Dr Fang You
Senior Research Fellow
CMLR
Deputy Director of Higher Degree Research
Sustainable Minerals Institute
+61 7 3346 4057
Dr Fang You is the expert on soil ecological resilience in eco-engineered soil-plant systems, underpinning the sustainability of newly created ecosystems to rehabilitate mined land and mine wastes.
Fang has outstanding ability in research and research leadership, and secured a total of $2.2M in research income and several highly competitive fellowships since she started her research career in 2017, including Advanced Queensland Industry Research Fellowship, the Australian Economic Accelerator Seeds grant and the ARC Discovery project.
In partnership with leading industry partners, including Rio Tinto, Queensland Alumina Limited, Weipa and Gove operations, Yarwun refinery and Energy Resource Australia, Fang gained intensive experience in diverse mining wastes, including Cu-Au, Pb-Zn, Iron ore, Uranium mine, and bauxite tailings, with a focus on investigating biogenic factors (extremophiles, bacteria, fungi and plant roots) and their associated biogeochemical processes.
Fang’s research represents a mix of activities, including laboratory-based microbial bioprocesses fundamental investigation, development of field trials and applied engineering study, and the advancement and commercialization of environmental biotechnology in the mining industry.
Qualifications
- Bachelor of Land Resource Science, Beijing Normal University
- Masters (Research) of Human & Environmental Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences
- Doctor of Philosophy of Environmental Sciences, The University of Queensland
Book Chapter
Huang, Longbin and You, Fang (2018). Rehabilitation of biological characteristics in mine tailings. Spoil to soil: mine site rehabilitation and revegetation. (pp. 75-94) edited by N.S. Bolan, M.B. Kirkham and Y.S. Ok. Boca Raton, FL United States: CRC Press. doi: 10.1201/9781351247337-5
Journal Articles
Liu, Yunjia, Wu, Songlin, You, Fang, Saha, Narottam, Chan, Ting-Shan and Huang, Longbin (2025). Attenuation of pollution risks in sulfidic lead‑zinc tailings through accelerating weathering of sulfides by indigenous Acidithiobacillus consortia. Chemical Geology, 683 122765, 1-11. doi: 10.1016/j.chemgeo.2025.122765
Lu, Chenglong, Wu, Songlin, Ma, Long, You, Fang, Saha, Narottam, Bu, Hao, Fernando, Joseph, Parry, David, Thomsen, Lars, Chan, Ting-Shan and Huang, Longbin (2025). Haloalkalitolerant plants drive alkaline mineral weathering and dealkalization of seawater-treated bauxite residue. Plant and Soil, 1-19. doi: 10.1007/s11104-025-07501-8
Li, Zhen, Wu, Songlin, Liu, Yunjia, Thomsen, Lars, You, Fang, Wang, Junjian, Huang, Yuanfang and Huang, Longbin (2024). Water-stable aggregation and organic matter stabilisation by native plant Acacia auriculiformis in an early Technosol eco-engineered from Fe-ore tailings. Soil and Environmental Health, 2 (4) 100115. doi: 10.1016/j.seh.2024.100115
Li, Zhen, Wu, Songlin, Liu, Yunjia, You, Fang, Hall, Merinda and Huang, Longbin (2024). Natural nodulation and nitrogen fixation of Acacia Auriculiformis grown in technosol eco-engineered from Fe ore tailings. Plant and Soil, 497 (1-2), 25-41. doi: 10.1007/s11104-023-06342-7
Li, Zhen, Wu, Songlin, Yi, Qing, Liu, Yunjia, Wang, Jian, Nguyen, Tuan A. H., Ma, Yuanying, You, Fang, Chan, Ting-Shan, Klein, Annaleise, Levett, Alan, Southam, Gordon, Alessi, Daniel S., Huang, Yuanfang and Huang, Longbin (2023). Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi Drive Organo-Mineral Association in Iron Ore Tailings: Unravelling Microstructure at the Submicron Scale by Synchrotron-Based FTIR and STXM-NEXAFS. Environmental Science & Technology, 57 (51), 21779-21790. doi: 10.1021/acs.est.3c07614
