Wei Qin

Wei Qin is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Microbiology and Plant Biology at the University of Oklahoma. He holds a B.S. in Environmental Science from Beijing Normal University (2010) and a Ph.D. in Environmental Microbiology from the University of Washington (2016), followed by a postdoctoral fellowship at the Simons Foundation (2017-2020). His research focuses on the biogeochemical roles of nitrifying microorganisms, particularly ammonia-oxidizing archaea (AOA) and bacteria (AOB), in marine and terrestrial ecosystems. He investigates their ecological principles, metabolic mechanisms, and responses to climate change using physiological, genomic, and proteomic tools. His lab combines culture-based experiments and field studies to explore nitrogen cycling, vitamin B₁₂ provision, and greenhouse gas production.

Key research interests include microbial adaptation to environmental stressors, interactions between nitrifiers and other organisms, and the impact of anthropogenic activities on nutrient dynamics. Qin has secured grants such as the DOE Early Career Award (2024) and the NSF Biological Oceanography grant (2024). He advises multiple students and postdocs, including Shuyue Li, Nan Rong, and Xiangkun Kong. The Qin Lab is located in Norman, Oklahoma, with a focus on global microbial ecology.

Recent highlights include publications in Nature Microbiology and Science, and collaborations on projects like the GeoCarb mission and studies on ocean warming impacts. His work bridges fundamental microbiology with applied environmental science, addressing critical questions about microbial contributions to global nutrient cycles.