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I am Hao Xu, originally from Suzhou. I am a postdoctoral researcher in Prof. Apoorv Tiwari's group at the Centre for Quantum Mathematics (SDU). I obtained my doctoral degree from Georg-August-Universität Göttingen, when I was supervised by Prof. Dr. Chenchang Zhu. Before that, I was an undergraduate student at Jesus College, University of Oxford.

I am primarily focused on exploring mathematical structures that arise from the topological phases of quantum many-body systems, specifically higher fusion categories. These categories play a fundamental role in understanding the intricate connections between topological quantum field theories (TQFTs), homotopy theory, representation theory and related areas of study. Additionally, I am particularly intrigued by the phenomenon of condensation, symmetry gauging, and phase transitions within these topological phases, as they give rise to an exceptionally diverse and intricate structures and problems in the fundamental study of higher category theory.

Academic Career

• Postdoc

2025 - now

Centre for Quantum Mathematics, University of Southern Denmark

Educational backgrounds

• Doktor der Naturwissenschaften (Dr. rer. nat.)

summa cum laude

2021 - 2025

Georg-August-Universität Göttingen

• Master of Mathematics (MMath) 

Part A and B: First Class, Part C: Distinction

2017 - 2021

Jesus College, University of Oxford

ORCID [orcid.org/0009-0004-4693-8739]

Get in touch at [haoxu@imada.sdu.dk]