Yi, Qing, You, Fang, Li, Zhen, Wu, Songlin, Chan, Ting-Shan, Lu, Ying-Rui, Thomsen, Lars, Wang, Jian, Ma, Yuanying, Liu, Yunjia, Robertson, Lachlan, Southam, Gordon and Huang, Longbin (2023). Elemental sulfur and organic matter amendment drive alkaline pH neutralization and mineral weathering in iron ore tailings through inducing sulfur oxidizing bacteria. Environmental Science and Technology, 57 (51), 21744-21756. doi: 10.1021/acs.est.3c05749
Wu, Songlin, Liu, Yunjia, Southam, Gordon, Nguyen, Tuan A.H., Konhauser, Kurt O., You, Fang, Bougoure, Jeremy J., Paterson, David, Chan, Ting-Shan, Lu, Ying-Rui, Haw, Shu-Chih, Yi, Qing, Li, Zhen, Robertson, Lachlan M., Hall, Merinda, Saha, Narottam, Ok, Yong Sik and Huang, Longbin (2023). Ecological engineering of iron ore tailings into useable soils for sustainable rehabilitation. iScience, 26 (7) 107102, 1-26. doi: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.107102
Ma, Yuanying, You, Fang, Parry, David, Urban, Anja and Huang, Longbin (2023). Adaptive growth and acidogenic fermentation performance of haloalkaliphilic bacterial communities enriched from biofilms colonising strongly alkaline and saline bauxite residue. Science of the Total Environment, 856 (Pt 1) 159131, 1-10. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.159131
Yu, Lina, You, Fang, Wu, Songlin, Lu, Zhaohua, Hastwell, April, Ferguson, Brett and Huang, Longbin (2023). Nodule formation and nitrogen fixation in Acacia holosericea plants grown in soil admixed with iron ore tailings. Journal of Soil Science and Plant Nutrition, 23 (1), 1085-1095. doi: 10.1007/s42729-022-01105-2
Li, Zhen, Wu, Songlin, Liu, Yunjia, Yi, Qing, Nguyen, Tuan A.H., Ma, Yuanying, You, Fang, Hall, Merinda, Chan, Ting-Shan, Huang, Yuanfang and Huang, Longbin (2022). Plant biomass amendment regulates arbuscular mycorrhizal role in organic carbon and nitrogen sequestration in eco-engineered iron ore tailings. Geoderma, 428 116178, 1-15. doi: 10.1016/j.geoderma.2022.116178
You, Fang, Ma, Yuanying and Huang, Longbin (2022). Pre-culturing soil microbial inoculum in plant residues enhanced the resilience of tolerant bacteria and bioneutralization efficacy in alkaline bauxite residues. Science of the Total Environment, 822 153627, 153627. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.153627
Nguyen, Tuan A. H., Guo, Xingyun, You, Fang, Saha, Narottam, Wu, Songlin, Scheuermann, Alexander, Ren, Chengyao and Huang, Longbin (2022). Co-solidification of bauxite residue and coal ash into indurated monolith via ambient geopolymerisation for in situ environmental application. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 422 126925, 1-14. doi: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2021.126925
Li, Zhen, Wu, Songlin, Liu, Yunjia, Yi, Qing, You, Fang, Ma, Yuanying, Thomsen, Lars, Chan, Ting-Shan, Lu, Ying-Rui, Hall, Merinda, Saha, Narottam, Huang, Yuanfang and Huang, Longbin (2022). Arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis enhances water stable aggregate formation and organic matter stabilization in Fe ore tailings. Geoderma, 406 115528, 115528. doi: 10.1016/j.geoderma.2021.115528
You, Fang, Ma, Yuanying and Huang, Longbin (2021). Pre-culturing soil microbial inoculum in plant residues enhanced the resilience of tolerant bacteria and bioneutralization efficacy in alkaline bauxite residues. SSRN Electronic Journal, 1-28. doi: 10.2139/ssrn.3981306
You, Fang, Lu, Ping and Huang, Longbin (2021). Characteristics of prokaryotic and fungal communities emerged in eco-engineered waste rock – Eucalyptus open woodlands at Ranger uranium mine. Science of the Total Environment, 816 151571, 151571. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.151571
