Xiaodong Yan
Xiaodong Yan is an assistant professor in the Materials Science and Engineering Department at the University of Arizona where he has been selected as a Center for Semiconductor Manufacturing Fellow. He completed his BS in physics from Peking University, an MS in electrical engineering from University of Notre Dame and a PhD in electrical and computer engineering from the University of Southern California. Following his doctorate, he was a postdoc in materials science and engineering at Northwestern University.
His research focuses on interdisciplinary study over novel nanomaterials and physics, nano-electronic device and mechanisms, and cutting-edge circuit and architectural designs for low-power applications including neuromorphic computing, quantum communication and sensing and artificial intelligence. He is the author or co-author of more than 50 scholarly publications. In 2025, he received the AFOSR YIP Award and NSF CAREER Award.
Degrees
- PhD: electrical and computer engineering, University of Southern California, 2020
- MS: electrical engineering, University of Notre Dame, 2014
- BS: physics, Peking University, China, 2011
Work Experience
- 2023—present: Assistant Professor, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Arizona
- 2021—2023: Postdoctoral Scholar, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Northwestern University
Interests
Research Interests
Semiconductor devices and physics, nanofabrication, 2D materials, neuromorphic computing, quantum computing.
Teaching Interests
Nanofabrication process, semiconductor devices and physics, Quantum physics, materials for memory devices and neuromorphic computing.
Awards
- NSF CAREER Award
- NSF, Spring 2025
- AFOSR Young Investigator Award
- Air Force, Fall 2025
- Center for Semiconductor Manufacturing (CSM) Fellow
- The University of Arizona, Spring 2025
- Ming-Hsieh Institute PhD Scholar
- University of Southern California, Fall 2020