Jingjing Xu

Dr. Jingjing Xu is a sensory biochemist investigating how animals perceive environmental cues critical for life in real-world contexts.

Her research interest includes animal magnetoreception, vision, and hearing. By integrating biology, chemistry, and physics, she examines the fundamental mechanism of animal sensory biology and how physical signals (e.g., magnetic field, light, and sound) trigger neuron response in animals. Remarkably, her work in magnetoreception has uncovered intrinsic quantum-based compass mechanisms that enable birds and insects to perceive the Earth’s magnetic field and navigate over long distances.

Jingjing’s research also inspires new concepts for drone-navigation technologies and deepens our understanding of how humans perceive space and environmental signals. As a DIAS Fellow, she aims to foster dialogue across disciplines—linking natural science with culture, cognition, and our evolving relationship with the environment.