Fang-Jie Zhao is a Professor in the College of Resources and Environmental Sciences at Nanjing Agricultural University, China. His research group focuses on the biogeochemistry of essential micronutrients and toxic metals/metalloids in soil-plant systems, the genetics and molecular mechanisms of how plants take up trace elements, the biofortification of essential micronutrients as well as bioremediation of contaminated soils. His research aims to enhance essential micronutrients and minimize the accumulation of toxic metals/metalloids in food crops for the benefit of human health and agricultural sustainability.
Fang-Jie received a BSc from Fujian Agricultural and Forestry University, a MSc from Nanjing Agricultural University and a PhD from the University of Newcastle upon Tyne, UK. Prior to his current position in China, he worked at Rothamsted Research in the UK for over 20 years. He has published over 350 papers in peer-reviewed journals and is a highly cited researcher (Clarivate Analytics Web of Science, 2017 – 2022). He is the recipient of the 2022 International Fertilizer Association’s Norman Borlaug Plant Nutrition Award and the 2024 TWAS Award in Agricultural Sciences by the World Academy of Sciences.