By Keya Patro
Scientific American recognized Xing Chen, assistant professor of ophthalmology, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, as one of five Young American Scientists "on our radar" in July 2026. Her nominators described her as a “highly productive early-career researcher who has made tremendous impact in her field and beyond, performing at the cutting edge of innovation.”
The Scientific American article said: "These young scientists are making waves in their own ways. Keep an eye on them—great things are ahead."
Chen’s research uses neural recording and electrical stimulation of the brain’s visual pathways to better understand visual processing and perception, with the goal of developing technologies to restore functional vision for people with blindness. The Chen lab also develops implantable neural devices that could advance research and treatment for movement disorders, epilepsy and psychiatric conditions such as OCD and depression.