Ecologist & Interdisciplinary Explorer
Hi, there! I am Ting, (interesting - Ting)!
I am currently a postdoctoral researcher in the Department of Geography at the University of Zurich.
I am an ecologist fascinated by how forest biodiversity shapes ecosystems. I believe research shouldn’t end with a scientific paper. It should reach people, inform decisions, and help turn knowledge into action.
Recent Highlight
I will take part in WaldDialog / Forest Dialogue 2026 at the University of Basel, where the focus is on biodiversity as a key to forest adaptation and resilience.
I will present a poster featuring a survey on the role of biodiversity in ecosystem functioning in response to climate change. Survey results are coming soon.
Selected Projects
Main projects
01
Genetic diversity · Species diversity · Multitrophic interactions · Forest productivity
At BEF-China, I study how multiple dimensions of biodiversity shape forest productivity, survival, and structure. This work shows that genetic and species diversity act through functional diversity and interactions across trophic levels.
02
Intraspecific variation · Community diversity · Tree growth · Restoration
I investigate how maternal lines within tree species respond differently to community diversity. The importance of within-species variation grows as forests develop, with implications for restoration and forest management.
03
European beech · Genetic variation · VOCs · Drought stress
Using a European beech common garden, I study how genetic background and drought shape volatile profiles. The results reveal strong plasticity, persistent drought effects, and potential non-invasive indicators of climate stress.
Side projects
Behavior · Sustainability · Switzerland
Exploring how attitudes, social norms, and perceived control shape citizens’ plastic-reduction behavior.
Journal of Environmental Management · 2024 ↗Mangroves · Invasion ecology · Climate change
Early work on how environmental conditions influence mangrove performance and invasion risk.
My journey in ecology has taken me from China to Switzerland, and across questions from genes to ecosystems. Along the way, collaboration has drawn me increasingly across disciplinary boundaries, from the natural sciences toward understanding how people interpret evidence, make decisions, and act in different social contexts.
Beyond research, I’m an enthusiastic swing dancer, a watercolor lover, a hiker, and an occasional nonfiction writer. I enjoy moving between different ways of observing the world: through science, conversations, movement, landscapes, and stories.
Keep in touch