Xiao named 2026 US Fulbright Scholar

Qian Xiao, PhD, associate professor in Epidemiology, has been named a 2026-2027 U.S. Fulbright Program Scholar, a prestigious honor that supports international collaboration in research and education. 

Since joining UTHealth Houston School of Public Health in 2020, Xiao has advanced research focused on the effect of environmental exposures, sleep health, and chronic diseases. Under the Fulbright award, she will expand her expertise beyond boundaries, partnering with the University of Canberra’s Health Research Institute and the Healthy Environments and Lives Network in Canberra, Australia. Her Fulbright project will explore how environmental factors, including air pollution, artifical light, and extreme heat, may shape sleep patterns and contribute to long-term health outcomes. 

“This award represents a pivotal moment in my career,” Xiao said. “It provides an opportunity to expand international partnerships and contribute to global efforts addressing environmental and public health challenges.”

Xiao and collaborators will combine large-scale data analysis with community-based research to better understand how environmental exposures drive sleep deficiency and related health risks. 

For the 2026-2027 period, Xiao will conduct her research in Australia, which provides a strong foundation for her research, with its national investment in environmental health, established sleep research networks, and growing urgency around climate-related health risks. The collaboration also reflects shared health challenges between the U.S. and Australia, including increasing environmental stressors. 

“This opportunity allows me to expand international partnerships and contribute to global solutions in environmental and public health,” Xiao shared while discussing the importance of expanding research at the international level. 

Beyond advancing research, Xiao’s Fulbright experience will emphasize education, training, and community engagement. She will contribute to existing programs in Australia by sharing expertise in environmental epidemiology and data analysis, while also learning from local researchers and community partners. Her work aims to strengthen translational pathways that connect scientific discovery to public health practice and policy. 

Xiao’s selection builds on a decade of research, interdisciplinary collaboration, and community-focused work which has been highlighted by peer-reviewed publications and funding by the NIH, NASA and the American Academy of Sleep Medicine. Her experience working across cultures—shaped by her international background and public health outreach—positions her to both advance scientific knowledge and foster meaningful global connections. 

Through the Fulbright program, Xiao’s work will not only deepen understanding of how environmental factors shape sleep and health, but also help translate research into action, advancing public health efforts to improve lives at a global scale.