Dr. Li is a research scientist of the Western Institute for Food Safety and Security and a faculty member of the Department of Population Health and Reproduction, School of Veterinary Medicine. His research interests are focused on food microbiological safety with emphasis of laboratory and field-based studies on the sources, persistence, and transmission of microbial pathogens in the agroecosystem; diagnostics of foodborne pathogens and testing of bacterial susceptibility; surveillance of antibiotic resistance of enteric bacteria in livestock and retail meat; ecology of bacterial antimicrobial resistance; evaluation of alternatives to antibiotics; and molecular epidemiology of zoonotic foodborne pathogens. The goal of his research programs is to improve food  safety and protect the health of animals and the public by reducing contamination.