ESIIL Postdoctoral Associate

Yu Peng is an agroecologist dedicated to evaluating and scaling nature-based solutions in managed terrestrial ecosystems to foster climate mitigation and ecosystem resilience. His research combines field measurements with global synthesis to quantify soil organic carbon (SOC) sequestration, greenhouse gas (GHG) dynamics, and nitrogen leaching across diverse agricultural landscapes.

Prior to joining CU Boulder, Yu earned his Ph.D. in Applied Earth and Environmental Sciences from Indiana University, where he evaluated the climate mitigation potential of cover crops in close collaboration with local farmers, regional conservation agencies, and the USGS. He also holds the joint dual M.S. in Environmental Science from the University of Copenhagen and the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and a B.S. in GIS from Central China Normal University.

At ESIIL, Yu focuses on leveraging AI-powered frameworks to harmonize multi-source datasets spanning lab assays, field observations, literature syntheses, and satellites images. His research aims to scale agricultural nature-based solutions from regional to continental levels and translate global syntheses into mechanistic insights, delivering scalable, science-backed strategies for sustainable agroecosystem functioning.