Zhen Bai, male, born in February 1975 in Shenyang, Liaoning Province; holds a Doctoral degree; Associate Researcher and Master’s Supervisor; Editorial Board Member of Soil Biology & Biochemistry. Main research focuses on microbially mediated nutrient cycling processes and mechanisms in agricultural, forest and grassland ecosystems, the development of microbial inoculants for plant disease resistance and growth promotion, the research and development of inoculants for organic waste degradation, as well as the isolation and extraction of microbial fermentation products. He has published more than 30 Chinese and English papers as the first author or corresponding author, and has presided over more than 10 research projects funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China, the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and provincial/municipal authorities.

2005.08–2008.07 PhD, Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences2001.09–2004.07 Master’s Degree, Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences1993.09–1997.07 Bachelor’s Degree, China Agricultural University

Jul 2025 – Present: Editorial Board Member, Soil Biology and BiochemistryOct 2023 – Present: Editorial Board Member, Journal of Forest and GeoscienceDec 2014 – Present: Associate Researcher, Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of SciencesSep 2011 – Nov 2014: Assistant Researcher, Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of SciencesOct 2010 – Aug 2011: Visiting Scholar, Ghent University, BelgiumAug 2003 – Sep 2010: Assistant Researcher, Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of SciencesAug 1999 – Jul 2003: Research Intern, Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of SciencesJul 1997 – Jul 1999: Research Intern, Shenyang Bioengineering Center

Soil, microorganisms, microbial inoculants, active products, separation and purification

2024–2027:General Program, National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC); Project Title: Formation Mechanism of Soil Organic Carbon (SOC) Mediated by Ectomycorrhizal Fungi (EcMF) in Typical Natural Forests of Northeast China; Principal Investigator (PI) 2023–2027:Sub-project of Key Program, National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC); Project Title: Responses and Mechanisms of Litter Decomposition from Different Plant Organs to Global Change in Grasslands; Principal Investigator (PI) 2022–2024:Hunan Provincial Natural Science Foundation; Project Title: Research and Development of Enzyme-Microbial Inoculants for Bamboo Softening; Principal Investigator (PI) 2022:Sub-project funded by Department of Ecology and Environment of Liaoning Province; Project Title: Distribution Mechanisms of Typical Vegetation and Wild Macrofungi; Principal Investigator (PI) 2019–2021:Sub-project of Key Program, National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC); Project Title: Microbial Mechanisms of Soil Carbon and Nitrogen Cycling; Principal Investigator (PI) 2017–2020:General Program, National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC); Project Title: Soil Organic Matter (SOM) Sequestration and Its Microbiological Mechanisms in Farmlands under Persistent Disturbance; Principal Investigator (PI) 2014–2018:Sub-task of Strategic Priority Research Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences; Project Title: Spatial Patterns and Driving Mechanisms of Soil Microorganisms in Typical Forests — Driving Mechanisms and Model Construction for Vertical Distribution of Forest Soil Microorganisms; Principal Investigator (PI) 2013–2016:General Program, National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC); Project Title: Temporal Dynamics of Functional Laccase Microbial Consortia in Specific Microhabitats and Their Effects on Lignin and Polyphenol Mineralization; Principal Investigator (PI)

