Zeyu (Alban) Li

I am a Ph.D. candidate in Biological & Environmental Engineering at Cornell University, developing DNA-polymer nanoparticle tracers for large-scale hydrological monitoring and DNA-composite hydrogels for self-healing and stimulus-responsive structural materials.

My research led a 7-member, four-discipline collaboration that field-deployed tracers across an 11 km² lake, achieving robust detection 7 km from release with only 1 mg DNA. This work generated data calibrating 3D hydrodynamic eDNA-transport models. I have also developed programmable, 3D-printable DNA hydrogels with autonomous self-healing capabilities and an automated DNA-purification platform that reduced costs by 91%.

Core strengths include nanoparticle fabrication, additive manufacturing, polymer and biomaterials engineering, and advanced materials characterization. I am co-author of peer-reviewed publications in high-impact journals and co-inventor on a U.S. patent.