Juan Li Ph.D

Assistant professor

Dr. Juan Li joined the Department of Environmental and Health Sciences at Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University as an assistant professor in September 2022. She received her Bachelor's degree in Biological Sciences (2002-2006) and her PhD in Zoology (2006-2012) from Peking University. Following that, she conducted postdoctoral research at Peking University, University of California, Berkeley, and Westlake University. Since 2009, she has been dedicated to conducting research on the basic ecology and conservation biology of snow leopards on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Her current research interests focus on exploring the relationship between urbanization, agriculture, and biodiversity.

This is a talk I gave at Yixi (一席) about my past research.
https://yixi.tv/#/speech/detail?id=1155


  • Ph.D., Zoology. Peking University, 2006-2012
  • B.S., Biological Sciences, Peking University, 2002-2006


  • Postdoc, School of Engineering, Westlake University, 2020-2022
  • Senior Scientist, Shanshui Conservation Center Visiting scholar, Department of Environmental Science, Policy, and Management, UC Berkeley, 2018-2019
  • Postdoc, Department of Environmental Science, Policy, and Management, UC Berkeley/Panthera, 2015-2018
  • Postdoc, Center for Nature and Society, School of Life Sciences, Peking University, 2012-2014


  • Conservation biology
  • Culturomics
  • Spatial ecology
  • Human-nature interactions


  • Li, J., Hu, Q. (2021) Using culturomics and social media data to characterize wildlife consumption. Conservation Biology 35, 452-459
  • Li, J., et al. (2020). Defining priorities for global snow leopard conservation landscapes. Biological Conservation, 241
  • Li, J., McCarthy, T.M., Wang, H., Weckworth, B.V., Schaller, G.B., Mishra, C., Lu, Z. and Beissinger, S.R., (2016). Climate refugia of snow leopards in High Asia. Biological Conservation, 203, 188-196.
  • Li, J., Xiao, L. and Lu, Z., (2016). Challenges of snow leopard conservation in China. Sci China Life Sci. 59, 637-639.
  • Li, J., & Lu, Z. (2014). Snow leopard poaching and trade in China 2000–2013. Biological Conservation, 176, 207-211.
  • Li, J., Wang, D.J., Yin, H., Zhaxi, D.J., Jiagong, Z.L., Schaller, G.B., Mishra, C., McCarthy, T.M., Wang, H., Wu, L. et al.. (2014). Role of Tibetan Buddhist monasteries in snow leopard conservation. Conservation Biology, 28(1), 87-94.
  • Li, J., Yin, H., Wang, D., Jiagong, Z., & Lu, Z. (2013). Human-snow leopard conflicts in the Sanjiangyuan Region of the Tibetan Plateau. Biological Conservation, 166, 118-123.


  • Nowell, K., Li, J., Paltsyn, M. and Sharma, R.K., (2016). An Ounce of Prevention: Snow Leopard Crime Revisited. TRAFFIC, Cambridge, UK.
  • Li, J., Yin, H., Lu, Z., (2016). Tibetan-Buddhist Monastery-based Snow Leopard Conservation. Snow Leopards, 1 edited by Philip Nyhus, Tom McCarthy, David Mallon: chapter 15.2; Elsevier., ISBN: 9780128022139
  • Farrington, J., Li, J., (2016). Climate Change Impacts on Snow Leopard Range. Snow Leopards, 1 edited by Philip Nyhus, Tom McCarthy, David Mallon: chapter 8; Elsevier., ISBN: 9780128022139
  • Liu, Y., Weckworth, B.V., Li, J., Xiao, L., Zhao, X., Xiang Zhao, Lu, Z., (2016). China: The Tibetan Plateau, Sanjiangyuan Region. Snow Leopards, 1 edited by Philip Nyhus, Tom McCarthy, David Mallon: chapter 41; Elsevier., ISBN: 9780128022139


  • Steering Committee Member of International Snow Leopard Network (2018-2020)
  • Reviewed papers for Conservation Biology, Biological Conservation, Animal Conservation, Biodiversity and Conservation, Mammalian Biology, Biodiversity Science.


  • ENV204, Remote Sensing of the Environment


  • Society for Conservation Biology
  • Snow Leopard Network


  • Scholar Fellowship, Panthera, 2015
  • Postdoctoral Fellowship of Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, 2013
  • Scholar Fellowship, Snow Leopard Trust, 2012
Juan Li