Xiaodong Xu

Xiaodong Xu is a Professor of Applied Physics at Stanford University. He received his Ph.D. in Physics from the University of Michigan in 2008 and conducted postdoctoral research in Physics at Cornell University from 2009 to 2010. From 2010 to 2026, he was a faculty member at the University of Washington, with appointments in the Department of Physics and the Department of Materials Science and Engineering.Xu’s research explores emergent quantum phenomena in atomically thin materials, with a particular focus on moiré quantum matter, topological and correlated electronic states, magnetism, and spin–valley physics. By combining quantum device engineering with optical spectroscopy, magneto-optical techniques, and quantum transport, his group seeks to discover, understand, and control new states of quantum matter, with the goal of enabling new forms of quantum electronics and optoelectronics.His research has contributed to the discovery and understanding of valleytronics, two-dimensional magnets, moiré excitons, moiré magnetism, quantum spin Hall insulators, and the fractional quantum anomalous Hall effect. His current interests include anyon quantum matter, interacting topological phases, quantum magnetism, and the optical control and readout of correlated quantum systems. He is a recipient of the 2025 National Academy of Sciences Award for Scientific Discovery and the 2025 Dan Maydan Prize in Nanoscience Research.