Minghui Ding

Education/Employment

Research experience:

• 2024.10 - present, Tenure Track Assistant professor, Nanjing University (NJU), Nanjing, China.

• 2021.10 - 2024.09, High Potential Program Fellow, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR), Dresden, Germany.

• 2019.10 - 2021.09,  Postdoctoral Fellow, The European Centre for Theoretical Studies in Nuclear Physics and Related Areas (ECT* - FBK), Trento, Italy.

• 2018.09 - 2019.09, Visiting Fellow, The European Centre for Theoretical Studies in Nuclear Physics and Related Areas (ECT* - FBK), Trento, Italy.

• 2018.02 - 2018.08, Visiting Fellow, Argonne National Laboratory (ANL), Chicago, USA.

• 2016.08 - 2019.08, Postdoctoral Fellow, Nankai University (NKU).

Education:

• 2011.09 - 2016.07, PhD Degree of theoretical physics, Peking University (PKU).

• 2007.09 - 2011.07, Bachelor Degree of Physics, Central China Normal University (CCNU).

Honors/Awards

• 2026, Jiangsu Province Entrepreneurial and Innovative Talents Introduction Program, Entrepreneurial and Innovative PhDs, World-Class Universities Category

• 2022, Institute of Physics (IOP) 2022 ”Top Cited Paper” Award from China.“Drawing insights from pion parton distributions”Authors: Minghui Ding, K. Raya, D. Binosi, L. Chang, C. D. Roberts, S. M. Schmidt (Chinese Physics C, 44, 031002, 2020)

• 2021, The Most Influential Paper Award of Chinese Physics Society in 2021. “Drawing insights from pion parton distributions” Authors: Minghui Ding, K. Raya, D. Binosi, L. Chang, C. D. Roberts, S. M. Schmidt (Chinese Physics C, 44, 031002, 2020)

• 2021, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR) High Potential Program

• 2014, Special academic award of Peking University

• 2011, Excellent graduate of Central China Normal University

Invited and Contributed Talks

• List of Invited and Contributed Talks (see here)

Seminars

• List of Seminars (see here)

Publications

• Accessing pion transverse momentum in continuum Schwinger function methods, Minghui Ding, Phys.Lett.B 879 (2026) 140677.

• Chiral Magnetic effect as the anomaly in the transverse axial vector Ward Identity, Fei Gao, Yi Lu, Minghui Ding, Xinyang Wang, Yuxin Liu, e-Print: 2604.24410 [hep-th]

• Pion Valence-Quark TMD from Continuum Schwinger Function Methods and Gaussian GTMD, Minghui Ding, e-Print: 2511.18349 [hep-ph]

• Symmetry Constraints on Pion Valence Structure, Xiaobin Wang, Lei Chang, Minghui Ding, Khepani Raya, Craig D. Roberts, e-Print: 2510.23950 [hep-ph]

• Exclusive photoproduction of light and heavy vector mesons: thresholds to very high energies, L. Tang, H-Y. Xing, Minghui Ding, C. D. Roberts, e-Print: 2510.08845 [hep-ph]

• Anisotropic quark propagation and Zeeman effect in an external magnetic field, Minghui Ding, F. Gao, S.M. Schmidt, Chin.Phys. 50 (2026) 1, 013104, e-Print: 2504.14504 [hep-ph]

• Pion, Kaon and nucleon gravitational form factors, Z. Yao, Y. Xu, D. Binosi, Z. Cui, Minghui Ding, K. Raya, C. D. Roberts, J. Rodrıguez-Quintero, S. M. Schmidt, PoS QCHSC24 (2025) 081, Contribution to: QCHSC 2024, 081, e-Print: 2503.23166 [hep-ph]

• Distribution functions of a radially excited pion, Z. Xu, Z. Yao, D. Binosi, Minghui Ding, C. D. Roberts, J. Rodrıguez-Quintero, Eur.Phys.J.C 85 (2025) 3, 330, e-Print: 2501.13243 [hep-ph]

• Sketching pion and proton mass distributions, X. Wang, Z. Xing, L. Chang, Minghui Ding, K. Raya, C. D. Roberts, Phys.Lett.B 862 (2025) 139280, e-Print: 2410.13068 [hep-ph]

