EDUCATION

Doctor of Science 09/2014–06/2019 (conferral date: 21/06/2019)

Institution: Northwest University, China

Discipline Area: Palaeontology and Stratigraphy

Supervisor: Prof. Xingliang Zhang

Bachelor of Science 09/2010–06/2014

Institution: Northwest University, China

Major: Geology (National Talent Base class)

INTERNATIONAL RESEARCH EXPERIENCES

·       15/05/2022–15/05/2023: Göttingen Academy of Sciences and Humanities in Lower Saxony, as a postdoctoral researcher in the “Origin of Life” group, working on Cambrian sponges

·       03/09/2017-28/03/2018: Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, as a Visiting Scholar (joint/visiting doctoral student), working on chancelloriids from Emu Bay Shale of South Australia

COMPETITIVE SCHOLARSHIPS AND AWARDS

2021: Best Doctoral Dissertation – from the Education Department of Shaanxi Province

2021: Sino-German (CSC-DAAD) Postdoc Scholarship Program

2019: Excellent Commendation for Doctoral Dissertation – merit-based top 5% of doctoral candidates at Northwest University, Xi’an

2018: Grant for Excellent student to attend and present paper at the 5th International Palaeontological Congress in Paris from Palaeontological Society of China

2017 National Scholarship Award for Academic Excellence, from Chinese Ministry of Education

2017: Scholarship for Overseas Study (to Australia), from China Scholarship Council

2015: Certification of successful completion: International Course on Carbonate Microfacies (“Flügel-Course”) in Nanjing, China

2014-2018: Annual First-Class Scholarship for Academic Excellence, from Northwest University, Xi’an

2013: National Encouragement Scholarship for undergraduates, from Chinese Ministry of Education

2011-2013: Annual First-Class Scholarship for undergraduates from Northwest University, Xi’an

RESEARCH FUNDING

International and National Sources

·     01/2024-12/2027: Yun H. Adaptive evolution of Cambrian sponges in response to low-oxygen environments. [General Project; Grant No. 42372014], National Natural Science Foundation of China (RMB 530,000)

·     05/2022-05/2023: Yun H. Scrutinizing sponges during the Cambrian Explosion: deciphering diversity, ecology, and evolution of the most basal animal group. [Sino-German (CSC-DAAD) Postdoc Scholarship Program, 2021; Ref. No. 202006970034/91809892], China Scholarship Council (CSC) and German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) (EUR 27,000)

·     01/2021-12/2023: Yun H. Biomineralization and phylogeny of the Cambrian chancelloriids. [Youth Project; Grant No. 42002011], National Natural Science Foundation of China (RMB 240,000)

·     11/2019-09/2021: Yun H. Taxonomy and evolution of chancelloriids during the Cambrian explosion. [Grant No. 2019M663793], China Postdoctoral Science Foundation (RMB 80,000)

·     01/2020-12/2024: Fu D., Gaines R.R, Zhang X., et.al., Yun H., Li L. Specific research on the Cambrian Qingjiang biota. [Key Project; Grant No. 41930391], National Natural Science Foundation of China (RMB 3,010,000)

·     01/2019-12/2023: Zhang X., Shu D., Liu J., et al., Yun H., Li L. Diversification and evolution of animal phyla during the Cambrian explosion. [Major Project; Grant No. 41930391], National Natural Science Foundation of China (RMB 4,300,000)

University Sources

·     07/2019-06/2021: Yun H. Taxonomy and paleoecology of sponges from the Qingjiang biota. Research Grants for Postdoctoral Fellows, supported by Northwest University (RMB 30,000)

·     11/2017-01/2019: Yun H., Li L., Liu C. Phylogeny and biostratigraphy of Cambrian chancelloriids. [Grant No. YZZ17189], Postgraduate Independent Innovation Project of Northwest University (RMB 12,000)

·     11/2017-05/2019: Li L., Yun H., Wu Y., Liu C. Biomineralization of Cambrian mollusks from the Xinji Formation of North China. [Grant No. YYB17023], Development and Honor Doctoral Grant of Northwest University (RMB 30,000)

·     11/2015-01/2017: Li L., Yun H., Liu C., Pei W. Small shelly fossils and microfacies of the Xinji Formation of North China. [Grant No. 0117/338040030], Postgraduate Innovation Project of Department of Geology, Northwest University (RMB 7,000)

RESEARCH ACHIEVEMENTS

Research Interest Score: 951.3 (higher than 90% of researchers with work related to geology); Citations: 416; h-index: 11 (@ResearchGate, 12/2023).

