By performing multidisciplinary projects in collaboration with academic and industrial institutes, the ultimate objective is to prompt fundamental research and education activities.

Current projects:

• ►CAREER: Comprehensive chemical and isotopic characterization of abiotic organic synthesis: An experimental study and its implication for organic formation in hydrothermal systems. Funded by National Science Foundation (NSF) Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) Program.
  

• ►Characterization of source rocks and assessment of hydrocarbon generation potential in gypsum-salt sequences in marine sedimentary basins. Funded by National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) and SINOPEC.
  

• ►Experimental study of carbon and hydrogen isotope equilibrium between hydrocarbons and CO₂ following their generation and/or expulsion from source rocks in sedimentary basins. Funded by American Chemical Society (ACS) Petroleum Research Fund (PRF).
  

• Past projects:

• ►Understanding reaction pathways and corresponding stable carbon and hydrogen isotope signatures during abiotic organic synthesis processes in hydrothermal systems. Funded by NASA Exobiology program in collaboration with NASA Johnson Space Center.
  

• ►Reaction kinetics and evolution of carbon isotopes during carboxylic acid oxidation under shallow subsurface conditions on Mars. Funded by UH New Faculty Research program.
  

• ►Chemical composition and carbon isotope characterization of shale gas and tight oil reservoirs in China. In collaboration with Nanjing University, China, and partially funded by China Scholarship Council.
  

• ►Assessing the effect of organic-inorganic interactions on hydrocarbon generation in petroleum systems. Funded by SINOPEC in collaboration with Petroleum Exploration & Production Research Institute of SINOPEC (PEPRIS).
  

Special thanks to funding agencies (alphabetic order):