Professor Ximing Cai’s current research areas include coupled human-natural system analysis with an emphasis on human interferences in hydrological processes, water-energy-food system modeling especially in dry areas, and sustainable water resources management particularly in developing countries. He has authored or co-authored more than 154 peer-reviewed journal papers, three books and several monographs. During 2012-2017, he served as Editor for Water Resources Research the flagship journal of water resources, published by the American Geophysical Union; currently he serves the editorial board of several other major water journals. He has received several awards, including the National Science Foundation CAREER award and best paper awards from Water Resources Research, Water International, and the Journal of Water Resources Planning and Management.
He has worked as a consultant to the World Bank, the United Nations and other international agencies. He has been associate director of Institute for Sustainability, Energy and Environment (iSEE), a campus-wide institute at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign