Yan Li

Yan Li, Ph.D., is a Professor in the Department of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering at the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering, Florida State University. She serves as Postdoctoral Fellow Director and Honors in the Major Program Director, leading cutting-edge research in stem cell bioprocessing and tissue engineering.

Dr. Li earned her B.S. in Chemical Engineering from Tsinghua University (Beijing, China) in 1995 and her Ph.D. from The Ohio State University in 2002. Her academic journey bridges chemical engineering fundamentals with biomedical applications.

Her research focuses on stem cell technology and engineering, tissue engineering and biomaterials, and cell processing and bioprocessing. She pioneers bioreactor-based systems for scaling extracellular vesicle production, with transformative applications in regenerative medicine. Her work reveals how culture conditions affect stem cell metabolism and vesicle cargo, enabling novel therapeutic strategies for neurological disorders.

Recent publications demonstrate a clear trajectory toward organoid-based EV biomanufacturing and neurological disease modeling. The research spans from fundamental bioprocess engineering to translational applications in stroke, neurodegeneration, and cancer, consistently leveraging advanced bioreactor platforms for clinical-scale production.

Major recognitions include:

• ELATES Fellow (2023)
• Developing Scholar Award (2021) from Florida State University
• NSF CAREER award (2017)
• Geronosity Award and Award of Achievement from Geron Corporation
• Presidential Fellowship from The Ohio State University

Dr. Li has secured significant NIH and NSF funding, including her CAREER award focused on stem cell bioprocessing. She mentors graduate students and postdocs while directing honors programs, fostering the next generation of engineers. Her collaborations span academia, industry (notably Geron Corporation), and clinical partners to accelerate therapeutic translation.

Her laboratory operates at the chemical engineering-neuroscience interface, utilizing vertical wheel bioreactors and organoid models to engineer extracellular vesicles for CNS applications. The team comprises chemical engineers, neuroscientists, and clinicians working on EV-based drug delivery systems and disease models for stroke and neurodegeneration.