Yi Xiao

Yi Xiao is a Professor and the LORD Corporation Distinguished Scholar in the Department of Chemistry at North Carolina State University. She joined NC State in 2021 and holds the title of University Faculty Scholar. Her research focuses on developing aptamer-based biosensors and biotechnologies at the intersection of chemistry, biochemistry, and molecular biology. Her lab specializes in aptamer selection techniques, sensor platforms for small-molecule detection, and applications in forensic science, toxicology, and medical diagnostics.

Dr. Xiao earned her B.S. (1994), M.S. (1997), and Ph.D. (2000) in Analytical Chemistry from Northwest University and Nanjing University, both in P.R. China. She has secured over $3 million in grants from NIH, NSF, NIJ, USDA, and industry partners. Her work emphasizes real-world problem-solving through simple, elegant solutions, such as rapid drug detection in bodily fluids, environmental monitoring of toxic metals, and disease diagnosis via portable sensors.

Her lab collaborates with researchers across NC State (Biomedical Engineering, Wilson College of Textiles, Statistics), UNC-Chapel Hill, Columbia University, and others. The lab currently includes two postdocs, six Ph.D. students, and seven undergraduates, with two provisional patents filed. Key research themes include aptamer specificity optimization, high-throughput sequencing for SELEX processes, and nuclease-assisted aptamer engineering.

Dr. Xiao’s scientific awards include the LORD Corporation Distinguished Scholar designation and University Faculty Scholar recognition. Her contributions span innovations in aptamer-based sensing, including colorimetric assays, electrochemical platforms, and multiplex detection systems for fentanyl, opioids, and synthetic cannabinoids.