Dr. Wanlu Li

Biography

Wanlu Li is an Assistant Professor in Chemical Nano Engineering at the Jacobs School of Engineering, University of California, San Diego. His research group specializes in computational and theoretical chemistry, focusing on the development of efficient catalysts for sustainable energy applications using quantum mechanical methods and molecular dynamics. Professor Li's areas of interest include advancing computational modeling to design catalysts under realistic conditions, exploring electronic structure and chemical bonding in size-selected metal nanoclusters, and utilizing machine learning for atomic potential studies in materials catalysis. He holds a Ph.D. in Chemistry from Tsinghua University, where he conducted innovative research on heavy-element molecules and introduced novel boron-derived materials. After completing his doctoral studies, he worked as a postdoctoral researcher at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and UC Berkeley, contributing significantly to theoretical investigations and method development in catalysis. Professor Li has received prestigious awards including the American Chemical Society Physical Chemistry Young Investigator Award and the Faculty Fellowship Award from Israel. He is dedicated to mentoring students and fostering diversity within the scientific community at UC San Diego.

Research Interests

Awards