Connecting the Dots with Dr. Jun Li
Dr. Jun Li, Associate Chair, Department of Computational Medicine and Bioinformatics, Professor of Human Genetics and Professor of Computational Medicine and Bioinformatics, Medical School is interviewed by the U-M RNA Center highlighting his collaborations with several U-M initiatives, centers and institutions and contributions as a member of several committees and advisory panels at the U-M Medical School and beyond.
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Landing an interview with a faculty member of the University of Michigan Center for RNA Biomedicine (CRB) is a distinct privilege for any journalist. Full schedules, ongoing research, academic responsibilities and various and sundry other obligations oftentimes make it understandably difficult for them to squeeze in the time. So, to have a moment to sit down and talk with Dr. Jun Li about his work, research and teaching philosophy is a rare opportunity indeed.
Jun Li, Ph.D., is a professor in the Department of Human Genetics, and professor and associate chair for research in the Department of Computational Medicine and Bioinformatics at U-M. His engagement, however, reaches across campus.
Li opens the conversation by providing a broad overview of his position and responsibilities at U-M, highlighting collaborations with several U-M initiatives, centers and institutions and contributions as a member of several committees and advisory panels at the U-M Medical School and beyond. But as the discussion zeroes in on his approach to science and education and how the two are inherently intertwined, it becomes clear that Li is not only a passionate computational scientist, but a passionate scholar who holds education — holistic, inclusive, integrative — in the highest regard.
Being a supportive mentor is an important part of that mix for Li. He encourages students to become well-rounded individuals who can face the most perplexing problems with acuity and aplomb. He views the ideal approach to graduate education as challenging students to develop superior critical thinking skills, measured patience and earnest respect for diligently vetted research essential for moving science forward step-by-step and by leaps and bounds.
Cited: Biosciences Initiative, RNA Translated, Edition 2025, Page 32.
Author: Paul Avedisian
The Biosciences Initiative (BSI) aims to advance interdisciplinary research across the biological sciences. BSI's goal is to bring together diverse expertise from across the university to tackle significant challenges in bioscience, develop innovative solutions, and educate future leaders in the field. The BSI supports a diverse range of scientific initiatives, fostering innovation and collaboration across various fields.
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Jun Li, PhD
Adjunct Professor
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