Info
Professor of Biological and Biomedical Sciences
Faculty Suite B, Room 313
Qin Leng
Qin Leng, Professor, received her academic training in Life Science and Earth Science. Dr. Leng's research on plant evolution and diversity, as well as paleo-environment and paleo-climate reconstruction has taken her around the globe with collaborations in Austria, China, Japan, Sweden, and United States. She has authored/co-authored over seventy peer reviewed scientific journal articles, books, and book chapters. At Bryant, she is teaching a number of courses in both Biology Program and Environmental Science Program, such as in general biology, biodiversity, physiology, botany, paleobotany, evolution, and biological imaging. She is the co-PI (principal investigator) of the Laboratory for Terrestrial Environments at 麻豆影音 to carry out research projects in plant science (both neo-botany on living plants and paleo-botany on fossil plants) and environmental science (climate changes and their biological impacts).
Degrees Awarded
Ph D, A joint program of Chinese Academy of Sciences (China) & Swedish Museum of Natural History (Sweden)
MS, Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology, Chinese Academy of Sciences (China)
BS, Department of Biology, Nanjing University (China)
Selected Publications
Witkowski, C.,Blais, B.,Feng, L.,Reid, C.,Wang, H.,Yang, H.,Leng, Q., Decay and early diagenesis of Metasequoia leaves: Implications for three-dimensional preservation and bulk isotope signals in plant fossil lagerst盲tten, 49th Annual Meeting of the Northeastern Section of the Geological Society of America (GSA) Abstracts with Programs, 2014.
Blais, B.,Gannon, C.,Patalano, R.,Yang, H.,Leng, Q., Bayesian parameter estimation in a 1D model of precipitation and evaporation: comparison of Middle Miocene and modern climates using plant lipid deuterium (未D) measurements, 2013 Geological Society of America (GSA) Annual Meeting, Abstracts with Programs, 2013.
Gannon, C.,Blais, B.,Patalano, R.,Yang, H.,Leng, Q., Understanding the Middle Miocene climatic optimum: evaluation of deuterium values 飦 related to precipitation and temperature, 2013 Geological Society of America (GSA) Annual Meeting, Abstracts with Programs, 2012.
Leng, Q.,Sv盲rd, E.,Qi, Z.,Niu, G.,Yang, H., Interpreting biosignatures from high latitudinal plant fossils: The influence of light regimes on ancient CO2 reconstruction, Goldschmidt2023 Abstract, 2023.
Turner, J.,Liang, J.,Wang, L.,Qi, Z.,Sylvia, J.,Yang, H.,Leng, Q., Conservation and paleoclimate applications of the endangered Dawn Redwood: new directions based upon enhanced paleobotanical techniques, 2023 Annual Conference of Botanical Society of America (Botany 2023), Boise, Idaho, USA, 22鈥26 July 2023, 2023.
Vahey, T.,Qi, Z.,Boutin, K.,Yang, H.,Leng, Q., An experiential learning approach to engage diverse student groups with climate change issues: Clarkia Miocene fossil flora as an example, 2023 Annual Conference of Botanical Society of America (Botany 2023), Boise, Idaho, USA, 22鈥26 July 2023, 2023.
Yang, H.,Leng, Q.,Hofig, D. F.,Zhang, Y.,Turner, J.,Pearson, A., Fidelity of high-resolution paleoclimate signals from the Middle Miocene Clarkia lacustrine deposit: From megafossils to molecular isotope, Goldschmidt2023 Abstract, 2023.
Yang, H.,Leng, Q.,Zhang, Y., The Middle Miocene Clarkia flora and associated biomolecules: 50 years of multi-disciplinary research, 2023 Annual Conference of Botanical Society of America (Botany 2023), Boise, Idaho, USA, 22鈥26 July 2023, 2023.
Yang, H.,Wu, H.,Vahey, T.,Fluegel, A.,Boutin, K. P.,Gravier, M.,Leng, Q., Engaging the public on climate change: A Harvard Radcliffe experience, Goldschmidt2023 Abstract, 2023.
Wang, H.,Liu, W.,Leng, Q.,Yang, L.,Zhao, H.,Yang, J.,Chen, Y.,Xiao, S.,Cao, Y.,Hu, J.,Qiang, X.,Cheng, P.,Du, H.,Li, X.,Yao, Y.,He, Y.,Zhao, Z.,Yang, H., 2000 years of lake-level fluctuations and human adaptation around China's largest freshwater lake, Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, 2023.
Patalano, R.,Hu, J.,Leng, Q.,Liu, W.,Wang, H.,Roberts, P.,Storozum, M.,Yang, L.,Yang, H., Ancient Great Wall building materials reveal environmental changes associated with oases in northwestern China, Scientific Reports, 2022.
