JianpingXureceivedaBachelorsdegreeinAgronomyfromJiangxiAgriculturalUniversity,aMastersdegreeinAgriculturalMicrobiologyfromNanjingAgriculturalUniversity,andaPh.D.degreeinPopulationGeneticsandEvolutionfromUniversityofTorontoinCanada(1997).Following3.5yearsofPostdoctoraltrainingatDukeUniversityinNorthCarolina,USA,hemovedtotheDepartmentofBiologyatMcMasterUniversityinCanadatobecomeanindependentinvestigator.Heiscurrentlyanassociateprofessorandhisresearchfocusesonunderstandinghowmicrobesevolve.Hehas(co-)authoredover40peer-reviewedresearchpapers,7bookchapters,andiseditingabooktitledEvolutionaryGeneticsofFungi.HeistherecipientofanOntarioPremiersResearchExcellenceAward(2002-2007)andtheYoungInvestigatorsAwardoftheGeneticsSocietyofCanada(2005).Hisnon-scientificinterestsincluderunning,soccer,swimmingandgardening.
QingyuWuisaprofessorattheDepartmentofBiologicalSciences&Biotechnology,TsinghuaUniversity(from1996).HeworkedatNanjingUniversityasanassistantprofessor(1985-1988),associateprofessor(1990-1992)andfullprofessor(1992-1996).Asavisitingscientist,heconductedresearchintheDepartmentofBiologyatWilliamPatersonUniversity,NewJersey,USA(1988-1990),intheDepartmentofBotanyatArizonaStateUniversity,USA(1993-1994),andintheDepartmentofBiologyatNiigataUniversityinJapan(1997).Prof.Wuhasdoneextensiveresearchonmolecularmicrobiology,biogeochemistryandrenewableenergyfrombiomass.Hehasreceivednumerousnationalgrantsforadvancedresearch.In1996,heobtainedNationalScienceFundforDistinguishedYoungScholars.Hisacademicachievementsincludeover100papers,threeawardsandnumerousbasicresearchgrants.