AgBioResearch

Kang Xia began her role as associate director of MSU AgBioResearch in April 2025. As associate director, she promotes the full spectrum of fundamental and applied research across MSU disciplines, working closely with MSU AgBioResearch-affiliated faculty to build synergies for future collaborations, identify research initiatives, seek funding opportunities and support team efforts in pursuing large grants and investments.

She also connects with external partners and stakeholders within the Michigan agricultural and natural resources communities to communicate impacts delivered by MSU AgBioResearch scientists and gather input that helps inform decision-making on prospective research activities and opportunities to work together.

Xia earned a bachelor’s degree in soil chemistry from Beijing Agricultural University (now China Agricultural University), a master’s degree in soil chemistry from Louisiana State University, and a doctoral degree with a major in soil chemistry and minor in chemistry from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

She’s held faculty positions at Kansas State University, University of Georgia, Mississippi State University and Virginia Tech. During her academic career, she’s led a successful multidisciplinary research program as a principal and co-principal investigator that was externally funded for more than $19 million, published in high-impact peer-reviewed journals and taught several undergraduate and graduate courses.

She served as associate director of the Virginia Agricultural Experiment Station (VAES) at Virginia Tech from 2023-2025 and simultaneously acted as director of Virginia Tech’s Center for Advanced Innovation in Agriculture, leading major initiatives in fields such as precision agriculture, agricultural biotechnology, cybersecurity in agriculture, and agrivoltaics.