• 2016.12-present, Associate professor, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences
• 2012.6-2016.12, assistant professor, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences
• 2008.7-2012.6, Postdoctoral training in Evolutionary developmental biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences
• 2003.9-2008.7, Ph.D. in Developmental biology, Department of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Tsinghua University
• 2000.9-2003.7, M.S. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Jilin University
• 1994.9-1998.7, B.S. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Jilin University

Research Grants:

2025-2027, NSFC, International (Regional) Cooperation and Exchange Program

2023-2025, the Third Xinjiang Scientific Expedition Program

2019-2022, General Program of the National Natural Science Foundation of China

2014-2017, General Program of the National Natural Science Foundation of China

2011-2015, National Program on Key Basic Research Project

2006, 01-12, Youth Program of National Natural Science Foundation of China

My research focuses on the extreme adaptive evolution of vertebrates in specialized habitats, utilizing models such as Sinocyclocheilus, Mudskippers, Pterygoplichthys, and plateau species. By integrating multi-omics technologies with evolutionary developmental biology, survival strategies are analyzed in environments characterized by darkness, dehydration, extreme cold, hypoxia, and water-to-land transitions. Utilizing zebrafish as a model to investigate the underlying molecular genetic basis, the objective is to reveal mechanisms of phenotypic innovation and adaptive evolution from both genomic and phenotypic dimensions, providing a theoretical foundation for biodiversity conservation.

Montero-Mendieta, Santiago; Wang, Yuwei; Wang, Chongnv; Meng, Fanwei; Zhao, Yahui; Li, Xinxin; Guo, Baocheng; Doubled Genomes, Divergent Fates: Genomic Insights Into Diversification in an Allotetraploid Cavefish,  Molecular Ecology,  2025,  34(22)

Zhang, Mingming; Zhao, Qingshuo; Huang, Jinqing; Zou, Ming; Guo, Baocheng*; Zhao, Yahui*; Meng, Fanwei*; A Splicing Mutation in mitfa is Involved in the Depigmentation of Cavefish Triplophysa rosa,  Molecular Biology and Evolution,  2025,  42(8)

Huishang She; Graham R Scott; Yun Fang; Qingshuo Zhao; Fanwei Meng*; Yanhua Qu*; Divergent cardiovascular adaptations and gene regulation in high-elevation natives and recent colonizers of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, Molecular Biology and Evolution, 2025, 42

Lam SM, Li J, Sun H, Mao W, Lu Z, Zhao Q, Han C, Gong C, Jiang B, Chua GH, Zhao Z, Meng F*#, and Shui G*#. Quantitative Lipidomics and Spatial MS-Imaging Uncovered Neurological and Systemic Lipid Metabolic Pathways Underlying Troglomorphic Adaptations in Cave-Dwelling Fish. Mol Biol Evol 2022, 39(4): msac050.

Zhao Y, Huang Z, Huang J, Zhang C,  Meng F*. 2020. Phylogenetic analysis and expression differences of eye-related genes in cavefish genus Sinocyclocheilus. Integr Zool 2021 May;16(3):354-367

Huang Z, Titus T, Postlethwait JH*,  Meng F*. 2019. Eye Degeneration and Loss of otx5b Expression in the Cavefish Sinocyclocheilus tileihornes. J Mol Evol 87:199-208.

Meng F*, Zhao Y, Titus T, Zhang C, Postlethwait JH*. 2018. Brain of the blind: transcriptomics of the golden-line cavefish brain. Curr Zool 64:765-773.

Meng F, Braasch I, Phillips JB, Lin X, Titus T, Zhang C, Postlethwait JH. 2013. Evolution of the eye transcriptome under constant darkness in Sinocyclocheilus cavefish. Mol Biol Evol 30:1527-1543.

Meng F, Zhao Y, Postlethwait JH, Zhang C. 2013. Differentially-expressed opsin genes identified in Sinocyclocheilus cavefish endemic to China. Curr Zool 59:170-174.

Li F, Lan Y, Wang Y, Wang J, Yang G,  Meng F, Han H, Meng A, Wang Y, Yang X. 2011. Endothelial Smad4 maintains cerebrovascular integrity by activating N-cadherin through cooperation with Notch. Dev Cell 20:291-302.

Meng F, Cheng X, Yang L, Hou N, Yang X, Meng A. 2008. Accelerated re-epithelialization in Dpr2-deficient mice is associated with enhanced response to TGFbeta signaling. J Cell Sci 121:2904-2912.

Meng F, Meng A. 2008. Dapper family members modulate distinct signaling pathways in vertebrate development. Trends in Developmental Biology 1(3):61-69

Meng F^#, Shi L^#, Cheng X, Hou N, Wang Y, Teng Y, Meng A, Yang X. 2007. Surfactant protein A promoter directs the expression of Cre recombinase in brain microvascular endothelial cells of transgenic mice. Matrix Biol 26:54-57.

Zhang C,  Meng F, Wang C, Guo H, Fan M, Liu S, Zhou R, He F. 2004. Identification of a novel alternative splicing form of human netrin-4 and analyzing the expression patterns in adult rat brain. Brain Res Mol Brain Res 130:68-80.

Meng F, Guo H, Zhou R, Zhang C. 2004. Expression and distribution of β-Netrin mRNA in the brain of adult rat. Chinese Journal of Neuroscience, Vol.20 No.4, P286-289.

*Corresponding author; #Equal contribution