Overview
Background
I have over 10 years of research and work experience in the field of mining land rehabilitation, acquiring a total of>3.5 million in fund support from the Australian government, research council and mining companies. My extensive experience in industrial engagement, field trial design and application also increased my growth as the leader in sustainable mining waste management.
I am an Advanced Queensland research fellow in the leading global research group of Ecological Engineering of Mine Wastes at the Sustainable Mineral Institute (SMI). My research interest is investigating important molecular and cellular processes in eukaryotes that first arose in bacteria and archaea, and microbial metabolic activities control numerous geochemical cycles in soil formation for sustainable mineral waste management. I have intensive work experience on multiple representative mining wastes, including Cu-Au, Pb-Zn, Iron ore, Uranium mine waste rock and bauxite tailings and residues.
My research strength lies in my multidisciplinary work and research program spans the interface between environmental microbiology, geochemistry, and plants. My expertise includes 1) mineral characterization, 2) soil and rhizosphere element cycling, 3) next-generation sequencing and online-controlled bioreactor techniques. Through the integrated application of environmental 'omics approaches, stable isotope analysis and imaging would give new insights into the fundamental element cycling processes of mined land mining wastes, and upon which I could develop novel biotechnology and methodology to prime sustainable mined land management and bioinoculum product with the field validated designated performance.
Availability
- Dr Fang You is:
- Not available for supervision
Fields of research
Qualifications
- Bachelor of Land Resource Science, Beijing Normal University (北京师范大学)
- Masters (Research) of Human & Environmental Sciences, unknown
- Doctor of Philosophy of Environmental Sciences, The University of Queensland
Research interests
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Microbiological and geochemcial processes that control bioactive minerals in the mined enviroment
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Terrestrical and endosphere diazotroph phylogeny and symbiosis between Australian native plants and mined soil bacterium
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Acidogenic processes driven resource recovery in mined waste
Research impacts
Despite main involvement in projects with confidentiality requirements and long-term field trials, I have 30+ publications, and 95% of my papers feature in the highest impact journals (Q1) in multidisciplinary fields of mineral chemistry, environmental science and microbiology, soil ecology and plant science. To date, these papers have been cited over 673 times and have an H-index of 14. Of my publications, 82.4% are in the top 10% of journals (Elsevier's SciVal). I also actively engage in a diverse range of research themes and serve as the first responding author for >60% of peer-reviewed papers resulting from multiple projects.
In addition to academic excellence, my research brings practical benefits to improve mining industry sustainability. I have established links with key industry partner organisation and government, including Rio Tinto, Queensland Alumina Limited, Energy Resource Australia and Queensland Government. One of her highlights translational research is the co-invention of the world-first, cost-effective and field operable technology as stated in the patent “Treatment of bauxite residues” (WO2022099360), which is also featured in the “Sustainable Bauxite Residue Management Guidance” released by International Aluminium Institute (April 2022), Nature Research (https://www.nature.com/articles/d42473-021-00429-4), and mining industry media (https://aluminium.org.au/news/red-mud-dam-research-uq-partnership/;html; https://www.mining.com/technology-to-transform-bauxite-red-mud-into-fertile-soil-almost-a-reality/). This technology is currently being commercialised by UniQuest Pty Ltd throughout the world and is expected to bring significant changes to bauxite treatment in Australia and globally. In addition, her research findings about keystone underground indicative fungi and bacteria colonizing Uranium mined site have contributed to the formulation of rehabilitation strategy using understorey plant for Energy Resource Australia.
