Prof. Liang’s research focuses on biogeochemical processes that control the cycling, longevity, and environmental functions of organic carbon in soils and sediments. The goal is to gain a mechanistic understanding of organic carbon degradation and stabilization, and potential in nutrient retention, carbon sequestration, and environmental remediation. 

Another line of Liang’s research is to understand the microbially-regulated formation of stromatolites (the earliest microfossil on Earth). Liang’s research on cyanobacteria and lithified lab-culture has linked Kenting modern stromatolite discovered in Taiwan to the ancient fossilized stromatolites. Studying the causal interplay of biological and environmental factors, the microbial community and activities, and the geochemical signatures, using stable isotopes (13C, 15N, 11B, 88Sr, 87Sr, 86Sr etc.), Nano-SIMS, and molecular biology tools, will help elucidate the formation processes and mechanism of modern and ancient stromatolites.

Recent research has unveiled the sub-micron-scale chemistry of black carbon (biochar) and the in-situ interaction with short-range-order minerals and nanomineral particles (Weng et al., 2018; Weng et al., 2020). 

Prof. Liang works on converting kitchen bone waste (hydroxyapatite) into valorized materials (bone char) by thermal alteration and synthesis of nanominerals, and application to remediation, removal of heavy metals, and degradation of PFOA (Biswas et al., 2021; Biswas et al., 2022; Biswas et al., 2023). 

Liang’s lab often explores interdisciplinary research techniques on biogeochemical processes by using various synchrotron-based spectroscopic and spectrometric techniques (including TXM, NEXAFS, FTIR, XRD, XND, XAS etc). 

Prof. Liang is an experienced user at National Synchrotron Radiation Research Center (NSRRC) in Taiwan.