Xi Qian is a postdoctoral associate in the Department of BioProducts and BioSystems Engineering at the University of Minnesota. He has 8 years of experience in nanotechnology research, specifically in the synthesis and characterization of ceramic, plasmonic, and carbon nanomaterials. His current research focuses on investigating carbon nanotube growth mechanisms and developing carbon nanotube-based gas sensors and battery electrodes.

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Xi Qian Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Associate
Department of BioProducts and BioSystems Engineering
BioTechnology Institute
University of Minnesota, Twin Cities
Email:
Phone:
Address:
Website:
mrxiqian@gmail.com, qianx291@umn.edu
518-649-6432
1475 Gortner Ave, Snyder 237
St Paul, MN 55108
Linkedin.com/in/drxiqian
Research Backgrounds
• Materials scientist with eight years of research experience focusing on nanotechnology;
• Experienced in developing appropriate methodology to synthesize or characterize nanomaterials;
• Specifically expertise in the production, property and biomedical/biological applications of ceramic,
plasmonic nanomaterials and carbon nanotubes;
• Able to conduct multidisciplinary studies in nanotechnology, bioengineering, and microelectronics.
Education
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, New York 08/2009-08/2014
Ph.D. in Materials Engineering, Department of Materials Science and Engineering
Thesis: Effects of concave surfaces on adsorbed protein structure and function
Advisors: Professor Richard W. Siegel and Professor Jonathan S. Dordick
Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China 09/2005-07/2009
B.S. in Materials Science, School of Materials Science and Engineering
Thesis: Hydrothermal synthesis of LiCoPO4 nano-textured cathode materials for Li-ion batteries
Advisor: Professor Chengkang Chang
Research Skills
Hands-on experiences in the following techniques:
• Analytical
Methods &
Instrumentations:
• Scanning/transmission electron microscopy • Atomic force microscopy
• Scanning tunneling microscopy • X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy
• Surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy • UV-visible spectroscopy
• Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy • Electron diffraction
• Powder and bulk X-ray diffraction • Circular dichroism
• Inductively coupled plasma-mass spectroscopy• Gas chromatography
• Dynamic light scattering • Enzymatic activity assays
• • Electrochemical tests • Protein concentration assays
• Nanomaterial
Synthesis:
• Methods: Polyol, sol-gel, hydrothermal, physical/chemical vapor deposition, etc.
Materials: Metallic, ceramic, carbon nanotube, composite, etc.
Research Experiences
University of Minnesota, Twin Cities St. Paul, Minnesota
Postdoctoral Associate, Department of BioProducts and BioSystems Engineering 09/2015-Present
Advisor: Professor Ping Wang
• Investigated the catalyst formation and carbon nanotube growth mechanism in chemical vapor deposition
synthesize of a cellulose-derived carbon nanotube 3-D hierarchical materials, and thereby significantly
optimized the producing process and improved production quality
• Investigated the biomass pyrolysis mechanisms, and developed novel “green” and simple catalytic
synthesis routes that produce high quality carbon nanotube solely from biomass pyrolysis, without using
any mineral based carbon sources.
• Developing a novel type of miniature gas sensor based on the hierarchical CNT materials.
• Investigating surface decoration methods to expand the application of the hierarchical carbonaceous
materials in heterogeneous catalyst, antifouling substrate, and rechargeable battery electrodes.

