– Lori Brandt, UC Irvine Samueli School of Engineering

March 12, 2026 – Fei Xia, UC Irvine assistant professor of electrical engineering and computer science, has been selected as a Scialog Fellow by the Research Corporation for Science Advancement (RCSA). She is one of 50 Scialog Fellows — outstanding early to mid-career researchers from U.S. academic institutions – who are part of an initiative to develop innovative ideas through research, dialogue and collaboration.

Xia’s research focuses on developing next-generation optical microscopy and computational imaging frameworks to probe the brain and its microenvironment in vivo. By integrating innovations in imaging hardware, physics-based simulations and AI-driven computation, her lab aims to achieve higher spatiotemporal resolution, deeper penetration into brain tissue and more information-rich views of living brains. “These advances will help reveal the brain’s structure, dynamics and functional responses with unprecedented clarity,” said Xia.

As a Scialog Fellow, she will participate in the Scialog: Neurobiology and Changing Ecosystems program. The three-year series aims to create a dynamic community of early career scientists with diverse scientific expertise and perspectives – cell biology, genetics, neurophysiology, climate science, environmental chemistry, physical modeling, toxicology and other fields. It is sponsored by RCSA, Allen Family Philanthropies, the Frederick Gardner Cottrell Foundation and the Kavli Foundation. Together, they will develop collaborative research projects to explore neurobiological response to change and advance understanding of the brain’s chemistry, physiology and adaptation mechanisms that allow survival under environmental stress.

“This collaborative program will accelerate our efforts to develop next-generation optical microscopy to image dynamic processes in living systems,” said Xia. “I’m excited to exchange ideas, build new collaborations, and work together toward deeper insights into how the brain adapts to changing environments.”

Xia is also a faculty member of Beckman Laser Institute and Medical Clinic, UCI Center for Neural Circuit Mapping, UCI Institute for Memory Impairments and Neurological Disorders and the UCI Eddleman Quantum Institute.

Click here to read full article on the UC Irvine Samueli School of Engineering website.

Author: Gabrielle Comfort