Works
Search Professor Fang You’s works on UQ eSpace
2024
Journal Article
Natural nodulation and nitrogen fixation of Acacia Auriculiformis grown in technosol eco-engineered from Fe ore tailings
Li, Zhen, Wu, Songlin, Liu, Yunjia, You, Fang, Hall, Merinda and Huang, Longbin (2024). Natural nodulation and nitrogen fixation of Acacia Auriculiformis grown in technosol eco-engineered from Fe ore tailings. Plant and Soil, 497 (1-2), 25-41. doi: 10.1007/s11104-023-06342-7
2023
Journal Article
Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi Drive Organo-Mineral Association in Iron Ore Tailings: Unravelling Microstructure at the Submicron Scale by Synchrotron-Based FTIR and STXM-NEXAFS
Li, Zhen, Wu, Songlin, Yi, Qing, Liu, Yunjia, Wang, Jian, Nguyen, Tuan A. H., Ma, Yuanying, You, Fang, Chan, Ting-Shan, Klein, Annaleise, Levett, Alan, Southam, Gordon, Alessi, Daniel S., Huang, Yuanfang and Huang, Longbin (2023). Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi Drive Organo-Mineral Association in Iron Ore Tailings: Unravelling Microstructure at the Submicron Scale by Synchrotron-Based FTIR and STXM-NEXAFS. Environmental Science & Technology, 57 (51), 21779-21790. doi: 10.1021/acs.est.3c07614
2023
Journal Article
Elemental sulfur and organic matter amendment drive alkaline pH neutralization and mineral weathering in iron ore tailings through inducing sulfur oxidizing bacteria
Yi, Qing, You, Fang, Li, Zhen, Wu, Songlin, Chan, Ting-Shan, Lu, Ying-Rui, Thomsen, Lars, Wang, Jian, Ma, Yuanying, Liu, Yunjia, Robertson, Lachlan, Southam, Gordon and Huang, Longbin (2023). Elemental sulfur and organic matter amendment drive alkaline pH neutralization and mineral weathering in iron ore tailings through inducing sulfur oxidizing bacteria. Environmental Science and Technology, 57 (51), 21744-21756. doi: 10.1021/acs.est.3c05749
2023
Journal Article
Ecological engineering of iron ore tailings into useable soils for sustainable rehabilitation
Wu, Songlin, Liu, Yunjia, Southam, Gordon, Nguyen, Tuan A.H., Konhauser, Kurt O., You, Fang, Bougoure, Jeremy J., Paterson, David, Chan, Ting-Shan, Lu, Ying-Rui, Haw, Shu-Chih, Yi, Qing, Li, Zhen, Robertson, Lachlan M., Hall, Merinda, Saha, Narottam, Ok, Yong Sik and Huang, Longbin (2023). Ecological engineering of iron ore tailings into useable soils for sustainable rehabilitation. iScience, 26 (7) 107102, 1-26. doi: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.107102
2023
Journal Article
Adaptive growth and acidogenic fermentation performance of haloalkaliphilic bacterial communities enriched from biofilms colonising strongly alkaline and saline bauxite residue
Ma, Yuanying, You, Fang, Parry, David, Urban, Anja and Huang, Longbin (2023). Adaptive growth and acidogenic fermentation performance of haloalkaliphilic bacterial communities enriched from biofilms colonising strongly alkaline and saline bauxite residue. Science of the Total Environment, 856 (Pt 1) 159131, 1-10. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.159131
2023
Journal Article
Nodule formation and nitrogen fixation in Acacia holosericea plants grown in soil admixed with iron ore tailings
Yu, Lina, You, Fang, Wu, Songlin, Lu, Zhaohua, Hastwell, April, Ferguson, Brett and Huang, Longbin (2023). Nodule formation and nitrogen fixation in Acacia holosericea plants grown in soil admixed with iron ore tailings. Journal of Soil Science and Plant Nutrition, 23 (1), 1085-1095. doi: 10.1007/s42729-022-01105-2
2022
Journal Article
Plant biomass amendment regulates arbuscular mycorrhizal role in organic carbon and nitrogen sequestration in eco-engineered iron ore tailings
Li, Zhen, Wu, Songlin, Liu, Yunjia, Yi, Qing, Nguyen, Tuan A.H., Ma, Yuanying, You, Fang, Hall, Merinda, Chan, Ting-Shan, Huang, Yuanfang and Huang, Longbin (2022). Plant biomass amendment regulates arbuscular mycorrhizal role in organic carbon and nitrogen sequestration in eco-engineered iron ore tailings. Geoderma, 428 116178, 1-15. doi: 10.1016/j.geoderma.2022.116178
2022
Journal Article
Pre-culturing soil microbial inoculum in plant residues enhanced the resilience of tolerant bacteria and bioneutralization efficacy in alkaline bauxite residues
You, Fang, Ma, Yuanying and Huang, Longbin (2022). Pre-culturing soil microbial inoculum in plant residues enhanced the resilience of tolerant bacteria and bioneutralization efficacy in alkaline bauxite residues. Science of the Total Environment, 822 153627, 153627. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.153627
2022
Other Outputs
Treatment of bauxite residue
Huang, Longbin and You, Fang (2022). Treatment of bauxite residue. WO/2022/099360.
