Short-bio
Jiameng Lai is a Ph.D. candidate in soil and crop science at Cornell University, under the instruction of Prof. Ying Sun.
She is expected to graduate in May 2025, and then join the lab of Prof. Paul Moorcroft at Harvard University as an Environmental Fellow in July 2025. She obtained her Bachelor's and Master's degree
at Nanjing University, advised by Prof. Wenfeng Zhan.
Research overview
Jiameng's research explores the complex interactions between the terrestrial carbon-water-energy nexus, human activities, agricultural practice, and climate change at multiple scales.
To achieve that, she pioneers innovative and multi-disciplinary methodological approaches that integrate advanced plant physiological theories, cross-scale ecological datasets,
atmospheric measurements, process-based models, and machine learning/data assimilation tools, seeking knowledge advance and breakthrough solutions for challenges
in sustainable development over diverse ecosystems.
Currently her research programs span three inter-connected themes:
[1] Understanding carbon-water interactions through synergies of innovative tracers.
[2] Supporting sustainable land management for food-water security and climate action.
[3] Monitoring heat and energy dynamics and promoting urban sustainability.
For more details, please see Research and Publication.
News
-May 2025. Jiameng passed her Ph.D. dessertation defense!
-Apr. 2025. Jiameng was selected as a Harvard University Environmental Fellow!
-Dec. 2024. Jiameng received MacDonald Musgrave Award, the HIGHEST honor bestowed by her department section!
-Oct. 2024. Jiameng's paper was online on Nature! Check the paper
-Mar. 2024. Jiameng received Barbara McClintock Award! The award is granted to graduate students with the best potential and greatest background merit.
(last updated on 04/18/2025)