Prof. Dr Zheng Li | Optical Materials | Best Researcher Award
๐ฌ Prof. Dr. Zheng Li is a trailblazing researcher in chemistry and materials science, currently serving as a Full Professor at Jinan University. He earned his Ph.D. ๐ from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and held postdoctoral positions at top U.S. institutions ๐บ๐ธ. His research focuses on wearable sensors, non-invasive diagnostics, and nano-enabled technologies for healthcare ๐ฅ, agriculture ๐ฑ, and environmental monitoring ๐. With 30+ publications in journals like Nature Plants and ACS Nano, Dr. Li is known for turning innovative ideas into real-world solutions ๐ก. He is also a dedicated mentor and academic leader ๐จโ๐ซ.
Prof. Dr Zheng Li, Jinan University, China
Profile
๐ Education
Prof. Dr. Zheng Li earned his Ph.D. in Chemistry from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (2012โ2017) with an impressive GPA of 3.83/4.00. He also completed his B.Sc. in Chemistry at Nanjing University, maintaining a strong academic record. His education at globally recognized institutions provided a solid foundation in chemical sciences and materials research.
๐งช Research Experience
Prof. Li has held multiple postdoctoral fellowships at prominent U.S. institutions including the University of Illinois, North Carolina State University, and UNC Chapel Hill, working under renowned mentors such as Prof. Kenneth S. Suslick and Prof. Qingshan Wei. He later became an Associate Professor at Shenzhen University (2019โ2025) and is currently a Full Professor at Jinan University (since 2025).
๐ Book Chaptersย
Prof. Dr. Zheng Li showcase his authority in advanced sensor technologies and biomedical diagnostics. In the โEncyclopedia of Sensors and Biosensorsโ (2023), he authored a key chapter on chemical and optical gas sensors ๐. His 2020 chapter in โOptoelectronic Organic-Inorganic Semiconductor Heterojunctionsโ explores cutting-edge optoelectronic sensors for health monitoring โค๏ธโ๐ฉน. Earlier, he co-authored a chapter on smartphone-based flow cytometry ๐ฑ๐งฌ in the 2019 volume โSmartphone Based Medical Diagnostics,โ highlighting mobile healthcare innovations. These chapters reflect his pioneering role in integrating chemistry, electronics, and health technologies for next-generation diagnostic platforms.
๐งฌ Research Focus
Dr. Liโs work centers on wearable sensing devices, chemiresistive sensors, volatile metabolite profiling, nanomaterials, and non-invasive diagnostics. His innovations span health diagnostics, food safety, and plant stress monitoring. He integrates cutting-edge nanotechnology with real-world applications in biomedical and environmental fields.
๐ ๏ธ Skills and Innovations
Dr. Liโs technical expertise spans chemiresistive sensors, nanoparticle synthesis, microfluidics, bioaerosol sensing, and optical & electronic sensing platforms. He has demonstrated the ability to translate fundamental research into practical diagnostic tools (e.g., smartphone-based biosensors, LEGO-inspired diagnostics).
๐ Honors and Awardsย
Prof. Dr. Zheng Li reflect his exceptional contributions to science and mentorship. Recognized among the Stanford University Worldโs Top 2% Scientists (2021โ2024) ๐, he has also been honored as Best Supervisor and Mentor of the Best Dissertation Award at Shenzhen University ๐. His early excellence was acknowledged through the P&G Research Award ๐งช, the Eastman Travel Award for the ACS National Meeting โ๏ธ, and prestigious fellowships like the Ullyot and Hannum Fellowships ๐ at the University of Illinois. At Nanjing University, he was named an Honor Student of the elite Kuang Yaming Honors School ๐.
๐Publications
Harnessing NIR-II luminescence in ultrasmall gold nanoparticles for enhanced biomedical applications
Authors: Zhou, Tingyao; Li, Zheng
Focuses on harnessing near-infrared luminescence in gold nanoparticles for biomedical innovation.
Hydrogel-Based Microdroplet Ensembles Encapsulating Multiplexed EXPAR Assays for Trichromic Digital Profiling of MicroRNAs and in-Depth Classification of Primary Urethral Cancers
Authors: Yao, Chanyu; Wang, Qiang; Lu, Xiaohui; Chen, Xiaofeng; Li, Zheng
Journal: Nano Letters, 2024
Develops a hydrogel microdroplet system for precision cancer diagnostics via microRNA profiling.
Expanding the Toolbox of Oxidants: Controllable Etching of Ultrasmall Au Nanoparticles toward Tailorable NIR-II Luminescence and Ligand-Mediated Biodistribution and Clearance
Authors: Zhou, Tingyao; Hu, Chao; He, Kui; Li, Zheng
Journal: Analytical Chemistry, 2024
Explores etching of gold nanoparticles for tunable optical properties and biological performance.
A handheld fluorescent platform integrated with a Sm(III)-CdTe quantum dot-based ratiometric nanoprobe for point-of-use determination of phosphate
Authors: Yin, Shengnan; Li, Zheng
Journal: Nanoscale, 2024
Presents a portable device using quantum dots for environmental phosphate detection.