His current research focuses on nanophotonics and nanoelectronics using both emerging and traditional semiconductor materials. He is particularly interested in the light-matter interaction and quantum transport in the low-dimensional materials. He also actively develops electronic and photonic devices for applications in computing, flexible electronics, imaging, optical communications, and energy harvesting.
Professor Xia’s honors include the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (2019), National Science Foundation CAREER award (2016), the Office of Naval Research Young Investigator Award (2015), the IBM Pat Goldberg Memorial Best Paper Award (2014), the TR35 Award, MIT Technology Review’s Top Young Innovators under 35 (2011), the IBM Corporate Award, that corporation’s highest technical honor (2012), and the designation of the Weller Professorship in Engineering and Science by Yale President in October 2015. He was elected Fellow of Optica in 2022 and has also been recognized as a Highly Cited Researcher by Clarivate Analytics since 2017.