Patalano, R.,Leng, Q.,Yang, H., Ancient Great Wall building materials reveal environmental changes associated with oases in northwestern China, Scientific Reports, 2022.
Turner, J.,Qi, Z.,Liang, J.,Leng, Q.,Yang, H., The cleared leaf epidermis (CLE) technique and its application in ancient atmospheric CO2 reconstruction, Program and Abstract Volume of the 鈥淎 Pale Blue Dot Under Pressure: Climate Change, Justice, and Resilience in our Rapidly Warming World鈥 symposium, 2022.
Leng, Q.,Liang, J.,Burke, K.,Wang, L.,Yang, H., The impact of plant taphonomy on Franks Model parameterization for ancient CO2 reconstruction. , The 29th International Workshop on Plant Taphonomy (IWPT2021). Virtual Meeting in Maine, USA, and Bonn, Germany, 4-5 November 2021, 2021.
Liang, J.,Leng, Q.,Hofig, D. F.,Niu, G.,Xiao, L.,Zhang, Y.,Yang, H., Assessment of natural variations of key fossil parameters in conifer species and their impact on the accuracy of the leaf gas exchange model for ancient CO2 reconstruction, Goldschmidt2021 Abstract, 2021.
Hofig, D. F.,Zhang, Y.,Leng, Q.,Liang, J.,Wu, M.,Yang, H., Miocene Clarkia Lake deposit: archive of annual climate variability at 16 Ma, Goldschmidt2020 Abstract, 2020.
Liang, J.,Hofig, D. F.,Leng, Q.,Xiao, L.,Niu, G.,Zhang, Y.,Yang, H., Paleo-CO2 reconstruction based upon Metasequoia leaves: A comparison of different proxies using early Miocene fossils from Inner Mongolia, Goldschmidt2020 Abstract, 2020.
Zhang, Y.,Hofig, D. F.,Leng, Q.,Giosan, L.,Yang, H., The consumption rate of a natural CO2 pulse: lessons from the Middle Miocene, Goldschmidt2020 Abstract, 2020.
Scott, N.,Leng, Q.,Yang, H., Cultivated dawn redwood records climate change in Rhode Island, The 17th Natural History Science Conference "Climate Change and Rhode Island's Natural History Future", 2019.
Hofig, D.,Zhang, Y.,Leng, Q.,Wu, M.,Yang, H., Sedimentation rates of the middle Miocene Clarkia Lake deposit, Northern Idaho, USA, Goldschmidt Abstracts, 2019.
Wu, M.,Leng, Q.,Yang, H.,Hofig, D. F.,Zhang, Y., Variations of stomatal frequency in Taxodium and Metasequoia populations at the mid-Miocene Clarkia Lake deposits: Implications for atmospheric CO2 reconstruction, Goldschmidt Abstracts, 2019.
Yang, H.,Leng, ., Old molecules, mew climate: Metasequoia鈥檚 secrets, Arnoldia, 2018.
Liu, H.,Yang, H.,Cao, Y.,Leng, Q.,Liu, W., Inter-molecular variations of fatty acid 未D in algae and submerged plants from the north-eastern Tibetan Plateau, Organic Geochemistry, 2018.
Yang, H.,Leng, Q.,Howard, K.,Yue, K., Interpreting long chain n-alkyl lipids in lake sediments: A critical evaluation of their sources and isotope signals, Goldschmidt Abstracts, 2018.
Zhao, Y.,Deng, S.,Shang, P.,Leng, Q.,Lu, Y.,Fu, G.,Ma, X.,, ., Two new species of Nilssoniopteris (Bennettitales) from the Middle Jurassic of Sandaoling, Turpan鈥揌ami Basin, Xinjiang, NW China, Journal of Paleontology, 2018.
Leng, Q.,Yang, H., Miocene lake deposits in Idaho: A treasure-trove for Earth and Mars, 2018 NASA Rhode Island Space Grant Consortium Annual Spring Symposium, Rhode Island Space Grant (RISG), 2018.
Leng, Q.,Yang, H., The Mid-Miocene Clarkia Lake: a terrestrial lake analog for paleolakes on Mars, 2017 GSA Cordilleran Section 113th Annual Meeting, 2017.
Langlois, G.,Cournoyer, N.,Leng, Q.,Phillips, A., A new morphological discovery sheds light on the difficult management of the invasive Cabomba caroliniana (Carolina Fanwort) in New England freshwater ecosystems. Paper number 鈥淪un-PM2-F-3鈥, Northeast Natural History Conference 2017 (the 17th NENHC), Cromwell, Connecticut, USA, 21-23 April 2017, 2017.
