Welcome to the You Group at Westlake University!
Our Mission
The You Lab measures what most techniques cannot — molecular dynamics in the complex, crowded environments where biology actually operates.
Using femtosecond 2D IR spectroscopy, nanoscale chemical imaging, and multiscale simulation, we directly resolve hydrogen-bond dynamics, conformational fluctuations, and interfacial reorganization on the timescales they occur. What we find, consistently, is that these dynamics are not background noise. They are the variable that controls biological function.
Our current research asks: what are the dynamic rules of phase separation in folded proteins; how does dynamic failure precede pathological aggregation; and can physical fields redirect assembly pathways by biasing molecular motion.
NewsFind more
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Congratulations to Dr. Muhammad Haroon on His New Publication!
A major research breakthrough has been achieved by Dr. Muhammad Haroon, a postdoctoral researcher in our group, with ...2025-09-10 -
2DQuick IR system is installed！
In August 2024, our laboratory received the long-awaited equipment for the 2DQuick IR system, a cutting-edge technolo...2024-08-30 -
A warm welcome to Tingting Ren for joining the You Xiao Team!
On August 1, 2025, the lab welcomed Tingting Ren as a new research assistant! A graduate of Yanbian University with a...2025-08-21 -
The first Shanghai Conference on Ultrafast Dynamics of Complex Systems was successfully held, and You Xiao's team won the "Excellent Poster Award"
April 25, 2025-The first "Shanghai Conference on Ultrafast Dynamics of Complex Systems" hosted by Shanghai Jiao Tong ...2025-04-29 -
Spring Outing at Jingshan Temple
On April 10, all members of the laboratory went to Yuhang Jingshan Temple for a spring outing. After arriving at the ...2025-04-25
Gallery
Spring outing to the tea garden
Happy Teachers' Day!
Professor You Xiao was invited to give a speech at the Shanghai Complex System Ultrafast Dynamics Conference
Hiking
On the autumn weekend, we went hiking together.
Tom from PhaseTech leading a 2DIR training session for the team
Tom from PhaseTech leading a 2DIR training session for the team
Principal Investigator (PI)
Meet Xiao You
Xiao You is a Westlake Fellow and Principal Investigator at the School of Engineering, Westlake University. She received her B.S. in Macromolecular Science from Fudan University, her Ph.D. in Materials Science from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (advised by Joanna Atkin), and completed postdoctoral training at the University of Texas at Austin (Carlos Baiz) and Stanford University / SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory. She joined Westlake University in 2023.
Her research program is built around one central argument: molecular dynamics is not a secondary property of biological systems — it is the variable that controls them. The You Lab combines femtosecond 2D IR spectroscopy, near-field nanoscale imaging, and multiscale simulation to measure hydrogen-bond dynamics, conformational fluctuations, and interfacial reorganization in the environments where they actually matter: crowded, heterogeneous, and alive.
She has secured ¥3.3M in competitive funding as Lead PI, including the NSFC Young Scientists Fund and the Zhejiang Provincial Talent Program.
Join Us:
The Spatiotemporal Spectroscopic Imaging Lab explores the intricate dynamics of complex liquids using cutting-edge techniques and interdisciplinary approaches. Whether you're a student, researcher, or collaborator, we invite you to be part of our journey to push the boundaries of molecular science.
We are looking for postdoctoral researchers, graduate students, and research assistants to join our dynamic team. Our lab fosters a culture of innovation, collaboration, and personal growth. For more details, visit our [Link] or contact us directly:
Lab assistant: Dan Huang
Email: huangdan@westlake.edu.cn