Academic Qualification

Ph.D. in Geochemistry, University of Science and Technology of China

Bachelor in Geochemistry, University of Science and Technology of China

Teaching Area

• Geosciences

• Geochemistry

• Astrobiology

• Evolution of Earth’s History

Research Area

• Earth’s environmental history, life, and the interconnections between the two

• Geobiology

• Astrobiology

• Mass extinction events

Professional Services

• Editorial Board Member, Precambrian Research, since 2025

Working Experience

• Apr. 2026 ~ present, Assistant Professor, Macau University of Science and Technology

• 2023 ~ 2026, Research Associate Professor, University of Science and Technology of China

• 2020 ~ 2023, Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Science and Technology of China

Academic Publication (selected)

1. Li*, M., Xu, Y., Sun, L., Chen, J., Zhang, K., Li, D., Farquhar, J., Zhang, X., Sun, R., Macdonald, F.A., Grasby, S.E., Fu, Y., Shen, Y., 2023. Deglacial volcanism and reoxygenation in the aftermath of the Sturtian Snowball Earth. Science Advances 9, eadh9502 (highlighted by Geochemical News on the issue of Sept 26, 2023).

2. Li*, M., Frank, T.D., Xu, Y., Fielding, C.R., Gong, Y., Shen, Y., 2022. Sulfur isotopes link atmospheric sulfate aerosols from the Siberian Traps outgassing to the end-Permian extinction on land. Earth and Planetary Science Letters 592, 117634.

3. Li, M., Grasby, S.E., Wang, S.J., Zhang, X., Wasylenki, L.E., Xu, Y., Sun, M., Beauchamp, B., Hu, D., Shen*, Y., 2021. Nickel isotopes link Siberian Traps aerosol particles to the end-Permian mass extinction. Nature Communications 12, 2024 (highlighted as the TOP NEWS by Geochemical News on the issue of June 29, 2021).

4. Li*, M., 2020. Evaluation of paired carbon isotopic signals from the Ediacaran Doushantuo phosphorites: Diagenetic or primary? Precambrian Research 349, 105502.

5. Shen*, Y., Zhang, Q., Xu, Y., Li, M., Thiemens, M.H., 2024. Sulfur isotope anomalies in coal combustion: Applications to the present and early Earth environments. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 121, e2408199121.

6. McLoughlin*, N., Li, M., Wacey, D., Martin, L.A.J., Shen, Y., Beukesd, N.J., 2022. Microbial sulphur-cycling and atmospheric signatures in the 2.52 Ga Gamohaan Formation, South Africa. Earth and Planetary Science Letters 602, 117941.

7. Hu, D., Li, M., Zhang, X., Wang, X., Farquhar, J., Xu, Y., Sun, L., Shen*, Y., 2022. Multiple S-isotope constraints on environmental changes during the Serpukhovian mass extinction. Earth and Planetary Science Letters 594, 117719.

8. Pohl*, A., Lu*, Z., Lu, W., Stockey, R.G., Elrick, M., Li, M., Desrochers, A., Shen, Y., He, R., Finnegan, S., Ridgwell, A., 2021. Vertical decoupling in Late Ordovician anoxia due to reorganization of ocean circulation. Nature Geoscience 14, 863-873.

9. Johnson*, D.L., Present, T.M., Li, M., Shen, Y., Adkins, J.F., 2021. Carbonate associated sulfate (CAS) δ³⁴S heterogeneity across the End-Permian Mass Extinction in South China. Earth and Planetary Science Letters 574, 117172.

10. Hu, D., Li, M., Zhang, X., Turchyn, A.V., Gong, Y., Shen*, Y., 2020. Large mass-independent sulphur isotope anomalies link stratospheric volcanism to the Late Ordovician mass extinction. Nature Communications 11, 2297.

11. Lin*, M., Zhang, X., Li, M., Xu, Y., Zhang, Z., Tao, J., Su, B., Liu, L., Shen*, Y., Thiemens*, M.H., 2018. Five-S-isotope evidence of two distinct mass-independent sulfur isotope effects and implications for the modern and Archean atmospheres. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 115, 8541-8546.

12. Li, D., Zhang, X., Hu, D., Chen, X., Huang, W., Zhang, X., Li, M., Qin, L., Peng, S., Shen*, Y., 2018. Evidence of a large δ¹³C_carb and δ¹³C_org depth gradient for deep-water anoxia during the late Cambrian SPICE event. Geology 46, 631-634.

Research Grants

• 2026.01 - 2029.12, Multiple S-isotopic constraints on environmental changes in the Sverdrup Basin during the Late Permian to Early Triassic and their impacts on biotic events (NSFC)

• 2022.01 - 2024.12, Nickel isotopic compositions of Late Permian - Early Triassic black shales from Arctic Canada and their environmental significance (NSFC)

• 2021.01 - 2023.12, Reconstructing atmosphere and ocean chemistry changes using nickel isotopes in the Sverdrup Basin during the Permian - Triassic transition (China Postdoctoral Science Foundation)

• 2021.01 - 2023.12, New constraints on deep-ocean redox evolution during the Ediacaran in South China (Anhui Provincial Natural Science Foundation)

Professional Certification and Awards

• National Postdoctoral Fellowship for Innovative Talents of China in 2021

• Mozi Outstanding Youth Fellowship (2021), USTC