Chin Li Xuan is currently a PhD student in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, China. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Plant Biotechnology from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (The National University of Malaysia) in 2018 and her Master’s degree in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences from 2019 to 2024 at South China Botanical Garden research institute. During her bachelor studies, her final-year project entitled “Generation and characterisation of Anthocyanidin Reductase gene in Rafflesia cantleyi” was published in the university’s journal, "Undergraduate Research Journal for Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology", in 2018.

Qiurui (Raymond) Huang is a senior student at Huamei-Bond International College, Guangzhou, China, graduating in Fall 2026. He is interested in biology, biochemistry, and biomedical sciences. He participated in research at the South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences (2021–2024), studying rare medicinal plants and bioactivity assays, especially Hygrophila species. In 2024, he interned at the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Institute of CNS Regeneration, gaining experience in nerve cell preparation, microscopy, and data analysis. He attended the Biomedical Research Academy at the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Arts and Sciences, where he studied molecular, cellular, and genetic biology and gained hands-on experience in laboratory techniques.

Qinglang Fan is a senior student at Huamei-Bond International College, Guangzhou, China. He has been studying biology and environmental sciences for several semesters. He joined the study of rare medicinal plants and its functions at the South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences (2021–2024). He also achieved a China National Gold in the BioOlympiad Initiative USA-China 2025 competition.

Education and Appointments Education: 2009.09-2014.06: Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry (Supervised by Prof. Zhen Yang), College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Peking University; 2005.09-2009.06: Bachelor of Science in Chemistry Science, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Huazhong University of Science & Technology, China. Professional Experience: 2014.07-2016.07: Assistant Researcher, South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences; 2016.08-now: Associated Researcher, South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences. Research Interests: Bioactive meaningful natural product discovery; development of natural product skeleton-oriented synthetic methodology; total synthesis and structure–activity relationship study; drug discovery.

Education: (1) Sep 2013 – Jun 2017: Ph.D. in Botany, Northwest A&F University; (2) Sep 2010 – Jun 2013: M.Sc. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Northwest A&F University; (3) Sep 2006 – Jun 2010: B.Sc. in Biotechnology, Xinjiang University. Postdoctoral Experience: Jul 2017 – Jan 2021: South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences. Research and Academic Appointments (excluding postdoctoral work): Feb 2021 – present: Assistant Researcher, Center for Agricultural and Biotechnology Research, South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences

Peng Caixia graduated from the Department of Biology at Central China Normal University in June 1994 with a BSc. She has over ten years of teaching experience as a high school biology teacher, enjoys plant photography, and has a strong interest in plant classification. In March 2014, she joined the Horticultural Center of South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, engaged in plant data information management and plant development and application, focusing on the introduction, breeding, and promotion of plants such as Acanthaceae and Lycoriaceae. She has participated in national science and technology basic work projects. She organized the compilation of the "Flora of China's Ex situ Cultivation" volume and served as the editor-in-chief of volumes such as the "Flora of China's Ex situ Cultivation" volume and the editor-in-chief of "New Excellent Garden Plants in South China". She has participated in 2 invention patents, published 5 SCI papers, participated in the international registration of 3 new varieties of Zhudinghong, and published more than 10 articles on garden applications and other aspects. She participates in the planning, organization, and related promotional work of large-scale flower exhibitions in botanical gardens.

Education and Appointments 1998-now: South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences. 2002—2007: Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences. 1992—1995: Assistant Engineer, Xinning Institute of Forestry, Hunan Province. 1989—1992: Department of Horticulture, Hunan Agriculture College, Changsha, Hunan Province. Research Interests: Plant taxonomy; public services. Serves on the Editorial Board of Tropical and Subtropical Journal of Botany

Yongqing Li is a plant biologist at the South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences. After earning a B.Sc. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from Peking University (1998-2002), she studied salt-tolerant transgenic rice under Dr. Li-jia Qu. This sparked her interest in plant–environment interactions, leading to a Ph.D. in Botany at Cornell (2002-2008) with Dr. Jian Hua, where she linked Arabidopsis immunity to chromatin remodeling. Post-doctoral work at UC Berkeley (2008-2011) with Dr. Shauna Somerville uncovered Arabidopsis resistance to powdery mildew via the PEN pathway. Since 2011, her team has elucidated cross-talk between biotic and abiotic stress signaling, advanced phytoremediation of heavy-metal soils, and developed disease-resistant, nutrient-rich crops. Since 2018, she has focused on medicinal plants, decoding biosynthetic pathways of therapeutic secondary metabolites and leading germplasm conservation efforts. She also serves as Deputy Secretary-General of the Guangdong Botanical Society.