School Of Life Science

College of Life Science, Henan University
Henan University set up its first faculty of biology in 1923, little more than a decade after the creation of the university itself. Due to a myriad of factors, the faculty of biology was disbanded twice, first in 1950, then in 1962. The new department of biology started from scratch in 1987, and in 2002 it was reorganized into the College of Life Science. After more than two decades of tenacious efforts, the College of Life Science has grown into an institue that provides comprehensive trainings in science, technology, and agricultural techniques, offers a well-integrated suite of undergraduate, Masters, PhD, and post-doctoral programs, boasts many high-level talents, prides itself in its high quality scientific research, and is fairly influential both domestically and internationally. The College of Life Science has forged ahead rapidly in its relatively short time of existence, achieving in several years what many similar outfits have only managed to accomplish in decades.  

The College currently has 91 formal employees, including 65 full-time teachers, of whom 45 hold PhD degrees. There are 48 professors and associate professors, including 2 academicians, 10 province- or university-level tenured professors, 2 recipients of the National Outstanding Youth Foundation, 5 recipients of the Henan Province Outstanding Youth Foundation, 10 Mainstay Teachers of the Henan Province. In recently years, the College has undertaken more than 60 research projects of the provincial/ministerial level or higher, received over 30 million RMB in research funding, and published more than 300 academic papers, some of which are published on internationally renowned journals such as Plant Cell, Plant Physiology, PNAS, and Plant Molecular Biology. The College has 1 provincial level key academic program (biology), 1 Ministry of Education-Henan Province collaborative key laboratory (plant stress biology), 1 biology post-doctoral station, PhD and Masters programs in biology (level one), as well as a Masters program in crop genetics and breeding (agronomy). There are 3 undergraduate subdivisions: bioscience, biotechnology, and bioengineering.

Born in 1957, Mr. Deng Jinbo, M.D., is a professor and Yellow River scholar at Henan University. Dr. Deng was awarded his MD degree from Shanghai JiaoTong University in 1996, and is now serving as Dean of Henan University Institute of Neurobiology, adjunct professor of University of Freiburg, grant review committee member of the National Natural Science Foundation of China, reviewer of the Journal of Neuroscience, Alchohol and Alcoholism, the Journal of Advanced Chemistry (in Chinese), Chinese Pharmacological Bulletin, and Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica. Dr. Deng conducted his postdoctoral studies at University of Freiburg and worked as research assistant at the University of Tennessee and Brown University. Dedicating his time to studies on neuroscience frontiers such as synaptic genesis & plasticity and neurological toxicology, Dr. Deng has published over 60 papers, including 18 SCI ones, on renowned journals, and is presiding over three National Natural Science Foundation projects.   

Born in 1963, Mr. Ding Shengyan is a tenured professor and PhD supervisor in Ecology and Physical Geography at Henan University. Dr. Ding is the head supervisor of the Doctoral Program in Physical Geography, PhD supervisor in plant physiological ecology, and head supervisor of the Masters Program in Ecology. Dr. Ding presided over National Natural Science Foundation projects in 2005, 2006, and 2010, as well as a National Social Science Foundation project in 2000. Mr. Ding was awarded the Excellent Youth Foundation of He'nan Scientific Journal of Geographical Sciences, Chinese Geographical Science,Journal of , Acta Ecologica Sinica, Acta Geographica Sinica, and so on. He has also written or edited 8 monographs and textbooks. 

Of the Hui ethnic group and a devout Muslim, Mr. Hong Jun was born in 1968 to a Kaifeng family. Mr. Hong was awarded his Bachelor’s Degree in semiconductor chemistry at Jilin University in 1991, his Masters Degree in semiconductor materials at Jilin University in 1994, and his PhD in biophysics at Tehran University in 2006. Dr. Hong devotes his life to studies of protein denaturation and protection, artificial enzymes, bioelectrochemistry, and industrial environmental monitoring system. During his stay in Iran, Dr. Hong participated in a number of national Iranian and international research projects. Dr. Hong has published many SCI papers, and is currently a tenured professor in biophysics at Henan University.

