Paleoenvironment research lab
Research Field
Liang-Chi Wang has been an Associate Professor in the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences at Chung Cheng University since February 2018. He earned his Ph.D. from the Institute of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at National Taiwan University. During his doctoral studies, he conducted research at Kyushu University in Japan and the University of Göttingen in Germany, supported by Ph.D. scholarships from the Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association and the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD).
His primary research interests include terrestrial palynology, palaeoecology, biodiversity dynamics, paleoclimatology, fire history, and the history of human settlement. His work focuses on late Quaternary palaeoenvironmental changes in Taiwan and mainland China, across diverse ecosystems such as floodplains, lagoons, mangroves, and montane vegetation.
His research involves using multi-proxy analyses of sediments to reconstruct regional paleoenvironmental records and explore potential climate dynamics and human activity records. Future research will focus on Anthropocene sediments, integrating microfossils, stable isotope analysis, and radiometric dating techniques for high-resolution reconstruction of recent and Holocene environments. This will provide a scientific basis for formulating relatively sustainable policies in the context of global warming.
- Paleoenvironmental Changes in the Coastal Areas of East Asia
- Stable Isotope Analysis of Diatom Valves
- The Study of Black Carbon in the Sediment
- Overseas research of NSC sponsored postdoctoral fellow – 2013 International Postdoc Program (1 year).
- Research visits to Germany of NSC (Nation Science Council, Taiwan) sponsored Ph. D. Degree Candidates – 2010 Sandwich Programme (1 year).
- Research visits to Japan of NSC (Nation Science Council, Taiwan) and Interchange Association, Japan (2 months).
PhD in Institute of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology National Taiwan University, Taiwan.
Job Description
Key Responsibilities:
- Conduct field sampling of lake and/or peat sediment cores.
- Perform laboratory analyses including:
- Radiochronology (e.g., radiocarbon dating, Pb-210/CS-137 dating) to establish sediment chronologies.
- Microfossil analysis (e.g., pollen, diatoms, charcoal) to reconstruct past vegetation and fire history.
- Geochemical analyses (e.g., stable isotopes, elemental composition) to infer past climate and environmental conditions.
- Develop and apply statistical methods to assess temporal changes in vegetation diversity and ecosystem dynamics.
- Integrate multi-disciplinary datasets to interpret paleoecological trends and environmental responses to climate and human impact.
- Prepare research manuscripts, contribute to grant proposals, and present findings at national and international conferences.
Preferred Intern Education Level
Master’s or Ph.D. degree (or in progress) in Earth Sciences, Ecology, Environmental Science, or a related field.
Skill sets or Qualities
- Experience in at least one of the following: sediment coring, radiometric dating, microfossil identification, or geochemical analysis.
- Strong skills in statistical analysis and proficiency with software such as R, Python, or equivalent.
- Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a multidisciplinary research environment.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English.