Interview with Dr. Kai Da Xu—Winner of the Electronics 2023 Young Investigator Award

Dr. Kai Da Xu obtained a Ph.D. degree at the University of Electronic Science and Technology of China (UESTC), and he worked at several well-known universities overseas for nearly six years, including Duke University, the City University of Hong Kong, the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Tohoku University, and Yokohama National University. He received two fellowships from the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS), and in 2020, he joined Xi’an Jiaotong University, China.

The following is a short interview with Dr. Kai Da Xu:

1. Can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers and tell us a little bit about your fields of interest?
   I have published 180 articles in peer-reviewed journals and over 50 papers in Conference Proceedings, where 13 papers were selected as ESI highly cited papers and 2 papers were selected as ESI hot papers. I was also included in the 2022 list of the most cited Chinese researchers announced by Elsevier. I was also included for 3 years in the list of the top 2% of the most cited scientists in the field of information, communication, and technology released by scientists from Stanford University. I am now serving as an Editorial Board Member for the journal Electronics (MDPI), and I have also been serving as an Associate Editor for IEEE Access, IET Microwaves, Antennas & Propagation, and Electronics Letters. I have organized several Special Issues in some international journals as a Guest Editor. My current research is focused on millimeter-wave and terahertz devices, such as filters and antennas.
2. Which research topics do you think are of particular interest to the research community in the coming years?
   In the upcoming years, I plan to persist in my research with a specific focus on millimeter-wave and terahertz transmission lines and their applications in the design of components like filters and amplifiers for next-generation communication systems.

3. Have you had difficulties to overcome in your work? How did you approach those situations?
   I encountered some financial difficulties during my career, especially in the period between 2015 and 2019. After defending my Ph.D., it was difficult for me to get promoted, so I had to change several universities. The award and financial support received from the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) were really helpful for me in my professional development. Additionally, in 2019, the birth of my daughter prompted me to maintain a balance between my professional and personal life.

4. What’s the secret to a happy scientific life?
   In my opinion, the key to a happy scientific life lies in a genuine passion for the research domain. Scientists should maintain their enthusiasm, even in the face of multiple unsuccessful funding applications over several years, recognizing that funding may be insufficient for that particular research field.

5. What qualities do you think young scientists need?
   A young researcher should exhibit motivation and a genuine interest in the project for which they are applying.

6. What is your opinion of the open access model of publishing?
   I have experience contributing to both open access and subscription journals. The open access model facilitates the widespread dissemination of knowledge by eliminating financial barriers, ensuring research outcomes are accessible to the public. Papers published in open access journals tend to garner greater readership and citations compared to the traditional subscription model. However, covering article processing fees can pose a challenge for authors with insufficient funding. When selecting a journal for publication, it is also important to consider the Impact Factor of the journal.

7. As the winner of this award, is there something you would like to express to our readers?
   I am very honored to be the winner of the Young Investigator Award, as it was my first application for such recognition. This award has important significance in bolstering my prospects for pursuing upcoming projects. Be more confident; perhaps the winner of this award will be you next year.

We wish Dr. Kai Da Xu every success in his current work, and we look forward to his future contributions to the journal.