Xiaohu Xia (’03 Ph.D.), currently a principal scientist for Mars Wrigley Global Research and Development, leads material research to improve the performance and sustainability of confectioneries enjoyed every day by consumers around the world including Double Mint gum, M&M chocolate, Snickers bar and others. His work has led to about 20 patent applications and earned him the Wrigley Breakthrough Innovation Award. While at UNT, Xia worked on hydrogel nanoparticles for biomedical applications under the mentorship of late professor Zhibing Hu in the Department of Physics.