Prof. XU Zhen, the newly elected deputy director of IHB, gave remarks at the announcement ceremony held on March 12, 2026. (Credit: IHB)

The Institute of Hydrobiology (IHB) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences has elected Prof. XU Zhen as deputy director.

The announcement was made at a meeting held at the institute on March 12, 2026. The session was chaired by LI Haibo, vice president of the Wuhan Branch of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and was attended by more than 80 faculty members, administrative staff, and researchers.

Xu, a specialist in aquaculture, completed postdoctoral research at the University of Pennsylvania from 2010 to 2014 before returning to China. He then held a professorship at Huazhong Agricultural University from 2015 to 2021, and joined the Institute of Hydrobiology as a professor later that year.

Xu completed his undergraduate studies at Shandong Agricultural University in 2002. He earned a master's degree in Aquaculture from Huazhong Agricultural University in 2006, followed by a Ph.D. in Aquaculture from the same institution in 2009. His research focuses on fish mucosal immunology and disease prevention and control.

Speaking at the ceremony, Xu expressed gratitude to colleagues at the institute and to the leadership of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and its Wuhan Branch. He described the new role as both a significant responsibility and a fresh challenge, and pledged to focus on the institute's research priorities, support its faculty and staff, and uphold professional and ethical standards in his new capacity.