• Nucleon Gravitational Form Factors, Z. Yao, Y. Xu, D. Binosi, Z. Cui, Minghui Ding, K. Raya, C. D. Roberts, J. Rodrıguez-Quintero, S. M. Schmidt, Eur.Phys.J.A 61 (2025) 5, 92, e-Print: 2409.15547 [hep-ph]

• Pion Boer-Mulders function using a contact interaction, D. Cheng, Z. Cui, Minghui Ding, C. D. Roberts, S. M. Schmidt, Eur.Phys.J.C 85 (2025) 1, 115,  e-Print: 2409.11568 [hep-ph]

• Bridging Electromagnetic and Gravitational Form Factors: Insights from LFHQCD, X. Wang, Z. Xing, Minghui Ding, K. Raya, L. Chang, e-Print: 2406.09644 [hep-ph]

• Pion and kaon electromagnetic and gravitational form factors, Y. Xu, Minghui Ding, K. Raya, C.D. Roberts, J. Rodrıguez-Quintero, S.M. Schmidt, Eur.Phys.J.C 84 (2024) 2, 191, e-Print: 2311.14832 [hep-ph]

• Sieving parton distribution function moments via the moment problem, X. Wang, Minghui Ding, L. Chang, Phys.Lett.B 851 (2024) 138568,  e-Print: 2308.14871 [hep-ph]

• Constraining the pion distribution amplitude using Drell-Yan reactions on a proton, H.-Y. Xing, Minghui Ding, Z.-F. Cui, A.V. Pimikov, C.D. Roberts, S.M. Schmidt, Phys.Lett.B 849 (2024) 138462, e-Print: 2308.13695 [hep-ph]

• Strong Interaction Physics at the Luminosity Frontier with 22 GeV Electrons at Jefferson Lab, – Review Article A. Accardi, et al., Eur.Phys.J.A 60 (2024) 9, 173, e-Print: 2306.09360 [nucl-ex]

• Masses of compact (neutron) stars with distinguished cores, R. Zollner, Minghui Ding, and B. Kampfer, Particles 6 (2023) 1, 217-238, e-Print: 2302.01389 [nucl-th]

• Fresh look at the generalized parton distributions of light pseudoscalar mesons, Z. Xing, Minghui Ding, K. Raya, and L. Chang, Eur.Phys.J.A 60 (2024) 2, 33, e-Print: 2301.02958 [hep-ph]

• Field-assisted birefringent Compton scattering, N. Ahmadiniaz, T. E. Cowan, Minghui Ding, M. A. Lopez Lopez, R. Sauerbrey, R. Shaisultanov, and R. Schutzhold, e-Print: 2212.03350 [hep-ph]

• Emergence of Hadron Mass and Structure, – Review Article, Minghui Ding, C. D. Roberts, and S. M. Schmidt, Particles 6 (2023) 1, 57-120, e-Print: 2211.07763 [hep-ph]

• Glimpse into pion gravitational form factor, Z. Xing, Minghui Ding, and L. Chang, Phys.Rev.D 107 (2023) 3, L031502, e-Print: 2211.06635 [hep-ph]

• A correspondence between the free and interacting field theories, F. Gao, Minghui Ding, Y.-x Liu, and S. M. Schmidt, Eur.Phys.J.C 83 (2023) 2, 144, e-Print: 2202.03191 [hep-ph]

• Emergence of pion parton distributions, Z. Cui, Minghui Ding, J. M. Morgado, K. Raya, D. Binosi, L. Chang, F. De Soto, C. D. Roberts, J. Rodrıguez-Quintero, and S. M. Schmidt, Phys.Rev.D 105 (2022) 9, L091502, e-Print: 2201.00884 [hep-ph]

• Concerning pion parton distributions, Z. Cui, Minghui Ding, J. M. Morgado, K. Raya, D. Binosi, L. Chang, J. Papavassiliou, C. D. Roberts, J. Rodrıguez-Quintero, and S. M. Schmidt, Eur.Phys.J.A 58 (2022) 1, 10, e-Print: 2112.09210 [hep-ph]

• Distribution amplitudes of light diquarks, Y. Lu, D. Binosi, Minghui Ding, C. D. Roberts, H. Xing, and C. Xu, Eur.Phys.J.A 57 (2021) 4, 115, e-Print: 2103.03960 [hep-ph]

