Yong received his PhD degree in Crop Science from Sichuan Agricultural University (Chengdu, China) in 2017. He worked as a postdoc at the Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS, Shanghai, China) from 2017 to 2019. Following that, Yong began a new chapter in his career by joining King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST, Saudi Arabia) as a Postdoctoral Fellow. He was promoted to Research Scientist in 2023.
Yong's research at KAUST has been dedicated to unraveling the mysteries of genetics and pan-genomics in rice, as well as exploring the evolution and genetic diversity of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s (the KSA) native species. Yong leads the
bioinformatics team that builds high-quality genomes, gene annotations, and evolutionary analyses for the KSA NGP, including Phoenix dactylifera (date palm, Ajwa), Calligonum comosum, Rhanterium epapposum, and Plectropomus pessuliferus (Najil fish). The aim is to sequence all aquatic and terrestrial life forms native to the KSA, aligning this project with both the Saudi Green Initiative and the Middle East Green Initiative.
Throughout Yong's academic and professional journey, his research and collaborations have resulted in nine first-author or co-first-author publications, six presentations, and workshops at international conferences. Additionally, Yong is committed to peer review and has actively served as a guest editor, review editor, and reviewer for eight journals in the field.
Looking ahead, Yong is motivated to push the boundaries of knowledge and contribute meaningfully to the advancement of agricultural science, making positive impacts on society and nurturing the next generation of scientists. His research involves multiple disciplines, utilizing cutting-edge technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), high-performance computing (HPC), and biology to advance crop production and food security through rice pan-genomes and native species in Saudi Arabia and the Middle East.
