Introducing Zhuofeng Yu
A story about my experiences
My words
Inside the PhD
Hi, I'm Zhuofeng—a microbiologist specializing in environmental microbiology, with a focus on antimicrobial resistance (AMR).
I completed my PhD in 2022 through the EU-wide DARWIN project at MME (KU) and METLab (DTU), investigating plasmid-mediated AMR and transmission dynamics in the urban water systems.
Most recently, I worked as a Postdoctoral Researcher at CARe (GU) from 2023 to 2025, where I studied the drivers of AMR selection in the municipal wastewaters.
T R E N D I N G
PhD Work in a Nutshell
R E E L
2017 - 2022
PhD's study
The Wastewater Plasmidome and its Derived Resistome: Insight into Their Dynamics in the Urban Water Systems
2014 - 2017
Master's study
Fate of Antibiotics and Antibiotic Resistance Genes in Municipal Solid Waste under Anaerobic Treatment Conditions
2010 - 2014
Bachelor's study
Enantioselectivity in Aquatic Toxicity of Synthetic Pyrethroid Insecticides Bifenthrin, Cyhalothrin and Permethrin
More about me.
My educational background bridges Environmental Science, Environmental Engineering and Microbiology, developed through my Bachelor's, Master's, and PhD studies.
My research journey began with undergraduate work on the enantioselectivity of synthetic pyrethroid insecticides in aquatic toxicity studies. During my Master's and PhD, I shifted focus to investigating antibiotic resistance and mobile genetic elements—particularly plasmids—in aquatic ecosystems, exploring their transmission patterns and dynamics.
Throughout my studies, I gained practical experience through part-time and full-time positions that complemented my academic research.
Education
2017.10 - 2022.06
Ph.D. (Microbiology)
Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen
Keywords: ARGs, Antibiotic Resistome, Plasmids, Plasmidome, Urban Water Systems
Grade: 33.6/30 ECTS
2020.09 - 2021.02
Environment Change for PhD Student
Department of Environmental Engineering, Technical University of Denmark
Project Title: Mobile Antibiotic Resistance Content Changes along with Three Different Swedish Wastewater Treatment Systems (with Different Operating Procedures)
2016.08 - 2017.03
ERASMUS+ Mobility Programme
Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Padua
Project Title: Prevalence and Proliferation of Antibiotic Resistance Genes and Heavy Metal Resistance Genes in MSW Landfills in Italy
Keywords: Antibiotic Resistance Genes, Mobile Genetic Elements, 34 years, Aging, MSW landfills
2014.09 - 2017.08
MSc (Environmental Engineering)
College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University
Keywords: Antibiotic Resistance Genes, Mobile Genetic Elements, Landfill Leachates,qPCR, Humic Acids
Average Score: 88/100, No.2 in Major Ranking of Academic and Research (n = 87)
2010.09 - 2014.06
BSc (Environmental Science)
College of Biological and Environmental Engineering, Zhejiang University of Technology
Keywords: Enantioselectivity, Environmental Toxicity, Synthetic Pyrethroid, Zebrafish, Thyroid Development
GPA: 3.5/4.0, No.1 in Major Ranking of Academic and Research (n = 30)
First Prize of University-level Extracurricular Science and Technology Competition, 2013
University-level Scholarships (All Semesters, 2010 - 2014)
Outstanding Graduate of Zhejiang Province, China, 2014
Excellent Diploma Thesis of Zhejiang University of Technology, 2014
"Everything will be okay in the end. If it is not okay, it's not the end"