The National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) has recently released the results of grants application for the year 2019. This year, 600 research projects were granted the Excellent Young Scientists Fund of NSFC, among which 2 applications submitted by Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden (XTBG) were approved. This is the first time that XTBG researchers received the Excellent Young Scientists Fund of NSFC. 

The two recipients of Excellent Young Scientists Fund of NSFC are Prof. Hu Yanru and Prof. Su Tao. They will receive funding of 1.3 million yuan respectively for their research projects, each for 3 years. 

Prof. Hu Yanru is mainly engaged in the research on the mechanisms of plant stress-related hormones, especially on the molecular mechanisms underlying the regulation of freezing tolerance by jasmonate and the complex mechanisms of crosstalk between hormones in modulating stress responses.  

In the new research project entitled “Phytohormonal regulation in plant environmental adaptability”, Prof. Hu and his team will undertake molecular and genetic approaches to further investigate signaling of jasmonate and related proteins in mediating freezing stress response, and finally explore the signaling network and exact molecular mechanisms of jasmonate in regulating freezing tolerance of plants. 

Prof. SU Tao’s new research project is entitled “Palaeobotany and palaeoenvironment of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. His research focuses on using Cenozoic fossil floras in China to understand biodiversity, biogeography, palaeoclimate and palaeoecology. He has published more than 60 peer-reviewed papers on aspects of fossil plants, palaeoecology, palaeoclimate and climate modelling, including Science Advances, National Science Review, etc.  

ABOUT 

The Excellent Young Scientists Fund supports young scholars with good achievements in basic research to conduct innovative research in areas of their own choice, so as to promote fast growth of creative young talents and foster a number of outstanding talents on the international science frontiers. 

The Excellent Young Scientists Fund was launched in 2012. As a type of talent project series, it forms an effective connection with the Young Scientists Fund program and the program of National Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars, promoting the rapid growth of innovative young talents. It mainly supports young science and technology personnel with 5-10 years’ research experience, who have obtained some scientific achievements in their research fields and can independently choose research direction for carrying out basic research. It aims to cultivate outstanding academic scholars who keep advancing, searching and creating in the front edge of scientific research.