Lei Li

Lei Li is an Assistant Professor in the College of Arts & Sciences at Georgia State University since 2020, following roles as Senior Research Scientist (2018-2020) and Research Scientist I (2013-2018) at the same institution. Their work bridges chemistry and biology to investigate glycans—complex carbohydrates coating all living cells—that govern critical biological processes including cell signaling, immunity, and pathogenesis.

Education

• B.S. (2005): Shandong University
• Ph.D. (2010): Shandong University, The Ohio State University
• Postdoctoral Associate (2010-2012): Nankai University

Dr. Li's research focuses on carbohydrate chemistry, microbial glycobiology, and glycomics, specifically examining glycan structures and functions in infectious diseases and cancer. They employ organic and enzymatic synthesis to create mammalian glycan/glycopeptide libraries for glycomics tools, while using molecular biology and chemical biology to dissect bacterial glycan biosynthesis in pathogens like Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Clostridioides difficile. Key specializations include glycosyltransferases, glycan microarrays, and glycan-protein interactions.

Recent publications (2023-2025) reveal a strong trajectory in glycan synthesis and disease mechanisms, with dominant themes in enzymatic production of human milk oligosaccharides, O-glycans, and N-glycans; glycan-mediated immune evasion in breast cancer; influenza virus host adaptation; and therapeutic applications for hemophilia. Their work consistently integrates chemoenzymatic approaches with functional glycomics to address biomedical challenges.

Dr. Li leads the Li Glyco Lab (lliglycolab.org), specializing in glycan synthesis and analysis using chemical, enzymatic, and biological methodologies. Their research program supports graduate training in glycobiology, with current projects emphasizing glycan tools for infectious disease and cancer research.