Pulin Li

Pulin Li is the Eugene Bell Career Development Professor of Tissue Engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and a Core Member at the Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research. His research focuses on understanding how genetic circuits drive multicellular behavior in natural and engineered systems, leveraging synthetic biology, mathematical modeling, and experimental approaches like mouse genetics and stem cell engineering. He earned a PhD in Chemical Biology from Harvard University (2012) and a BS in Life Sciences from Peking University (2006).

Key research themes include the spatial patterning of tissues, particularly in the embryonic and adult lung, and the functional roles of morphogen gradients. His lab employs bottom-up strategies to reconstitute multicellular systems, combining synthetic biology with quantitative imaging and machine learning. Notable achievements include uncovering design principles of Hedgehog signaling gradients and developing novel methods for studying single-cell signaling histories.

• Awards:
• Teaching Prize for Undergraduate Education, MIT School of Science (2023)
• Allen Distinguished Investigator (2021)
• NIH New Innovator Award (2021)
• R.R. Bensley Award in Cell Biology (2021)

His work bridges foundational discoveries and translational applications in tissue engineering, with a focus on creating scalable strategies for biomedical innovation. The Li Lab collaborates broadly, integrating computational and experimental methods to address complex biological systems.