Dr. Pei-Yuan Qian
Co-Director of Marine Biology and Environmental Sciences
Pei-Yuan Qian is currently David von Hansemann Professor of Science, Acting Head and Chair Professor of Department of Ocean Science and Chair Professor in Division of Life Science in Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST). He was founding director of Coastal Marine Laboratory, funding director of Environmental Science Program, deputy director of Center for Coastal and Marine Research, Associate director of Atmospheric and Marine Environmental Science Programs of HKUST. He was also the founding President of Pacific Institutes of Marine Sciences. He served as council member and court member of HKUST and currently serves as senate member (for the third time). His work covers marine invertebrate omics, marine molecular microbial ecology, marine natural products, deep-sea biology. He is one of the world’s leading scientists in larval biology, biofouling and antifouling research as well as genome-mining based bioactive compound discovery. He published over 430 SCI papers (with citations of >16,000) and delivered over 90 plenary/keynote talks in international conferences. He is the founding chair of Gordon Research Conference on Marine Molecular Ecology and the Chief Editor of Frontiers in Marine Molecular Ecology. He is one of the world leaders in searching for non-toxic antifouling compounds and other bioactive compounds from marine microbes. He holds 7 USA and 6 China Patents on non-toxic antifouling compounds, 1 EU and USA patents on biosynthesis of didemnin, in addition to several patent applications currently under review (including new antibiotics). As one of the leading marine ecologists/biologists, he has made substantial contributions to the marine ecology/biology programs in China and holds honorary/adjunct professorship in more than 10 universities/institutions in ocean sciences in China. He is currently the chief scientist for a national program focusing on the mid-ocean ridge hydrothermal ecosystem study and conservation in the area spreads from the south Atlantic Ocean to northwest Indian Ocean.
