Ferguson College of Agriculture

Chongyang (Oliver) Li is an assistant professor of environmental soil chemistry in the Oklahoma State University Department of Plant and Soil Sciences. Li earned his B.S. in Environmental Science in China, followed by an M.S. in Environmental Engineering and a Ph.D. in Soil and Biogeochemistry at the University of California, Davis (UC Davis). After completing his Ph.D., he gained further research experience through two doctoral appointments and later served as a research scientist before transitioning into his current role.

 

Li started at OSU at the end of July 2025.

 

“My expertise is in soil chemistry, and my research focuses on soil nutrient cycling, particularly carbon and phosphorus dynamics, as well as the behavior and impacts of soil contaminants—including heavy metals and organic pollutants,” he said.

 

Beginning in spring 2025, he will be teaching Soil Chemistry (SOIL 4893).

 

Li’s future research plans will be focused on issues of growing importance to Oklahoma agriculture and the broader environment.

 

“I aim to enhance soil nutrient use efficiency while simultaneously mitigating pollution risks from soil systems,” Li said. His specific areas of interest include the management of animal manure, biosolids, pesticides and other emerging soil amendments or contaminants.

 

On the teaching side, Li is developing a graduate-level course on advanced soil chemistry techniques. “I plan to offer this in spring 2027, and the goal of this course is to expand students’ methodological toolboxes and better prepare them to address complex research questions in their own work,” he said.

 

Li enjoys working with students because teaching is not only a way to share knowledge with the next generation, but also an opportunity to inspire curiosity and discovery.

 

“It is rewarding to see students grow, and I value the chance to mentor enthusiastic, talented individuals who become future researchers and leaders in the field,” he said.

 

Because of OSU’s land-grant mission, Li has found great value in the strong institutional support for research, teaching and outreach, which provides an ideal environment to pursue his own goals and make meaningful contributions.

 

“I am passionate about soil and environmental science because it is an interdisciplinary and applied field that plays a critical role in sustaining agriculture, protecting the environment and supporting society,” Li said.

 

So far, Li’s favorite part about working at OSU is the strong support system for faculty success.

 

“The university provides excellent laboratory facilities and resources that allow me to carry out high-quality research,” he said. “In addition, the well-structured faculty orientation and ongoing seminars—ranging from research grant writing to teaching development—have been invaluable in helping me grow both as a researcher and an educator.”

 

Li loves learning languages. At one point, he studied Spanish, Japanese, and Thai at the same time. “I’ve also collected textbooks for German, French, Korean and Russian,” he said, “although I haven’t started those yet.”

 

His long-term goal is to be able to speak 10 languages by the time he turns 60.