Xiaofeng Liu, PhD

Dad. Scientist. Founder. Photographer. Educator. Optimist. ENFJ-A.

These are self assgiend labels to help you learn about me.

This is the place where I keep my self in check and write into each label. It has been a fulfilling circle of life, good and bad, past and future, teaching and learning, thinking and listening.

Life is full of wonders and here are some of mine.

The Four Sides

Science

Science is a lifelong effort and will always be how I view the past, present, and future.

Learning

Learning is my purpose and teaching is the best way of knowing how I learned.

Photography

Photography is the way I view the world and how to be part of nature and culture.

Writing

Writing is my commitment both for organized thoughts throughout my journey.

Science

Science drives my journey. I enjoy research around materials and electronics that improve lives. It teaches me to care causes that make a better world for people.

I have led a diverse career in science, consulting, and education. I also write about materials and technology—the past, present, and the future.

TEMPR Learning

Push and Pull and Flow: The Story of Mechanical and Rheological Analyses

From ketchup bottles to rocket seals, this story explores how materials bend, break, and flow under stress—revealing the hidden role of mechanical and rheological analysis in everyday life.

Materials & Career

The Stories of Thermal Analyses of Materials

While even top-notch theorists scratch their heads predicting thermal behavior from a chemical formula, we can witness the real magic of a material's response to heat firsthand.

TEMPR Lab & Me

A Brief Intro of Each Instrument I manage

I challenged myself to give a brief intro to each instrument in TEMPR Lab and here they are.

Learning

Reading is learning. Teaching is learning. Helping is learning. TEMPR Learning is the latest platform I created to learn together for everyone, as a community.

Diversity in Teaching

A Personal Commitment to Diversity in Science and Education

Diversity in science isn’t a checkbox—it’s the catalyst for innovation. This piece reflects my journey and commitment to inclusive research, teaching, and mentorship across cultures, disciplines, and generations.

Teaching Philosophy

My Statement of Teaching Philosophy

Teaching is my passion and what I am actually good at even when I am 100% honest.

Photography

My dad introduced me to photography since my childhood. This is a reservior for my endless journey through hiking, travel, and photos stories.

Visit Flickr Photostream

Photography

A Crash Tutorial on the HDR Photo Effect

This mini tutorial introduces HDR photography using RAW images and Photomatix Pro, guiding you step-by-step through exposure blending, tone mapping, and post-processing to create vivid, detail-rich images.

Halloween

Why did pumpkin become the protagonist of Halloween?

A sunlit visit to a Solvang pumpkin patch reveals the charm of Halloween through painted gourds, festive legends, and golden fields—where every pumpkin awaits its turn to become a story.

California, Halloween

The Scarecrow Competition in Solvang

A festive autumn day in Solvang blends Danish charm, whimsical scarecrows, and pumpkin delights. Strolling past fairy-tale shops and golden leaves, the town feels like a storybook come to life.

Writing

I fight my procrastination to write work and life, memory and future. It is a self discovery journey and I enjoy sharing them.

My writings are sorted under Materials Thru Life, Thinking Technology, Beyond Education, Photo Stories, Family and Friends, Memories, Thoughts and Opinions, and Ficticious.

Family & Friends

Father’s Day

Dad is the first word in my title. This is the 8th year that I enjoyed Father's Day. I am always a dad first, then, a scientist.

Management

The Hard and Soft Micromanagement in Research Labs

Here are the stories of two micromanagers that explain it better than ChatGPT ever could.

观念和情感

中国人不可描述的情感价值观

情感为主，道德为主，还是社会准则规律为主？我们应该作为个体去思考，同时也去换位思考，也许问题并不复杂也不需要纠结。

专业和人性

某某医院医疗事故有无科学依据？

医疗事故虽然时有发生，但是严重程度却大不一致。结合我的专业知识，分析一下其中某一件。

专业和人性

关于天津大火的化学视角分析

作为一个在化学领域二十多年的科学家，我对天津大火进行的专业和人性的分析。

动物情节

“小不点”和我的故事

"小不点"是体型最大的仓鼠种类，她短短的一年半的一生，给我带来了无尽的酸甜苦辣。