Faculty
Basic Introduction
Dr. Xia Yu (Ph.D., University of Hong Kong), currently an Associate Professor and doctoral supervisor at the Southern University of Science and Technology (SUSTech), serves as the Principal Investigator of the Environmental Microbiology and Ecological Genomics Laboratory (XYLab). Her research focuses on leveraging high-throughput omics technologies, particularly Nanopore sequencing, to elucidate interspecies interactions within microbial communities and the transfer dynamics of critical genes (e.g.,antibiotic resistance genes) in engineered biological systems, extreme natural environments, and indoor cleanrooms.
In recent years, she has published over 50 first-authored or corresponding papers in top-tier journals such as Environmental Science & Technology, Water Research, and Genome Research, with total citations exceeding 4,500 (Google Scholar, h-index 31). Dr. Xia currently serves as Associate Editor for iMeta and Frontiers in Environmental Science, and serves as a Young Editorial Member for the Engineering and mLife Journal
She is the principal investigator for a National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) General Program and Young Scientist Program, as well as the principal investigator for two National Key R&D Program projects. Dr. Xia has been recognized with honors including the Shenzhen Overseas High-Level Talent Award, SUSTech’s Outstanding Graduate Supervisor Award, and Outstanding Residential College Mentor Award. She previously served as the Young Ambassador for the American Society for Microbiology (ASM) in Hong Kong.
Professional Experience
June 2024 - present, Associate Professor, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China
Oct. 2017 –May 2024, Assistant Professor, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China
Dec. 2013–Oct. 2017, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Environmental Biotechnology Lab, Department of Civil Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, HK SAR
Education
Sept. 2009- Dec. 2013, Ph.D., Environmental Biotechnology Lab, Department of Civil Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, HK SAR
Sept. 2004- Sept. 2008, Bachelor of Engineering, Department of Environmental Engineering, School of Environmental and Biological Science and Technology, Dalian University of Technology, China
Jan. 2008- May 2008, transfer student, Department of Environmental Engineering, College of Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA.
Synergistic Activities
Editorial Services:
1. 202406 - present, mLife (SCI impact factor 4.5), Junior Editorial Board Member
2. 202309 - present, iMeta (SCI impact factor 23.7), Associate editor
3. 202210 - present, Frontiers in Environmental Science (SCI impact factor 4.24), Associate editor
4. 202104 - present, Engineering (SCI impact factor 12.834), Junior Editorial Board Member
Committer/Panel Member：
1. May 2023 – Present, Guangdong Society for Bioinformatics, Board Member
2. April 2023 – Present, Biological Safety Committee, Southern University of Science and Technology, Representative Member
3. September 2018 – October 2020, Southern University of Science and Technology, Faculty Senate Representative
4. March 2013 – June 2016, American Society for Microbiology (ASM) in Hong Kong,Young Ambassador
5. September 2011 – July 2012, Graduate Association,The University of Hong Kong,Secretary-General
Awards and Honors
1. 2024, Excellent Postgraduate Student Mentor of the Year, Southern University of Science and Technology.
2. 2023, Excellent Author Award, Wiley.
3. 2021, Excellent Residential College Mentor of the Year, Southern University of Science and Technology.
4. 2011-2012, Outstanding Teaching Assistant Award, The University of Hong Kong.
5. 2008, Honor of excellent graduates of the city of Dalian, China.
Research Interests
Selected funded projects
1. Shenzhen Municipal Science and Technology Innovation Commission (General Program): November 2024–October 2027, Principal Investigator (PI), Ongoing
2. National Natural Science Foundation of China (General Program): January 2023–December 2026, Principal Investigator (PI), Ongoing
3. National Key R&D Program (Intergovernmental International Science and Technology Innovation Cooperation Special Project): January 2022–December 2025, Sub-project PI, Ongoing
4. National Key R&D Program (Young Scientists Program): Sub-project PI, Ongoing
Teaching (Courses and outstanding students)
1. ESE301-Environmental Microbiology, Undergraduate
2. ESE5013-Environmental Metagenomics, Postgraduate
Published Works
1.Liming Chen?, Bixi Zhao?, Miao Zhang, Yuxi Yan, Cailong Nie, Kaiqiang Yu, Zhihao Tu, Yu Xia*. 2025. Micron-scale Heterogeneity Reduction Leads to Increased Interspecies Competition in Thermophilic Digestion Microbiome. Water Research. 279: 123419. (Impact factor: 13.400).
2.Yuhong Sun?, Zhanwen Cheng?, Xiang Li, Qing Yang, Bixi Zhao, Ziqi Wu, Yu Xia*. 2023. Genome enrichment of rare and unknown species from complicated microbiome by nanopore selective sequencing. Genome Research. 33(4):612-621. (Impact factor: 9.438).
3.Bixi Zhao?, Liming Chen?, Miao Zhang, Cailong Nie, Qing Yang, Kaiqiang Yu, Yu Xia*. 2023. Electric-inducive microbial interactions in thermophilic anaerobic digester revealed by high-throughput sequencing of micron-scale single flocs. Environmental Science & Technology. 57(10):4367-4378. (Impact factor:11.357). Supplementary Cover
4.Ziqi Wu, You Che, Chenyuan Dang, Miao Zhang, Xuyang Zhang, Yuhong Sun, Xiang Li, Tong Zhang, Yu Xia*. 2022. Nanopore-based Long-read Metagenomics Uncover the Resistome Intrusion by Antibiotic Resistant Bacteria from Treated Wastewater in Receiving Water Body. Water Research. 226:119282. (Impact factor: 13.400).
5.Liming Chen?, Bixi Zhao?, Alejandro Palomo, Yuhong Sun, Zhanwen Cheng, Miao Zhang, Yu Xia*. 2022. Micron-scale biogeography reveals conservative intra anammox bacteria spatial co-associations. Water Research. 220:118640. (Impact factor: 13.400).