Weiming Li

Weiming Li is a Professor and Frederick E.J. Fry Chair for Environmental Physiology at Michigan State University (MSU), primarily appointed in the Department of Fisheries and Wildlife. He is affiliated with the Neuroscience Program and the Ecology, Evolutionary Biology, and Behavior Program. His research focuses on chemical ecology, fish olfaction and behavior, fish genomics, and invasive species management, particularly targeting sea lamprey control in the Great Lakes. Dr. Li’s work integrates molecular, behavioral, and ecological approaches to understand vertebrate biology and develop strategies for invasive species management.

His research emphasizes pheromone communication in sea lamprey, sex determination mechanisms, and genomic studies of lamprey and zebrafish. He collaborates with institutions like the Great Lakes Fishery Commission and the Monell Chemical Senses Center. Recent studies include investigating amino acid profiles in migratory fish homing, genome assemblies of sexually dimorphic fish, and the role of epidermal oxysterols in fish alarm responses.

Dr. Li leads grants funded by agencies such as the Great Lakes Fishery Commission and NIH, focusing on sea lamprey diet analysis, genome studies, and pheromone antagonists. His work bridges basic science and applied conservation, aiming to address ecological challenges posed by invasive species.

Affiliations include the Center for Environment, Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences (CEFAS), the USGS Conte Anadromous Fish Branch, and the MSU AgBioResearch. His lab contributes to interdisciplinary teams tackling environmental physiology, neurobiology, and aquatic ecosystem management.