General statement:

We are always looking for passionate and motivated candidates interested in our lab’s work to join us! Open positions include postdoc, Ph.D. student, master's student, research assistant, and technician roles.

At the Xia Lab, we believe that diverse communities—where everyone feels welcomed, valued, and supported—are where groundbreaking ideas and creative achievements are born. We encourage everyone to bring their whole selves to the lab and find space for self-expression through science. If this resonates with you, please get in touch!

For students (graduate and undergraduate students, post-bac/master’s students) already at UC Irvine or in the local area, please email me directly with your CV and research interests or fill out the online form to discuss research opportunities in the lab.

Ph.D. students

If you are interested in our lab's work, whether in designing and building optical systems for imaging, sensing, and information processing, or in the computational aspects of our research, or in biomedical applications, I encourage you to apply to our graduate program in Electrical and Computer Engineering. We welcome students with backgrounds in electrical engineering, computer science, physics, biomedical engineering, automation, applied physics, and related fields to apply to our lab.

The deadline for our Ph.D. program is January 15, 2025. Please check application instruction here. To apply to our lab, please mention my name (Prof. Fei Xia) in the application system (ECE program) and your statement of purpose. This will ensure that I review your materials and consider your application during the process. We typically conduct phone interviews of selected candidates after a full application package has been received in the system. Students can be directly hired into the lab. Therefore, I highly recommend that you also send me a reminder email (fei.xia AT uci DOT edu) once your application has been submitted.

Postdoc researchers

We are particularly interested in postdoc candidates with experimental experience, preferably with a background in experimental optics. Experience in independently building optical systems, such as optical microscopy, optical imaging, and sensing systems, quantum optics, is a plus but not required.

For postdoc training, we prioritize your career development and aim to create an environment in our lab where postdocs can thrive and grow into independent researchers or future leaders and experts in related industry.

A bit about UC Irvine and the local area

University of California, Irvine (UCI) is among the top 10 public universities in the United States. Located in Irvine, one of the safest and happiest cities in the country, UCI provides an exceptional environment for both academic and personal growth.

Irvine at a glance:

  • Irvine ranks as the “Safest City” of its size for the past 18 consecutive years (FBI).

  • Location of thousands of multinational businesses — including one-third of all Fortune 500 companies — in a variety of industries such as pharmaceutical, computer, electronics, manufacturing, biotechnology/medicine, design, automotive, and communications. This makes us surrounded by global and national companies, such as Google, Amazon, Microsoft, Broadcom, Blizzard Entertainment, Edwards Lifesciences, and many fast growing startups in Southern California.

  • Enjoys 281 sunny days per year, with average temperatures ranging from 64° F (18° C) in January to 82° F (28° C) in August.

  • Located next to the famed sailing and surfing beaches of Newport, Laguna, and Huntington and is near Los Angeles, San Diego, and Palm Springs.

  • Home to the renowned Segerstrom Center for the Arts, which offers a wide variety of musical, dance, and theater productions, including national tours of famous Broadway shows.

  • A diverse and highly educated population of 281,707 (2020).

  • 16,000 acres of open space preservation (by build out), 63 miles of bike trails, 60 public parks, wildlife sanctuaries, and ecological reserves.

Our lab is proudly affiliated with the world-renowned Beckman Laser Institute, a global leader in advanced optical technologies and interdisciplinary research. UCI’s strategic location also places it close to numerous top research institutes and corporate offices, facilitating easy collaboration with leading experts across various fields.

Beyond academic excellence, Irvine offers a high quality of life with master-planned neighborhoods, top-rated schools for children, and easy access to beautiful beaches, parks, and year-round outdoor activities. The city enjoys consistently good weather, contributing to its high happiness levels and making it an ideal place to live and work. UCI also offers affordable apartment options for students and researchers, ensuring a comfortable living experience close to campus.

We hope to welcome you here at Irvine!

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