Dr. Yiyan Li received his B.S. and M.S. degrees from Henan University of Science & Technology and Chongqing University in Bioelectronics. In 2016, Dr. Li received his Ph.D. degree in Eletrical Engineering from University of Nevada, Las Vegas, supervised by Dr. Jacob Baker. During 2016 - 2017, Dr. Li joined Dr. Weian Zhao's group at UC-Irvine and led an NIH R01 team on antibiotic resistance detection using an electrical-optical detector combined with the ddPCR technology. In the Fall of 2017, Dr. Li joined Fort Lewis College as a Computer Engineering faculty member.

As of 2021, Dr. Li is the Director of the NSF REU Site (2019 – 2022) and the Director of the EPA P3 (2019 – 2023, including Phase I and II) grant at Fort Lewis College (FLC). The REU site supports over 10 undergraduate students each year during the academic year and the summer to perform high-impact research with our faculty. The EPA P3 grant supports 3 students each year to work on the development of the machine and the chemistry for a portable PCR device for field water monitoring studies. Dr. Li also serves as senior personnel on two collaborative NSF grants with Dr. Jeff Jessing (FLC) and colleagues in CU-Boulder to supervise 2-4 undergraduates at FLC each year for interdisciplinary studies in biomedical engineering. In addition to funds from federal agencies, Dr. Li has performed on behalf of FLC for the development of industrial embedded systems for Mission Sports Group LLC and through individual R&D contracts for electronics design for Amberstone Biosciences and The Springs Resort & Spa. In addition to the research, development, and supervising activities as a professional scholar and educator, Dr. Li also serves on the editorial board for the journal of SLAS Technology and the review board of the journal of Micromachines. In 2020 and 2021, Dr. Li served on the review panel for the NSF REU program and the Hong Kong ITC program (Innovation and Technology Commission, The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region).