主要从事药用植物次生代谢领域的研究工作，包括次生代谢产物生物合成途径的解析以及次生代谢调控机制的阐明。综合运用分子生物学和生物信息学等手段，建立药用植物的转录组数据库，通过代谢谱与转录表达谱的关联分析挖掘天然产物生物合成途径的关键酶基因以及调控因子，通过分子生物技术及遗传转化等验证其功能机制，对生物合成及调控进行深入地探索。 前期工作致力于鼠尾草属药用植物中活性成分的代谢途径解析及调控等方面，包括丹参酮类物质的调控研究、酚酸类活性物质的代谢解析等，获得国家自然科学基金青年基金资助1项，发表多篇SCI论文。

2015年上海市绿化市容科技论文奖（基础研究）二等奖。

中国科学院上海生命科学研究院硕士生导师 2011-2015指导联合培养硕士研究生4名，已毕业2名，目前在读2名。

2000年考入东北林业大学生物科学专业，2004年至2010年于东北林业大学森林植物生态学教育部重点实验室植物学专业，攻读硕士和博士研究生，2010年7月获得理学博士学位。2010年于中科院上海生命科学研究院植物生理生态研究所从事博士后研究，合作导师是陈晓亚研究员。2014年1月博士后出站后就职于中科院上海辰山植物科学研究中心药用植物与次生代谢研究组，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.