her interdisciplinary skills and extensive knowledge provided valuable insights. After completing her Ph.D., she joined the polar microbiology group at McGill University in Canada (2020-2022), where she had the opportunity to travel to the Arctic. Her postdoctoral research focused on identifying optimal bioremediation approaches for potential oil spills on Arctic beaches. This practical research further fueled her passion for utilizing microbes to address environmental challenges.