Person

Xiang Li

Assistant Professor | Animal Science

Specialization: quantitative PCR, Bacterial Genetics, Microbiome, and Bioinformatics

Overview

My research focuses on applying molecular microbiology (especially PCR techniques), metagenomics, microbial source tracking, statistics, and bioinformatics to improve food safety and microbial management in animal production systems. I have led and contributed to projects involving foodborne pathogen surveillance (Salmonella, Listeria, Campylobacter), antimicrobial resistance monitoring, and microbiome-based risk assessment in poultry environments. Through the development and application of novel duplex qPCR assays, machine learning models, and high-throughput sequencing tools, I work to understand pathogen ecology, evaluate interventions, and enhance microbial diagnostics. I am particularly interested in: (1) How microbiomes, resistomes, and environmental factors shape pathogen dynamics in animal production. (2) Developing metagenomic or molecular proxies for complex traits like health, productivity, or disease resistance. (3) Using microbial and host-associated data to inform precision interventions and reduce zoonotic risk. (4) Exploring microbial indicators of antimicrobial use, animal welfare, and environmental sustainability. Ultimately, my goal is to leverage microbiome science, bioinformatics, and molecular tools to improve animal health, food safety, and environmental resilience in agricultural systems.

Research Focus

Computational Biology and Clinical Diagnostics

Courses
Below are courses taught during the current or past three academic years. Consult Timetable for the most current listing of courses and instructor(s).
ANSC 490 - Special Topics in Animal Sciences
1 - 3 credit hours

Topics and formats vary to address current issues and opportunities for student development.

Repeatability: May be repeated. Maximum 6 hours.
Registration Permission: Requires consent of department.

Picture of					                                                               					                                                               					                                                               					                                                               					                                                               					                                                               					                                                               					                                                               					                                                               					                                                               					                                                               					                                                               					                                                               					                                                               					                                                               					                                                               					                                                               					                                                               					                                                               					                                                               					                                                               					                                                               					                                                               					                                                                Xiang Li
362 Brehm Animal Science Bldg
2506 River Drive
Knoxville, TN 37996
Education and Training
  • PhD, Environmental Engineering, West Virginia University, 2015
Lab Members
Wei Wang
Web Presence

Xiang Li

Assistant Professor | Animal Science
Picture of						                                                                						                                                                						                                                                						                                                                						                                                                						                                                                						                                                                						                                                                						                                                                						                                                                						                                                                						                                                                						                                                                						                                                                						                                                                						                                                                						                                                                						                                                                						                                                                						                                                                						                                                                						                                                                						                                                                						                                                                 Xiang Li image
362 Brehm Animal Science Bldg
2506 River Drive
Knoxville, TN 37996
Education and Training
  • PhD, Environmental Engineering, West Virginia University, 2015
Overview

My research focuses on applying molecular microbiology (especially PCR techniques), metagenomics, microbial source tracking, statistics, and bioinformatics to improve food safety and microbial management in animal production systems. I have led and contributed to projects involving foodborne pathogen surveillance (Salmonella, Listeria, Campylobacter), antimicrobial resistance monitoring, and microbiome-based risk assessment in poultry environments. Through the development and application of novel duplex qPCR assays, machine learning models, and high-throughput sequencing tools, I work to understand pathogen ecology, evaluate interventions, and enhance microbial diagnostics. I am particularly interested in: (1) How microbiomes, resistomes, and environmental factors shape pathogen dynamics in animal production. (2) Developing metagenomic or molecular proxies for complex traits like health, productivity, or disease resistance. (3) Using microbial and host-associated data to inform precision interventions and reduce zoonotic risk. (4) Exploring microbial indicators of antimicrobial use, animal welfare, and environmental sustainability. Ultimately, my goal is to leverage microbiome science, bioinformatics, and molecular tools to improve animal health, food safety, and environmental resilience in agricultural systems.

Research Focus

Computational Biology and Clinical Diagnostics

Courses
Below are courses taught during the current or past three academic years. Consult Timetable for the most current listing of courses and instructor(s).
ANSC 490 - Special Topics in Animal Sciences
1 - 3 credit hours

Topics and formats vary to address current issues and opportunities for student development.

Repeatability: May be repeated. Maximum 6 hours.
Registration Permission: Requires consent of department.

Lab Members
Wei Wang
Web Presence