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.
• Influence of Structural Defects on Biomineralized ZnS Nanoparticle Dissolution: An In-Situ Electron Microscopy Study Environmental Science & Technology 52 (2018), Jeremy Eskelsen, Jie (Gail) Xu, Michelle Chiu, Ji-Won Moon, Branford Wilkins, David Graham, Baohua Gu, Eric Pierce.
• Cytotoxicity of TiO2 Nanoparticles toward Escherichia coli in Aquatic Environment: Effects of Nanoparticle Structural Oxygen Deficiency and Aqueous Salinity Environmental Science: Nano 4 (2017), Yukun Qin, Xingpan Guo, Feiyun Tuo, Jingnan Feng, Jie (Gail) Xu, Bo Chen, Min Liu, Yi Yang.
• Efficacy of Acetate-Amended Biostimulation for Uranium Sequestration: Combined Analysis of Sediment/Groundwater Geochemistry and Bacterial Community Structure Applied Geochemistry 78 (2017), Jie Xu, Harish Veeramani, Nik Qafoku, Gargi Singh, Amy Pruden, Ravi Kukkadapu, Michael F. Hochella.
• Corrigendum to" Highly-defective nanocrystals of ZnS formed via dissimilatory bacterial sulfate reduction: A comparative study with their abiogenic analogues"[Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta 180 (2016) 1-14] Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta 183 (2016), Jie Xu, Mitsuhiro Murayama, Charles M. Roco, Harish Veeramani, F M. Michel, J D. Rimstidt, Christopher Winkler, Michael F. Hochella.
• Evolution of calcite growth morphology in the presence of magnesium: Implications for the dolomite problem Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta 172 (2016), Mina Hong, Jie Xu, Henry Teng.
• Highly-defective nanocrystals of ZnS formed via dissimilatory bacterial sulfate reduction: A comparative study with their abiogenic analogues Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta 180 (2016), Jie Xu, Mitsuhiro Murayama, Charles M. Roco, Harish Veeramani, F. M. Michel, J. D. Rimstidt, Christopher Winkler, Michael F. Hochella.
• Outdoor urban nanomaterials: The emergence of a new, integrated, and critical field of study Science of The Total Environment 557-558 (2016), Mohammed Baalousha, Yi Yang, Marina Vance, Benjamin Colman, Samantha McNeal, Jie Xu, Joanna Blaszczak, Meredith Steele, Emily Bernhardt, Michael Hochella.
• Solution-chemistry control of Mg2+-calcite interaction mechanisms: Implication for biomineralization American Mineralogist 101 5 (2016), Jie Xu, Jianhua Wang, Mina Hong, Henry Teng.

• 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.
• Nanostructures Formed via Sulfidation of Mixed Zn-Cu Aqueous Systems (2017), Volume San Francisco, Jie (Gail) Xu.
• Solution-Chemistry Control of Mg2+ - Calcite Interaction Mechanisms: Implication for Biomineralization (2017), Volume San Francisco, Jie (Gail) Xu.
• Crystal Growth of ZnS Nanoparticles via Comparable Biological and Abiotic Pathways (2017), Volume San Francisco, Jie (Gail) Xu.
• Promise of Nanogeoscience Research in Achieving Environmental and Energy Sustainability (2016), Volume Philadelphia, PA, 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