C = Citations; NI = Nature Index Journal.

1. Peer-reviewed journal articles (Total 23)

1)        Yun H., Luo C., Chang C., Li L., Reitner J., Zhang X., 2022. Adaptive specialization of a unique sponge body from the Cambrian Qingjiang biota. Proceedings of the Royal Society B-Biological Sciences 289: 20220804.  DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2022.0804. (NI)

2)        Yun H., Zhang X., Brock G.A., Li L., Li, G., 2021. Biomineralization of the Cambrian chancelloriids. Geology 49(6): 623–628. DOI: 10.1130/G48428.1. (C: 5; NI)

3)        Yun H., Janussen D., Zhang X., Reitner J., 2023. Deep origin of the long root tuft: the oldest stalk-bearing sponge from the Cambrian Stage 3 black shale of South China. Lethaia, 56(3): 1–10. DOI: 10.18261/let.56.3.5.

4)        Yun H., Reitner J., Zhang X., 2023. Body reconstruction, taxonomy, and biostratigraphy of a ‘problematic’ chancelloriid. PalZ. DOI: 10.1007/s12542-023-00660-y.

5)        Yun H., Cui L., Li L., Liu W., Zhang X., 2021. Pyritized preservation of chancelloriids from the Cambrian Stage 3 of South China and implications for biomineralization. Geobios 69: 77–86. DOI: 10.1016/j.geobios.2021.06.001. (C: 3)

6)        Yun H., Brock G.A., Zhang X., Li L., García-Bellido D.C., Paterson J.R., 2019. A new chancelloriid from the Emu Bay Shale (Cambrian Stage 4) of South Australia. Journal of Systematic Palaeontology 17(13): 857–867. DOI: 10.1080/14772019.2018.1496952. (C: 10)

7)        Yun H., Zhang X., Li L., Pan, B., Li, G., Brock G.A., 2019. Chancelloriid sclerites from the lowermost Cambrian of North China and discussion of sclerite taxonomy. Geobios 53: 65–75. DOI: 10.1016/j.geobios.2019.02.001. (C: 7)

8)        Yun H., Zhang X., Li L., 2018. Chancelloriid Allonnia erjiensis sp. nov. from the Chengjiang Lagerstätte of South China. Journal of Systematic Palaeontology 16(5): 435–444. DOI: 10.1080/14772019.2017.1311380. (C: 21)

9)        Yun H., Zhang X., Li L., Zhang M., Liu W., 2016. Skeletal fossils and microfacies analysis of the lowermost Cambrian in the southwestern margin of the North China Platform. Journal of Asian Earth Sciences 129: 54–66. DOI: 10.1016/j.jseaes.2016.07.029. (C: 49)

10)     Peng T., Yang Y., Yun H., Yang X., Zhang Q., He M., Chi X., Liu J., Liu X., 2023. Flourishing chancelloriids from the Cambrian Kaili Biota of South China. Historical Biology. DOI: 10.1080/08912963.2023.2212382.

11)     Li L., Betts M.J., Yun H., Pan B., Topper T.P., Li G., Zhang X., Skovsted C.B., 2023. Fibrous or prismatic? A comparison of the lamello-fibrillar nacre in early Cambrian and modern lophotrochozoans. MDPI Biology 12: 113. DOI: 10.3390/biology12010113.

