Research Interests

• Currently, Professor Shi is leading several research programs focused on understanding the origins, transmission and evolution of emerging viruses (including various human-infecting avian influenza viruses, Zika virus, Ebola virus, and SARS-CoV-2), as well as ecological and environmental factors shaping the viral species/genetic diversity in nature. More important, he was involved into the establishment of a nation-wide avian influenza virus surveillance network - the CAS Center for Influenza Research and Early-warning (CASCIRE) and has been performing genomic surveillance of avian influenza viruses in China since 2013. In addition, his group has identified several SARS-CoV-2 related coronaviruses from bats, which provides evidence of natural origin of this pandemic strain.