Killam Postdoctoral Fellow looks for agriculture solutions at the molecular level
August 15, 2024 – Dr. Chaoqun Wang won a prestigious Killam Postdoctoral Fellowship in 2024 in recognition of his promising research that explores plant-soil-microbial interactions. He joined UBC to work with Associate Professor Jean-Thomas Cornelis in Applied Biology (Soil Science).
Growing up on a farm, Dr. Wang has a deep understanding of soil health.
His primary research focus is on the role of phosphorus in the soil – an important ingredient in promoting early plant growth and development. Phosphorus is typically applied manually through mineral fertilizers. However, as it is water soluble, when the application is too heavy, unused phosphorus can enter surface water – negatively impacting water quality and interfering with the health of fish and aquatic plants.
Dr. Wang will explore activity in the rhizosphere – what he calls the ‘hotspot’ of microbial activities. In this narrow band of soil, plant roots take up water and nutrients, and release carbon assimilated by photosynthesis. Using metabolomics (the study of chemical processes involving small molecules within living organisms, such as plants) and genomic analysis, he hopes his research will contribute to a new agricultural paradigm that ensures agricultural sustainability in a changing climate by limiting potential environmental damage while optimizing plant productivity.
If he could make one change in the world?
“I know that outcomes are not always sure, but I want to advance agricultural innovations to create climate-smart, integrated soil systems.”
Some questions regarding phosphorus that Dr. Wang are investigating include: How do root traits respond to slight phosphorus limitations in terms of gene expression and metabolite exudation? Does increased root exudation under slight phosphorus limitation favour plant phosphorus acquisition and soil carbon sequestration?
Dr. Wang arrived at UBC in 2023 – drawn to its advanced equipment, the open and inclusive academic environment, and the beautiful city. He is particularly excited to be doing genomic work funded by Genome BC and Investment Agriculture Foundation (IAF), and his research has started on white lupin plants.
In 2022, Dr. Wang obtained his PhD from the University of Göttingen (Germany) where he studied biogeochemistry in agroecosystems. Before that, he studied at the Chinese Academy of Forestry in Beijing, China.
Dr. Wang was born in Henan Province in China, where he grew up farming wheat and corn.
“I can tell you every piece of activity on the field,” Dr. Wang said. “By diving into farming, I’ve learned about plant-soil-microbial interactions in ecosystems and about sustainable practices. I’m excited to be researching the efficient use of resources like water and nutrients. Farming has given me insights that help me understand plant biology, breeding, and genetics, which are essential for improving crop yields.”