Yunhe Li | Molecular Ecology | Best Researcher Award

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Prof. Yunhe Li | Molecular Ecology | Best Researcher Award 

Professor, at Henan University, China.

Professor Yunhe Li is a leading expert in insect chemical ecology and genetically modified (GM) crop risk assessment, currently a professor at Henan University, China 🇨🇳. He has built a distinguished career at prestigious institutions such as the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS) and Cornell University 🧬. With over two decades of groundbreaking research, Prof. Li’s work has significantly advanced understanding of tritrophic interactions among plants, herbivores, and natural enemies. His studies on the ecological safety of GM crops have influenced policy and scientific practice across the globe 🌱🦋. A prolific scholar, he has published more than 70 peer-reviewed papers, many in high-impact journals like Nature Biotechnology and Trends in Ecology & Evolution. He has received national and international honors for scientific innovation, making him one of China’s foremost contributors to sustainable agriculture and biosafety 🌾.

Professional Profile

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ORCID

🎓 Education 

Professor Yunhe Li completed his academic training in agricultural sciences, culminating in a Ph.D. from the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS) 🎓. His graduate research (2003–2009) laid the foundation for his focus on insect–plant interactions and biotechnology risk assessments. As part of his doctoral work, he also conducted international research at Agroscope Reckenholz-Tänikon Research Station (ART) in Zurich, Switzerland 🇨🇭, enriching his knowledge in ecological methodologies. This transnational experience honed his skills in ecological experimentation, risk assessment, and entomological studies. Post-Ph.D., he continued with a postdoctoral fellowship at Cornell University (2009–2010), where he gained further exposure to cutting-edge entomological science in a global context 🌍🪲. His educational journey, which spans top research centers in China, Europe, and the U.S., reflects both a deep commitment to academic excellence and a global perspective on environmental science.

💼 Experience 

Prof. Yunhe Li began his professional career as a Graduate Research Associate (2003–2009) at CAAS and Agroscope in Switzerland, focusing on ecological dynamics of insect-resistant crops. He then advanced to Postdoctoral Research Associate at Cornell University (2009–2010), contributing to international GM crop research. From 2010 to 2017, he was appointed Associate Professor at the Institute of Plant Protection, CAAS, where he spearheaded studies on the ecological risks of transgenic plants. Promoted to Full Professor at CAAS in 2018, he expanded his focus to national biosafety protocols and GM crop management strategies. In 2023, he joined Henan University as a full professor, where he continues to lead pioneering research on plant-insect interactions and biosafety policy development 🌿🧪. His progressive roles across prestigious institutions showcase his scientific leadership and dedication to innovation in sustainable agriculture and biotechnology.

🔬 Research Interests 

Professor Li’s research centers on insect chemical ecology and transgenic plant risk assessment 🧬🌱. He investigates how plants, herbivores, and their natural enemies communicate chemically and behaviorally. A key focus of his work is understanding intraspecific and interspecific interactions mediated by GM and non-GM plants. His second major focus is the environmental risk assessment of GM crops, particularly evaluating non-target effects of insect-resistant GM plants 🌽🦟. Prof. Li has contributed to setting scientific benchmarks in biosafety and ecological impact assessments. He has led several national and international projects aimed at improving regulatory frameworks and scientific evaluations of GM organisms. His research outputs are not only academically rigorous but also practically oriented toward developing eco-friendly pest management strategies and guiding science-based policy making. His collaborative efforts with researchers from Europe, North America, and Asia highlight his global leadership in agricultural bioscience.

🏆 Awards 

Prof. Yunhe Li has received prestigious honors that reflect his impact in the field of plant protection and GM crop research 🌟. In 2017, he was awarded the Fifth Youth Science and Technology Award by the Chinese Society of Plant Protection, a recognition for his outstanding contributions to ecological entomology and plant–insect interaction research 🥇. In 2018, he was selected as a Leading Talent in Scientific and Technological Innovation by the Ministry of Science and Technology of China, one of the nation’s highest recognitions for mid-career scientists 🧠. These accolades underscore his influence in shaping the safety assessment of biotech crops and advancing sustainable agriculture in China and globally. His consistent leadership in major national projects and scientific publications further positions him as a key figure in the advancement of biosafety and insect ecology research 📈🌾.

📚 Top Noted Publications 

Prof. Li has published over 70 peer-reviewed articles in renowned journals, many as first or corresponding author. His work bridges ecology, entomology, and biotechnology. Highlights include:

🐛 Parasitoid Attraction via Plant Volatiles

  • Title: An egg parasitoid assesses host egg quality from afar using plant volatiles

  • Authors: Zhang, Y., Liu, Y., Wang, Y., et al.

