Xueyuan Gao
Postdoctoral researcher @ Princeton University.
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​Climate change mitigation is one of the most pressing challenges of the 21st century. My research focuses on nature-based climate solutions and the development of voluntary carbon and nature markets. I work to scale nature-based solutions to enhance climate mitigation while delivering co-benefits for biodiversity and local communities. How can we design high-integrity land-based carbon dioxide removal strategies at global, jurisdictional, and project levels? How can we improve the measurement, monitoring, reporting, and verification (MRV) of these strategies using AI powered Earth observations? How can we enhance carbon crediting methodologies to strengthen the integrity of voluntary carbon markets? To address these challenges, I leverage novel Earth observations, advanced Earth system modeling, and integrated assessment modeling.
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My work has been recognized with several prestigious awards, including the 2025 Ecological Society of America Early Career Ecologists Outstanding Paper Award and the 2023 American Association of Geographers Council Award for Outstanding Graduate Student Paper. My research has been supported by multiple independent grants, including the National Center for Atmospheric Research Computing Award, the University Dean's Research Initiative Grant, and the University Dissertation Fellowship. I also serve as a Technical Expert Panel member for the Verra SD VISta Nature Framework, advising on the evaluation of nature credit projects.
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Positions
Postdoctoral researcher, Princeton University, US, October 2024 - now
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Research with the Carbon Mitigation Initiative, associated with the High Meadows Environmental Institute and the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology.
Visiting Student, Cambridge Center for Carbon Credits (4C), University of Cambridge, UK, May - June 2024
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Hosts: Andrew Balmford, David Coomes, Thomas Swinfield
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Supported by 2024 UMD Graduate Fellowship for International Collaboration
Education
University of Maryland (UMD), College Park, U.S., 2019-Aug 2024
Ph.D.: Remote Sensing and Carbon Cycle
Thesis: Exploring and assessing land-based climate solutions using Earth observations, Earth system models, and integrated assessment models
NOAA Climate & Global Change Postdoctoral Fellowship (selected as alternate), 2024
Dean's Research Initiative Grant, UMD, 2024
Graduate Fellowship for International Collaboration (at University of Cambridge, UK), UMD, 2024
Graduate School Ann G. Wylie Dissertation Fellowship, UMD, 2023
American Association of Geographers Council Award for Outstanding Graduate Student Paper, AAG, 2023
Outstanding Teaching Assistant Award, UMD, 2022
National Center for Atmospheric Research Graduate Student Small-Allocation Computing Award, NCAR, 2021
Graduate School Summer Research Fellowship, UMD, 2021
Geographical Science Summer Research Fellowship, UMD, 2020
Graduate School Jacob K. Goldhaber Award, UMD, 2024, 2019
Graduate School Dean's Fellowship, UMD, 2019
Geography Graduate Student President, 2022-2023
Departmental representative in Graduate Student Government, 2020-2022
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