Projects per year
Personal profile
Personal profile
I am a microbial ecologist studying microbial food web ecology and community assembly. I obtained my PhD at Technical University of Munich in Germany and did my postdoctoral research at Westlake University before I joined the Department of Health and Environmental Sciences (HES), XJTLU. My research focuses on microbial interactions in natural (e.g., soil) and engineered (e.g., wastewater treatment systems) communities with particular interest in microbial predation. Meta-omic approaches are mainly employed in my research, combined with stable isotope labelling, to investigate the diversity, function, and metabolic features of predatory bacteria, with the ultimate aim to exploit predatory bacteria as biocontrol agents against pathogens and to regulate microbiome, towards sustainable environmental and human health. My other research interests include how microorganisms respond to environmental disturbance, e.g., nutrient inputs and contamination, and biodegradation of emerging pollutants.
Postgraduate applications are welcome. Please contact me through Lu.Zhang03@xjtlu.edu.cn.
Research interests
Microbial food webs in natural and engineered ecosystems
Functions and applications of predatory bacteria
Microbial community assembly mechanisms
Experience
Assistant Professor, Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University, 2023 - present
PostDoc/Research Assistant Professor, Westlake University, 2018 - 2023
Teaching
ENV214 Aquatic Ecology
ENV216 Microbial Ecology
Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
Education/Academic qualification
PhD, Technical University of Munich - 2018
MSc, Ludwig Maximilians University of Munich - 2012
BSc, Sun Yat-sen University - 2010
Research areas
- Microbial food web ecology
- Microbial response to changing environments
- Biodegradation of emerging pollutants
Keywords
- QH301 Biology
- Microbial ecology
- Microbial food webs
- GE Environmental Sciences
- Stable isotope probing
- Meta-omics
Person Types
- Staff
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Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
Recent external collaboration on country/territory level. Dive into details by clicking on the dots or
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Investigating the diversity and metabolic characteristics of as-yet-uncultivated predatory myxobacteria in activated sludge
Zhang, L. (PI)
1/01/24 → 31/12/26
Project: Governmental Research Project
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A comparative study of predatory bacteria and protists in soil microbial food webs
Zhang, L. (PI)
1/01/24 → 31/12/26
Project: Internal Research Project
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Combining stable isotope probing and meta-omic analyses to investigate predatory bacteria in activated sludge
Zhang, L. (PI)
3/11/20 → 21/10/21
Project: Governmental Research Project
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Disentangling microbial food web in activated sludge using stable isotope probing and metagenomic analyses
Zhang, L. (PI)
1/01/20 → 31/12/22
Project: Governmental Research Project
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Deciphering structuring mechanism and increased health risk of antibiotic resistome from a coastal river basin to the downstream estuary and bay under anthropogenic disturbances
Huang, X., He, Y., Zhang, L., Chen, J., Zhang, G., Zhang, Z., Huang, W., Ma, L., Cheng, F., Wang, Y., Zhu, X. & Ju, F., 5 Nov 2025, In: Journal of Hazardous Materials. 499, p. 140040Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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Millimeter-scale niche differentiation of N-cycling microorganisms across the soil-water interface has implications for N2O emissions from wetlands
Cai, Y.-J., Zhang, H.-Y., Hu, X.-R., Yang, Y.-C., Hazard, C., Nicol, G. W., He, J.-Z., Shen, J.-P., He, Z.-Y., Zhang, L., Zhang, J.-H., Liu, H., Zhang, S. & Chen, Z., 1 May 2025, In: The ISME journal. p. wraf062Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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Response of soil enzyme activity, microbial community and root exudates in wheat rhizosphere to copper hydroxide nanopesticide
Xu, Z., Zhang, L., Shi, X., Wu, S., Wang, J., Zhang, C., Wen, Y., Xiao, Y., Zhou, Z., Tang, T. & Li, L., 5 Nov 2025, In: Journal of Hazardous Materials. 499, p. 140197Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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Selenium regulated the responses of soil bacterial communities to short-term elevated atmospheric CO2 stress
Zhang, Z., Kau, M., Zang, H., Wang, Y., Duan, Y., Zhang, L., Liu, Y. & Yuan, L., 22 Aug 2025, In: Environmental Research.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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Diversity and distribution of biosynthetic gene clusters in agricultural soil microbiomes
Zhang, Z., Zhang, L., Zhang, L., Chu, H., Zhou, J. & Ju, F., 12 Mar 2024, In: mSystems. 9, 4Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
15 Citations (Scopus)
Activities
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Environmental Microbiology Reports (Journal)
Lu Zhang (Reviewer)
24 Dec 2025Activity: Peer-review and editorial work of publications › Publication Peer-review
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The ISME journal (Journal)
Lu Zhang (Reviewer)
23 Jul 2025Activity: Peer-review and editorial work of publications › Publication Peer-review
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The ISME journal (Journal)
Lu Zhang (Reviewer)
16 Jun 2025Activity: Peer-review and editorial work of publications › Publication Peer-review
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MOU and Unveiling Ceremony of Teaching & Research Base in SIP Qingyuan Huayan Water Company
Linxi Yuan (Organiser) & Lu Zhang (Organiser)
11 Jun 2025Activity: Participating in or organising an event › Organising an event e.g. a conference, workshop, …
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Engineering (Journal)
Lu Zhang (Reviewer)
5 Jun 2025Activity: Peer-review and editorial work of publications › Publication Peer-review