Dr. LI Shaoqin and Dr. ZHAO Xin of Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden (XTBG) are on the list of laureates for 2024 CAS President Excellence Awards. 

LI Shaoqin has been pursuing a master's and doctoral program at XTBG from September 2019 to the present, under the guidance of Prof.Jiang Yanjuan. Her research focuses on the regulation of endogenous and exogenous plant signals and plant disease resistance. During her studies, Li Shaoqin primarily investigated the molecular mechanisms of low-temperature signal activation of salicylic acid hormone signal transduction and plant disease response. Her research findings have been published as first author in Plant Cell. Additionally, she has published one research paper as co-first author in Plant Science and another as second author in Plant Physiology.

ZHAO Xin has been pursuing a master's and doctoral program at XTBG since September 2020, under the guidance of Prof. Chen Zhanqi. Her research focuses on the survival and reproductive strategies of mimic species, using the orchid mantis as the subject of study. Zhao Xin's research found the orchid mantis can use its petal-shaped legs for gliding, which was featured as cover story in Current Biology and reported in detail by Science magazine. In addition, she has published one related paper as co-first author in Evolutionary Ecology and one research paper as co-author in Biodiversity Data Journal.

The President Awards are the top honor for graduate students at Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS). e objectives of the Awards are to promote the overall level of the graduate education at CAS by encouraging graduate students to study hard and make innovation progress.  In 2024, a total of 80 individuals received the CAS President's Special Award, while 400 individuals were awarded the CAS President Outstanding Award.

LI Shaoqin (L) and ZHAO Xin (R)