PKU PhD graduate Siyao Xu becomes first astronomer to win two Hubble Fellowships


Siyao Xu, a 2017 graduate from Peking University, was awarded a second Hubble Fellowship to continue her research at the Institute for Advanced Studies in Princeton, New Jersey, USA.  Dr. Xu's research focuses on the physics of magnetohydrodynamic turbulence, including turbulent dynamos and particle transport.  She applies her deep physical understanding to a diverse set of problems, including cosmic rays, (first) star formation, magnetic reconnection, and particle acceleration in high-energy astrophysical environments.

 

The Hubble Fellowship is the most prestigious prize postdoctoral fellowship in astronomy, funding research for three years.  Dr. Xu is the first person to ever be awarded a second Hubble Fellowship.  Dr.Xu received her PhD from the Department of Astronomy at Peking University in 2017, working with Professor Bing Zhang.  Dr. Xu received an IAU PhD Prize and Cecilia Payne-Gaposchkin Doctoral Dissertation Award in Astrophysics.   Dr. Xu was awarded her first Hubble Fellowship to work at University of Wisconsin-Madison with Prof. Alex Lazarian.