since 9/2022  Postdoctoral researcher, University of Oldenburg, Funded by ERC Synergy grant ‘QuantumBirds’  

4/2018 – 8/2022 Doctoral study at the Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg, Germany. Thesis: Experimental validation on the radical pair mechanism of avian magnetoreception in cryptochrome 4 proteins. (Summa cum laude)

9/ 2015 – 6/2018 Ph.D. candidate at the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, China. Undergraduate

Project: Investigation of the animal magnetoreception mechanism in cryptochrome 4 protein (I terminated this program because I got the unique chance to work with the two world-leading labs in the field in Oldenburg and Oxford instead)

9/2012 – 6/2015 Master’s student, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, China. Passed with great distinction

Thesis: Molecular cloning and spatiotemporal expression analysis of cryptochrome genes in wing dimorphic brown planthopper (Nilaparvata lugens)

9/2008 – 7/2012 Bachelor’s student, Shandong Institute of Physical Education, China. Passed with distinction

Majored in Kinesiology.

2022 Chinese government award for outstanding self-finance students abroad (6000 USD)

2021   Short presentation award in the Fourth International Forum Quantum Metrology and Sensing

2021   DAAD-Prize 2021 for the outstanding achievement of a foreign student

2016   Joint PhD Training Program Scholarship in University of Chinese Academy of Sciences

2014   National Scholarship for Graduate Students (for Top 10% students)


2013   The Honorary Title of Merit Students in University of Chinese Academy

2012   College Scholarships in University of Chinese Academy of Sciences

1. Jingjing Xu, Lauren Jarocha, Tilo Zollitsch, et al., (2021) Magnetic sensitivity of cryptochrome 4 from a migratory songbird. Nature. 594(7864), 535-540

2. Daniel C Lünemann, Anitta R Thomas, Jingjing Xu, et al. Distinguishing between coherent and incoherent signals in excitation-emission spectroscopy[J]. Optics Express, 2021, 29(15): 24326-24337

3. Rabea Bartölke, Heide Behrmann, Katharina Görtemaker, Chad Yee, Jingjing Xu, et al., The secrets of cryptochromes: photoreceptors, clock proteins, and magnetic sensors. Neuroforum 27.3 (2021): 151-157.

4. Jingjing Xu, Yingchao Zhang, Jianqi Wu, et al. (2019) Molecular characterization, spatial-temporal expression and magnetic response patterns of the iron-sulfur cluster assembly1 (IscA1) in rice planthopper, Nilaparvata lugen[J]. Insect Science.26(3):413-423    

5. Jingjing Xu, Wei Pan, Yingchao Zhang, et al. (2017) Behavioral evidence for a magnetic sense in the oriental armyworm, Mythimna separata. Biology Open, 6(3), 340-347

6. Dmitry Kobylkov, Joe Wynn, Michael Winklhofer, Raisa Chetverikova, Jingjing Xu, et al. Electromagnetic 0.1–100 kHz noise does not disrupt orientation in a night-migrating songbird implying a spin coherence lifetime of less than 10 µs. Journal of the Royal Society Interface 16.161 (2019): 20190716.

7. Jingjing Xu, Guijun Wan, Dingbang Hu, et al. (2016). Molecular characterization, tissue and developmental expression profiles of cryptochrome genes in wing dimorphic brown planthoppers, Nilaparvata lugens. Insect Science, 23(6), 805-818.

8. Weidong Pan, Guijun Wan, Jingjing Xu, et al. (2016). Evidence for the presence of biogenic magnetic particles in the nocturnal migratory brown planthopper, Nilaparvata lugens. Scientific Reports, 6.

9. Guijun Wan, Shoulin Jiang, Zongchao Zhao, Jingjing Xu, et al. (2014). Bio-effects of near-zero magnetic fields on the growth, development and reproduction of small brown planthopper, Laodelphax striatellus and brown planthopper, Nilaparvata lugens. Journal of Insect Physiology, 68, 7-15. 

