The University Research Council at Coastal Carolina University has named Kehui (Kevin) Xu as recipient of the 2011-2012 Emerging Scholar Incentive Award.

Xu is an assistant professor of marine science. The purpose of this incentive award is to recognize the research, scholarship and/or creative progress of tenure-track faculty and to support the research programs of the university. The recipient is selected from nominees from each college. As part of his award, Xu will receive $1,000 for supplies and/or travel related to his research, which focuses on biogeochemical cycles and sediment transport in the marine environment.

Xu earned a Ph.D. in marine science from the College of William and Mary’s Virginia Institute of Marine Science in 2006, and a master's degree from the Ocean University of China in 2002. His research has focused on the numerical modeling of transport systems and biogeochemical cycles in marine systems, including the transport of sediment in the Gulf of Mexico, the East China Sea and along the Grand Strand. Other aspects of his research include formation of highly publicized hypoxic (low oxygen) zones in some of these areas, and the modeling of seasonal and spatial variations in wind power off the South Carolina coast for the Palmetto Wind Project.

In addition to his colleagues in the Department of Marine Science and CCU’s Burroughs & Chapin Center for Marine and Wetland Studies, Xu has collaborated with leading marine researchers from throughout the United States and China. Since joining Coastal Carolina University in 2008, he has been an author or co-author on 11 articles published in scientific journals, two scientific reports and 16 presentations at scientific meetings. He has also been a primary investigator or co-investigator on seven external grants with total funding to CCU of more than $500,000.

"Dr. Xu is an active mentor of both undergraduate and graduate students, many of whom have been authors or co-authors on conference presentations or publications," said Provost Robert Sheehan. "Xu is truly emerging as an outstanding scholar and is building a research program at CCU of national and international significance."