Born in 1965, Dr. Jiang Jing is a tenured professor and graduate supervisor at Henan University. Dr. Jiang devotes her time to studies of plant hormones, as well as molecular and cellular mechanisms by which reactive oxygen species and protein kinases regulate plant stress adaptations. In recent years Dr. Jiang has presided over and participated in more than 10 national level research projects, published over 20 academic papers including more than 10 SCI papers, and applied for 3 patents. Her PhD thesis was nominated as one of the 100 most outstanding PhD dissertations nationwide that year. She has been awarded Expert Peer-reviewer of the National Natural Science Foundation, the Excellent Youth Foundation of He'nan Scientific.

Dr. Miao Chen is a professor and PhD supervisor at Henan University. He is a province-level academic leader, national outstanding teacher, and member of the Kaifeng city CPPCC standing committee. Specializing in studies of plant stress biology and plant developmental biology, Dr. Miao has presided over two National Natural Science Foundation projects and a sub-topic of a major national transgene project, participated as a key researcher in several 973 and National Natural Science Foundation projects. Dr. Miao has published more than 20 papers on renowned journals such as Journal of Integrative Plant Biology, Chinese Bulletin of Botany. He is the lead lecturer of the graduate course plant developmental biology and undergraduate course botany.

Born in 1967, Mr. Wan Shiqiang is a tenured professor at Henan University. Dr. Wan was awarded his Bachelor’s degree at Henan Normal University in 1989 and his PhD at the University of Oklahoma in 2002. Dr. Wan did his post-doctoral work at Oak Ridge National Laboratory in 2003 and 2004. He has served as a research fellow in the Chinese Academy of Sciences Institute of Botany since 2005, and a tenured professor at the College of Life Science, Henan Unversity since March 2010. Dr. Wan received support from the Hundred Talents Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences in 2006, and was awarded National Outstanding Youth Foundation in 2009. Specializing in experimental studies concerning the relationship between global change and terrestrial ecosystems, Dr. Wan has presided over a number of major national research projects, and has published close to 50 academic papers on renowned journals such as Nature, Ecology, Global Change Biology, New Phytologist, Journal of Ecology, Global Biogeochemical Cycles, Ecological Applications, Ecosystems, Biogeosciences, and Journal of Experimental Botany.

Born in 1967, Mr. Zhang Xiao is a professor and PhD supervisor at Henan University. He devotes his time to studies of plant cell signal transduction, plant growth, and regulation of plant development. Dr. Zhang presides over 5 important research projects, such as Ministry of Education Yangtze River Scholar and Innovation Group Development Project, National Transgene Organism New Variety Cultivation Project. Dr. Zhang has published a number of papers on internationally renowned journals such as Plant Physiology, Cell Research, Plant & Cell Physiolgy. A SCI paper by Dr. Zhang has been cited nearly 200 times. Dr. Zhang has been awarded a Ministry of Education Class One Award in Natural Science, inducted into the New Century Countless Talents Project, and awarded the status of Expert enjoying special allowance from the State Council of China. 

Born in 1962, Mr. Li Suoping is a professor and PhD supervisor at Henan University. Awarded Henan Province Outstanding Youth Foundation in 2002, Dr. Li serves as Vice Chairman of the Henan Society of Genetics, as well as academic leader of Henan Province. Dr. Li has presided over 8 national- or provincial/ministerial-level research projects, including National Natural Science Foundation and Henan Province Outstanding Youth Science Foundation projects, and published more than 40 papers and 3 monographs. Dr. Li has cloned and registered in the International Gene Bank 12 genes that affect wheat quality. He has also undertaken meaningful studies on barb goat grass (Aegilops squarrosa) resources in the Yellow River basin, non-meiotic gamete formation of distant hybrid, sex-change mechanisms of distant hybrid clones, chromosome manipulation of wheat-barb goat grass, and plant molecular evolution.

