YNU professor selected as CAS academician

The Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) announced the results of the 2021 academician cooptation on Nov 18. Professor Zhang Keqin from Yunnan University (YNU) was elected as an academician of the Division of Life Sciences and Medicine of the CAS.

For 40 years, Zhang has been engaged in research on the biological control of nematodes.

Professor Zhang Keqin (M) from YNU instructs students to do experiments. [Photo/ynu.edu.cn]

Due to the rich biodiversity of the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau, Zhang has been able to discover a series of important nematode biological control microbial resources and lead compounds, and has established the world's largest nematode biological control microbial library.

He also established a high-efficiency biological control technology system for root-knot nematodes, and developed high-efficiency nematode biological control products with independent intellectual property rights, which have been widely promoted and applied.

In addition, Zhang presided over the country's first "973" nematode biological control and national high-tech industrialization project.

He has won one second place in the National Science Progress Awards, one China Patent Gold Award, one Yunnan Science and Technology Outstanding Contribution Award, one Yunnan Natural Science Special Prize, one first place of Provincial and Ministerial Natural Science Awards, and one first place in the Provincial and Ministerial Science Progress Awards.

Professor Zhang Keqin (L) from YNU checks the effect of root-knot nematode control in the experimental field. [Photo/ynu.edu.cn]

As a correspondent or the primary author, Zhang has published 219 SCI papers in journals such as PNAS and Nat Commun, as well as four monographs in Chinese and foreign publishing houses.

He has contributed much significant research on nematode biological controls and the sustainable development of agriculture.