Durham alumnus Dr Yang Li receives British Council Alumni Award

Dr Li arrived at Durham University in 2013 to begin his PhD in Geoscience under the supervision of Professor David Selby, his first experience of studying outside China. He credits Durham with shaping both his research career and his approach to scientific thinking, collaboration and education. 

During his doctoral studies, Dr Li made a field-changing discovery, demonstrating that ore deposits form in rapid, pulsed bursts rather than gradually over millions of years. The finding transformed understanding of the Earth’s mineral systems and has influenced both academic research and industry practice. 

Reflecting on his work, Professor Mark Allen from Durham’s Department of Earth Sciences said: 

“Li Yang has the invaluable scientific skill of thinking about truly important problems, combined with excellent technical and analytical skills. His energy and enthusiasm should sustain him for a long career producing exciting research.” 

After completing his PhD at Durham, Dr Li joined Yale University as a postdoctoral researcher before returning to China under the Chinese Academy of Sciences’ 100 Talents Programme. He has since been awarded both the Excellent Young Scholar and National Distinguished Young Scholar grants, which are China’s highest honours for early-career scientists, becoming the youngest researcher in his field to secure these awards. 

Now a tenured Associate Professor at Peking University and an Honorary Associate Professor at University College London, Dr Li leads internationally recognised research spanning critical minerals and planetary science. His recent work includes studies based on the first samples returned from the far side of the Moon, as well as research on Bayan Obo, the world’s largest rare earth element deposit. Beyond his research, he organised China’s first Geochronology Summer School in 2025, supporting nearly 400 early-career researchers from 87 institutions. 

The British Council Study UK Alumni Awards recognise the outstanding achievements of international UK alumni worldwide. The awards celebrate graduates who have leveraged their UK education to make significant contributions to their communities, industries and countries, across categories including Science and Sustainability, Business and Innovation, Culture, Creativity and Sport, and Social Action. 

Durham University congratulates Dr Yang Li on this outstanding achievement and is proud to celebrate his success as part of its global alumni community. 

Find out more

• Learn more about the British Council Alumni Awards 

• Find out more about the alumni community at Durham University  

• Discover the Department of Earth Sciences at Durham