12)     Chang C., Wang Z., Huang K., Yun H., Zhang X., 2022. Nitrogen cycling during the peak Cambrian explosion. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta 336: 50–61. DOI: 10.1016/j.gca.2022.09.013. (NI)

13)     Liu W., Chang C., Yun H., Cui L., Zhang X., 2021. A laminated microbial ecosystem at the summit of the Cambrian Explosion. Global and Planetary Change 205: 103619. DOI: 10.1016/j.gloplacha.2021.103619. (C: 2)

14)     Li L., Skovsted C.B., Dai T., Yun H., Fu D., Zhang X., 2021. Qingjianglepas from the Qingjiang biota, an evolutionary dead-end of Cambrian helcionelloid mollusks? Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 575, 110480. DOI: 10.1016/j.palaeo.2021.110480. (C: 1)

15)     Chen F., Brock G.A., Betts M.J., Zhang Z., Yun H., Klaebe R.M., Laing B., Zhang Z., 2021. Sedimentology and integrated chronostratigraphy of the lower Heatherdale Shale (Cambrian, Stages 2–3), Stansbury Basin, South Australia. Geological Magazine 158(7): 1224–1236. DOI: 10.1017/S0016756820001260. (C: 1)

16)     Li L., Zhang X., Skovsted C.B., Yun H., Pan B., Li G., 2021. Revisiting the molluscan fauna from the Cambrian (Series 2, Stages 3–4) Xinji Formation of North China. Papers in Palaeontology 7(1): 521–564. DOI: 10.1002/spp2.1289. (C: 19)

17)     Li L., Skovsted C.B., Yun H., Betts M.J., Zhang X., 2020. New insight into the soft anatomy and shell microstructures of early Cambrian orthothecids (Hyolitha). Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences 287(1933): 20201467. DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2020.1467. (C: 9)

18)     Fu D., Tong G., Dai T., Liu W., Yang Y., Zhang Y., Cui L., Li L., Yun H., Wu Y., Sun A., Liu C., Pei W., Gaines R.R., Zhang X., 2019. The Qingjiang biota – A Burgess Shale-type fossil Lagerstätte from the early Cambrian of South China. Science 363(6433): 1338–1342. DOI: 10.1126/science.aau8800. (C: 130; NI)

19)     Li L., Zhang X., Skovsted C.B., Yun H., Li G., Pan B., 2019. Shell microstructures of the helcionelloid mollusk Anabarella australis from the lower Cambrian (Series 2) Xinji Formation of North China. Journal of Systematic Palaeontology 17(20): 1479–1489. DOI: 10.1080/14772019.2018.1546236. (C: 8)

20)     Li L., Zhang X., Skovsted C.B., Yun H., Pan B., Li G., 2019. Homologous shell microstructures in Cambrian hyoliths and molluscs. Palaeontology 62(4): 515–532. DOI: 10.1111/pala.12406. (C: 23)

21)     Li L., Zhang X., Yun H., Li G., 2017. Complex hierarchical microstructures of Cambrian mollusk Pelagiella: insight into early biomineralization and evolution. Scientific Reports 7:1935. DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-02235-9. (C: 36)

22)     Li L.Y., Zhang X., Yun H., Li G., 2016. New occurrence of Cambroclavus absonus from the lowermost Cambrian of North China and its stratigraphical importance. Alcheringa 40: 45–52. DOI: 10.1080/03115518.2015.1085749. (C: 24)

23)     Li L., Pan B., Yun H., 2023. Hyolith fauna from the Cambrian Series 2 Xinji Formation in North China. Acta Palaeontologica Sinica 62(1): 30–65. DOI: 10.19800/j.cnki.aps.2022017. [in Chinese with English abstract]

2. Doctoral dissertation

Yun, H., 2019. Taxonomy and evolution of the Cambrian animal chancelloriids. Doctoral dissertation, Northwest University, pp. 185. [in Chinese with English abstract]

3. Popular science articles

Yun H., Li L., Zhang X., Pan, B., Li, G., 2021. Small shelly fossils from North China: A window to exploring the Cambrian Explosion. The Popular Science Times 173 (Feb. 26): front page, HTTP: //digitalpaper.stdaily.com/http_www.kjrb.com/kjwzb/html/2021/02/26/content_463151.htm?div=-1. [in Chinese]

4. Other academic outputs

1)       Yun H., Luo C., Janussen D., Zhang X., Reitner J., 2023. Adaptive evolution of hexactinellid sponges from the Cambrian black shale Lagerstätten of China. In: Reitner J., Reich M., Duda J.-P. (eds.), Fossillagerstätten and Taphonomy: New ideas and approaches. Abstractband zum Symposium 23.-25.11.2023. Göttingen: Early Life Reports of the Göttingen Academy of Sciences and Humanities in Lower Saxony, pp. 94–98. DOI: 10.26015/adwdocs-4533.

