Yun Li received PhD in Mineralogy, Petrology, Mineral Geology (focused on interactions between gas hydrate and clay minerals) from Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences. Worked as a postdoc at the Southern University of Science and Technology (SUSTech) (2020–2022). Since 2022, has been an associate professor at SUSTech. Works in the field of interactions between energy - environment fluids and clay minerals, gas hydrates, CO₂ capture and storage, geologic hydrogen/geologic helium, and the occurrence and development of unconventional oil and gas.