Liam obtained his undergraduate degree and master’s degree in physics from the University of Oxford. He started his PhD under the supervision of Dr. Niels Gresnigt in June 2021. His current research focuses on the applications of division and Clifford algebras to (beyond) Standard Model physics.
Hao Yang completed his BSc in Applied Mathematics at XJTLU, and his MSc with Distinction in Quantum Fields and Fundamental Forces at Imperial College London. He started his PhD studies under the supervision of Dr. Arthur Moares in March 2024. His research focuses on Multiple Parton Interactions at the LHC.
Yiyang Zhang finished his undergraduate study at XJTLU in Math, and two master’s studies at Imperial College London in Physics and at University College London in Math. His research interests are in Partial differential equations, and now he is doing research projects related to Schrodinger equations.
Bissekenov Abylay is the holder of a Master’s degree in Science of Physics from Nazarbayev University and a Bachelor’s degree in Physics from Aktobe Regional State University named after K. Zhubanov (nowadays Herriot-Watt and Zhubanov University). He started his PhD at Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University in March of 2024. He specializes in N-body simulations of star clusters and applications of machine learning in astrophysics.
Francesco obtained his undergraduate degree in physics from Università Tor Vergata and his masters degree in astronomy from University of Padua, both in Italy. His current research focuses on the long-time dynamical evolution of the planetary system in star clusters, and on how such environments affect the orbital architecture of planetary systems.
Tron obtained his joint master degree in theoretical physics from the University of Amsterdam and Vrije Universiteit. His research focuses on the dynamical evolution of solar-like planetary systems in different star cluster environment by using simulation. He is also interested in the theoretical framework of star clusters and planetary systems.
After obtaining his undergraduate degree in applied mathematics from Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University, Yifan embarked on his quest for a Ph.D. in December 2023. His primary research interest lies in astronomical spectroscopy, an instrumental technique capable of mining data, including stellar motion, chemical composition, and temperature, with unparalleled precision. This research yields stellar statistic that holds substantial potential to propel the exploration and comprehension of cluster evolution to new frontiers.
Kai is a graduate of the Department of Physics at Nankai University, with a strong interest in computational astrophysics. The objective of Kai’s PhD research is to numerically investigate the dynamics of planetary systems and their debris structures in dense stellar environments in and beyond the Milky Way galaxy.
After obtaining his degree in material science from Pennsylvania State University in 2017, Xiuming started his PhD studies at XJTLU. Xiuming’s research focuses on the dynamical evolution of supermassive black hole systems and their relation to gravitational-wave detections.
Shujun completed his BSc in Materials Science and Engineering at China University of Geosciences (Wuhan) and his MSc by Research at Cranfield University, UK. Shujun joined XJTLU in 2022 for his PhD studies and his current research focuses on the construction and performance of electrode-electrolyte interfaces for high-voltage lithium metal batteries, which will open up new possibilities for next-generation energy storage devices.
Yunxi Jiang obtained her BSc degree in Applied Mathematics from Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University (XJTLU). She started her Ph.D. in December 2021. Yunxi’s current research focuses on topological spintronics, especially the dynamics of Magnetic Skyrmions, a topological spin texture that is promising to be the carrier for the next generation of information technology.
Zhikai obtained his MSc degree in Applied Mathematics from Imperial College London and his BSc degree in Applied Mathematics from Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University (XJTLU). He started his PhD under the supervision of Dr. Hao Yu in March 2025. His research focuses on topological qubits in quantum computing, exploring their mathematical and physical foundations and potential for error-resistant quantum information processing.
Jiahao Yao received his Master of Research in Materials Science and Engineering with Distinction from Xi ’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University. In September 2024, he began his doctoral studies in heterogeneous integrated materials and electronic devices of diamond and gallium nitride for next-generation wireless communications.
Xueqi received her BSc degree in Applied Mathematics from Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University (XJTLU). Her main research interest is mathematical physics. In the autumn of 2020 she started her PhD research project on condensation phenomena in out-of-equilibrium systems at the Department of Physics at XJTLU.
High-energy physics
Liam Gourlay
Liam obtained his undergraduate degree and master’s degree in physics from the University of Oxford. He started his PhD under the supervision of Dr. Niels Gresnigt in June 2021. His current research focuses on the applications of division and Clifford algebras to (beyond) Standard Model physics.
Email: Liam.Gourlay20@student.xjtlu.edu.cn
Hao Yang
Hao Yang completed his BSc in Applied Mathematics at XJTLU, and his MSc with Distinction in Quantum Fields and Fundamental Forces at Imperial College London. He started his PhD studies under the supervision of Dr. Arthur Moares in March 2024. His research focuses on Multiple Parton Interactions at the LHC.
