Education:
Postdoctoral Fellow, Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology (2021-2025)
Ph.D., Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Harvard University (2016-2021)
B.S., Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Johns Hopkins University (2012-2016)
Selected Awards:
Burroughs Wellcome Fund Career Award at the Scientific Interface (2026-2031)
Jane Coffin Childs Memorial Fund for Medical Research and Joan A. Steitz Fund Fellowship (2022-2025)
Distinguished Research Award, Harvard University Chinese Scholars and Scientists Association (2021)
Albert J. Ryan Foundation Fellowship (2018)
Sarah K. Doshna Undergraduate Research Award, Johns Hopkins University (2015)
American Institute of Chemical Engineers Award, Johns Hopkins University (2015)
Provost's Undergraduate Research Award, Johns Hopkins University (2014)
Elnora Streb Muly Award, Johns Hopkins University (2014)
At the Xia Lab, we use interdisciplinary approaches to explore how molecules and cells operate mechanistically, how these processes shape physiology and pathology, and how we can redesign them through the lens of engineering.
- Mechanism: Discover principles of life at molecular and cellular levels
Question: What fundamental rules govern the dance of molecules inside and outside cells? How do molecules assemble, signal, and adapt to orchestrate cellular responses? What emergent behaviors arise from the interactions of individual molecules?
Passion: We are interested in the logic of molecular and cellular interactions. By revealing these hidden natural principles, we want to understand life not just in fragments, but as integrated, dynamic systems.
Approach: Biochemistry, structural biology, biophysics, cell biology - Function: Elucidate the roles of living systems in health and disease
Question: What do molecules and cells actually do in living organisms, beyond isolated assays? How do these living systems know when to attack or stand down? Why do similar molecular and cellular events lead to distinct physiological and pathological outcomes?
Passion: We are enthusiastic about revealing the connections between molecular or cellular events and physiological or pathological consequences, building a transition from basic biology to translational application.
Approach: Immunology, in vivo modeling, physiology, pathology - Design: Build synthetic circuits to program biological behavior
Question: Can we write molecular instructions that rewire cell fate? What if proteins could act like software, sensing inputs, making decisions, and triggering actions? How can synthetic designs answer questions that natural systems cannot resolve?
Passion: We design synthetic circuits at gene and protein levels that endow cells with new capabilities, unlocking possibilities for therapy, diagnostics, and discovery. We seek to engineer unnatural pathways that do not just observe biology, but reshape it.
Approach: Synthetic biology, chemical biology, engineering, systems biology