Younan Xia Professorship Installation

Younan Xia was installed as the inaugural James M. McKelvey Professor on September 2. The James M. McKelvey Professorship is named in honor of the School of Engineering and Applied Science's seventh dean. The professorship was established in 2003 with a gift from the JSM Charitable Trust and John F. McDonnell, retired chairman of the board of the McDonnell Douglas Corporation, to support research in the Center for Material Innovation.

During an official ceremony in Whitaker Hall, Professor Xia addressed a crowd of students, faculty, staff, alumni and former students with a presentation of his work and research history, "Putting Chemistry to Work for Nano and Biomedical Research." He briefly described his research on gold nanocages, an invention by his research group. Tunable gold nanocages' optical properties make them excellent candidates for biomedical applications including imaging contrast enhancement, photothermal therapy, and controlled release.

Professor Xia also shared his academic career path from high school to Washington University in St. Louis. Originally, despite his desire to study engineering, Professor Xia's high school physics teacher convinced him to study chemical physics at China's University of Science and Technology. He later studied inorganic chemistry at the University of Pennsylvania. In 1996, he received his Ph.D. degree from Harvard University, where he studied under George M. Whitesides in the Department of Chemistry. From 1997 to 2007, Professor Xia was a member of the Chemistry faculty at the University of Washington, but still could not shake a deep desire to be an engineer.

"When people say 'no' to you, it should be considered as a 'help' too," said Professor Xia, who once applied to graduate school at The Massachusetts Institute of Technology and never received an acceptance or rejection letter.

After more than 20 years of work, Professor Xia will now use his new appointment as the James M. McKelvey Professor to further the use of chemistry for nano and biomedical research. With a home appointment in the Department of Biomedical Engineering, Professor Xia will also teach and collaborate on projects in the Department of Energy, Environmental, and Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, and Radiology. He also has an appointment in The Division of Biological and Biomedical Sciences.

Eric Formo presented Professor Xia with a mosaic photo montage. Eric is a current student in the Xia Research Group.	Younan Xia celebrated the honor with his wife, Associate Dean Dong Qin.	Back row: Dean Salvatore Sutera, Chancellor Mark Wrighton, Professor Frank Yin Front row: Dean Emeritus Jim McKelvey, Professor Younan Xia, John McDonnell
Matthias Geissler presented Professor Xia with a "family tree" of researchers. Matthias is a former post doctoral student in the Xia research group.	Among the symbols of the endowed professorship presented to Younan Xia, Chancellor Wrighton presented a framed edition of the James M. McKelvey professorship medallion.	Left to right: George Whitesides, Younan Xia, Dong Qin George Whitesides was Younan Xia's mentor at Harvard University. He presented a special lecture prior to the installation ceremony.