Jingxuan Chen

Systematics | Phylogenomics | Natural History | Biodiversity

about me

Jingxuan Chen earned his bachelor's degree in Ecology from Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China. He is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Evolutionary Biology at Zhejiang University. His research primarily focuses on large-scale phylogeny and phylogenetic discordance, while also exploring perspectives to integrate ecology, citizen science, and natural history into the study of phylogenomics and systematics.

Although his research is not exclusively centered on fish, he has a longstanding passion for ichthyology, with a particular enthusiasm for Suborder Gobioidei. He owns a website, GobiologyCN, which focuses on the diversity of gobies, gudgeons and sleepers in China and neighboring regions. He is also an avid nature photographer with a special interest in flowering plants, amphibians and reptiles, insects, and fish. His photographs have been featured in numerous encyclopedias, research articles and field guides.

​Click here for my curriculum vitae (updated Jan 2026).

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research interests

I began my academic journey in ecology, where I developed a deep appreciation for the interconnections of all life forms. This perspective evolved into an interest in unraveling the relationships and evolutionary histories of organisms—an endeavor known as phylogeny. Currently, I am working and studying in the Shen Lab in Zhejiang University , where access to powerful computational resources enables large-scale analyses of unprecedented data, made possible by researchers worldwide. My interests are not confined to a single taxonomic group; rather, I seek to integrate insights from diverse clades into my studies, broadening our understanding of life's evolutionary tapestry.

publications

Research Articles

07. Wu W.*, Cui C.*, Zhu Y.*, Chen, J., Zhuang Q., Wang Y., Liu Z., Gao H., Ou G., Liu C., Tao M., Chen Y., Pan R., Zhang G., Cai H., Yang J., Chen X., Zhou X.#, Wang S.#, Shen X.-X.#, 2026. Structural genomics sheds light on protein functions and remote homologs across the insect tree of life. Cell Research, In press. Download PDF

06. Dunn C.W., Zhou X., Chen, J., Musser J.M., Li Y., Haddock S.H.D., Rokhsar D.S., Shen X.-X., 2026. Re. Integrative phylogenomics positions sponges at the root of the animal tree. Science (eLetter). Download PDF

05. Huang, H.*, Chen, J., Ke, Z.#, Zhang, C.#, 2025. Branchiostegus sanae, a new species of deepwater tilefish (Eupercaria, Branchiostegidae) from the South China Sea. Zookeys, 1227(5), pp.129-142. Download PDF Story behind this paper in Pensoft blog

2025_Bsanae

04. Li, J.*, Li, B. Chen, J., Gao, H.#, 2024. Bulbophyllum inconspicuum Maxim. (Orchidaceae: Epidendroideae), a new recorded of Orchidaceae from China. (in Chinese) Shaanxi Forest Science and Technology, 52(6), pp.44-47. Download PDF

03. Chen, J.*, Zhou, J.#, Liu, B., 2023. Records and population status of sea turtles in the Zhejiang sea area of China. (in Chinese) Biodiversity Science, 31(6), pp.1-9. Download PDF

02. Zhao, L.*, Dai, R., Zhang, T., Guo, L., Luo, Q., Chen, J., Zhu, S., Xu, X., Tang, J., Hu, L. and Chen, X.#, 2023. Fish Mediate Surface Soil Methane Oxidation in the Agriculture Heritage Rice–Fish System. Ecosystems, 26(8), pp.1656-1669. Download PDF

01. Qiu, H.*, Zhang, Z.H., Wang, M.Z., Jin, X.J., Lin, J.D., Comes, H.P., Chen, J., Cui, R.N., Duan, R.Q. and Li, P.#, 2023. Plastome evolution and phylogenomics of Impatiens (Balsaminaceae). Planta, 257(2), p.45. Download PDF

Popular Science Articles

01. Chen, M., 2020. Out of the Shadows: a Brief Introduction to the Dark Sleepers. AMAZONAS, Dec, pp.50-53. Download PDF

outreach

I believe that engaging with the scientific community is essential, but it is equally important to communicate our work to a broader audience and inspire more people to appreciate the natural world. To this end, I have written several popular science essays, some of which have been shared on social media. Additionally, my scientific findings have been featured in mainstream media outlets, including Xinhua (China) and BBC (UK), as well as in popular science journals, including Bowu (China).

Beyond writing, I have delivered lectures on my research and taught field courses in botany and zoology to undergraduates. I am also involved in managing collections at the Zoological Specimen Room at Zhejiang University, assisting in the preservation and curation of invaluable biological specimens.

Undergraduate courses for which I have acted as a teaching assistant include:

Seashore Field Course of Biology, College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University. in: Zhoushan archipelago. Summer 2024.

Seashore Field Course of Biology, College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University. in: Zhoushan archipelago. Summer 2023.

Field Course of Biology, College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University. in: Mt. Tianmu, Hangzhou. Summer 2023.

Find me on Google Scholar, ResearchGate, Bluesky, or Instagram.