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Current People

Principal Investigator

Dr. Mi Li Assistant Professor

Biorefinery & Sustainable Materials
Ph.D. in Wood Science
Center for Renewable Carbon (CRC)
School of Natural Resources

  • 2020-present    Assistant Professor         University of Tennessee
  • 2015-2019        Post-doctoral Fellow        Oak Ridge National Laboratory
  • 2010-2014        PhD, Wood Chemistry      Auburn University
  • 2004-2010        Lecturer & Admin             Northeast Forestry University, China
  • 2007-2009        MS, Chemical Eng.   Northeast Forestry University, China
  • 2000-2004        BS, Chemical Eng.    Northeast Forestry University, China

AWARDS AND HONORS

  • 06/2021 Ralph E. Powe Junior Faculty Enhancement Award, Oak Ridge Associated Universities
  • 09/2017 Distinguished Achievement Award, Oak Ridge National Laboratory
  • 07/2017 Research highlighted in the Office of Sciences Webpage of the US DOE
  • 12/2014 Research featured in the cover page of Auburn University Graduate School Magazine
  • 03/2014 Outstanding International Graduate Student Award, Auburn University
  • 02/2014 Drummond Award for Outstanding Ph.D., Auburn University
  • 02/2014 Merriwether Award, School of Forestry & Wildlife Science, Auburn University
  • 11/2013 Outstanding Three Minute Thesis Presentation, Auburn University
  • 03/2013 Outstanding Oral Presentation, Graduate Scholars Forum, Auburn University
  • 07/2008 Distinguished Paper Award, China Society of Forestry
  • 04/2004 Outstanding Undergraduate Award, Northeast Forestry University, China

Post-graduate Researchers

Mastaneh Shokri (Fall 2023)

  • B.S. Razi University
  • M.S. Azad University of Sanandaj
  • Research Specialist

Graduate Students

Kailong Zhang (Fall 2021)

  • B.S., Food Science and Engineering, Northwest A&F University 
  • M.S., Cereals, Oils and Plant Protein Engineering, Shaanxi Normal University 
  • PhD project: Cellulose-based functional materials 

Mastaneh Shokri (Fall 2024)

  • B.S., Chemistry, Razi University 
  • M.S., Medicinal Chemistry, Azad University of Sanandaj 
  • PhD project: Synthesis of bioderived (co-)polymers 

You Wang (Fall 2024)

  • B.S., Chemical Engineering of Bioproducts, Northeast Forestry University 
  • M.S., Chemical Engineering of Bioproducts, Northeast Forestry University 
  • PhD project: Lignin-based functional materials 

Undergraduate Students

Ryan Baskette (2023)

  • Major: Biochemistry & Cellular and Molecular Biology, UTK

Charley Cross (2024)

  • Major: Chemistry, Jackson State University


Visiting Scholars

Dr. Yangmei Chen (2024)

  • Associate Professor
  • College of Natural Resources and Environment, South China Agricultural University, China
  • Research: biomass, soil remediation, emerging pollutants, and planting-breeding cycle