Maoshen Xu joined the Qin Lab as a Research Assistant after completing a Master’s degree in Systems Science at Beijing Normal University. Prior to that, he studied Computer Science and Technology and received his B.S. degree from Northeastern University, China, in 2021. He is interested in understanding how computational demands shape neuronal activity, and how the structural organization of such activity underlies adaptive behavior. His research experience includes investigating the mathematical principles governing population-level activity in grid cells, and obtaining neurons with hexagonal firing fields from neural network models incorporating biologically plausible constraints. In his free time, Maoshen enjoys playing basketball and engaging with the humanities.