Professor Li obtained his PhD in Chemical Engineering in 1993 from Imperial College London. After completing his postdoctoral research at Imperial College London and CSIRO, he joined Monash University in 1996 where he served as a Lecturer, a Senior Lecturer, a Reader and then a Professor.
During his time at Monash University from 1996 to 2009, a key focus of Professor Li’s research was low-rank fuels, especially Victorian brown coal and biomass. His interest in coal has included many aspects of coal science and technology such as pyrolysis, gasification, liquefaction and combustion of coal, as well as the structure and properties of coal.Professor Li took up a role at Curtin University in January 2009. His initial work was to establish a major university research centre, which was further expanded into the current Fuels and Energy Technology Institute. largest energy research establishments in Australian universities. He is a John Curtin Distinguished Professor.
At Curtin, Professor Li's research has been specially focussed on the bioenergy science and engineering, while continuing his research on coal, catalysis and fuel cells. He is the key inventor of the technologies Renergi is commercialising.