1) Dong-xue Zhao, Yu-lian Wei, Ting Cao, Yi-wei Yuan, Jia-rui Yu, Zhen Bai*, Haisheng Yuan*(2025). Convergence of root ectomycorrhizal fungal communities across Pinaceae developmental stages in temperate forests in northeastern China. iScience 28: 112754 (共同通讯作者) 2) Dong-Xue Zhao, Zhen Bai, Yi-Wei Yuan, Si-Ao Li, Yu-Lian Wei, Hai-Sheng Yuan (2025). Ectomycorrhizal fungal community varies across broadleaf species and developmental stages. Scientific Reports 15: 6955 (共同第一作者) 3) Dong-Xue Zhao, Yu-Lian Wei, Zi-Qi You, Zhen Bai*, Hai-Sheng Yuan* (2025). Host Developmental Stage and Vegetation Type Govern Root EcM Fungal Assembly in Temperate Forests. Journal of Fungi 11: 307 (共同通讯作者) 4) Zhen Bai (2024). Soil Formation: A Microbial Housing Process. A Mini Review. J Fore Geosci 2:2. 5) Zhen Bai, Ji Ye, Shu-Fang Liu, Hai-Hong Sun, Zuo-Qiang Yuan, Zi-Kun Mao, Shuai Fang, Shao-Fen Long, Xu-GaoWang (2024). Age-Related Conservation in Plant–Soil Feedback Accompanied by Ectomycorrhizal Domination in Temperate Forests in Northeast China. Journal of Fungi 10: 310. 6) Ji Ye, Linlin Cong, Shufang Liu, Shuguo Tian, Haihong Sun, Yuting Luan, Zhen Bai (2023). Climatic Variability Determines the Biological Diversity and Function of a Mixed Forest in Northeastern China at the Local-Scale. Forests 14: 98（通讯作者） 7) Zhen Bai (2023). Forces Behind Forest Succession—Arbuscular Mycorrhizal and Ectomycorrhizal Competition. J Fore Geosci 1:23-24. 8) Yongxue Yan, Zhen Bai, Shaokui Yan, Jiabing Wu, Hai-ShengYuan (2022). Variance in Woody Debris Components Is Largely Determined by the Belowground Microbial Phylum-Level Composition. Forests13:1446 (共同第一作者) 9) Zhen Bai, Ji Ye, Yu-Lian Wei, Shao-Kui Yan, Hai-Sheng Yuan (2021). Soil depth-dependent C/N stoichiometry and fungal and bacterial communities along a temperate forest succession gradient. Catena 207: 105613 10) Zhen Bai, Xiao-Yun Zhao, Shao-Kui Yan, Yao Lu, Hai-Sheng Yuan (2021). Microbial metabolic potential to transform plant residual carbon. Applied Soil Ecology 157: 103726 11) Zhen Bai, Zuo-Qiang Yuan, Dong-Mei Wang, Shuai Fang, Ji Ye, Xu-Gao Wang, Hai-Sheng Yuan (2020). Ectomycorrhizal fungus-associated determinants jointly reflect ecological processes in a temperature broad-leaved mixed forest. Science of The Total Environment 703: 135475 12) Zhen Bai, Xin Wu, Jun-Jie Lin, Hong-Tu Xie, Hai-Sheng Yuana, Chao Liang (2019). Litter-, soil- and C:N-stoichiometry-associated shifts in fungal communities along a subtropical forest succession. Catena 178: 350-358 13) Zhen Bai, Qiang Ma, Yucheng Dai, Haisheng Yuan, Ji Ye, Wantai Yu (2017) Spatial heterogeneity of SOM concentrations associated with white-rot versus brown-rot wood decay. Scientific Reports 7: 13758 14) Zhen Bai, Qiang Ma, Xin Wu, Yulan Zhang, Wantai Yu (2017) Temperature sensitivity of a PLFA-distinguishable microbial community differs between varying and constant temperature regimes. Geoderma 308: 54-59 15) Zhen Bai, Hongtu Xie, Jenny Kao-Kniffin, Baodong Chen, Pengshuai Shao, Chao Liang (2017) Shifts in microbial trophic strategy explain different temperature sensitivity of CO2 flux under constant and diurnally varying temperature regimes. FEMS Microbiology Ecology 93: fix063 16) Zhen Bai, Junjie Lin, Jiabing Wu, Rongjiu Shi, Xiangzhen Li, Baodong Chen (2017) Q10 values vary with different kinetic properties of C mineralization. Pedobiologia - Journal of Soil Ecology 63: 8-13 17) Zhen Bai, Chao Liang, Samuel Bodé, Dries Huygens, Pascal Boeckx (2016) Phospholipid 13C stable isotopic probing during decomposition of wheat residues. Applied Soil Ecology 98: 65–74

Bai Zhen, Zhang Xudong, Xie Hongtu, Zheng Lichen. A Straw Decomposing Microbial Inoculant as well as Its Preparation and Application (Inventive Patent). Grant Date: January 30, 2013. Patent No.: CN 102234616 B.