Wu, Songlin, You, Fang, Boughton, Berin, Liu, Yunjia, Nguyen, Tuan A. H., Wykes, Jeremy, Southam, Gordon, Robertson, Lachlan M., Chan, Ting-Shan, Lu, Ying-Rui, Lutz, Adrian, Yu, Dingyi, Yi, Qing, Saha, Narottam and Huang, Longbin (2021). Chemodiversity of Dissolved Organic Matter and Its Molecular Changes Driven by Rhizosphere Activities in Fe Ore Tailings Undergoing Eco-Engineered Pedogenesis. Environmental Science & Technology, 55 (19) acs.est.1c04527, 13045-13060. doi: 10.1021/acs.est.1c04527
Wu, Songlin, You, Fang, Hall, Merinda and Huang, Longbin (2021). Native plant Maireana brevifolia drives prokaryotic microbial community development in alkaline Fe ore tailings under semi-arid climatic conditions. Science of the Total Environment, 760 144019, 144019. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.144019
Yi, Qing, Wu, Songlin, Southam, Gordon, Robertson, Lachlan, You, Fang, Liu, Yunjia, Wang, Sicheng, Saha, Narottam, Webb, Richard, Wykes, Jeremy, Chan, Ting-Shan, Lu, Ying-Rui and Huang, Longbin (2021). Acidophilic iron- and sulfur-oxidizing bacteria, Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans, drives alkaline pH neutralization and mineral weathering in Fe ore tailings. Environmental Science and Technology, 55 (12), 8020-8034. doi: 10.1021/acs.est.1c00848
Robertson, Lachlan M., Wu, Songlin, You, Fang, Huang, Longbin, Southam, Gordon, Chan, Ting-Shan, Lu, Ying-Rui and Bond, Phillip L. (2020). Geochemical and mineralogical changes in magnetite Fe-ore tailings induced by biomass organic matter amendment. Science of The Total Environment, 724 138196, 1-12. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.138196
Wu, Songlin, You, Fang, Wu, Zhaoxiang, Bond, Philip, Hall, Merinda and Huang, Longbin (2020). Correction to: Molecular diversity of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal communities across the gradient of alkaline Fe ore tailings, revegetated waste rock to natural soil sites. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 27 (11), 11980-11980. doi: 10.1007/s11356-020-08026-6
Wu, Songlin, You, Fang, Wu, Zhaoxiang, Bond, Philip, Hall, Merinda and Huang, Longbin (2020). Molecular diversity of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal communities across the gradient of alkaline Fe ore tailings, revegetated waste rock to natural soil sites. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 27 (11), 11968-11979. doi: 10.1007/s11356-020-07780-x
Wu, Songlin, Liu, Yunjia, Bougoure, Jeremy J., Southam, Gordon, Chan, Ting-Shan, Lu, Ying-Rui, Haw, Shu-Chih, Nguyen, Tuan Anh Huu, You, Fang and Huang, Longbin Huang (2019). Organic matter amendment and plant colonization drive mineral weathering, organic carbon sequestration and water stable aggregation in magnetite Fe ore tailings. Environmental Science and Technology, 53 (23) acs.est.9b04526, 13720-13731. doi: 10.1021/acs.est.9b04526
You, Fang, Zhang, Liping, Ye, Jun and Huang, Longbin (2019). Microbial decomposition of biomass residues mitigated hydrogeochemical dynamics in strongly alkaline bauxite residues. Science of the Total Environment, 663, 216-226. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.01.317
You, Fang, Dalal, Ram and Huang, Longbin (2018). Initiation of soil formation in weathered sulfidic Cu-Pb-Zn tailings under subtropical and semi-arid climatic conditions. Chemosphere, 204, 318-326. doi: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2018.04.037
You, Fang, Dalal, Ram and Huang, Longbin (2017). Biochar and biomass organic amendments shaped different dominance of lithoautotrophs and organoheterotrophs in microbial communities colonizing neutral copper(Cu)-molybdenum(Mo)-gold(Au) tailings. Geoderma, 309, 100-110. doi: 10.1016/j.geoderma.2017.09.010
You, Fang, Dalal, Ram C. and Huang, Longbin (2016). Biochemical properties of highly mineralised and infertile soil modified by acacia and spinifex plants in northwest Queensland, Australia. Soil Research, 54 (3), 265-275. doi: 10.1071/SR15069