Leng, Q.,Gall, A.,Newland, D.,Howard, K.,Yang, H., Phragmites, a troubling invader for some but important resource for others. Paper number 鈥淪un-PM2-F-1鈥, Northeast Natural History Conference 2017 (the 17th NENHC), Cromwell, Connecticut, USA, 21-23 April 2017, 2017.
Leng, Q.,Yang, H.,, ., A non-toxic and inexpensive histological microtechnique for biological and paleobiological research, Northeastern Geobiology Symposium 2017 Program and Abstract Book, 2017.
Yang, H.,Leng, Q.,, ., A molecular geobiological approach to study the Miocene Clarkia lacustrine fossil Lagerst盲tten, Northeastern Geobiology Symposium 2017 Program and Abstract Book, 2017.
Rivas, N.,Vickers, J. M.,Yang, H.,Leng, Q., Quantitative reconstruction of ancient climatic parameters for Miocene Clarkia fossil lagerst盲tte, 49th Annual Meeting of the Northeastern Section of the Geological Society of America (GSA) Abstracts with Programs, 2014.
Witkowski, C.,Makepeace, C.,Zhou, Y.,Yang, H.,Leng, Q., A new pyrolysis based method to assess molecular preservation of ancient silk products, 49th Annual Meeting of the Northeastern Section of the Geological Society of America (GSA) Abstracts with Programs, 2014.
Gupta, N.,Yang, H.,Cody, G. D.,Fogel, M. L.,Liu, W.,Sun, G.,Leng, Q., Molecular preservation and bulk isotopic signals of ancient rice from the Neolithic Tianluoshan site, lower Yangtze River valley, China, Organic Geochemistry, 2013.
Patalano, R.,Wang, Z.,Yang, H.,Liu, W.,Zheng, Y.,Sun, G.,Leng, Q., Molecular isotopic analysis reveals details of climate changes and its impact on the early development of rice domestication in eastern China during the Neolithic period, 2013 Geological Society of America (GSA) Annual Meeting, Abstracts with Programs, 2013.
Witkowski, C.,Feng, L.,Reid, C.,Wang, H.,Yang, H.,Leng, Q., The role of polysaccharides in preserving three-dimensional cell wall structures in plant fossil lagerst盲tten, 2013 Geological Society of America (GSA) Annual Meeting, Abstracts with Programs, 2013.
Fan, J.,Chen, Q.,Hou, X.,Miller, A. I.,Melchin, M. J.,Shen, S.,Wu, S.,Goldman, D.,Mitchell, C. E.,Yang, Q.,Zhang, Y.,Zhan, R.,Wang, J.,Zhang, H.,Zhang, L.,Leng, Q., Geobiodiversity Database: a comprehensive section-based integration of stratigraphic and paleontological data, Newsletters on Stratigraphy, 2013.
Leng, Q., Chinese Translation of 鈥淐hapter 4. Systematics鈥, Science Press, 2013.
Patalano, R.,Wang, Z.,Yang, H.,Liu, W.,Zheng, Y.,Leng, Q., Molecular carbon and hydrogen isotope profiles from the Neolithic Tianloushan site in China: implications for climate change during rice domestication, 2012 Geological Society of America (GSA) Annual Meeting, Abstracts with Programs, 2012.
Wang, L.,Yang, H.,Leng, Q., Variations of leaf stomatal frequencies complicate the reconstruction of ancient atmospheric CO2 concentration using Metasequoia fossil leaf cuticles, Abstract # SS14-O10 (273) in the Programs and Abstracts of SS14-The evolutionary history of conifers that are now endemic to Asia at the 13th International Palynological Congress/9th International Organisation of Palaeobotany Conference (IPC XIII / IOPC IX), 2012.
Yang, H.,Liu, W.,Gupta, N.,Leng, Q., How decay and diagenesis influence stable carbon isotope signals in plant fossils?, Abstract # SS14-O11 (588) in the Programs and Abstracts of SS14-The evolutionary history of conifers that are now endemic to Asia at the 13th International Palynological Congress/9th International Organisation of Palaeobotany Conference (IPC XIII / IOPC IX), 2012.
Witkowski, C.,Gupta, N.,Yang, H.,Williams, C. J., Briggs, D. E., Summons, R. E.,Leng, Q., Molecular preservation of three-dimensionally preserved Cenozoic fossil conifers at high latitudes, Palaios, 2012.
Gr铆msson, F.,Zetter, R.,Leng, Q., Diverse fossil Onagraceae pollen from a Miocene palynoflora of north-east China: early steps in resolving the phytogeographic history of the family, Plant Systematics and Evolution, 2012.