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Rensselaer Nanotechnology Center, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Troy, New York
Advisors: Professor Richard W. Siegel and Professor Jonathan S. Dordick
Postdoctoral Research Associate 09/2014-08/2014
• Development of novel nano-biomaterials using nanomaterials’ unique magnetic or plasmonic properties.
• Performed quantitative studies of the drug uptake-release kinetics of hollowed nanoparticles.
• Developed characterization strategy to investigate the microstructure of ferritin magnetic nanoparticles to
understand their structure-property relationship, and to enhance their controllability in radio frequency
remote cell regulations.
• Synthesized and characterized gold nanorods with diversified plasmonic behaviors as photothermal cell
regulators.
Graduate Research Assistant 08/2009-08/2014
• Designed and synthesized high-yield and high-uniformity gold, silver and silica nanoparticles with diverse
morphologies and surface chemistries for biomedical applications;
• Optimized nanoparticle synthetic protocols, including polyol, galvanization and sol-gel methods;
• Developed analytical methods for studying nanoparticle characteristics (morphology, uniformity, crystal
structure, composition and surface chemistry) that determine protein adsorption;
• Quantitatively characterized nanostructure-biomolecule interactions through studying the behavior
(stability, structure and activity) of proteins adsorbed on diverse nanoparticles;
• Developed novel approaches to quantify proteins adsorbed inside and outside hollow nanoparticles;
• Created facile protocols to selectively remove adsorbed proteins on irregularly shaped nanoparticles;
• Identified and studied novel allosteric effects on lysozyme induced by nano-concave surfaces.
Shanghai Jiao Tong University Shanghai, China
Undergraduate Research Assistant 03/2007-05/2009
• Scaled-up hydrothermal synthesis of nano-textured cathode materials for powerful Li-ion batteries;
Publications
1. Sanchez-Rodriguez, P. S.; Sauer, J. P.; Stanley, S. A.; Qian, X.; Friedman, J.M.; Dordick, J. S. Plasmonic
Activation of Gold Nanorods for Remote Stimulation of Calcium Signaling and Protein Expression in HEK
293T Cells. Biotechnology and Bioengineerig, in press
2. Qian, X.; Rameshbabu, U.; Dordick, J. S.; Siegel, R. W. Using Gold Nanocage to Investigate the Effect of
Concave Surfaces on Immobilized Proteins. Biomaterials 2016, 75, 305-312.
3. Qian, X.; Levenstein, A.; Gagner, J. E.; Dordick, J. S.; Siegel, R. W. Protein Immobilization in Hollow
Nanostructures and Investigation of the Adsorbed Protein Behavior. Langmuir 2014, 30, 1295-1303.
4. Shrivastava, S.; McCallum, S. A.; Nuffer, J. H.; Qian, X.; Siegel, R. W.; Dordick, J. S. Identifying Specific
Protein Residues That Guide Surface Interactions and Orientation on Silica Nanoparticles. Langmuir 2013,
29, 10841-10849.
5. Gagner, J. E.; Qian, X.; Lopez M. M.; Dordick, J. S.; Siegel R. W. Effect of Gold Nanoparticle Structure on
the Conformation and Function of Adsorbed Proteins. Biomaterials 2012, 33, 8503-8516.
6. Gagner, J. E.; Shrivastava, S.; Qian, X.; Dordick, J. S.; Siegel. R. W. Engineering Nanomaterials for
Biomedical Applications Requires Understanding the Nano-Bio Interface: A Perspective. The Journal of
Physical Chemistry Letters 2012, 21, 3149-3158. (Issue cover and invited video presentation)
7. Chang, C.; Li, W.; Huang, X.; Wang, Z.; Chen, X.; Qian, X.; Guo, R.; Ding, Y.; and Mao D. Photo-
luminescence and Afterglow Behavior of Eu
2+
, Dy
3+
and Eu
3+
, Dy
3+
in Sr3Al2O6 matrix. Journal of
Luminescence 2010, 130, 347-350.
8. Qian, X.; Cheng, X.; Wang Z.; Huang, X.; Guo, R.; Mao, D.; Chang, C.; Song, W. The Preparation of
LiCoO2 Nanoplates via a Hydrothermal Process and the Investigation of their Electrochemical Behavior at
High Rates. Nanotechnology 2009, 20, 115608-115615.

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Conference Presentations
11/2013 Materials Research Society Fall Meeting, Oral Presentations Boston, MA
- Gold Nanocages and the Effects of Concave Hollow Nanostructures on Proteins
- Gold Nanocages as Protective Protein Immobilizing Agents
11/2012 Materials Research Society Fall Meeting, Poster Presentations Boston, MA
- Protein Behavior Under Confined Environments and Concave Nanosurfaces
- Effect of Gold Nanoparticle Structure on the Conformation and Function of Proteins
10/2008 National University Student Innovation Forum, Invited Speech and Poster Changsha, China
- Textured LiFePO4 cathode for potential applications in powerful Li-ion battery
Patent
Qian, X.; Gagner, J. E.; Dordick, J. S.; Siegel, R. W. Immobilization of Proteins into Hollowed Gold
Nanostructures. U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/060,766, October 7, 2014, U.S. Provisional Application
No. 62/106,390, January 22, 2015, U.S. Utility Application in process.
Teaching, Mentoring and Service Experiences
Department of Materials Science & Engineering, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Troy, NY
2009 Teaching Assistant for undergraduate junior course Electronic Properties of Materials
Instructor: Professor Daniel Gall
Rensselaer Nanotechnology Center, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Troy, NY
2014, 2015 Invited peer reviewer for Langmuir and Biotechnology and Bioengineering
2012-present Assistant Coordinator of Nanobioscience Laboratory
Oversee routine operation of the lab, and ensure the implement of safety instructions
2011-2014 Mentored 3 undergraduate researchers in biomedical nanomaterials projects
Students co-authored two papers and won a conference award
2010, 2011 Volunteer for High School Outreach Program
Lab demonstrations and lectures on novel phenomena at nanoscale
Honors & Affiliation
2011-present Materials Research Society
2011 Best Poster Award, Materials Research Society Fall Meeting, Boston, MA
2009-2014 Graduate Fellowship, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
2009 The Challenge Cup Runner-Up, Beijing, China
National College Student Science & Technology Competition, Chinese Ministry of Education
2006 Excellent Academic Scholarship, Shanghai Jiao Tong University
Extracurricular Activities
2013 Runner-Up, Rensselaer Intramural Soccer League (Division one)
2005-2009 Player and Captain, School of Materials Science & Engineering
Football Association of Shanghai Jiao Tong University
2005-2007 Editor and Columnist, Literature Monthly Magazine
School of Materials Science & Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University