Dr. Xiao joined the USDA-ARS in January 2012 and currently is the research leader of the Commodity Protection and Quality Research Unit at the San Joaquin Valley Agricultural Sciences Center, Parlier, CA. Prior to joining the ARS, Dr. Xiao was a faculty member during 2000-2011 in the Department of Plant Pathology at Washington State University, located at the WSU Tree Fruit Research and Extension Center in Wenatchee, WA where he conducted research on management of postharvest diseases of tree fruits grown in the U.S. Pacific Northwest. Dr. Xiao's current research focuses on the biology, epidemiology, and management of diseases of fruit crops with an emphasis on postharvest diseases; biology of plant pathogenic fungi; and molecular mechanisms, biological and ecological characterization, and management of fungicide resistance.