About

Xiaoran Sun is an Assistant Professor at the University of Minnesota in the Family Social Science department, holding the McKnight Land-Grant Professorship. Her research focuses on understanding how adolescents and parents use digital technologies, including social media and AI companions, and how these digital behaviors impact their relationships and mental health. She employs innovative methods such as passive sensing tools to collect high-frequency data from smartphones, capturing digital activity every five seconds over extended periods, to objectively observe and analyze digital behaviors across multiple time scales. Her work extends to applying computational methods, including machine learning, to large-scale, longitudinal datasets to predict developmental outcomes such as educational achievement, career success, and well-being. Dr. Sun is actively involved in interdisciplinary collaborations, serving as a core faculty member at the Learning Informatics Lab and as a faculty affiliate at the Data Science Initiative and the Minnesota Population Center. She is dedicated to teaching and mentoring students, aiming to equip them with knowledge and skills to improve their personal and relational well-being.

Research topics

• Chemistry
• Biology
• Ecology
• Biochemistry
• Machine Learning
• Food science
• Environmental science
• Computer Science
• Business
• Soil science
• Agronomy
• Waste management
• Pulp and paper industry
• Environmental engineering
• Botany
• Biotechnology
• Engineering
• Chromatography
• Biochemical engineering

Selected publications

• Aqueous Gallium‐Doped Copper Indium Selenide Quantum Dots for Non‐Invasive Severity Grading of Traumatic Brain Injury

  Advanced Healthcare Materials · 2025-07-22 · 3 citations

  article1st authorCorresponding

  Traumatic brain injury (TBI) represents a substantial global health challenge, yet current diagnostic tools, such as CT and MRI, despite providing anatomical detail, have limitations in assessing injury severity, monitoring progression, and guiding personalized treatments. Herein, an aqueous phase-synthesized gallium-doped copper indium selenide quantum dot (QD) probe designed for grading TBI severity is introduced. The doping of gallium ions into the semiconductor core largely restrained the nonradiative recombination rate, thereby significantly enhancing the near-infrared emission of the QDs. Surface modification strategies further improve QD stability and biocompatibility, ensuring high-sensitivity imaging in vivo. In mouse models with varying TBI severities, intravenous administration of Ga-doped QDs, combined with advanced imaging protocols and data analysis, achieved objective grading of injury severity through quantitative analysis of fluorescence signal intensity and distribution, demonstrating a remarkable correlation between QD-derived signals and neuropathological severity. This grading result is further verified by a series of behavioral tests of the corresponding TBI mice. This QD-based imaging strategy offers a sensitive and objective tool for TBI assessment, enabling precise grading and dynamic monitoring, thereby improving clinical decision-making. This innovation complements existing diagnostics and has transformative potential for optimizing TBI management and patient outcomes, especially in resource-limited settings.

  PublisherDOI

• Increasing the Nutritional Value of Camelina Meal via Trametes versicolor Solid-State Fermentation with Various Co-Substrates

  Fermentation · 2025-02-04 · 2 citations

  articleOpen access

  Upcycling low-cost agricultural by-products into valuable and sustainable alternative feeding materials could secure human food-supply chains with a low carbon footprint. This study explored increasing the feeding value of camelina meal (CAM) mixed with wheat bran (WB), soybean hulls (SH), and rice hulls (RH) for monogastric animals via solid-state fermentation (SSF) using white rot fungus Trametes versicolor. Experiments evaluated fungal growth, amino acid profiles, structural carbohydrates, glucosinolates, phytate and in vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD). Weight loss analysis indicated that fungal growth was more active in WB/CAM and SH/CAM substrates than RH/CAM. Significant phytic acid degradation and near-complete glucosinolate elimination improved CAM feed quality across all substrates. Fermentation increased total and essential amino acids in the SH/CAM mixture, while reductions occurred in WB/CAM and RH/CAM mixtures. SH/CAM fermentation caused substantial cellulose and hemicellulose degradation, resulting in a 44% IVDMD increase. Conversely, RH/CAM fermentation decreased IVDMD despite a reduction in cellulose, possibly due to protein degradation. This study demonstrates the potential of T. versicolor-mediated SSF to enhance CAM and other agricultural residues’ feeding value for monogastric animal applications.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Sustainable Peptide Synthesis by Photoredox-Catalyzed Picoc-SPPS