Email: Hao.Yang18@student.xjtlu.edu.cn
Yiyang Zhang
Yiyang Zhang finished his undergraduate study at XJTLU in Math, and two master’s studies at Imperial College London in Physics and at University College London in Math. His research interests are in Partial differential equations, and now he is doing research projects related to Schrodinger equations.
Email: Yiyang.Zhang13@student.xjtlu.edu.cn
Astrophysics
Bissekenov Abylay
Bissekenov Abylay is the holder of a Master’s degree in Science of Physics from Nazarbayev University and a Bachelor’s degree in Physics from Aktobe Regional State University named after K. Zhubanov (nowadays Herriot-Watt and Zhubanov University). He started his PhD at Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University in March of 2024. He specializes in N-body simulations of star clusters and applications of machine learning in astrophysics.
Email: Abhinav.Varma21@student.xjtlu.edu.cn
Francesco Flammini Dotti
Francesco obtained his undergraduate degree in physics from Università Tor Vergata and his masters degree in astronomy from University of Padua, both in Italy. His current research focuses on the long-time dynamical evolution of the planetary system in star clusters, and on how such environments affect the orbital architecture of planetary systems.
Email: Flammini.Francesco@xjtlu.edu.cn
Tron Du
Tron obtained his joint master degree in theoretical physics from the University of Amsterdam and Vrije Universiteit. His research focuses on the dynamical evolution of solar-like planetary systems in different star cluster environment by using simulation. He is also interested in the theoretical framework of star clusters and planetary systems.
Email: Chuang.Du12@student.xjtlu.edu.cn
Yifan Wang
After obtaining his undergraduate degree in applied mathematics from Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University, Yifan embarked on his quest for a Ph.D. in December 2023. His primary research interest lies in astronomical spectroscopy, an instrumental technique capable of mining data, including stellar motion, chemical composition, and temperature, with unparalleled precision. This research yields stellar statistic that holds substantial potential to propel the exploration and comprehension of cluster evolution to new frontiers.
Email: Yifan.Wang1902@student.xjtlu.edu.cn
Kai Wu
Kai is a graduate of the Department of Physics at Nankai University, with a strong interest in computational astrophysics. The objective of Kai’s PhD research is to numerically investigate the dynamics of planetary systems and their debris structures in dense stellar environments in and beyond the Milky Way galaxy.
Email: Kai.Wu19@student.xjtlu.edu.cn
Xiuming Xu
After obtaining his degree in material science from Pennsylvania State University in 2017, Xiuming started his PhD studies at XJTLU. Xiuming’s research focuses on the dynamical evolution of supermassive black hole systems and their relation to gravitational-wave detections.
Email: Xiuming.Xu@xjtlu.edu.cn
Condensed matter physics
Shujun He
Shujun completed his BSc in Materials Science and Engineering at China University of Geosciences (Wuhan) and his MSc by Research at Cranfield University, UK. Shujun joined XJTLU in 2022 for his PhD studies and his current research focuses on the construction and performance of electrode-electrolyte interfaces for high-voltage lithium metal batteries, which will open up new possibilities for next-generation energy storage devices.
Email: Shujun.He22@student.xjtlu.edu.cn
Yunxi Jiang
Yunxi Jiang obtained her BSc degree in Applied Mathematics from Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University (XJTLU). She started her Ph.D. in December 2021. Yunxi’s current research focuses on topological spintronics, especially the dynamics of Magnetic Skyrmions, a topological spin texture that is promising to be the carrier for the next generation of information technology.
Email: Yunxi.Jiang17@student.xjtlu.edu.cn
Zhikai Wang
Zhikai obtained his MSc degree in Applied Mathematics from Imperial College London and his BSc degree in Applied Mathematics from Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University (XJTLU). He started his PhD under the supervision of Dr. Hao Yu in March 2025. His research focuses on topological qubits in quantum computing, exploring their mathematical and physical foundations and potential for error-resistant quantum information processing.
Email: Zhikai.Wang19@student.xjtlu.edu.cn
Jiahao Yao
Jiahao Yao received his Master of Research in Materials Science and Engineering with Distinction from Xi ’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University. In September 2024, he began his doctoral studies in heterogeneous integrated materials and electronic devices of diamond and gallium nitride for next-generation wireless communications.
Email: Jiahao.Yao22@student.xjtlu.edu.cn
Xueqi Yao
Xueqi received her BSc degree in Applied Mathematics from Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University (XJTLU). Her main research interest is mathematical physics. In the autumn of 2020 she started her PhD research project on condensation phenomena in out-of-equilibrium systems at the Department of Physics at XJTLU.
Email: Xueqi.Yao20@student.xjtlu.edu.cn