Born in 1963, Dr. Shang Fude is a professor and PhD supervisor at the College of Life Science. Mr. Shang is currently serving as Dean of the College of Life Science, member of the Henan University Academic Committee, and Chairman of the College Academic Committee. Dr. Shang has been awarded National Model Teacher, Teaching Ethics Paragon of Henan Province, Henan Province Labor Day Medal, Henan University Master Lecturer. Dr. Shang is also Vice Chairman of the International Registration Center for Osmanthus cultivars, councilor of China Flower Association, and Vice President of the Osmanthus fragrans division, China Flower Association. In recently years, Dr. Shang has achieved much on studies of plant morphological anatomy, plant taxonomy, and plant resource biology. He is especially well-known for his world-leading studies on Osmanthus fragrans taxonomy.

Song Chunpeng
(1) Major study experience:
1999-2003, the University of Arizona, plant molecular genetics and genomics
1995-1997, China Agricultural University, PhD in plant physiology
1994-1995, Lancaster University, plant molecular biology
1987-1993, Beijing University, Masters in plant physiology
1979-1983, Henan Normal University

(2) Major academic posts:
Professor, PhD supervisor, recipent of National Outstanding Youth Foundation, Central Plains scholar of Henan Province, head of Ministry of Education/Henan Province plant stress biology key laboratory.
Vice Chairman of the Chinese Society of Plant Physiology, Deputy Director of the Environmental and Nutritional Physiology Committee, Deputy Director of the Plant Molecular Biology Committee, Botanical Society of China, Member of the Plant Organ Genesis Sub-society, Chinese Society for Cell Biology.
Sits on the New Phytologist Board of Advisors; editor of Molecular Plant Biology, Frontiers of Biology, and Journal of Integrative Plant Biology; Associate Editor in Chief of Acta Phytophysiologica Sinica.

(3) Major work experience:
2003-         Collge of Life Science, Henan University

Molecular genetic analysis of signal transduction in stressed plants
Signal tranduction of the drought stress
1999-2003, University of Arizona, Tucson, USA

Chloroplast Na+/H+ antiporter and chloroplast development & the regulation of intracellular pH balance
Epigenetic regulatory mechanisms under abiotic stresses
1997-1999， Department of Biology, Henan University

Oxidative signal transduction in stomatal guard cells
1995-1997

ABA-induced H2O2 generation and its signal transduction
1994-1995, Lancaster University

Cloning the ABA regulatory genes in Commelina communis stomatal guard cells
(4) Recently published papers

