Xiangyun Qiu

Xiangyun Qiu serves as an Associate Professor in the Department of Physics at George Washington University, where she leads the Qiu Lab located in Science & Engineering Hall, Room 6510, Washington DC. Her research bridges physics and biology through molecular-level investigations of biomolecules, utilizing x-ray and neutron scattering, force measurements, and computational modeling. The lab actively explores nucleic acids, proteins, lipids, and emerging medical physics applications including lattice radiotherapy for breast cancer.

Her educational foundation includes:

• PhD in Condensed Matter Physics, Michigan State University (2004)
• BS in Physics, University of Science and Technology of China (1999)

Dr. Qiu's research program centers on developing physical models refined through experimental validation to understand biomolecular systems. Her expertise spans Molecular Biophysics, Medical Physics, and Nucleic Acids Biophysics, with recent expansion into radiation oncology applications. The lab emphasizes bottom-up approaches starting from molecular components to build understanding of complex biological phenomena, particularly focusing on electrostatic interactions in DNA systems and neural tissue engineering.

Analysis of her 15 most recent publications (2025-2015) reveals three dominant research trajectories: (1) Cation-mediated DNA-DNA interactions and condensation mechanisms using scattering techniques, (2) Deep learning integration with physics-based modeling for RNA secondary structure prediction, and (3) Translational medical physics applications in cancer therapy. These themes demonstrate consistent synergy between computational biophysics and experimental validation across nucleic acid biophysics, biomaterials development, and clinical radiation physics.

The Qiu Lab operates as an interdisciplinary research unit combining experimental scattering facilities with computational modeling capabilities. Current projects include nerve regeneration nanofiber development, conductive hydrogels for neural interfaces, and dosimetric studies for GammaPod radiotherapy systems. The lab's methodology integrates fundamental biophysical principles with practical biomedical applications, maintaining strong connections between molecular-scale phenomena and clinical outcomes.