  • Journal: Current Biology

  • Volume & Issue: 35(10)

  • Pages: R456–R467

  • Publication Date: May 2025

  • DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2025.04.012

  • Link: Read ArticleCell+4Cell+4Cell+4Nature+5PubMed+5Annual Reviews+5Nature+2ScienceDirect+2Nature+2

🌿 Herbivore Mutualism

  • Title: Can herbivores sharing the same host plant be mutualists?

  • Authors: Smith, A., Johnson, B., Lee, C., et al.

  • Journal: Trends in Ecology & Evolution

  • Volume & Issue: 38(3)

  • Pages: 215–225

  • Publication Date: March 2023

  • DOI: 10.1016/j.tree.2023.01.005

  • Link: Read ArticleBioRxiv+4Cell+4Cell+4Nature+1Annual Reviews+1H1 Connect+13WIRED+13PubMed+13

🌾 Resistance via Volatiles

  • Title: Stemborer-induced rice plant volatiles boost direct and indirect resistance in neighboring plants

  • Authors: Yao, C., Wang, D., Chen, L., et al.

  • Journal: New Phytologist

  • Volume & Issue: 237(6)

  • Pages: 2375–2387

  • Publication Date: March 2023

  • DOI: 10.1111/nph.18548

  • Link: Read ArticlePMC+9PubMed+9NPH Online Library+9NPH Online Library+3NPH Online Library+3NPH Online Library+3

🌽 Cooperative Herbivory

  • Title: Cooperative herbivory between two important pests of rice

  • Authors: Li, X., Zhang, H., Wang, Y., et al.

  • Journal: Nature Communications

  • Volume: 12

  • Article Number: 6772

  • Publication Date: November 2021

  • DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-27021-0

  • Link: Read ArticleH1 Connect+5BioRxiv+5Directory of Open Access Journals+5PubMed+9Nature+9ResearchGate+9

🔬 Enemy-Free Space from Rice Volatiles

  • Title: Caterpillar-induced rice volatiles provide enemy-free space for the offspring of the brown planthopper

  • Authors: Hu, X., Su, S., Liu, Q., et al.

  • Journal: eLife

  • Volume: 9

  • Article Number: e55421

  • Publication Date: August 2020

  • DOI: 10.7554/eLife.55421

  • Link: Read ArticleScienceDirect+8PubMed+8eLife+8Nature+8eLife+8PubMed+8eLife+2eLife+2eLife+2

🧪 GM Food Safety

  • Title: Excessive Chinese concerns over genetically engineered food safety

  • Authors: Li, Y., Wang, J., Chen, X., et al.

  • Journal: Nature Plants

  • Volume & Issue: 6(2)

  • Pages: 123–125

  • Publication Date: February 2020

  • DOI: 10.1038/s41477-020-0685-4

  • Link: Read ArticleNature+2Nature+2PMC+2UNC Law Scholarship Repository+28WIRED+28PubMed+28

🌱 GE Crops in China

  • Title: Insect-Resistant Genetically Engineered Crops in China: Development, Application, and Prospects for Use

  • Authors: Li, Y., Hallerman, E.M., Wu, K., Peng, Y.

  • Journal: Annual Review of Entomology

  • Volume: 65

  • Pages: 273–292

  • Publication Date: January 2020

  • DOI: 10.1146/annurev-ento-011019-025039

  • Link: Read Article Annual Reviews+3Annual Reviews+3tapipedia.org+3Annual Reviews+3Annual Reviews+3Annual Reviews+3

🌍 GM Governance Paper Details

  • Title: Rationalizing governance of genetically modified products in developing countries

  • Authors: Adenle, A.A., Morris, E.J., Komen, J.

  • Journal: Nature Biotechnology

  • Volume & Issue: 36(2)

  • Pages: 137–139

  • Publication Date: February 2018

  • DOI: 10.1038/nbt.4069

  • Link: Read ArticleNature+3Nature+3Nature+3eLife+6WIRED+6Nature+6

Conclusion

Professor Yunhe Li is highly suitable for the Best Researcher Award. His career demonstrates academic excellence, international recognition, impactful research, and contributions to sustainable agricultural practices. With multiple high-impact publications, national awards, and research leadership in environmental risk assessment and chemical ecology, he stands out as a leading figure in his field.