After graduating from university, Gu Xin worked in the Institute of Science and Technology Policy and Management Science of Chinese Academy of Sciences for many years. After receiving his doctorate, he worked as a researcher at the Institute of East Asian Studies of the National University of Singapore and the Department of Political and Social Development of the Australian National University. He returned to China in early 2004 and worked as a senior researcher at the Public Policy Research Center of China Economic System Reform Society. Now he is a professor at the School of Government Administration of Peking University. Engaged in social policy, medical and health policy, non-profit organizations, labor relations and other aspects of research and teaching.

Gu Xin was selected as an outstanding talent in the new century by the Ministry of Education in 2005. Gu Xin presided over a number of research topics, including (1) a project planned by the Ministry of Education: "Developmental Social Policy"; (2) China Social Science Fund Project: "Social Assistance System in China-Comparative System Analysis"; (3) China Development Research Foundation Project: "Research on Developmental Social Assistance", etc. The main research content is the urban and rural minimum living security and medical assistance system.

Gu Xin has published many books in Chinese, such as Diagnosis and Prescription: Facing the Reform of China's Medical System (2006), and published a large number of papers, including more than 20 English papers published in international journals, with two-way anonymous peer review.