Tingkai Li is a Ph.D. candidate in the School of Mechanical, Aerospace, and Manufacturing Engineering at the University of Connecticut, where he conducts cutting-edge research under the mentorship of Dr. Chao Hu. With an expected graduation in 2026, Tingkai is advancing the field of battery science through the development of machine learning models that predict the lifetime and degradation patterns of lithium-ion batteries—technology that underpins the future of clean energy and electric mobility.

Tingkai began his academic journey at Iowa State University, where he completed his bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering in 2021. He joined UConn in 2022 to pursue his doctoral studies and further hone his skills in data-driven engineering. In the summer of 2024, he interned at MathWorks, gaining valuable industry experience in applying computational tools to engineering challenges.

His research has been presented at two consecutive International Battery Seminar and Exhibition conferences in 2024 and 2025, where he showcased his work on leveraging early-life battery data to generate more accurate lifetime predictions. This work has broad implications for improving the reliability, safety, and sustainability of energy storage systems.

In addition to his research, Tingkai has actively developed his leadership potential through the John Lof Leadership Academy (JLLA). Drawn to the Academy by its thoughtfully curated workshop topics, he has served as a team chair for two workshops and contributed meaningfully to the volunteering committee. His long-standing interest in leadership, cultivated since his high school days, found a vibrant outlet in JLLA’s diverse, collaborative environment.

Tingkai credits JLLA’s workshops and speaker sessions with sharpening his leadership philosophy—especially in managing conflict and guiding teams through uncertainty. These experiences, he says, have better prepared him for real-world challenges in both academic and professional contexts.

After graduation, Tingkai plans to join the industry, where he can apply his technical expertise and leadership capabilities to tackle complex engineering problems. His advice to fellow graduate students is simple but powerful: build your leadership skills early, because they’re as essential as technical knowledge in shaping a successful, impactful career.