Shuai Li

I am a tenured Associate Professor at the University of Florida and the Director of the DreamX Lab, where I lead research in AI, robotics, and data science. Prior to joining UF, I held the David Goodpasture Endowed faculty position in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Tennessee Knoxville, with a joint appointment in the Department of Mechanical, Aerospace, and Biomedical Engineering. During my time there, I was promoted from Assistant Professor (2017–2023) to Associate Professor with tenure (2023–2025).

I have an interdisciplinary expertise and experience. I earned my Ph.D. degree in Civil Engineering from Purdue University in 2017, where I also received three M.S. degrees in Economics (2016), Industrial Engineering (2015), and Construction Engineering and Management (2014). My undergraduate studies were completed at Tianjin University, China, where I received dual B.S. degrees in Hydraulics and Hydroelectric Engineering and Project Management, both in 2012.

AI Explorer. I am committed to advancing use-inspired innovation and translating research into real-world impact through collaboration, mentorship, and technology-driven solutions. My work focuses on multidisciplinary research in AI and robotics to create intelligent systems that augment, collaborate with, challenge, educate, serve, and steward (ACCESS) humanity. My goal is to develop AI that reshapes how we live, work, learn, and govern, bridging research with real-world transformation. Augment – AI enhances human cognitive, physical, and creative abilities, enabling performance beyond natural limits. Collaborate – AI co-decides and co-acts with humans to tackle complex, real-world tasks. Challenge – AI provokes new thinking by questioning assumptions, disrupting outdated norms, and revealing novel opportunities for societal evolution. Educate – AI personalizes learning and feedback, scaling training and accelerating skill development. Serve – AI takes on essential, dull, dirty, and dangerous tasks, freeing humans to focus on higher-value and more meaningful pursuits. Steward – AI governs and optimizes systems to align with human values, promoting health, safety, security, and long-term societal well-being.

Engineer Educator. Engineering Educator. Civil engineering and construction is far more than it is often perceived to be “digging dirt,” “pouring concrete,” or “counting traffic.” It encompasses every dimension of what, where, and how we inhabit, sustain, and evolve life on Earth and beyond in daily life and under extreme conditions. It is a discipline fundamentally rooted in service to humanity and the advancement of civilization. As an educator, I view teaching not only as the transfer of knowledge, but also as a shared intellectual expedition. I engage with students across disciplines and levels, learning and evolving together as we envision and engineer the future of our natural and built environments. Together, we ground emerging technologies in the realities of how people live, move, connect, and create, transforming grand challenges into pathways for progress and lasting impact.