• Revealing the structure of light pseudoscalar mesons at the Electron-Ion Collider, –Review Article, J. Arrington et al., J.Phys.G 48 (2021) 7, 075106, e-Print: 2102.11788 [nucl-ex]

• Electron-Ion Collider in China, – Review Article, D. P. Anderle et al., Front.Phys.(Beijing) 16 (2021) 6, 64701, e-Print: 2102.09222 [nucl-ex]

• Rainbow modified-ladder approximation and degenerate pion, L. Chang and Minghui Ding, Phys.Rev.D 103 (2021) 7, 074001, e-Print: 2011.05505 [hep-ph]

• Diquark Correlations in Hadron Physics: Origin, Impact and Evidence, – Review Article, M. Y. Barabanov, et al., Prog.Part.Nucl.Phys. 116 (2021) 103835, e-Print: 2008.07630 [hep-ph]

• Higgs modulation of emergent mass as revealed in kaon and pion parton distributions, Z. Cui, Minghui Ding, F. Gao, K. Raya, D. Binosi, L. Chang, C. D. Roberts, J.Rodrıguez-Quintero, and S. M. Schmidt, Eur.Phys.J.A 57 (2021) 1, 5, e-Print: 2006.14075 [hep-ph]

• Kaon and pion parton distributions, Z. Cui, Minghui Ding, F. Gao, K. Raya, D. Binosi, L. Chang, C. D. Roberts, J.Rodrıguez-Quintero, and S. M. Schmidt, Eur.Phys.J.C 80 (2020) 11, 1064.

• Thermal properties of π and ρ meson, F. Gao and Minghui Ding, Eur.Phys.J.C 80 (2020) 12, 1171,  e-Print: 2006.05909 [hep-ph]

• Drawing insights from pion parton distributions, Minghui Ding, K. Raya, D. Binosi, L. Chang, C. D. Roberts, and S. M. Schmidt, Chin.Phys.C 44 (2020) 3, 031002, e-Print: 1912.07529 [hep-ph]

• Two photon transition form factors of neutral pseudoscalar mesons, Minghui Ding, D. Binosi, K. Raya, L. Chang and C. D. Roberts, Contribution to: HADRON 2019, 545-549, e-Print: 1911.12657 [nucl-th]

• Unveiling the structure of pseudoscalar mesons, K. Raya, L. Chang, Minghui Ding, D. Binosi and C. D. Roberts, Contribution to: HADRON 2019, 565-569, e-Print: 1911.12941 [nucl-th]

• Pion and Kaon Structure at the Electron-Ion Collider, – Review Article, A. C. Aguilar, et al., Eur.Phys.J.A 55 (2019) 10, 190, e-Print: 1907.08218 [nucl-ex]

• Symmetry, symmetry breaking, and pion parton distributions, Minghui Ding, K. Raya, D. Binosi, L. Chang, C. D. Roberts, and S. M. Schmidt, Phys.Rev.D 101 (2020) 5, 054014 • e-Print: 1905.05208 [nucl-th]

• Distribution Amplitudes of Heavy-Light Mesons, D. Binosi, L. Chang, Minghui Ding, F. Gao, J. Papavassiliou, and C. D. Roberts, Phys.Lett.B 790 (2019) 257-262,  e-Print: 1812.05112 [nucl-th]

• Nucleon Parton Distribution Amplitude: A scalar diquark picture, C. Mezrag, J. Segovia, Minghui Ding, L. Chang, and C. D. Roberts, Springer Proc.Phys. 238 (2020) 773-781, Contribution to: FB22, 773-781, e-Print: 1811.09104 [nucl-th]

• γ∗γ → η, η′ transition form factors, Minghui Ding, K. Raya, A. Bashir, D. Binosi, L. Chang, M. Chen, and C. D. Roberts, Phys.Rev.D 99 (2019) 1, 014014,  e-Print: 1810.12313 [nucl-th]

• Mass-dependence of pseudoscalar meson elastic form factors, M. Chen, Minghui Ding, L. Chang, and C. D. Roberts, Phys.Rev.D 98 (2018) 9, 091505, e-Print: 1808.09461 [nucl-th]

• Two Photon Transition Form Factor of cc Quarkonia, J. Chen, Minghui Ding, L. Chang, and Y-x. Liu, Phys.Rev.D 95 (2017) 1, 016010, e-Print: 1611.05960 [nucl-th]

