I received Ph.D. in Agricultural and Environmental Chemistry from the University of California at Davis in 1990 and then post-doctoral training in UC-Berkeley. I joined the University of Hawaii at Manoa in 1995 as an assistant professor, was tenured and promoted to an associate professor in 1999 and to a full professor in 2002. I served as Director of pesticide residue chemistry laboratory (USDA-IR4 lab) in the Department of Molecular Biosciences and Bioengineering, UH-Manoa between 1995 and 2013. Since 2011, I have served as Director of UH Proteomics Core Facility.
My research is centered on agrochemicals and foods for human and environment health. Proteomics is used as a tool for the studies. My research has resulted in over 280 peer-reviewed scientific publications and 42 technical reports. I have mentored 15 MS students, 18 PhD students, 27 post-doctoral fellows and 20 researchers. I have hosted 30 visiting professors and scholars for research.
Current research
1. Palm peroxidases and glycoproteomics. We isolate, clone, engineer and express palm peroxidases for “green” synthesis of conductive polymers, biosensing and remediation. We use mass spectrometry to study plant glycoprotein heterogeneity, glycoforms and structure and activity relationship.
2. Pharmaceuticals. We isolate and characterize natural products and synthesize GSK3 inhibitors for Alzheimer’s disease and mechanisms of action.
3. Agrochemicals: biomonitoring, biotransformation, environmental fate and food safety. We study pesticides and pollutants in foods and the environment. We develop new immunoassays and other analytical methods. We study gas chromatography separation. We isolate novel bacteria, Archaea and fungi for bioremediation of agrochemicals and biosynthesis of high value products. We also study biocontamination of biofuels and blended fuels.

Websites
http://www.ctahr.hawaii.edu/mbbe/faculty/li.html
http://manoa.hawaii.edu/jabsom/proteomics