Xiao Ma is a Professor at the History of Science and Scientific Archaeology at University of Science and Technology of China. He holds a Ph.D. in Materials Science and Engineering from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), an M.S. in Materials Engineering from Purdue University, and a B.S. from Huazhong University of Science and Technology. His research mainly focuses on cultural heritage conservation science, including technological history studies of ancient building materials, the development of conservation materials for ancient building materials, as well as degradation mechanisms of cultural heritage materials. Xiao has worked in esteemed conservation and scientific research institutions such as Getty Conservation Institute, the Smithsonian Institution's Museum Conservation Institute, National Gallery of Art, and the National Institute of Standards and Technology.