Mi-Ling Li

Mi-Ling Li serves as Assistant Professor of Environmental Chemistry and Toxicology at the University of Delaware's College of Earth, Ocean & Environment, holding joint appointments in the School of Marine Science & Policy and Department of Earth Sciences, Water Science & Policy Program. Her interdisciplinary research bridges environmental science and public health through the emerging field of GeoHealth.

Her academic foundation includes:

• Sc.D. in Environmental Health from Harvard University
• M.Sc. in Aquatic Sciences and Environmental Health Sciences from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
• B.Sc. (Honours) in Environmental Science from Zhejiang University of Technology, China

Dr. Li's research program investigates chemical sources, transport, and fate in aquatic ecosystems, with specialized focus on mercury biogeochemistry and PFAS contamination. She pioneers the application of stable isotope geochemistry to trace contaminant pathways and assess ecological-human health risks. Her work uniquely connects global environmental changes to contaminant dynamics in marine food webs, emphasizing bioaccumulation processes and exposure pathways.

Analysis of her 15 most recent publications reveals dominant research themes in mercury cycling (73% of articles), PFAS monitoring (13%), and selenium-mercury interactions (7%). Methodologically, 87% employ stable isotope techniques, while 60% integrate ecosystem modeling. Key geographic foci include Arctic marine systems (40%), East Asian coastal zones (27%), and global fisheries (20%), demonstrating her transboundary approach to contaminant science.

She leads the CHEER (Chemical Exposure and Environmental Research) group, which maintains an explicitly interdisciplinary framework connecting earth sciences, toxicology, and public health. The group's research scheme integrates field sampling, laboratory analysis, and computational modeling to address complex environmental health challenges in coastal and marine ecosystems.