Li Zhang

Li Zhang is an Associate Professor in Communications at the University of Leeds, where she has been a faculty member since 2004. She currently leads the Wireless Communication Group in the School of Electronic and Electrical Engineering, driving research in advanced wireless communication technologies.

Her expertise spans: (1) Physical-layer enabling technologies for 5G/6G, including massive MIMO, mmWave/THz communications, and RIS-enabled systems, with an emphasis on beamforming, sparse and structured channel estimation, and their integration into integrated sensing and communications (ISAC) systems; and 2) Non-terrestrial and multi-layer network architectures, covering UAV and satellite communications, and Space-Air-Ground Integrated Networks (SAGIN), where she investigates cross-layer resource allocation, handover strategies, particularly for highly dynamic or emergency-response scenarios.

With more than 20 years of research experience, her work contributes to the advancement of next-generation wireless networks while also addressing interdisciplinary challenges in transport, healthcare, and energy systems. She has a strong track record as PI and Co-I on projects funded by EPSRC, Innovate UK, the Royal Society, and various industry partners. She has supervised 30 postdoctoral researchers and PhD students. Her research activities have resulted in more than 160 peer-reviewed publications in high-impact journals, patent, and conferences.

She has served on the Technical Program Committees of numerous IEEE communications conferences, including in leadership roles as a Program Chair, and currently serves as an Associate Editor for several IEEE journals. Since 2006, she has been a member of the UK Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) Peer Review College and has contributed to grant assessment panels for the EPSRC, the Royal Society, and other international funding agencies. She received a Nuffield Foundation Award for Newly Appointed Lecturers in 2005, was elected a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy in 2006 and was elevated to IEEE Senior Member status in 2012.