2)       Li L., Yun H., Zhang X., 2018. Precambrian-Cambrian transition in the southern margin of North China. Guidebook for field trip No. 1, International Conference on Ediacaran and Cambrian Sciences (12-16.08.2018). Xi’an: Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Early Life and Environments, Northwest University, pp. 24.

CONFERENCES ABSTRACTS & REPORTS

1)        Yun H., Luo C., Janussen D., Zhang X., Reitner J. Adaptive evolution of two interesting hexactinellid sponges from the Cambrian black shale Lagerstätten of China. Fossillagerstätten and Taphonomy Symposium, Göttingen, Germany, 23-25 Nov. 2023. (Oral presentation)

2)        Yun H., Zhang X., Reitner J. A microbial-metazoan build-up characterized by chancelloriid sclerites from the Cambrian Stage 4 of South Australia. The 1st International Biopetrological Congress, Shijiazhuang, China, 22-25 Sept. 2023. (Oral presentation)

3)        Yun H., Zhang X., Brock G.A., Li L., Li G. Biomineralization of the Cambrian chancelloriids. The 30th Annual Conference of the Palaeontological Society of China, Xi’an, China (online meeting), 25-27 May 2022. (Oral presentation; one of the leaders of the field excursion)

4)        Yun H., Zhang X., Brock G.A., Li L., Li G. Biomineralization of the Cambrian chancelloriids. IGCP668 (Equatorial Gondwanan History and Early Palaeozoic Evolutionary Dynamics) Annual Meeting 2021, Tsukuba, Japan (online meeting), 16-19 July 2021. (Oral presentation)

5)        Yun H., Li L., Pan B., Li, G., Zhang X. Cambrian explosion in North China: Progress in small shelly fossils from the Xinji Formation. The 7th Youth Forum of Geosciences, Guiyang, China, 10-11 July 2021. (Oral presentation)

6)        Yun H., Zhang X., Brock G.A., Li L., Li, G. Biomineralization of the Cambrian chancelloriids. The 5th Youth Geological Conference of the Geological Society of China, Guiyang, China, 23-25 April 2021. (Oral presentation; project report)

7)        Yun H., Zhang X. Distribution and biostratigraphy of the Cambrian chancelloriids: a review. The 3rd International Congress on Stratigraphy, Milan, Italy, 2-5 July 2019. (Oral presentation)

8)        Yun H., Zhang X., Brock G.A., Li L. Chancelloriids from Chengjiang of South China and Emu Bay Shale of South Australia. The 29th Annual Conference of the Palaeontological Society of China, Zhengzhou, China, 17-19 Sept. 2018. (Oral presentation)

9)        Yun H., Zhang X., Brock G.A., Li L. New chancelloriids from the Chengjiang Lagerstätte of South China and Emu Bay Shale of South Australia. International Conference on Ediacaran and Cambrian Sciences 2018, Xi’an, China, 12-16 Aug. 2018. (Poster; one of the leaders of the field excursion)

10)     Yun H., Zhang X., Brock G.A., Li L., Li G. Sclerite microstructure and aragonite biomineralization in problematic Cambrian chancelloriids. The 5th International Palaeontological Congress, Paris, France, 9-13 July 2018. (Oral presentation)

11)     Yun H., Zhang X., Li L., Li G. Sclerite arrangement of chancelloriids. International Symposium on the Ediacaran-Cambrian Transition 2017, St. John’s, Canada, 20-22 June 2017. (Poster)

12)     Yun H., Zhang X., Li L., Zhang M., Liu W. Small shelly fossils from the lowest Cambrian bioclastic limestone in southwestern margin of North China: composition and biostratigraphy. Palaeo Down Under 2, Adelaide, Australia, 10-15 July 2016. (Oral presentation)

13)     Yun H., Zhang X., Li L., Zhang M., Liu W. Small shelly fossils from the lowest Cambrian bioclastic limestone in southwestern margin of North China. International Workshop on the Cambrian Explosion, Xi’an, China, 18-19 May 2016. (Poster)