主要從事藥用(yòng)植物(wù)次生代謝領域的(de)研究工作，包括次生代謝産物(wù)生物(wù)合成途徑的(de)解析以及次生代謝調控機制的(de)闡明(míng)。綜合運用(yòng)分(fēn)子生物(wù)學和(hé)生物(wù)信息學等手段，建立藥用(yòng)植物(wù)的(de)轉錄組數據庫，通(tōng)過代謝譜與轉錄表達譜的(de)關聯分(fēn)析挖掘天然産物(wù)生物(wù)合成途徑的(de)關鍵酶基因以及調控因子，通(tōng)過分(fēn)子生物(wù)技術及遺傳轉化(huà)等驗證其功能機制，對(duì)生物(wù)合成及調控進行深入地探索。 前期工作緻力于鼠尾草(cǎo)屬藥用(yòng)植物(wù)中活性成分(fēn)的(de)代謝途徑解析及調控等方面，包括丹參酮類物(wù)質的(de)調控研究、酚酸類活性物(wù)質的(de)代謝解析等，獲得(de)國家自然科學基金青年基金資助1項，發表多(duō)篇SCI論文。

2015年上海市綠化(huà)市容科技論文獎（基礎研究）二等獎。

中國科學院上海生命科學研究院碩士生導師 2011-2015指導聯合培養碩士研究生4名，已畢業2名，目前在讀2名。

2000年考入東北(běi)林(lín)業大(dà)學生物(wù)科學專業，2004年至2010年于東北(běi)林(lín)業大(dà)學森林(lín)植物(wù)生态學教育部重點實驗室植物(wù)學專業，攻讀碩士和(hé)博士研究生，2010年7月(yuè)獲得(de)理(lǐ)學博士學位。2010年于中科院上海生命科學研究院植物(wù)生理(lǐ)生态研究所從事博士後研究，合作導師是陳曉亞研究員(yuán)。2014年1月(yuè)博士後出站後就職于中科院上海辰山植物(wù)科學研究中心藥用(yòng)植物(wù)與次生代謝研究組，至今。

Lei Yang, Chang-Qing Yang, Chen-Yi Li, Qing Zhao, Ling Liu, Xin Fang, Xiao-Ya Chen*. Recent Advances in Biosynthesis of Bioactive Compounds in Traditional Chinese Medicinal Plants. Science Bulletin, 2015, DOI: 10.1007/s11434-015-0929-2

Lei Yang, Xiaoju Zhao, Hong Zhu, Matthew Paul, Yuangang Zu  and Zhonghua Tang. Exogenous trehalose largely alleviates ionic unbalance, ROS burst, and PCD occurrence induced by high salinity in Arabidopsis seedlings. Frontiers in Plant Science, 2014, 5:570
Bowen Chang1, Lei Yang1, Weiwei Cong, Yuangang Zu, Zhonghua Tang . The improved resistance to high salinity induced by trehalose is associated with ionic regulation and osmotic adjustment in Catharanthus roseus. Plant Physiology and Biochemistry, 2014, 77:140-148 

Lei Yang, Guo-Hui Ding, Hai-Yan Lin, Hai-Ning Cheng, Yu Kong, Yu-Kun Wei, Xin Fang, Ren-Yi Liu, Ling-Jian Wang, Xiao-Ya Chen and Chang-Qing Yang*. Transcriptome analysis of medicinal plant Salvia miltiorrhiza and identification of genes related to tanshinone biosynthesis. PLoS ONE, 2013, 8(11):e80464

Lei Yang, Yuan-Gang Zu, Zhong-Hua Tang . Ethylene improves Arabidopsis salt tolerance mainly via retaining K+ in shoots and roots rather than decreasing tissue Na+ content. Environmental and Experimental Botany, 2013, 86:60-69

Yingchao Lin, Lei Yang, Matthew Paul, Yuangang Zu, Zhonghua Tang. Ethylene promotes germination of Arabidopsis seed under salinity by decreasing reactive oxygen species: Evidence for the involvement of nitric oxide simulated by sodium nitropresside. Plant Physiology and Biochemistry, 2013, 73C:211-218

Juan Guo, Yongjin J. Zhou, Matthew L. Hillwig, Ye Shen, Lei Yang, Yajun Wang, Xianan Zhang, Wujun Liu, Reuben J. Peters, Xiaoya Chen, Zongbao K. Zhao and Luqi Huang. CYP76AH1 catalyzes turnover of miltiradiene in tanshinones biosynthesis and enables heterologous production of ferruginol in yeasts. PNAS, 2013, 110(29):12108-13

Yingchao Lin, Lei Yang, Dandan Chen, Yuangang Zu, Zhonghua Tang. A role for Ethylene-Insensitive3 in the regulation of hydrogen peroxide production during seed germination under high salinity in Arabidopsis. Acta Physiologiae Plantarum, 2013, 35(5):1701-1706

Juan Guo, Xiao-Hui Ma, Yuan Cai, Ying Ma, Zhi-Lai Zhan, Yongjin J. Zhou, Wu-Jun Liu, Meng-Xin Guan, Jian Yang, Guang-Hong Cui, Liping Kang, Lei Yang, Ye Shen, Jin-Fu Tang, Hui-Xin Lin, Xiao-Jing Ma, Baolong Jin1, Zhen-Ming Liu, Reuben J. Peters, Zongbao K. Zhao and Luqi Huang. Cytochrome P450 promiscuity leads to a bifurcating biosynthetic pathway for tanshinones. New Phytologist. 2015, doi: 10.1111/nph.13790.