2022
Journal Article
Arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis enhances water stable aggregate formation and organic matter stabilization in Fe ore tailings
Li, Zhen, Wu, Songlin, Liu, Yunjia, Yi, Qing, You, Fang, Ma, Yuanying, Thomsen, Lars, Chan, Ting-Shan, Lu, Ying-Rui, Hall, Merinda, Saha, Narottam, Huang, Yuanfang and Huang, Longbin (2022). Arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis enhances water stable aggregate formation and organic matter stabilization in Fe ore tailings. Geoderma, 406 115528, 115528. doi: 10.1016/j.geoderma.2021.115528
2022
Journal Article
Co-solidification of bauxite residue and coal ash into indurated monolith via ambient geopolymerisation for in situ environmental application
Nguyen, Tuan A. H., Guo, Xingyun, You, Fang, Saha, Narottam, Wu, Songlin, Scheuermann, Alexander, Ren, Chengyao and Huang, Longbin (2022). Co-solidification of bauxite residue and coal ash into indurated monolith via ambient geopolymerisation for in situ environmental application. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 422 126925, 1-14. doi: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2021.126925
2021
Journal Article
Pre-culturing soil microbial inoculum in plant residues enhanced the resilience of tolerant bacteria and bioneutralization efficacy in alkaline bauxite residues
You, Fang, Ma, Yuanying and Huang, Longbin (2021). Pre-culturing soil microbial inoculum in plant residues enhanced the resilience of tolerant bacteria and bioneutralization efficacy in alkaline bauxite residues. SSRN Electronic Journal, 1-28. doi: 10.2139/ssrn.3981306
2021
Journal Article
Characteristics of prokaryotic and fungal communities emerged in eco-engineered waste rock – Eucalyptus open woodlands at Ranger uranium mine
You, Fang, Lu, Ping and Huang, Longbin (2021). Characteristics of prokaryotic and fungal communities emerged in eco-engineered waste rock – Eucalyptus open woodlands at Ranger uranium mine. Science of the Total Environment, 816 151571, 151571. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.151571
2021
Journal Article
Chemodiversity of Dissolved Organic Matter and Its Molecular Changes Driven by Rhizosphere Activities in Fe Ore Tailings Undergoing Eco-Engineered Pedogenesis
Wu, Songlin, You, Fang, Boughton, Berin, Liu, Yunjia, Nguyen, Tuan A. H., Wykes, Jeremy, Southam, Gordon, Robertson, Lachlan M., Chan, Ting-Shan, Lu, Ying-Rui, Lutz, Adrian, Yu, Dingyi, Yi, Qing, Saha, Narottam and Huang, Longbin (2021). Chemodiversity of Dissolved Organic Matter and Its Molecular Changes Driven by Rhizosphere Activities in Fe Ore Tailings Undergoing Eco-Engineered Pedogenesis. Environmental Science & Technology, 55 (19) acs.est.1c04527, 13045-13060. doi: 10.1021/acs.est.1c04527
2021
Conference Publication
Collaborative microbial communities establishing in eco-engineered waste rock-woodland systems at Ranger uranium mine in Australia
You, Fang, Lu, Ping, Hall, Merinda and Huang, Longbin (2021). Collaborative microbial communities establishing in eco-engineered waste rock-woodland systems at Ranger uranium mine in Australia. Soils, Investing in our future 2021 joint conference, Cairns, QLD Australia, 27 June-2 July 2021.
