Gen Li

Gen Li is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Earth Science at the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB), leading the Earth Surface and Carbon Dynamics (ESCAD) Laboratory. He holds a B.S. in Geology from Nanjing University (China) and a Ph.D. in Earth Sciences from the University of Southern California. His postdoctoral research was conducted at UCLA and Caltech. His research focuses on Earth system processes, including the carbon cycle, sediment dynamics, and mountain erosion, employing fieldwork, laboratory experiments, numerical modeling, and remote sensing. Key themes include tectonic controls on the carbon cycle, landslide sediment dynamics, and organic carbon transport in river systems. The ESCAD Lab emphasizes interdisciplinary approaches to study Earth’s habitability through material and element cycling.

Li’s research interests span geomorphology, geochemistry, and climate science, with recent projects exploring permafrost thaw impacts, river-floodplain interactions, and earthquake-driven landscape evolution. His work bridges field observations with theoretical models, addressing global environmental challenges such as carbon sequestration and climate change. The ESCAD Lab actively collaborates with international teams and welcomes researchers from diverse backgrounds to join its efforts in advancing Earth surface dynamics.

His academic contributions include over 40 peer-reviewed articles, with recent publications focusing on Pleistocene climate dynamics, uranium isotope applications, and permafrost degradation effects. Li’s research has been featured in journals such as Science Advances, Nature Geoscience, and Earth and Planetary Science Letters.