Dr. Yushu Xia’s research focuses on soil health assessment and the modeling of soil carbon, nitrogen, and water dynamics in agricultural and natural ecosystems. Her research goal is to improve agricultural and ecosystem productivity while supporting environmental sustainability and broader ecosystem benefits. She seeks to improve soil health and minimize negative environmental impacts through data- and model-driven evidence.
Her work integrates multi-scale datasets from field, laboratory, survey, literature, and remote sensing with empirical and process-based models to quantify ecosystem services and outcomes, such as carbon storage, nitrogen losses through leaching and gaseous pathways, water availability, and ecosystem productivity. She collaborates closely with farmers and ranchers to develop practical, science-based strategies that enhance soil health and improve resource use efficiency.
Education
2021 University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Ph.D. in Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences
2016 University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, M.S. in Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences
2014 Zhejiang University, B.S. in Environmental Science
Honors & Awards
Researcher of the Month, Columbia University, July 2025.
iN-Net Research Fellowship, Data working group of the International Nitrogen Network, 2025.
Foundation for Food & Agriculture New Innovator Award, 2024.