  Journal of the American Chemical Society · 2025-12-15 · 5 citations

  article1st author

  Peptide therapeutics constitute a vital class of pharmaceuticals that are prized for their high target specificity and favorable safety profiles. However, conventional peptide synthesis relies on Boc- or Fmoc-protecting groups (e.g., Boc/Fmoc), whose removal requires either corrosive trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) or regulated piperidine. These reagents not only pose environmental and safety concerns but also promote side reactions such as aspartimide and diketopiperazine formation. The development of novel protecting groups that allow mild, selective deprotection is therefore an urgent need. Here, we report a visible-light photocatalytic approach employing the hydrophilic Nα-Picoc group. This strategy eliminates the use of TFA and piperidine while operating efficiently under mild, environmentally benign conditions. Picoc-solid-phase peptide synthesis (Picoc-SPPS) suppresses common side reactions, is compatible with green solvents (e.g., water and γ-valerolactone), and can be performed in aqueous systems. Moreover, the immobilization of the photocatalyst on resin enables efficient catalyst recycling, further improving sustainability. This study positions Picoc-SPPS as a versatile, scalable, and environmentally sustainable alternative to traditional SPPS, with substantial promise for both research and pharmaceutical manufacturing.

  PublisherDOI

• Efficient and selective extraction of unsaturated fatty acids from macadamia nut oil: Design and application of positively charged cyclodextrin-based supramolecular deep eutectic solvents

  Food Research International · 2025-12-20 · 1 citations

  article
  PublisherDOI

• Pilot study of advanced ozone oxidation treatment of mine wastewater for manganese degradation

  Process Safety and Environmental Protection · 2025-04-04 · 8 citations

  article
  PublisherDOI

• Nanomaterial technologies for precision diagnosis and treatment of brain hemorrhage

  Biomaterials · 2025-03-19 · 10 citations

  review
  PublisherDOI

• Fungal Bioprocessing of Camelina Meal for Improved Nutritional Profile

  Journal of the ASABE · 2025-01-01

  article

  Highlights Solid-state fermentation of camelina meal can improve its nutritional composition. Fermentation with T. versicolor degraded phytate by 68% and glucosinolates by 81%, while fermentation with A. oryzae degraded glucosinolates by 75%. Addition of urea increased amino acid concentration by 19% when fermented with A. oryzae. ABSTRACT. Camelina (Camelina sativa) is an oilseed crop known for environmental benefits in soil nutrient conservation when adopted as a cover crop. Camelina oil has been developed for use as a biofuel and in various commercial applications, but the adoption of camelina meal as a monogastric feed ingredient is limited by its high content of antinutrients, including glucosinolates and phytate, and its relatively low protein content. Therefore, the development of bioprocessing methods that improve the nutritional profile of camelina meal is highly desirable. Here, solid-state fermentation was performed with 6 filamentous fungal species. Compared to the non-fermented meal, fermentation with Trametes versicolor decreased phytate by 68% and glucosinolates by 81%. Meanwhile, fermentation with Aspergillus oryzae decreased glucosinolate content by 75%. The effects of extraneous nitrogen sources to enhance protein content were assessed, and it was found that fermentation with A. oryzae under urea addition increased the total amino acid content by 19% and improved the amino acid profile. Additionally, this study noted that autoclaving significantly decreased glucosinolate content. This study demonstrated the feasibility of selected fungi to improve the nutritional value of camelina meal, potentially promoting the economic return of camelina plantations as an oilseed cover crop. Keywords: Camelina meal, Fungal bioprocessing, Glucosinolates, Solid-state fermentation.

  PublisherDOI

• [Optimization of extraction process with deep eutectic solvents and analysis of antioxidant activity of <i>Gastrodia elata</i> polysaccharides].

  PubMed · 2025-10-25

  article

  free radicals were up to (26.39±1.47)% and (30.61±0.16)%, respectively, which indicated that the polysaccharides extracted by the deep eutectic solvents had a certain antioxidant ability. The extracted polysaccharides can be further studied and developed as a potential natural antioxidant.

