Zhang Li is a professor, and a doctoral supervisor at the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, an adjunct professor at Peking University. Currently she serves as the Deputy Chairman of the Chinese Society for the History of Science and Technology, the Director of the Scientific and Technical Figures Research Committee, and the Deputy Director of the Chemical History Committee. She is an academic committee member of Peking University Department of History of Science, Technology and Medicine, CAST-PKU (Joint) Institute for Science Culture, Research Center for Science, Technology and Civilization of the University of Science and Technology Beijing, the National Museum of China, and the National Academy of Innovation Strategy of the China Association for Science and Technology. She is also the chief expert of the " Project for Collecting Senior Scientists' Academic Growth Data "organized by China Association for Science and Technology, the Editorial Board Member ofCultures of Science, and the Deputy Editor ofScience Today.

Her research interests include the history of science in modern and contemporary China, history of modern chemistry, oral history of science and technology, and the history of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, which have promoted deeper understandings of the scientific system of the People's Republic of China, the evolution of the CCP’s science and technology policy and intellectual policy, and the social survival status of scientists. Representative works include "The Economic Life and Social Reputation of Scientists (1949-1966): Taking the Chinese Academy of Sciences as an Example", " New Science for New China: The Establishment of Polymer Science in Modern China", "History of Educational Development of the Chinese Academy of Sciences", etc. She offers undergraduate and graduate courses "Social Roles of Chinese Scientists" and "Oral History: Theory and Practice".

Published papers:

(1)（corresponding author）Thirty Years’ Pursuit of Excellence: a Review of the Development History of the National Natural Science Foundation of China,BULLETIN OF NATIONAL NATURAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION OF CHINA, No.5(2016), 386-394；

(2)（corresponding author）Fostering Talents for Basic Research: a Historical Review of Talent Programs ofNational Natural Science Foundation of China,SCIENCE FOUNDATION IN CHINA, No.5 (2016),395-402

(3) (first author)The Science Department and Science Leadership in the People's Republic of China from1951 to 1956，THE CHINESE JOURNAL FOR THE HISTORY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, No.4 (2015)，385-397

(4) (first author)On the Social Function of the Study of History of Pictures and History of Modern Science in China--A Review of the Theme Exhibition of Modern Chinese Scientists: Science Dream · Chinese Dream,THE CHINESE JOURNAL FOR THE HISTORY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, No.2 (2014), 207-220;

(5) (first author)Soviet Experts in Chinese Academy of Sciences: Historical review of Cooperation and Exchange between Chinese and Soviet Academy of Sciences in the 1950s，SOCIOLOGY OF SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY，No.1 (2014), 24-30;

(6)(second author) The Remodeling Process of Psychology in the People's Republic of China, 1952-1966——A Case Study of the Teaching Activities in Psychology in the Department of Philosophy of Peking University,SCIENCE & CULTURE REVIEW. No.3(2013),62-81;

(7) (first author)Soviet Experts in Chinese Academy of Sciences: A Historical Review of Cooperation and Exchange between Chinese and Soviet Academy of Sciences in the 1950s,SCIENCE & CULTURE REVIEW. No.2(2012),54-71;

(8) (first author)Conflicts between External Demand and Self-development: A Historical Review on the Development of Branches of Chinese Academy of Sciences from 1956 to 1966, SCIENCE & CULTURE REVIEW. No.6(2009),45-68;

(9) (first author)From the Soviet Union to the U.S.: International Exchange in China’s Polymer Science，HISTORIA SCIENTIARUM，Mar.2007, 294-309;

(10) (first author)Scientific Organizations in China: A Study on the Committee for Polymers of Chinese Academy of Sciences,JOURNAL OF DIALECTICS OF NATURE. No.5 (2005)53-61;

(11) (first author)Coordination between National Demand，Departmental interests and Scientists’ Autonomy: Focusing on the Establishment and Early development of Institute of Chemistry of CAS,STUDIES IN THE HISTORY OF NATURAL SCIENCES, No.3 (2003), 193-214;

(12) (first author)Characteristics of the Leipzig School and Its Contribution to Physical Chemistry,STUDIES IN THE HISTORY OF NATURAL SCIENCES, No.2 (1996), 151-160;

(13) (first author)The Influence of Adjusting National Colleges and Departments on the Higher Chemical Education in China in the early 1950s,JOURNAL OF DIALECTICS OF NATURE, No.2(1992),41-48;

(14) (first author)The Renaissance of Inorganic Chemistry in the Mid-20thCentury,STUDIES IN THE HISTORY OF NATURAL SCIENCES, No.3 (1990), 258-268;

Books:

(1)New Science for New China: The Establishment of Polymer Science in PR China, Jinan: Shandong Education Press, 2005;

(2)History of Graduate Education in the Chinese Academy of Sciences,Science Press, 2009 (chief editor)

(3)Series of books on the "Project for Collecting Senior Scientists' Academic Growth Data"; China Science and Technology Press / Shanghai Jiaotong University Press, (second editor)

Research Project:

(1) Project for Collecting Senior Scientists' Academic Growth Data, PI, national level, 2010.07—2018.06

(2) Research on the 30-year Development History of the National Natural Science Foundation of China, chaired, national level, 2014.07—2016.07

(3) Data Collection and Research of Chinese Scientists, chaired, national level, 2016.04—2017.03