Wentao Zheng

University of California, Santa Barbara

Department of Earth Science

Webb Hall 1037, Santa Barbara, 93117

Phone: +1-(805)-331-7487

E-mail: wentaozheng@ucsb.edu

www.researchgate.net/profile/Wentao-Zheng-4

“He who calls what has vanished back again into being, enjoys a bliss like that of creating.”     Barthold Georg Niebuhr. 1776–1831

Education

University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, California, USA.

PhD in Paleontology (2023–Present). Supervisor: Susannah Porter

Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing, China.

M.S. in Palaeontology and Stratigraphy (2020-2023). Supervisor: Bin Wan

China University of Mining and Technology (CUMT), Xuzhou, China.

B.S. in Geological Engineering, Outstanding Engineer Class (2016-2020). Supervisor: Dangliang Wang

Research Interests

Evolution and taphonomy of early eukaryotes.

Peer-Reviewed Publications

7) Qing Tang, Wentao Zheng, Shuhan Zhang et al. 2024. Quantifying the global biodiversity of Proterozoic eukaryotes. Science. 386 (6728), eadm9137.

6) Junyao Kang, Qing Tang, Benjamin C. Gill, Rachel Reid, Wentao Zheng, Shuhai Xiao. 2024. Carbonate δ¹³C chemostratigraphy of the Hunjiang Group in North China and a tentative stratigraphic framework for the Meso-Neoproterozoic transition. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology. 655: 112505.

5) Wentao Zheng, Xiaopeng Wang, Bin Wan, Ke Pang, Qing Tang. 2023. Early Cambrian evaporite deposits in the North China Craton and their event stratigraphic, paleogeographic, and paleoenvironmental implications. Journal of Asian Earth Sciences. 242:105489.

4) Wentao Zheng, Tang Qing, Shuhai Xiao, Ke Pang, Junyao Kang, Guangjin Li, Chuanming Zhou, Xunlai Yuan, and Bin Wan. 2023. The Proterozoic Qinggouzi microfossil assemblage and its biostratigraphic constraints on the Great Unconformity in northeastern North China Craton. Precambrian Research. 395: 107130.

3) Wentao Zheng, Zhouwei Lou, Yefeng Yu, Qing Tang, Xiaopeng Wang, Xianye Zhao, Hongyi Shi, Bin Wan. 2022. FossilMorph: A new tool for fossil automatic measurement and statistical analysis. Palaeoworld. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.palwor.2022.11.001.

2) Xiaopeng Wang, Mengyin Wu, Bin Wan, Changtai Niu, Wentao Zheng, Chengguo Guan, Ke Pang, Zhe Chen, Xunlai Yuan. 2021. Evolution of Holdfast Diversity and Attachment Strategies of Ediacaran Benthic Macroalgae. Frontiers in Earth Science. 9: 1229.

1)Difei Zhao, Wentao Zheng, Haibing Chen, Youwei Xu, Junkai Yin, Jing Liu, Xinming Hu. 2021. Development characteristics and influencing factors of marine-transitional shale of Permian strata in Chaohu area. Journal of Henan Polytechnic University (Natural Science) 40: 36-48.

Invited Lectures

• “Utilizing fossil records to compile the early life history on Earth”—Zhejiang University, Hangzhou (August 2024)
• “Natural beauty of the Danxia mountain”—CUMT, Xuzhou, Jiangsu Province (March 2019).
• “How to become a fossil hunter”—Museum of Xuzhou, Jiangsu Province (December 2017).

Teaching Experience

UCSB

Teaching Assistant:

• Fall 2024: Field Geological Method
• Winter 2024: Data Analysis
• Spring 2025: Stable isotope
• Summer 2025: Antarctica
• Fall 2025: Principle of Paleontology

The Upper Bridge primary school

Basketball teacher:

• Spring 2017, Xuzhou, Jiangsu Province.

Outreach

• Secretary general of the NIGPAS basketball association, Nanjing (2020-2023)
• Volunteer service for Nanjing Museum of Paleontology (2020-2021: eight times)
• Founder of the Palaeontology Enthusiast Association of CUMT and organized volunteer tutor, fossil exhibition for primary school, middle school and college students in Palaeontology and Geology (2018-2020)
• Volunteer of the Funiu Mountain World Geopark (2017-2018)