An interdisciplinary scientist, aiming to understand Earth and planetary (sub)surface processes through studying its smallest components, specifically nanominerals and microbes, and through illuminating a collection of microscopic processes involving these components; also a passionate educator trying to make science education attractive, thought-provoking, and leading to innovations.

• Ph D in Geoscience, University of Wisconsin - Madison (2011)
• MS in Environmental Science and Engineering, Stanford University (2005)
• BS in Materials Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University (2004)

• Benefits at the Nanoscale: A Review of Nanoparticle‐Enabled Processes Favoring Microbial Growth and Functionality Environmental Microbiology 22 (2020), Jie (Gail) Xu.
• Insights into the Biogeochemical Cycling of Cobalt: Precipitation and Transformation of Cobalt Sulfide Nanoparticles under Low-Temperature Aqueous Conditions Environmental Science & Technology 54 (2020), Jie (Gail) Xu.
• Mars Extant Life: What's Next? Conference Report Astrobiology 20 (2020), Jie (Gail) Xu.
• Phase, morphology, elemental composition, and formation mechanisms of biogenic and abiogenic Fe-Cu-sulfide nanoparticles: A comparative study on their occurrences under anoxic conditions American Mineralogist 104 (2019), Muammar Mansor, Debora Berti, Michael Hochella, Jie (Gail) Xu.
• Nanoparticulate nickel-hosting phases in sulfidic environments: Effects of iron and bacterial presence on mineral formation mechanism and solid-phase nickel distribution Frontiers in Earth Sciences 7 (2019), Muammar Mansor, Christopher Winkler, Michael Hochella, Jie (Gail) Xu.

• Molybdenum Sequestration Mechanisms Under Euxinic Conditions: Implications for the Utility of Molybdenum as a Paleoredox Proxy (2020), Jie (Gail) Xu.
• Crystallization Water of Gypsum as a Potential Water Source for Bacterial Communities in Arid Gypsic Environment (2019), Volume Carlsbad, NM, Jie (Gail) Xu, Brandon Lajoie, Ben Brunner, Richard Langford.
• Growth and Sulfur Metabolism Pathways of Purple Sulfur Bacteria Using Metal Sulfide Nanoparticles as the Sole Sulfur Source (2019), Hugo Alarcon, Jie (Gail) Xu.
• New Light Shed on Important Earth-Relevant Redox Reactions Observed at the Nanoscale (2017), Volume Leesburg, VA, Jie (Gail) Xu.
• Efficacy of Acetate-Amended Biostimulation for Uranium Sequestration: Combined Analysis of Geochemical Data and Bacterial Community Structure (2017), Volume San Francisco, CA, Jie (Gail) Xu.

• Network Cluster: Patterns and controls of CO2 fluxes, ecohydrology, and nutrient availability on the carbonate-dominated dryland Critical Zone
• Can Phototrophy-Driven Sulfur Cycling Make Crystallization Water of Gypsum Bioavailable? – Defining a New Habitability Index for Gypsum-Dominated Extreme Environments
• Formation Mechanisms, Crystal Structure, and Interfacial Reactivity of (Mixed) Metal Sulfide Nanoparticles Produced via Biological versus Abiotic Systems