• Ph.D. Biological & Ecological Engineering, Oregon State University, 2017
• M.S. College of Agriculture, McNeese State University, 2010
• B.S. College of Life Science, South China Agricultural University, 2006

• 2023-Present Assistant Professor, Integrated Science and Technology, James Madison University
• 2023-Present Courtesy Faculty, College of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Sciences, Oregon State University
• 2022-2023 Senior Research Associate I, College of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Sciences, Oregon State University
• 2019-2021 Faculty Research Associate, College of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Sciences, Oregon State University
• 2017-2019 Postdoctoral Research Associate, College of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Sciences, Oregon State University
• 2016-2017 Co-advisor, Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Related Sciences, Oregon State University

Microorganisms have the second most abundant biomass on earth, a fast turnover rate, and diverse metabolic pathways suitable for various engineering applications. As a researcher in Biological and Environmental Engineering, my program observes the environmental responses to climate change through Environmental Microbiology (EM) and counteracts adverse anthropogenic effects by producing renewable energy, remediating pollution, and removing atmospheric carbon. I accomplish this through innovations in Microbial Electrochemical Technology (MET), which can provide tunable engineered systems to untap the full potential of microorganisms by interfacing their redox microenvironments and metabolic features.

• Biotechnology Issues in Science and Technology

• 2021-2023 Co-Principal Investigator (Principal Investigator: Clare E. Reimers), “The Critical Role of Iron in Long Distance Electrical Transfer of Novel Filamentous Cable Bacteria,” Office of Naval Research, $240,041
• 2017-2019 Co-Principal Investigator (Principal Investigator: Clare E. Reimers), “Electron Transfer in Novel Filamentous Cable Bacteria,” Office of Naval Research, $362,554

Peer Reviewed Journal Articles

2022 Li C, Reimers CE, Chace PJ. Protocol for using autoclaved intertidal sediment as a medium to enrich marine cable bacteria. STAR Protocols. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.xpro.2022.101604

2022 Reimers CE, Wolf M, Alleau Y, Li C. Benthic Microbial Fuel Cell Systems for Marine Applications. Journal of Power Sources. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpowsour.2022.231033

2021 Li C, Reimers CE, Alleau Y. Using Oxidative Electrodes to Enrich Novel Members in the Desulfobulbaceae Family from Intertidal Sediments. Microorganisms. https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms9112329

2020 Li C, Reimers CE, Chapman J. Microbiome Analyses and Presence of Cable Bacteria in the Burrow Sediment of Upogebia pugettensis. Marine Ecology Progress Series. https://doi.org/10.3354/meps13421

2020 Li C, Reimers CE, Alleau Y. Inducing the Attachment of Cable Bacteria on Oxidizing Electrodes. Biogeosciences. https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-17-597-2020

2018 Reimers CE, Li C, Graw MF, Schrader PS, Wolf M. The Identification of Cable Bacteria Attached to the Anode of a Benthic Microbial Fuel Cell: Evidence of Long Distance Extracellular Electron Transport to Electrodes. Frontiers of Microbiology. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2017.02055

2018 Li C, Wang L, Liu H. Enhanced Redox Conductivity of Anodic Biofilm by Applying Static Magnetic Field to Microbial Fuel Cells. Applied Microbiology & Biotechnology. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00253-018-9158-3

2017 Li C, Lesnik KL, Liu H. Conductive Properties of Methanogenic Biofilms. Bioelectrochemistry. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bioelechem.2017.10.006

2017 Li C, Lesnik KL, Liu H. Stay Connected: Electrical Conductivity in Microbial Assemblages. Biotechnology Advance. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.biotechadv.2017.07.010

2016 Li C, Lesnik KL, Fan Y, Liu H. Redox Conductivity of Current-Producing Mixed Species Biofilms. PLOS One. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0155247

2016 Li C, Lesnik KL, Fan Y, Liu H. Millimeter Scale Electron Conduction through Exoelectrogenic Mixed Species Biofilms. FEMS Microbiology Letters. https://doi.org/10.1093/femsle/fnw153

2013 Li C, Lesnik KL, Liu H. Microbial Conversion of Waste Glycerol from Biodiesel Production into Value-added products. Energies. https://doi.org/10.3390/en6094739

• 2021 Li C, Chace P, Reimers CE. How to grow your filamentous cable bacteria. North American International Society for Microbial Electrochemistry and Technology. Los Angeles, CA, USA. November 17-19
• 2020 Andrade C, Li C, Reimers CE. Presence and succession of cable bacteria at Hydrate Ridge, NE Pacific Ocean. Ocean Science Meeting 2020. San Diego, CA, USA. February 16-21
• 2019 Li C, Reimers CE, Chapman J, Alleau Y. Finding cable bacteria in unexpected places: on electrode surface and sediment lining of mud shrimp burrow. International Society for Microbial Electrochemistry and Technology. Okinawa, Japan. October 7-14
• 2018 Li C, Reimers CE, Graw M. The biogeochemical implications of cable bacteria attachment to an anode of a benthic microbial fuel cell. Ocean Science Meeting. Portland, OR, USA. February 11-16
• 2016 Li C, Lesnik KL, Liu H. Deciphering the conductive characteristics of methanogenic biofilms. North American International Society for Microbial Electrochemical and Technology. Stanford, CA, USA. October 5-7
• 2016 Li C, Lesnik KL, Liu H. Conductivity of exoelectrogenic and methanogenic biofilms. Asian Pacific International Society for Microbial Electrochemical and Technology. Busan, Korea. August 31- September 2
• 2015 Li C, Lesnik KL, Liu H. Investigating conductivities of three different biofilms enriched from the same inoculum. International Society for Microbial Electrochemical and Technology. Tempe, AZ, USA. October 1-4.
• 2014 Li C, Lesnik KL, Liu H. Examination of spatial characteristics and gap-bridging ability of conductive mixed-species biofilms. North American International Society for Microbial Electrochemical and Technology. University Park, PA, USA. May 13-15.
• 2010 Li C, Kee DD, Idlett MA. Vegetative response of white clover and lanceleaf coreopsis to soil desalination with fly ash. 84th Louisiana Academy of Science meeting. Shreveport, LA, USA. March 10-12.