Mi Li receives the T.J. Whatley Distinguished Young Scientist Award
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture celebrated the accomplishments of some of its top faculty, staff, researchers and Extension experts at UTIA’s annual awards luncheon. The 2026 ceremony was held on the UTIA campus in Knoxville on August 4. Many of the awards are gifts made possible by faculty, alumni and friends of the institute.
UTIA Senior Vice Chancellor and Senior Vice President Keith Carver hosted the celebration and praised the honorees for their devotion to the land-grant mission. “Our UTIA staff and faculty continue to overwhelm me with their enthusiasm and unparalleled expertise,” he said. “I am always in awe of their dedication to providing Real. Life. Solutions. to the people of Tennessee. These award winners represent the efforts and accomplishments this past year that will most benefit all Tennesseans and society – impacts that will have lasting benefits through teaching, research and Extension for years to come.”
Mi Li, associate professor in the School of Natural Resources, is the recipient of the T.J. Whatley Distinguished Young Scientist Award. Established by the late Thomas Whatley, associate dean emeritus of UT AgResearch, this award recognizes a young scientist who has been in a faculty position for no more than seven years, with a minimum of two years of service as a member of the agricultural faculty of the University of Tennessee.
“I am truly humbled to be selected as the recipient of the T.J. Whatley Distinguished Young Scientist Award. I am very grateful for the terrific leadership, committee, colleagues, support and everything at UTIA that has helped me to where I am today, and for this prestigious honor,” he said.
Li, who has been on the UTIA faculty for six years, focuses on the conversion of plant-based resources into valuable chemicals, functional materials and polymers. His research combines wood chemistry, chemical synthesis, chemical engineering, polymer science and nanotechnology for green chemistry, the circular carbon economy and a clean environment. His circular biorefining lab in the Center for Renewable Carbon taps renewable forestry and agricultural resources for value-added bioproducts.
He received the Ralph E. Powe Junior Faculty Enhancement Award, a competitive award open to assistant professors at Oak Ridge Associated Universities member institutions. He also was a finalist for the 2024 FBP Young Professional Award from AlChE, a worldwide organization for chemical engineering professionals.
Li earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in chemical engineering of paper and pulping at Northeast Forestry University and his Ph.D. in wood sciences at Auburn University.
The University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture is comprised of the Herbert College of Agriculture, UT College of Veterinary Medicine, UT AgResearch and UT Extension. Through its land-grant mission of teaching, research and outreach, the Institute touches lives and provides Real. Life. Solutions. to Tennesseans and beyond. utia.tennessee.edu.