Hui Li

Hui Li is a Professor of Environmental and Soil Chemistry in the Department of Plant, Soil and Microbial Sciences at Michigan State University's College of Agriculture and Natural Resources. His research program focuses on environmental contaminants, particularly pharmaceuticals, personal care products, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), and legacy organic contaminants in soil and water systems.

Dr. Li's educational background includes:

• B.S. Environmental Chemistry, Nanjing University, China
• M.S. Environmental Chemistry, Nanjing University, China
• Ph.D. Environmental Soil Chemistry, Purdue University

His research interests center on environmental organic chemistry with emphasis on emerging contaminants, environmental pollution processes, remediation strategies, environmental physicochemical processes at soil-water interfaces, and soil health. Dr. Li investigates analysis, sorption, transformation, bioavailability, and plant uptake of contaminants, with particular focus on PFAS behavior in agricultural systems as evidenced by recent 2022-2025 publications and grants.

Analysis of Dr. Li's publication record spanning 2005-2022 reveals consistent focus on contaminant-soil interactions, particularly how clay minerals and soil properties affect the fate of organic pollutants. His work evolved from fundamental sorption mechanisms of pesticides and nitroaromatic compounds to contemporary PFAS research, demonstrating progression from laboratory studies to field applications addressing agricultural contamination issues.

Dr. Li's scientific recognition includes:

• Jackson Soil Chemistry and Mineralogy Award from Soil Science Society of America (2017)
• Environmental Quality Research Award from American Society of Agronomy (2023)
• Elected Fellow of Soil Science Society of America (2018)
• Elected Fellow of American Society of Agronomy (2021)
• Research Fellow (Career) Award from MSU College of Agriculture and Natural Resources (2023)

His research has been consistently funded by major agencies including EPA, USDA, NIEHS, and NSF, with recent multi-million dollar grants addressing PFAS impacts on agriculture. Dr. Li teaches core courses including CSS 330 Soil Chemistry, CSS 455 Pollutants in Soil and Water, CSS 865 Environmental Organic Chemistry, and ESP 801 Physical, Chemical and Biological Processes of the Environment. He advises graduate students through the Hui Li Lab, which includes Harley Curtiss, Zhiliang Xu, and Andrew Huang, and serves as Associate Director of the Center for PFAS Research.