Xinyi recently graduated from UCLA with a B.S. in Applied Math and Biology. Currently she is starting her PhD program in EEB at UT Austin, co-advised by Dr. Farrior and Dr. Wolf. She is interested in studying the influence of soil microbes in plant interactions and diversity.

Xinyi had a childhood dream of becoming a curator of a botanical garden, which inspired her to study plants and ecology. She enjoys art and painting, where science (Escher is among her most admired artists) and nature happen to also be her beloved themes.