2021
Journal Article
Native plant Maireana brevifolia drives prokaryotic microbial community development in alkaline Fe ore tailings under semi-arid climatic conditions
Wu, Songlin, You, Fang, Hall, Merinda and Huang, Longbin (2021). Native plant Maireana brevifolia drives prokaryotic microbial community development in alkaline Fe ore tailings under semi-arid climatic conditions. Science of the Total Environment, 760 144019, 144019. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.144019
2021
Conference Publication
Organic carbon metabolism of haloalkaliphilic heterotrophs under alkaline and saline conditions – a potential role to treat alkaline and saline wastes
Ma, Yuanying, You, Fang and Huang, Longbin (2021). Organic carbon metabolism of haloalkaliphilic heterotrophs under alkaline and saline conditions – a potential role to treat alkaline and saline wastes. Goldschmidt 2021, Virtual, 4-9 July 2021. France: European Association of Geochemistry. doi: 10.7185/gold2021.5611
2021
Journal Article
Acidophilic iron- and sulfur-oxidizing bacteria, Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans, drives alkaline pH neutralization and mineral weathering in Fe ore tailings
Yi, Qing, Wu, Songlin, Southam, Gordon, Robertson, Lachlan, You, Fang, Liu, Yunjia, Wang, Sicheng, Saha, Narottam, Webb, Richard, Wykes, Jeremy, Chan, Ting-Shan, Lu, Ying-Rui and Huang, Longbin (2021). Acidophilic iron- and sulfur-oxidizing bacteria, Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans, drives alkaline pH neutralization and mineral weathering in Fe ore tailings. Environmental Science and Technology, 55 (12), 8020-8034. doi: 10.1021/acs.est.1c00848
2020
Conference Publication
Can mycorrhizal fungi stimulate mineral weathering and soil formation in Fe ore tailings?
Wu, Songlin, Liu, Yunjia, Huang, Longbin, Southam, Gordon, Nguyen, Tuan and You, Fang (2020). Can mycorrhizal fungi stimulate mineral weathering and soil formation in Fe ore tailings?. Goldschmidt2020, Online, 21 - 26 June 2020. Washington, DC United States: Geochemical Society and of the European Association of Geochemistry. doi: 10.46427/gold2020.2901
2020
Conference Publication
Plant biomass amendment induced mineralogical and geochemical changes in magnetite Fe-ore tailings
Robertson, Lachlan, Wu, Songlin, You, Fang, Huang, Longbin, Southam, Gordon and Bond, Philip (2020). Plant biomass amendment induced mineralogical and geochemical changes in magnetite Fe-ore tailings. Goldschmidt2020, Online, 21-26 June 2020.
Funding
Current funding
Past funding
Supervision
Availability
- Dr Fang You is:
- Not available for supervision
Supervision history
Current supervision
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Doctor Philosophy
Organic matter decomposition and turnover in rhizobiomes of bauxite residue technosols
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Adjunct Professor Ram Dalal AM, Professor Longbin Huang
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Doctor Philosophy
Nitrogen-fixing microbe functions in supplying N for sustaining plant productivity in bauxite residue technosol
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Longbin Huang, Dr Jing Zhao
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Doctor Philosophy
Molecular mechanisms of haloalkaliphilic bacteria in carbohydrate metabolism under extremely alkaline and saline conditions
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Longbin Huang, Dr Haoran Duan
Completed supervision
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2022
Doctor Philosophy
Microbial sulfur oxidation driven mineral weathering in alkaline iron ore tailings
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Gordon Southam, Professor Longbin Huang
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2022
Doctor Philosophy
Improving biogeochemical properties and pioneer plant growth in alkaline iron ore tailings undergoing soil formation
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Gordon Southam, Professor Longbin Huang
Media
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