Dr. Xu Li is an Assistant Professor in Environmental Engineering at the Department of Civil Engineering. He will formally start the position at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in January 2009. His general teaching and research interests focus on environmental biotechnology. He is interested in developing environmental biotechnology to solve water quality related problems from a sustainability perspective, as well as applying molecular techniques to study the underlying biological processes involved in environmental biotechnology.

• Ph.D., Environmental Engineering, University of Michigan, 2008.
• M.S., Environmental Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, 2003.
• B.S.C.E., Environmental Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing, P. R. China, 2001.

• Assistant Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, starting in Jan. 2009.
• Graduate Research Assistant, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Michigan, Aug. 2005 - Aug. 2008.
• Graduate Research Assistant, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Illinois, Aug. 2003 - Aug. 2005.
• Graduate Research Assistant, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, Aug. 2001 - Aug. 2003.
• Undergraduate Research Assistant, Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tsinghua University, 2000 - 2001.

• Biological water/wastewater treatment to remove multiple contaminants
• Development of new molecular techniques for environmental microbiology
• Microbial ecology in natural and engineered environmental systems
• Molecular-scale analyses on bacterial adhesion
• Assessment of interaction between microbes and nanomaterials in the environment

• Li, X., E. Morgenroth, and L. Raskin. "Quantitative rRNA-targeted hybridization assay using peptide nucleic acid molecular beacon." Accepted, Applied and Environmental Microbiology.
• Choi, Y-C., X. Li, L. Raskin, and E. Morgenroth. 2008. "Chemisorption of oxygen onto activated carbon can enhance the stability of biological perchlorate reduction in fixed bed biofilm reactors." Water Research, 42: 3425-3434.
• Salerno, M., X. Li, and B. Logan. 2007. "Adhesion characteristics of two Burkholderia cepacia strains examined using colloid probe microscopy and gradient force analysis." Colloids and Surfaces B: Biointerfaces, 59: 46-51.
• Choi, Y-C., X. Li, L. Raskin, and E. Morgenroth. 2007. "Effect of backwashing on perchlorate removal in fixed bed biofilm reactors." Water Research, 41: 1949-1959.
• Li, X. and B. Logan. 2004. "Analysis of bacterial adhesion using a gradient force analysis and colloid probe atomic force microscopy." Langmuir, 20: 8817-8822.
• Velegol, S., S. Pardi, X. Li, D. Velegol, and B. Logan. 2003. "AFM imaging artifacts due to bacterial cell height and AFM tip geometry." Langmuir, 19: 851-857.

• Li, X., G. Upadhyaya, W. Yuen, J. Brown, E. Morgenroth, and L. Raskin. 2008. "Optimizing a biologically active carbon (BAC) reactor to remove perchlorate and nitrate from drinking water." 235th ACS National Meeting, New Orleans, LA, April 6-10.
• Yuen, W., X. Li, J. Brown, E. Morgenroth, and L. Raskin. 2008. "Effects of phosphorus addition on microbial communities in two biologically active carbon (BAC) reactors." Graham Environmental Sustainability Institute "Water, Health, + the Environment" Conference, Ann Arbor, MI, March 26-27.
• Li, X., G. Upadhyaya, E. Morgenroth, J. Brown, and L. Raskin. 2008. "Biological removal of perchlorate from drinking water - A study to design and optimize systems for sustained perchlorate removal." AWWA Inorganic Contaminants Workshop, Albuquerque, NM, January 27-29.
• Li, X., G. Upadhyaya, J. Brown, E. Morgenroth, and L. Raskin. 2007. "Biological treatment of perchlorate contaminated drinking water. " AEESP Conference, Blacksburg, VA, July 28-August 1.
• Li, X., G. Upadhyaya, J. Brown, E. Morgenroth, and L. Raskin. 2007. "Start-up of a biologically active carbon (BAC) reactor to treat perchlorate and nitrate contaminated drinking water." AWWA Annual Conference and Exposition, Toronto, Canada, April 24-28. (This poster was submitted by MI AWWA Young Profession Committee as a winner of the MI AWWA/MWEA Joint Exposition Poster Competition)
• Li, X., E. Morgenroth, and L. Raskin. 2007. "Quantitative 16S rRNA-targeted hybridization assay using peptide nucleic acid molecular beacons." 107th ASM General Meeting, Toronto, Canada, May 21-25.
• Li, X., Y.C. Choi, E. Morgenroth, and L. Raskin. 2007. "Effects of daily backwash on perchlorate removal in a fixed-bed biofilm reactor." 4th ASM Conference on Biofilms, Quebec City, Canada, March 26-29.
• Li, X., G. Upadhyaya, J. Brown, E. Morgenroth, and L. Raskin. 2007. "Start-up of a biologically active carbon (BAC) reactor to treat perchlorate and nitrate contaminated drinking water." Sixteenth Annual Michigan Section, AWWA/MWEA (American Water Works Association and Michigan Water Environment Association) Joint Exposition, Lansing, MI, February 6-7.
• Li, X., E. Morgenroth, and L. Raskin. 2006. "Characterization of hybridizations between peptide nucleic acid molecular beacon and ribosomal RNA." Symposium for Frontiers in Peptide Nucleic Acid and Related Technologies at Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA, March 25-26.
• Li, X., C. Xi, Y.C. Choi, E. Morgenroth, and L. Raskin. 2005. "High-throughput solution based rRNA and whole cell quantification method using peptide nucleic acid molecular beacons." 105th American Society of Microbiology General Meeting, Atlanta, GA, June 5-9.
• Choi, Y.C., X. Li, L. Raskin, and E. Morgenroth. 2005. "Effect of oxygen and backwash on biological perchlorate removal from drinking water using a biologically active carbon (BAC) fixed bed reactor." American Water Works Association Illinois Section Conference, Springfield, IL.
• Choi, Y.C., C. Xi, X. Li, L. Raskin, and E. Morgenroth. 2004. "Biofilm growth patterns in a biologically activate carbon (BAC) filter and their effects on perchlorate removal efficiency." Water Quality Conference, Ontario, CA.
• Choi, Y.C., C. Xi, X. Li, L. Raskin, and E. Morgenroth. 2004. "Short-term and long-term effects of oxygen on biological perchlorate reduction in biofilm reactors." International Water Association (IWA) Biofilm Conference: Structure and Activity of Biofilms, Las Vegas, NV.
• Choi, Y.C., C. Xi, X. Li, L. Raskin, and E. Morgenroth. 2004. Interrelationship between dissolved oxygen levels and growth patterns of biofilms and their effects on perchlorate removal from drinking water using biofilm reactors. 10th International Symposium on Microbial Ecology (ISME), Cancun, Mexico.
• Xi, C., R. Lin, X. Li, Y.C. Choi, E. Morgenroth, and L. Raskin. 2004. "Using T-RFLP and FISH to characterize perchlorate-reducing bacteria in biological activated carbon (BAC) for perchlorate removal." 104th American Society of Microbiology General Meeting, New Orleans, LA.
• Li, X. and B. Logan. 2003. "Measuring bacterial adhesion using atomic force microscopy." 225th American Chemical Society Annual Meeting, New Orleans, LA.
• Velegol, S., S. Pardi, X. Li, and B. Logan. 2002. "AFM imaging artifacts due to bacterial cell height and AFM tip geometry." Colloids Conference, Ann Arbor, MI.
• Logan, B., S. Velegol, X. Li, and S. Pardi. 2002. "Analysis of molecules at elastic surfaces using atomic force microscopy." 224th American Chemical Society National Meeting, Orlando, FL.