  PublisherDOI

• Sequential fermentation of wheat straw and fruit-vegetable discards to produce circular feed in support of sustainable dairy production

  Resources Conservation & Recycling Advances · 2025-07-26 · 1 citations

  articleOpen access1st author

  • P. ostreatus and T. versicolor reduced lignin content by 33-55% in wheat straw • Lignin reduction was inhibited when mixing wheat straw with fruit/vegetables • Subsequent ensiling with fruit/vegetables generated lactic acids, reduced pH to 3.5 • Double-fermented feed showed similar in vitro digestibility as standard dairy diet • The integrated bioprocessing can produce novel alternative feeds for dairy farming Developing novel circular feed from plant-based biomass unfit for direct human consumption is imperative to mitigate environmental degradation. In this study, we tested a sequential fermentation strategy to treat wheat straw (WS) and preserve fresh fruit and vegetable (FFV) discards in making circular feed for ruminants. First, ground wheat straw (particle size less than 20 mm) moisturized (moisture content 70-80% by weight) by pure water and by FFV were treated with feed grade fungal strains Tramates versicolor (TV) and Pleurotus ostreatus (PO) at 28 °C for six weeks. Fungal treated mixture resulted in reduced lignin content by 35-55% and decreased lignin-to-cellulose ratio. Each fungal treated biomass was then mixed with additional FFV and anaerobically fermented at 28 °C for 16 days. Organic acids (over 80% was lactic acid) accounted for 9-10% dry matter of the substrates and lowered pH from 5 to about 3.5, which is adequate for preservation of the fermented feed. In vitro dry matter digestibility was not different between the standard diet and sustainability-plus diets that contained 10% or 25% of the double-fermented circular feed materials. Fungal fermentation coupled with bacteria-based ensiling of under-valued or wasted biomass can produce novel feeds to support sustainable dairy farming.

  PublisherDOI

• Biochar impact on soil health and tree-based crops: a review

  Biochar · 2025-03-11 · 58 citations

  reviewOpen access

  Abstract Biochar produced from pyrolysis of biomass such as wood, canopy, animal manure, and agricultural waste is recognized for its stability and for being a benefactor of soil health and plant growth. Its application in forestry is an area with growing research interest due to its ability to enhance soil physicochemical properties, including structure, water retention, and nutrient availability, thereby boosting plant growth, drought tolerance, and resistance to pests and diseases. However, the effectiveness of biochar varies based on factors like biochar type, application rate, soil type, and tree species. Potential risks associated with biochar use include nutrient immobilization, increased pH in alkaline soils, and enhanced leaching of toxic elements. Despite its promise, challenges such as knowledge gaps, lack of site-specific studies, and concerns of economic viability hinder widespread adoption of biochar in forestry. This qualitative review compiles over 150 published works from the past two decades on biochar application in forestry. It assesses the impacts of biochar on soil health and tree crops, highlighting its potential to improve soil fertility and promote tree growth. The review identifies significant findings, such as the positive influence of biochar on soil and plant health and outlines existing knowledge gaps that need addressing. By synthesizing current research, the review proposes future directions to optimize biochar use in sustainable forestry management, emphasizing the need for tailored approaches and economic assessments to facilitate broader adoption. The findings underscore the potential role of biochar in enhancing forestry practices while calling for further studies to resolve uncertainties and improve its practical implementation. Graphical Abstract

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

Frequent coauthors

• Xinyi Huang

  Chinese Academy of Sciences

  104 shared

• Dong Pei

  Lanzhou Institute of Chemical Physics

  86 shared

• Duolong Di

  Gansu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine

  86 shared

• Fuxin Zhang

  University of Chinese Academy of Sciences

  45 shared

• Jianfei Liu

  Institute of Geology and Geophysics

  41 shared

• Jules Muhire

  Chinese Academy of Sciences

  36 shared

• Wen‐Da Duan

  Chinese Academy of Sciences

  27 shared

• Yuan Gong

  27 shared

Labs

• The Early Writing ProjectPI

Education

• PhD, Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering

  Oklahoma State University Stillwater

  2018

Awards & honors

• McKnight Land-Grant Professorship (2026 - 2028)
• Grant-in-Aid of Research, Artistry and Scholarship, Universi…
• Microsoft Azure Computing Award, Stanford Data Science (2021…
• Scholarship, Stanford Data Science Scholars Program (2020 –…
• Traineeship, Integrative Graduate Education and Research Tra…