Fan, J.,Zhang, H.,Hou, X.,Shen, S.,Wu, S.,Yang, Q.,Wang, Y.,Luo, H.,Zhang, Y.,Zhan, R.,Chen, Q.,Leng, Q., Quantitative research trends in palaeobiology and stratigraphy - construction of the GeoBiodiversity DataBase (GBDB) using escience technology (in Chinese with English abstract), Acta Palaeontologica Sinica , 2011.
Noshiro, S.,LePage, B. A.,Momohara , A.,Nishida, H.,Uemura, K.,Williams, C. J.,Yang, H.,Leng, Q., Metasequoia: The Legacy of Dr. Shigeru Miki. Kanagawa: Japanese Association of Historical Botany, Japanese Journal of Historical Botany, 2011.
Yang, H.,Blais, B.,Leng, Q., Stable isotope variations from cultivated Metasequoia trees in the United States: A statistical approach to assess isotope signatures as climate signals, Japanese Journal of Historical Botany, 2011.
Wang, L.,Leng, Q., A new method to prepare clean cuticular membrane from fossil leaves with thin and fragile cuticles, Science China Earth Sciences, 2011.
Yang, H.,Liu, W.,Hren, M. T.,Pagani, M.,Leng, Q., Variation in n-alkane 未D values from terrestrial plants at high latitude: Implications for paleoclimate reconstruction, Organic Geochemistry, 2011.
Yang, H.,Wang, L.,Leng, Q., Research advance on Metasequoia: Applications of new technology, Science Foundation in China, 2010.
Langlois, G.,Yang, H.,Leng, Q., Early Paleogene Arctic terrestrial ecosystems affected by the change of polar hydrology under global warming: Implications for modern climate change at high latitudes, Science China Earth Science, 2010.
Jiang, Q.,Leng, Q., A Miocene flora from Daotaiqiao Formation in Sifangtai Village, Huanan County, Heilongjiang Province, NE China with palaeoclimatical and palaeophytogeological significance, Earth Science Frontiers, 2009.
Wang, L.,Leng, Q., Further morphological evidence of the affinity between Paomu Tree and fossil Metasequoia and its environmental implication , Earth Science Frontiers, 2009.
Yang, H.,Leng, Q., A new approach to reconstruct Paleogene atmospheric hydrology at high latitudes, Science Foundation in China, 2009.
Yang, H.,Wang, L.,Li, C.,Leng, Q., Discovery and evolution history of Metasequoia, Science Press, 2009.
Yang, H.,Leng, Q., Molecular hydrogen isotope analysis of living and fossil plants: Metasequoia as an example, Progress in Natural Science, 2009.
Gupta, N.,Yang, H.,Briggs, D. E.,Cody, G. D.,Summons, R. E.,Leng, Q., Diagenesis of plant biopolymers: A study of decay and macromolecular preservation of Metasequoia, Organic Geochemistry, 2009.
Yang, H.,Pagani, M.,Briggs, D. E.,Equiza, M. A.,Jagels, R.,LePage, B. A.,Leng, Q., Carbon and hydrogen isotope fractionations under continuous light: Implications for palaeoenvironmental interpretations at High Arctic during Paleogene Warming, Oecologia, 2009.
Jiang, Q.,Wang, L.,Leng, Q., Anthropocene, the newly proposed geological epoch rooted in environmental research, Journal of Stratigraphy, 2009.
Awards and Honors
Summer Research Award, 2024
Merit Award, 2023
Summer Research Award, 2023
Summer Research Award, 2022
Summer Research Award, 2021
Merit Award, 2020
Sabbatical leave (1 August 2020 - July 31 2021), 2020
Summer Research Award, 2020
2018-2019 麻豆影音 Research and Publication Award, 2019
Summer Research Award, 2019
Summer Research Award, 2018
Merit Award, 2017
Summer Research Award, 2016
Summer Research Award, 2015
Scholarship of Spring Light Program, 2014, 2014
Sabbatical leave (1 August 2014 - July 31 2015), 2014
Merit Award, 2013
Summer Research Award, 2013
Summer Research Award, 2013
Summer Research Award, 2012
Merit Award, 2011
The Second Prize of Natural Science Award of Jiangsu Province, China, 2010
Summer Research Stipend, 2010
Teaching Interests
General Biology, Environmental Science, Evolution, Plant Science (including Neo-botany on living plants and Paleo-botany on fossil plants), Biological Imaging, etc.
Research Interests
Plant evolution and diversity, climate change, ancient climate reconstruction, etc.
Professional Memberships
European Association of Geochemistry
Neogene Climate Evolution in Eurasia
International Organisation of Palaeobotany
Botanical Society of America
Geological Society of America