26 Oct 2026
Dr Fengyi Zhu joins Oxford EARTH to explore biological approaches to sustainable metal recovery
New Research Fellow will investigate how microorganisms could offer new approaches to recovering critical metals while reducing environmental impacts
Dr Fengyi Zhu, an environmental biotechnologist in the department, has joined Oxford EARTH as its fifth Research Fellow, bringing expertise in microbial biotechnology to the programme’s work on sustainable natural resource recovery.
Oxford EARTH (Ensuring equitable Access to sustainable Resources for a Thriving Habitat) is a five-year, £3.4 million University of Oxford initiative bringing together researchers across nine departments and faculties to address the challenges of securing the critical raw materials needed for the transition to net zero. Its interdisciplinary approach combines scientific innovation with consideration of the environmental and societal impacts of resource extraction and recovery.
Fengyi’s research focuses on how microorganisms and their metabolic processes can support more sustainable ways of recovering valuable resources. Her previous work has investigated biologically mediated phosphorus recovery from marine sediments, alongside broader research in microbial biotechnology.
At Oxford EARTH, she will investigate how microbial communities can be harnessed and engineered to selectively recover critical metals from a range of primary and secondary resources. By combining microbiology, geochemistry and mineralogy, she aims to understand how different microbial systems transform metals and form minerals, helping to inform the development of efficient, scalable biological recovery processes.
Such approaches could offer new ways to reclaim valuable materials from waste streams, complementing the recovery of resources from primary sources while helping to address associated environmental challenges.
“I am delighted to join Oxford EARTH and look forward to exploring how biotechnology can contribute to more sustainable recovery of metals and minerals,” says Fengyi.
“I am particularly interested in identifying where biological approaches can create new opportunities across both primary and secondary resource systems, while also helping to address associated environmental challenges. I am excited about the opportunities to collaborate across disciplines and translate these approaches into practical solutions.”
Fengyi’s appointment completes the initial Oxford EARTH Research Fellow team, bringing together expertise in critical mineral recovery, environmental biotechnology, biodiversity, environmental justice and carbon capture. Together, the researchers are exploring how interdisciplinary research can support a more sustainable and equitable approach to the natural resources underpinning the energy transition.
