Profile
Dr. zhang dong
Dr. Zhang Dong
RESEARCH FELLOW
Dr. Zhang Dong is a Research Fellow at SCELSE and a Resident Scientist at SJINML, where he investigates the complex relationships between microbiomes, viruses, and their environments. His expertise spans environmental microbiology, virology, and ecological dynamics, with a focus on freshwater and marine ecosystems. Dr. Zhang's research has made significant contributions to our understanding of cyanophage diversity and evolution, virus-host interactions in shaping cyanobacteria blooms, and microbiome dynamics in tropical urban freshwater lakes and reservoirs. Notably, his work has characterized novel freshwater cyanophages, revealing new insights into evolutionary relationships between freshwater and marine cyanophages.
Dr. Zhang's PhD in Civil and Environmental Engineering from the National University of Singapore laid the foundation for his research. His research has implications for understanding and mitigating harmful algal blooms, plastic pollution, and ecosystem disruption. In 2025, Dr. Zhang will embark on a deep-sea research cruise to study microbiomes associated with microplastics, expanding our knowledge of these complex ecosystems. Through his work, Dr. Zhang aims to advance our understanding of the intricate relationships between microorganisms and their environments.
Areas of Interest
- Environmental Microbiology
- Virology (Cyanophages and other aquatic viruses)
- Ecological Dynamics
- Freshwater and Marine Ecosystems
- Virus-Host Interactions
- Plastic Pollution and Microplastics
- Cross-Omics Analysis
Current Projects
2023 – Ongoing: NRF deep-sea biodiversity project
Publications
- Zhang, D., He, Y., & Gin, K. Y.-H. (2021). Novel freshwater cyanophages provide new insights into evolutionary relationships between freshwater and marine cyanophages. Microbiology Spectrum, 9(2), e00593-21.
- Zhang, D., He, Y., & Gin, K. Y.-H. (2022). Genomic characterization of a novel freshwater cyanophage reveals a new lineage of cyanopodovirus. Frontiers in Microbiology, 12, 768868.
- Zhang, D., Te, S. H., He, Y., & Gin, K. Y.-H. (2022). Cyanophage dynamics in a tropical urban freshwater lake. Ecological Indicators, 142, 109257.
- Te, S. H., Kok, J. W. K., Luo, R., You, L., Sukarji, N. H., Goh, K. C., Sim, Z. Y., Zhang, D., He, Y., & Gin, K. Y.-H. (2023). Coexistence of Synechococcus and Microcystis blooms in a tropical urban reservoir and their links with microbiomes. Environmental Science & Technology, 57(4), 1613–1624.
- Zhang, D., You, F., He, Y., Te, S. H., & Gin, K. Y.-H. (2023). Isolation and Characterization of the First Freshwater Cyanophage Infecting Pseudanabaena (vol 94, e00682-20, 2020). Journal of Virology, 97(5).
- Zhang, D., Calmanovici, B., Marican, H., Reisser, J., & Summers, S. (2024). The assembly and ecological roles of biofilms attached to plastic debris of Ashmore reef. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 205, 116651.
- Li, H., Zhang, D., Te, S. H., Gin, K. Y.-H., & He, Y. (2024). An Integrated Metagenomic Approach to Uncover Virus-Host Interactions and Phosphorus Pathways Shaping Cyanobacteria Blooms in a Tropical Reservoir. Available at SSRN 4932857.
