
Jeff (Che-Wei) Chang
Jeff (Che-Wei) Chang is a PhD candidate in the Faculty of Forestry at the University of British Columbia, supervised by Dr. Suzanne Simard and Dr. Christopher Chanway. Originally from Taiwan, Jeff completed his six-year forestry degree with research spanning silviculture, forest fire management, and community forestry—where he published work on the UBC Wiki platform. He later developed an independent research system on Spiranthes orchids and their mycorrhizal fungi, attracting attention from international researchers. His doctoral research investigates the interactions between endophytic fungi and nitrogen-fixing bacteria (endophytic diazotrophs) in promoting plant growth. One chapter focuses on lodgepole pine thriving in nitrogen-poor sites of Interior BC, while another, in collaboration with the Kwiakah Nation, explores endophyte–microbe relationships under eco-cultural restoration. In his free time, Jeff enjoys hiking, composing music, exploring food, and playing table tennis.