Li Qiao earned BS and MS degrees in Engineering Mechanics (now called aerospace engineering) from Tsinghua University in 1999 and 2001, and a PhD in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Michigan in 2007. She is currently an Associate Professor in the School of Aeronautics & Astronautics at Purdue University. Her research has focused on the development of new technologies and the understanding of basic science in the areas of fuels, combustion and propulsion. Her research has been funded by several federal agencies including NSF, AFOSR, ARO, DOE, FAA, ACS, as well as private companies.
She is the recipient of the NSF CARREE Award (2013), the AFOSR Young Investigator Award (2013) and the ARO Young Investigator Award (2010). She was a summer faculty fellow at NASA Glenn (2011) and Air Force Research Lab (2010). She has graduated 5 PhD and 6 MS-thesis students, and have published one book chapter, 36 journal papers, and over a hundred conference papers. She is an AIAA Associate Fellow and currently serves on the AIAA Technical Committee of Terrestrial Energy Systems.
She has been teaching undergraduate and graduate courses on jet and rocket propulsion. She is the faculty advisor of the Purdue AIAA Student Chapter. She has mentored over 26 undergraduate students on research projects through various programs such as Purdue Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) program, the Louis Stoke Alliance for Minority (LSAMP) program, and NSF Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) program.
In parallel with research and teaching, she has been an active member of the Purdue community to promote diversity and inclusion. She strongly believes that an understanding and appreciation of our differences enhances our ability to live and work together. Students have a better academic experience if they are taught in a climate that is diverse and accepting. She has served as a research advisor for several women and minority students through the LSAMP program. She received the Outstanding Mentor Award from LSAMP in 2011 and 2012. She has participated in numerous outreach activities, especially those administered through Purdue’s Women in Engineering and Minority Engineering programs.
1. my own research on fuels, combustion and propulsion, or 2. Purdue University's effort in promoting women in engineering
