Kechao Xiao
School of Engineering and Applied Sciences

Kechao Xiao is a Ph.D. student at Harvard studying engineering science, with a concentration in Material Science. He started his first research project as an undergraduate student in Peking University, studying the self-assembly behavior of nano-particles by Monte Carlo computer simulation method. Kechao completed his B.S. in Mechanical Engineering at Peking University in 2010. He then applied and got enrolled to the Ph.D. program in School of Engineering at Harvard University, where he is advised by Prof. Joost Vlassak. His research focuses on the study of thermal properties of thin-film materials by applying nano-calorimetry technique. He developed a scanning AC nano-calorimetry technique that bridges the gap in scanning rates between traditional and nano calorimetry. Such technique expands the ability of nano-calorimetry to study the kinetics of material systems, which is an on-going research project in his PhD study. Along with his research interests, Kechao is an enthusiast in sports and music. He is a member of Dudley house soccer team and he plays in the Harvard IM league. He also plays the guitar and composes, and he performed in many of the Chinese festival performances.