Born and raised in Shanghai, China, Jiedong Li is currently a PhD student in Chemistry at Yale University. He completed his undergraduate studies at the University of California, Santa Barbara, where he majored in biochemistry. During his time at UCSB, Jiedong conducted research in Professor Yang’s lab, focusing on biocatalytic synthesis of non-canonical amino acids. He contributed to the development of novel photobiocatalytic strategies that enable stereoselective C–C bond formation in amino acid systems, resulting in co-authored publications in Nature and the JACS. These works demonstrated new engineered enzyme-enabled radical transformations, including photobiocatalytic oxidative coupling and enantioselective α-alkylation reactions that expand the chemical space accessible to biocatalysis. 

At Yale, Jiedong works in the Spiegel Lab, where his research focuses on designing bifunctional molecules capable of crossing the blood–brain barrier to target and clear disease-related proteins. Outside of the lab, Jiedong enjoys hiking, driving, and photography, which allow him to explore new environments and stay inspired. He values curiosity, collaboration, and continuous learning, and is excited to contribute to advancing chemical biology and therapeutic innovation.