NAMC – Newsletter of the Asian Mycological Committee

mycologist in the region.
Dr. Lei Cai awarded the Young Mycologist Award in Asia
Dr. Lei Cai is one of the leading young mycologists in China.
He is a Professor at the Institute of Microbiology, Chinese
Academy of Sciences and has been working on the systematic
and biodiversity of plant pathogenic, aquatic, coprophilous
and thermophilic fungi for many years. For his outstanding
achievements in his carrier life he received the Asian
Mycological Association (AMA) Young Mycologist Award
during the Asian mycological congress held in South Korea
August 2011. This is the first time that AMA awarded a young
Dr. Lei Cai was graduated from Tsinghua University, Beijing, China in 1998 and joined to the
Yunnan University, China as a research assistant. As the turning step in to the field of mycology
he has completed his MSC in Mycology during 2000-2002 in Yunnan University, China. He
started his PhD in 2002 under the supervision of Prof. Kevin D. Hyde in the University of Hong
Kong. After the successful completion of his PhD, Dr. Cai joined R&D centre, Novozymes, Beijing
as a research scientist (2006-2009), and senior research scientist (2009-2010). For his
invaluable achievement in the mycological research, Dr. Cai was awarded the prestigious
“Hundred-Talent Program” of Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) in 2010.
Dr Lei Cai has been a dedicated young mycologist in Asia and worldwide during the past decade.
He has attained a notable number of publications including one monograph, 2 book chapters,
54 publications on international journals and these publications attained 378 citations (H’ Index
=12). He accomplished 13 research projects, based on which he described 5 new genera, 48
new species and 7 new combinations. This exceptional contribution to the field of mycology is
very appreciable considering the time in his career life as an active young scientist in the field.
Dr. Lei Cai is not only a talented researcher but also an active teacher. He conducts the courses
on systematic mycology and phytopathology for the postgraduate students in CAS, and Chinese
Academy of Agricultural Science (CAAS). He also gave lectures in various international