Li, Xiaofang, You, Fang, Bond, Philip L. and Huang, Longbin (2015). Establishing microbial diversity and functions in weathered and neutral Cu–Pb–Zn tailings with native soil addition. Geoderma, 247-248, 108-116. doi: 10.1016/j.geoderma.2015.02.010
You, Fang, Dalal, Ram, Mulligan, David and Huang, Longbin (2015). Quantitative Measurement of Organic Carbon in Mine Wastes: Methods Comparison for Inorganic Carbon Removal and Organic Carbon Recovery. Communications in Soil Science and Plant Analysis, 46 (Supplement 1), 375-389. doi: 10.1080/00103624.2014.989113
Li, Xiaofang, You, Fang, Huang, Longbin, Strounina, Ekaterina and Edraki, Mansour (2013). Dynamics in leachate chemistry of Cu-Au tailings in response to biochar and woodchip amendments: a column leaching study. Environmental Sciences Europe, 25 (Provisional) (32) 32, 1-23. doi: 10.1186/2190-4715-25-32
You, Fang, Hu, Dan, Zhang, Haitao, Guo, Zhen, Zhao, Yanhua, Wang, Bennan and Yuan, Ye (2011). Carbon emissions in the life cycle of urban building system in China - A case study of residential buildings. Ecological Complexity, 8 (2), 201-212. doi: 10.1016/j.ecocom.2011.02.003
Hu, Dan, You, Fang, Zhao, Yanhua, Yuan, Ye, Liu, Tianxing, Cao, Aixin, Wang, Zhen and Zhang, Junlian (2010). Input, stocks and output flows of urban residential building system in Beijing city, China from 1949 to 2008. Resources Conservation and Recycling, 54 (12), 1177-1188. doi: 10.1016/j.resconrec.2010.03.011
Yi, Dinghong, Wen, Lizhang, Xiao, Qiang, Hu, Dan, Li, Feng and You, Fang (2010). Emergy-based ecological economic characteristics in Guizhou Province. Shengtai Xuebao/ Acta Ecologica Sinica, 30 (20), 5635-5645.
Conference Papers
You, Fang, Lu, Ping, Hall, Merinda and Huang, Longbin (2021). Collaborative microbial communities establishing in eco-engineered waste rock-woodland systems at Ranger uranium mine in Australia. Soils, Investing in our future 2021 joint conference, Cairns, QLD Australia, 27 June-2 July 2021.
Ma, Yuanying, You, Fang and Huang, Longbin (2021). Organic carbon metabolism of haloalkaliphilic heterotrophs under alkaline and saline conditions – a potential role to treat alkaline and saline wastes. Goldschmidt 2021, Virtual, 4-9 July 2021. France: European Association of Geochemistry. doi: 10.7185/gold2021.5611
Wu, Songlin, Liu, Yunjia, Huang, Longbin, Southam, Gordon, Nguyen, Tuan and You, Fang (2020). Can mycorrhizal fungi stimulate mineral weathering and soil formation in Fe ore tailings?. Goldschmidt2020, Online, 21 - 26 June 2020. Washington, DC United States: Geochemical Society and of the European Association of Geochemistry. doi: 10.46427/gold2020.2901
Robertson, Lachlan, Wu, Songlin, You, Fang, Huang, Longbin, Southam, Gordon and Bond, Philip (2020). Plant biomass amendment induced mineralogical and geochemical changes in magnetite Fe-ore tailings. Goldschmidt2020, Online, 21-26 June 2020.
Huang, L., Fang, Y., Liu, Y., Wu, S. and Parry, D. (2019). Ecological engineering to accelerate mineral weathering and transformation underpins sustainable tailings rehabilitation. Mine Closure 2019, Perth, WA, Australia, 12-14 September 2019. Perth, WA, Australia: Australian Centre for Geomechanics. doi: 10.36487/ACG_rep/1915_14_Huang
Wu, Songlin, Huang, Longbin and You, Fang (2018). Molecular diversity revealed limited natural colonization of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal communities in magnetite iron ore tailings. 4th International Conference on Contaminated Land, Ecological Assessment and Remediation 2018, Hong Kong, 16-18 August 2018.
Patent
Huang, Longbin and You, Fang (2022). Treatment of bauxite residue. WO/2022/099360.
Thesis
You, Fang (2015). Rehabilitation of organic carbon and microbial community structure and functions in Cu-Pb-Zn mine tailings for in situ engineering technosols. PhD Thesis, Sustainable Minerals Institute, The University of Queensland. doi: 10.14264/uql.2015.940