• Partonic structure of neutral pseudoscalars via two photon transition form factors, K. Raya, Minghui Ding, A. Bashir, L. Chang, and C. D. Roberts, Phys.Rev.D 95 (2017) 7, 074014, e-Print: 1610.06575 [nucl-th]

• Leading-twist distribution amplitudes of scalar- and vector-mesons, B-L Li, L. Chang, Minghui Ding, C. D. Roberts, and H-S. Zong, Phys.Rev.D 94 (2016) 9, 094014, e-Print: 1608.04749 [nucl-th]

• Leading twist parton distribution amplitudes in heavy vector mesons, F. Gao, Minghui Ding, L. Chang, Y-x. Liu, and C. D. Roberts, EPJ Web Conf. 113 (2016) 05020, Contribution to: FB21

• Leading twist parton distribution amplitudes in heavy flavor pseudoscalar mesons from Dyson-Schwinger equations of QCD, Minghui Ding, F. Gao, L. Chang, Y-x. Liu, and C. D. Roberts, EPJ Web Conf. 113 (2016) 05020, Contribution to: FB21.

• Leading-twist parton distribution amplitudes of S-wave heavy-quarkonia, Minghui Ding, F. Gao, L. Chang, Y-x. Liu, C. D. Roberts, Phys.Lett.B 753 (2016) 330-335, e-Print: 1511.04943 [nucl-th]

Books

• Strong Interactions in the Standard Model: Massless Bosons to Compact Stars, Edited by Minghui Ding, Craig Roberts, and Sebastian M. Schmidt, MDPI Books, ISBN: 978-3-7258-1501-2 (Hardback), ISBN: 978-3-7258-1502-9 (PDF).

Teaching experience

• 2026.03 - 2026.07, Nanjing University, University Physics, a first‑year Bilingual (Chinese and English) course designed for first-year undergraduate students in the Kuang Yaming Honors School who are part of the Top‑notch Talents Program (‘Bajian’ plan) and the Pilot Reform Program for Enrollment in Fundamental Disciplines (‘Qiangji’ plan).

• 2026.03 - 2026.07 and 2025.02 - 2025.07, Nanjing University, University Physics Experiments (Part I) course, designed for all first-year undergraduate students across the university.

• 2012.09, Teaching assistant for Equilibrium Statistical Physics, Peking University undergraduate course in physics, with Prof. Zhong-shui Ma.

Organized events

• 2025.11, 2025 International Conference on the Structure of Baryons (Baryons 2025). International Convention Center (ICC) in Jeju, Korea

• 2025.10, International Workshop + School on Hadron Structure and Strong Interactions (IW-SHSSI 2025). Yi Fu Building of Nanjing University (NJU)

• 2023.09, Workshop on Parton distribution functions at a crossroad. The European Centre for Theoretical Studies in Nuclear Physics and Related Areas (ECT*)

• 2019.08, The 11th Workshop on Hadron physics in China and Opportunities Worldwide, Hadron-China 2019. Nankai University

• 2017.10, The Third Sino-Americas Workshop and School on the Bound-State Problem in Continuum QCD. Nankai University

Academic services

• Referee: Physics Letters B, Physical Review D, European Physical Journal A, Chinese Physics C, Chinese Physics Letters, Particles

• Guest editor: Particles Special Issue: Strong Interactions in the Standard Model: Massless Bosons to Compact Stars

• Guest editor: Chinese Physics Letters Special Issue: Advances in QCD and hadron structure

• PhD Defence Panel Member – Lin Tang (Nanjing University), A Unified Reaction Model for Vector Meson Production (May 20 2026), Xiaobin Wang (Nankai University), Study of hadron structure with the functional method based on the moment problem (May 26 2026).

• Member of Jiangsu Physical Society

Supervision and mentoring

• 07/2026: Qi Zhang, Bachelor thesis in Physics at the Nanjing University, Application of the Inverse Problem in Hadron Physics.

• 07/2026: Run-Nan Gao, Bachelor thesis in Physics at the Nanjing University, Application of the Moment Problem in Hadron Physics.

• 07/2025: Chao-Ran Duan, Bachelor thesis in Physics at the Nanjing University, Study on parton distribution functions of rho meson.