Prof. Yueping Ma | Plant Biology | Women Researcher Award

Northeastern University | China

Dr. Yueping Ma is an Associate Professor and Master’s Supervisor at the Institute of Biotechnology, School of Life and Health Sciences, Northeastern University, specializing in plant molecular systematics and evolutionary biology. Her research centers on the Asteraceae family, particularly Chrysanthemum, focusing on its systematics, genetic diversity, and evolutionary development. Integrating morphology, molecular biology, transcriptomics, genomics, and metabolomics, she explores the molecular mechanisms of inflorescence evolution and stress adaptation. Her studies have advanced understanding of floral architecture, pigment diversification, and environmental resilience in ornamental plants. As the lead investigator on multiple National Natural Science Foundation of China projects, Dr. Ma has contributed to Chrysanthemum domestication, genetic mapping, and molecular evolution. Her work has been published in respected journals, including Journal of Systematics and Evolution, Plants, and Scientia Horticulturae, influencing both theoretical and applied plant sciences. Recognized as a Distinguished Talent of Shenyang City, she has earned honors such as the “Three Educations” Advanced Individual Award and the “March 8th Red Banner Pacemaker” Award. Dr. Ma actively serves on the Council of the National Chrysanthemum Industry Innovation Alliance and is a member of key professional societies. In teaching, she leads courses like Genetic Engineering, Experimental Genetics, and Ecology, emphasizing research-driven learning. Deeply committed to mentorship, she cultivates innovation and academic growth among young scientists. Her interdisciplinary work bridges classical botany with modern genomics, promoting sustainable horticultural advancement. By combining molecular tools and evolutionary analysis, she drives global collaboration in biodiversity research. Through her leadership, creativity, and scientific excellence, Dr. Ma continues to shape the field of plant biotechnology and evolutionary genomics.

Profile: Orcid

Publications

Zhang, K., Gu, R., Yang, Y., Yan, J., Ma, Y., & Shen, Y. (2025). Recent distribution changes of invasive Asteraceae species in China: A five-year analysis (2016–2020). Journal of Environmental Management, 376, 124445.

Wang, X., Meng, Y., Zhang, S., Wang, Z., Zhang, K., Gao, T., & Ma, Y. (2024). Characterization of bZIP transcription factors in transcriptome of Chrysanthemum mongolicum and roles of CmbZIP9 in drought stress resistance. Plants, 13(15), 2064.

Ma, Y., Meng, Y., & Lin, J. (2023). Comparative transcriptome analyses reveal different regulatory mechanisms in ecological adaptation between Chrysanthemum vestitum and Chrysanthemum mongolicum. Horticulturae, 9(8), 868.

Zhao, Y., Qu, D., & Ma, Y. (2022). Characterization of the chloroplast genome of Argyranthemum frutescens and a comparison with other species in Anthemideae. Genes, 13(10), 1720.