Han Xiao

Professor of Chemistry, Biosciences, and Bioengineering
Director, SynthX Center
CPRIT Scholar in Cancer Research
Rice University

Education

Good Ventures Postdoctoral Fellowship (2015-2017) Stanford University
Advisor: Carolyn R. Bertozzi
Ph.D. in Chemistry (2015) The Scripps Research Institute
Advisor: Peter G. Schultz
B.S. in Chemistry (2010) The University of Science and Technology of China
Advisor: Liu-Zhu Gong

Awards and Honors

David W. Robertson Award for Excellence in Medicinal Chemistry, ACS, 2026
Provost's Award for Outstanding Early-Career Achievement, Rice University, 2025
ACS Bioconjugate Chemistry Young Investigator Award, ACS, 2025
Medical Research Award, Robert J. Kleberg, Jr. and Helen C. Kleberg Foundation, 2025
Breast Cancer Research Program Breakthrough Award – Level 2, Department of Defense, 2025
Maximizing Investigators’ Research Award for Established Investigators, NIH, 2024
ACS Bio & Med Chem Au’s 2024 Rising Star in Biological, Medicinal, and Pharmaceutical Chemistry, 2024
Breast Cancer Research Program (BCRP) Breakthrough Award – Level 2, Department of Defense, 2023
CAPA Distinguished Junior Faculty Award, Chinese-American Chemistry & Chemical Biology Professors Association, 2023
Breast Cancer Research Program (BCRP) Breakthrough Award – Level 2, Department of Defense, 2021
Maximizing Investigators’ Research Award for Early Stage Investigators (MIRA), NIH, 2019
Hamill Innovation Award, Hamill Foundation, 2018
Norman Hackerman - Welch Young Investigator Award, 2017
CPRIT Faculty Recruitment Award, 2017
Good Ventures Postdoctoral Fellowship, 2016
Aldrich Alfred R. Bader Award for Student Innovation, 2014
Outstanding Self-Financed Students Abroad, 2013
Honors Degree in Physical Science (USTC), 2010
National Scholarship (MOE of China), 2008

Biography

Han Xiao serves as the Director of the SynthX Center and holds the position of Associate Professor within the Department of Chemistry, Biosciences, and Bioengineering at Rice University. Han obtained his undergraduate degree from the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC) where he graduated with a B.S. in chemistry and an honors degree in physical science. After graduating from USTC in 2010, Han joined the Ph.D. program at the Scripps Research Institute (TSRI). His thesis work with Prof. Peter G. Schultz focused on expanding the technique of genetically incorporating unnatural amino acids in both prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms and applying this technique for better cancer therapeutics. In 2015, Han joined the laboratory of Prof. Carolyn R. Bertozzi as a Good Ventures Postdoctoral Fellow of the Life Science Research Foundation at Stanford University. In his postdoctoral work, he was engaged in the development of novel cancer immune therapy targeting the cell-surface glycans axis of immune modulation. In July 2017, Han started his independent research at Rice University. The focus of his research is the development of various chemical biological tools allowing us to understand complex biological systems as well as develop novel therapeutic strategies. His awards include Level 2 Breast Cancer Research Program Breakthrough Award (DoD), Maximizing Investigators’ Research Award for Early Stage Investigators (NIH), Norman Hackerman - Welch Young Investigator Award, and CPRIT Faculty Recruitment Award.