Qian Zhao

Qian Zhao is an Assistant Professor of Soil Biogeochemistry at the School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, University of Texas at Dallas. Their research focuses on soil carbon dynamics, mineral-organic matter interactions, and environmental geochemistry. Zhao holds a Ph.D. in Environmental Engineering from the University of Nevada Reno (2017), an M.S. from Oklahoma State University (2012), and a B.S. from Shenyang Architecture University, China (2009).

Research interests include:

• Climate change impacts on soil carbon stability
• Fe oxide-mediated organic carbon preservation
• Nutrient cycling and microbial ecology
• Greenhouse gas production in wetland soils

Recent work explores nanoplastic atmospheric transport, colloidal dynamics, and interdisciplinary modeling approaches to soil biogeochemistry. Zhao has published extensively in journals like Soil Science Society of America Journal, Frontiers in Environmental Science, and Environmental Science & Technology.

Honors include the Outstanding Performance Award from Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (2023). Professional activities include guest editing special issues on Exogenous Carbon-Based Materials and Mineral-Organic Matter Stability.

Currently accepting graduate/undergraduate students for research projects in soil biogeochemistry and environmental geochemistry.