Distinguished Professor Dr. Chengrong Chen is a soil environmental biogeochemist at Griffith University, Australia, where he leads the Soil Environmental Biogeochemistry Research Group and the 4R Waste Hub. He obtained his MSc from the University of Waikato and his PhD in Biogeochemistry from Lincoln University, New Zealand.

Prof Chen was awarded an Australian Research Council (ARC) Future Fellowship (2009–2014) and currently serves as the Research Director of the Solving Plastic Waste CRC (AUD140M; 2024–2034). His research focuses on biogeochemical cycling of carbon and nutrients, soil health, and microplastics in agroecosystems.

He has secured over AUD20 million in research funding and published over 210 peer-reviewed articles in prestigious journals such as Nature Communications. He currently serves on the ARC College of Experts and holds several editorial roles in international journals.