Dr. Xu is currently developing computer vision and machine learning methods for the automatic structural analysis of cell systems at molecular resolution and in close-to-native states. In particular, his research focuses on information extraction and modelling of the structures and spatial organizations of macromolecules and their interactions with organelles in single cells captured by cryo electron-tomography 3D images. This emerging research field aims to address fundamental biological questions using a wide range of state-of-the-art computational and mathematical techniques.