Join My Research Group

I am currently recruiting 1 Ph.D. student, 2 M.Sc. students, and 3 undergraduate research interns for the 2026–2027 academic year at the University of Lethbridge.

My work bridges applied category theory, Bayesian machine learning, and dynamic system modeling for public health and complex systems.
See the Research page for details about topics and current directions.

We especially encourage applications from members of under-represented groups.

Graduate Students (Ph.D. and M.Sc.)

Areas of interest include:

  • category theory in dynamic modeling
  • machine learning and large-scale data–driven dynamic modeling
  • computational modeling for decision-making in public health

Application instructions

Email subject line: Graduate Application – [Your Name]

Please include:

  • transcripts from undergraduate and, if applicable, graduate studies
  • CV or résumé
  • English test score (if applicable)
  • references or reference contacts (if available)
  • any other relevant materials such as publications, project reports, or code repositories (optional)

In the email body, add a short paragraph describing which aspect of my research you are most interested in (for example, category theory in dynamic modeling; machine learning and large-scale data; computational modeling for public-health decision-making).

Additional notes

Prospective graduate students must also meet the University of Lethbridge admission requirements and deadlines for graduate programs.
Please review the official information on the following pages before applying:

Undergraduate Research Interns (Summer or Part-Time)

Possible directions:

  • software implementation (especially in Julia or Rust)
  • computational simulation models for public health
  • incorporating observed data and machine learning in dynamic modeling for decision-making
  • infectious-disease transmission, outbreak prediction, interventions

Application instructions

Email subject line: Undergraduate Intern Application – [Your Name]

Please include:

  • transcripts from your undergraduate studies
  • English test score (if applicable)
  • any other relevant materials you feel are important (optional: publications, projects, or code)

Notes on programs and timing

  • If you are a U Lethbridge undergraduate student interested in joining my group as a Summer Research Intern, please contact me before early December. This timeline is crucial for students applying to undergraduate research scholarships such as the NSERC USRA, Chinook Summer Research Award, or the Alberta Innovates Summer Research Studentship.

  • External students are welcome to get in touch to explore possible short-term research interactions. Please note, however, that funded internship opportunities are primarily available to U Lethbridge students due to program requirements.

Contact

Xiaoyan Li
Assistant Professor, Department of Mathematics & Computer Science, University of Lethbridge
Email: xiaoyan.li2 [at] uleth [dot] ca

Please indicate clearly whether you are applying for a Ph.D., M.Sc., or Undergraduate Internship position.