Dr Fang You

Lecturer

Centre for Mined Land Rehabilitation
Sustainable Minerals Institute
fang.you@uq.edu.au
+61 7 334 64502

Overview

I graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Resource Technology and Engineering (Beijing Normal University), Master in ecology (Chinese Academy of Sciences), PhD in Environmental Microbiology and Engineering (The University of Queensland).

I am currently an Advanced Queensland research fellow in the global leading research group of Ecological Engineering of Mine Wastes, in the Sustainable Mineral Institute (SMI). My research interest is to investigate the biogenic factors (e.g., extremophiles, bacteria, fungi) in mineral transformation for sustainable mineral waste management. My research strength lies in my multidisciplinary work and research experience in the field of mineralogy, environmental science and microbiology, ecology and plant science. My expertises include 1) online controlled bioreactor metabolisms; 2) strain isolation and culture; 3) advanced microspectroscopy; 4) "Omic" based genome, protein molecular technology; 5) large dataset manipulation and data mining. Application of these multidisciplinary skillsets and knowledge would give new insights into the fundamental processes within geo-microbial ecology and the geo-rhizosphere biology of mining wastes, and upon which I could develop novel biotechnology and methodology to prime sustainable mining wastes management and bioproducts.

I have demonstrated a strong track record of collaborating with national and international researchers. My collaborations have also extended with industrial partners to deliver innovative technologies and improve economic and ecological sustainability of resource industries in Australia and overseas.

Research Interests

  • N fixing processes in alkaline mining waste
  • Haloalkaliphic bacteria driven anaerobic fermentation and aerobic oxidization processes
  • Haloalkaliphic bacteria driven alkaline mineral dissolution and precipitation
  • Structure and metabolic adapation mechanisms of haloalkaliphilic bacteria

Research Impacts

I have 30 publications during my career, 95% of my papers featuring in the highest impact journals (Q1) of my research field including environment and microbiology. To date, these papers have been cited over 468 times and have an H-index of 11. Out of my publications, 82.4% are in the top 10% journals (Elsevier's SciVal). My first/co-first author publications feature in Environmental Science and Technology (IF 11.4), Science of the Total Environment (IF 8.0).

In addition to academic excellence, my research brings practical benefits to improve sustainability of mining industry. I have established links with key industry partner organization and government, including Rio Tinto, Queensland Alumina Limited, Energy Resource Australia and Queensland Government. I am the main contributor of a novel, sustainable and cost-effective biotechnology (patent ID: WO2022099360) to treat extreme saline and alkaline bauxite residues for technosol development and rehabilitation. The findings have been translated into field-feasible ecological engineering technology in partnership with industry partners. My work also features on Nature news (https://www.nature.com/articles/d42473-021-00429-4).

Publications

View all Publications

Supervision

  • Doctor Philosophy

  • Doctor Philosophy

  • Master Philosophy

View all Supervision

Available Projects

View all Available Projects

Publications

Book Chapter

  • Huang, Longbin and You, Fang (2018). Rehabilitation of biological characteristics in mine tailings. Spoil to soil: mine site rehabilitation and revegetation. (pp. 75-94) edited by N.S. Bolan, M.B. Kirkham and Y.S. Ok. Boca Raton, FL United States: CRC Press. doi: 10.1201/9781351247337-5

Journal Article

Conference Publication

Other Outputs

PhD and MPhil Supervision

Current Supervision

  • Doctor Philosophy — Principal Advisor

  • Doctor Philosophy — Principal Advisor

  • Master Philosophy — Associate Advisor

    Other advisors:

  • Doctor Philosophy — Associate Advisor

Possible Research Projects

Note for students: The possible research projects listed on this page may not be comprehensive or up to date. Always feel free to contact the staff for more information, and also with your own research ideas.