10. Guijun Wan, Wenjing Wang, Jingjing Xu, et al. (2015). Cryptochromes and hormone signal transduction under near-zero magnetic fields: New clues to magnetic field effects in a rice planthopper. PloS ONE, 10(7), e0132966.

• 12/04/2023 Oral presentation at 11th RIN Conference on Animal Navigation, London, UK
• 22/09/2022 Invited oral presentation at the 155th Annual Meeting of the German Ornithologists Society, Wilhelmshaven, Germany
• 22/12/2021 Guest lecture at the joint colloquium of the Institute of Biology and Environmental Sciences and the Department of Neuroscience, online
• 08/12/2021 – 09/12/2021 Invited talk at the Fourth International Forum Quantum Metrology and Sensing, online
• 31/10/2021 – 03/11/2021 Invited Poster at the Fourth World Laureates Forum, Shanghai, China, online
• 14/11/2019 Invited lecture at the Kick-off meeting of DFG RTG "Molecular basis of sensory biology", Oldenburg, Germany
• 10/04/2019 – 12/04/2019 Oral presentation at the 10th RIN Conference on Animal Navigation, London, UK
• 04/07/2018 – 06/07/2018 Poster at the conference of Sensory Systems in Health and Disease, Verona, Italy
• 10/12/2017 – 16/12/2017 Poster at the FENS-HERTIE Winter School “Neural control of behaviour”, Obergurgl, Austria
• 25/10/2016 – 30/10/2016 Oral presentation at the XXV International Congress of Entomology, Orlando, US

• 2023 Lundbeck Foundation Postdoc fellowship, DKK 2.4 million
• 2022 Chinese government award for outstanding self-financed students abroad (0.1 %)
• 2021 Short presentation award in the Fourth International Forum Quantum Metrology and Sensing
• 2021 DAAD-Prize 2021 for the outstanding achievement of a foreign student
• 2018 DAAD Graduate School Scholarship Programme, 2018 (57395813)
• 2016 Joint Ph.D. Training Program Scholarship in the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences
• 2014 National Scholarship for Graduate Students
• 2013 The Honorary Title of Merit Students in University of Chinese Academy
• 2012 College Scholarships in the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences

• Jingjing Xu (2021). The quantum compass in the European robin. Navigation News (the home magazineof Royal Institute of Navigation), Cover story of Issue Nov/Dec.2021. Page: 11-14. Language: English.
• Jingjing Xu and Can Xie (2021). Its shimmering in magnetic fields looks like a bird’s compass. Voices ofCAS (Chinese Academy of Sciences). Date: 11/08/2021. Language: Chinese.
• Jingjing Xu (2013). Functional genomics is looking forward to a technological breakthrough. China Science Newspaper. Date: 05/06/2013. Language: Chinese.
• Huiyu Li and Jingjing Xu (2013). Cell factories open up a green avenue for the bio-economy. China Science Newspaper. Date: 26/06/2013. Language: Chinese.
• Huiyu Li and Jingjing Xu (2013). Lipid droplets: from devils to angels. China Science Newspaper. Date: 10/07/2013. Language: Chinese.
• Huiyu Li and Jingjing Xu (2014). Precise and quantitative cultivation for high agricultural yields. China Science Newspaper. Date: 08/04/2014. Language: Chinese.

• Biochemistry: Protein expression and purification, SDS-PAGE, Western blotting, IMAC, Ion exchange chromatography, Immunoprecipitation, Gel-filtration
• Molecular Biology: RNA extraction, cloning, PCR, RT- PCR, mutagenesis, Gene knock down via Insect RNAi
• Cell culture: Insects and bird cell line culture techniques & transfection
• Biophysics: Spectroscopic measurements
• Project management: Planning research projects, recording, tracking, analyzing, and interpreting data, writing research proposals and papers, presenting scientific work