The Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics welcomes Man Li to Virginia Tech.

Li begins August 10, 2026, as an associate professor in the Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics, working with the Invasive Species Collaborative. She was previously an assistant professor at Utah State University.

Li’s research explores how environmental change shapes economic decision-making and resource allocation. With expertise in climate change, water resource management, and land-use dynamics, Li uses applied microeconomic theory, econometrics, and geospatial analysis to better understand how households, farmers, and rural economies respond to environmental and policy-related challenges. Her research is also expanding to examine how biological invasions and other ecological stressors influence economic outcomes, resource use, and adaptation decisions.

Her work is informed by extensive field experience in South Asia, Southeast Asia, and East Africa.

As a principal investigator or co-principal investigator, Li has helped secure more than $2.3 million in externally funded research.

She will contribute to the department’s teaching program, bringing her research expertise and passion for mentoring students into the classroom.

“We are extremely excited to have Dr. Li join the Hokie family,” said Karl Rich, department head and professor. “Her expertise will enhance our research and teaching in environmental and resource economics, and her work will be a strong addition to the Invasive Species Collaborative as we deepen our understanding of the economic impact of biological invasions.”

Q&A: 

What excites you most about joining Virginia Tech’s Invasive Species Collaborative?

I am excited to join a community of scholars tackling complex environmental challenges from multiple perspectives. Invasive species are increasingly interacting with climate change, land-use change, and other environmental stressors, creating new challenges for ecosystems, industries, and communities. The Collaborative provides a unique opportunity to work across disciplines to better understand these challenges and develop practical, science-based solutions.

How do you see applied economics contributing to solutions for invasive species management and policy?

Applied economics helps us understand how people make decisions and respond to environmental change. Effective invasive species management depends not only on biological processes but also on human behavior, incentives, and policy design. Economics can help identify the costs and benefits of different management strategies, evaluate policy effectiveness, and support the efficient allocation of limited resources.

This role emphasizes collaboration across disciplines such as law, genomics, data science, and public policy. What opportunities do you see in working across these fields? 

Many environmental challenges cannot be solved by a single discipline alone. By working with experts in fields such as ecology, genomics, law, and data science, we can better understand both the ecological and socioeconomic dimensions of invasive species. These collaborations create opportunities to develop more comprehensive solutions and generate research that has meaningful real-world impact.

What research questions or projects are you most excited to pursue at Virginia Tech, and how do you hope they will impact communities, industries, or ecosystems?

I am particularly interested in understanding how invasive species interact with climate change and other environmental stressors to affect economic outcomes and resource use. I hope to develop research that helps communities, land managers, and policymakers anticipate risks, improve adaptation strategies, and make more informed decisions that support both economic resilience and ecosystem health.

As both a researcher and educator, what are you most looking forward to in working with Virginia Tech students and mentoring the next generation of scholars?

One of the most rewarding aspects of academia is working with students. I look forward to helping students develop strong analytical and problem-solving skills, engage with real-world environmental challenges, and pursue their own research interests. I am especially excited to mentor students as they explore innovative ways to connect economics with environmental and natural resource issues.

Faculty Profile:

Research Expertise

  • Climate change adaptation and mitigation
  • Environmental resilience and adaptation
  • Water resource management
  • Land-use change and land management
  • Agricultural and rural development
  • Labor allocation in low-income economies
  • Applied microeconomics, econometrics, and geospatial analysis

Education

  • Ph.D.: Agricultural and Resource Economics, Oregon State University with a minor in Statistics
  • B.A.: Economics, China Agricultural University

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