Working at the intersection of physics, materials science and biology, doctoral student Sicheng Xing is conducting cutting-edge research on and electrical stimulation device for chronic wound healing.
By Dave DeFusco, Applied Physical Sciences
A researcher in Dr. Wubin Bai’s lab at the Department of Applied Physical Sciences, Sicheng Xing speaks about his work with the clarity of a physicist and the purpose of a physician. Working at the intersection of physics, materials science and biology, he is conducting cutting-edge research on non-invasive brain stimulation and closed-loop electrical therapy for chronic wounds.
In the Bai Lab, interdisciplinary is not a buzzword—it’s the air they breathe. From his first days in the lab, Xing was immersed in conversations that spanned electronics, materials science and medical applications. He credits his coursework and Dr. Bai’s mentorship for helping him navigate and thrive in such a multidimensional environment.
“I was trained as a jack of all trades,” said Xing. “I can speak the language of electronic engineers, biologists and material scientists. And Dr. Bai has been incredible—he gives me a lot of independence and trust to carry out projects at a high level.”
One such project, in collaboration with postdoctoral researcher Dr. Yizhang Wu, involves developing theoretical frameworks as well as synthesizing magnetic-responsive hydrogels and designing the instrumentation to measure their properties—another example of Xing’s blend of theoretical grounding and practical execution.
“There’s a gap between good materials and functioning devices,” said Xing. “I love bridging that gap—building instruments that really showcase and quantify what these new materials can do.”
Xing’s passion for biomedical devices traces back to a simple yet compelling question: Can we make electrical therapy more precise, responsive and individualized? In a small independent study, he’s working on a closed-loop electrical stimulation device for chronic wound healing.
“We started with this idea—can we respond to markers like infection levels or patient symptoms and adjust the stimulation accordingly?” he said. “That kind of control mechanism has always been at the center of my research interest.”
His long-term honors thesis took that fascination even further. Inspired by the classic double-slit experiment in physics, Xing began experimenting with temporal interference—using two high-frequency electromagnetic fields that interfere in the brain to produce low-frequency stimulation, deep in targeted brain regions. The potential is a non-invasive alternative to implanted electrodes for conditions like Parkinson’s disease.
“The goal is to get constructive interference in regions of the brain we want to treat, without surgery,” he said. “The physics behind it is just beautiful—and the possibilities for patients are even more exciting.”
Xing’s summer internship at TrackX Technology gave him a glimpse of how that precision is critical beyond the lab bench. He helped design a robotic testing system for optical navigation tools—crucial for guiding surgical instruments in real time. The work required the same attention to detail and rigor he applies in academia, but with an added layer of regulatory responsibility.
“I had to write technical documentation to justify the accuracy of our system for potential FDA review,” he said. “It made me realize how different—but also how connected—research and product development are.”
That insight is shaping his future. After graduation, Xing plans to stay in the Bai Lab as a research associate while applying to graduate programs—either a Ph.D. or an MD-Ph.D., with the ultimate goal of combining rigorous research with clinical impact.
At the heart of Xing’s work is a simple but profound belief: technology should serve people. Whether he’s building stimulation devices to aid healing or crafting theoretical models to understand materials, his guiding principle remains the same—use science to improve lives.
“Being able to help people in both the research and clinical settings—that’s what motivates me,” he said.