Wang PC, Du YY, Li Y, Ren DT, and Song CP*. (2010) Hydrogen peroxide-mediated activation of MAP kinase 6 modulates nitric oxide biosynthesis and signal transduction in Arabidopsis. Plant Cell 22: 2981-2998.
Bai L, Zhang GZ, Zhou Y, Zhang ZP, Wang W, Du YY, Wu ZY, and Song CP*. (2009) Plasma membrane-associated proline-rich extensin-like receptor kinase 4, a novel regulator of Ca2+ signalling, is required for abscisic acid responses in Arabidopsis thaliana. Plant J. 60: 314-327.
Wang PT, and Song CP*. (2008) Guard-cell signalling for hydrogen peroxide and abscisic acid. New Phytol. 178: 703-718.
Jiang J, Wang PT, An GY, Wang PC, and Song CP*. (2008) The involvement of a P38-like MAP kinase in ABA-induced and H2O2-mediated stomatal closure in Vicia faba L. Plant Cell Rep. 27: 377-385.
Miao YC, Lü D, Wang PC, Wang XC, Chen J, Miao C, and Song CP*. (2006) An Arabidopsis glutathione peroxidase functions as both a redox transducer and a scavenger in abscisic acid and drought stress responses. Plant Cell 18: 2749-2766.
Song CP, Agarwal M, Ohta M, GuoY, Halfter U, Wang PC, and Zhu J-K. (2005) Role of an Arabidopsis AP2/EREBP-type transcriptional repressor in ABA and drought stress responses. Plant Cell 17: 2384-2396.
Song CP, Guo Y, Qiu QS, Lambert G, Galbraith DW, Jagendorf A, and Zhu J-K. (2004) A probable Na+(K+)/H+ exchanger on the chloroplast envelope functions in pH homeostasis and chloroplast development in Arabidopsis thaliana. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. 101: 10211-10216.
Song CP and Galbraith DW. (2006) AtSAP18, an orthologue of human SAP18, is involved in the regulation of salt stress and mediates transcriptional repression in Arabidopsis. Plant Mol. Biol. 60: 241-257 .
Zhang X, Zhang L, Dong FC, Gao JF, Galbraith DW, and Song CP*. (2001) Hydrogen peroxide involves abscisic acid-induced stomatal movement in Vicia faba L. Plant Physiol. 126: 1438-1448.
Cheng YL, and Song CP*. (2006) Hydrogen peroxide homeostasis and signaling in plant cells. Sci. China. 49: 1-11
Miao YC, Guo JG, Liu ET, Li K, Dai J, Wang PC, Chen J, and Song CP*. (2007) Osmotically stress-regulated the expression of glutathione peroxidase 3 in Arabidopsis. Chin. Sci. Bull. 52: 127-130.
Jiang J, An GY, Wang PC, Wang PT, Han JF, and Song CP*. (2003) MAP kinase specifically mediates the ABA-induced H2O2 generation in guard cells of Vicia faba L. Chin. Sci. Bull. 48: 1919-1926.
Wang PC, Du YY, An GY, Zhou Y, Miao C, and Song CP*. (2006) Analysis of global expression profiles of Arabidopsis genes under ABA and H2O2 applications. J. Integr. Plant Biol. 48: 62-74.
Zhang X, Miao YC, An GY, Zhou Y, Shangguan ZP, Gao JF, and Song CP*. (2001) K+ channels inhibited by hydrogen peroxide mediate abscisic acid signaling in Vicia guard cells. Cell Res. 11: 195-202 .
Guo Y, Xiong L, Song CP, Gong D, Halfter U, and Zhu J-K. (2002) A calcium sensor and its interacting protein kinase are global regulators of abscisic acid signaling in Arabidopsis. Dev. Cell 3: 233-244.
Zhu J, Gong Z, Zhang C, Song CP, Damsz B, Inan G, Koiwa H, Zhu J-K, Hasegawa PM, and Bressan RA. (2002) OSM1/SYP61: A syntaxin protein in Arabidopsis controls abscisic acid- mediated and non-Abscisic acid-mediated responses to abiotic stress. Plant Cell 14: 3009-3028.
Zhang X, Dong FC, Gao JF, and Song CP*. (2001) Hydrogen peroxide-induced changes in intracellular pH of guard cells precede stomatal closure. Cell Res. 11: 37-43.
Awards:
Stomatal regulatory mechanisms that improve plant water use efficiency, Class One Award in Natural Science, Ministry of Education

Projects:

Screening and identification systems for selecting drought-resistant mutants of maize and cotton, Major Project of Transgene Organism Variety Cultivation (2009ZX08009-025B) presiding, 2009.6-2010.12, progressing nicely.
Cloning and functional verification of genes for important traits, Major National Transgene Project, presiding, 2008.1-2009.12, completed.
Molecular mechanisms by which ABA regulates Arabidopsis thaliana root development, Major Research Project of the National Natural Science Foundation (90817106), presiding, 2009.1-2012.12, progressing nicely.
Molecular mechanisms by which multiple stimuli on stomatal guard cells regulate plant water use efficiency, National Outstanding Youth Foundation (30625005), presiding, 2007.1-2010.12, progressing nicely.
Oxidative signal transduction of guard cells and the molecular basis by which this transduction regulates plant stress adaptation, Major Research Project of the National Natural Science Foundation (30530430), presiding, 2006.1-2009.12, completed.
Molecular and cell biology mechanisms that regulate stomatal movements under drought conditions, 973 National Major Basic Research Project (2003CB114305), presiding, 2003.11-2008.11, completed.
Combining cell biology and genetic techniques to interpret Ca2+ signals of cold-stressed plants, National Outstanding Youth Foundation (B) (30428026), presiding, 2006.1-2009.12, completed.