Ke is currently based in the Living Systems Institute and the Department of Computer Science at the University of Exeter, where his research focuses on AI, optimisation, and AI-driven scientific discovery.
At the Earlham Institute, Ke will establish a research programme developing self-evolving AI systems to accelerate scientific discovery for understanding and engineering living systems.
This will contribute to a new generation of generative digital biology: experimentally grounded AI models that help scientists understand complex biological mechanisms, design new biological functions, and translate large-scale data into discoveries relevant to human health, disease, food security, biodiversity and sustainability.
Prof Neil Hall, Director of Earlham Institute said: “We are delighted to welcome Ke Li to the Earlham Institute. Ke is a leading figure in AI for the life sciences, and his work pioneering interpretable foundation models for RNA, combined with his vision to integrate automated testing into AI prediction, map directly onto EI's core strategic priorities.”
Ke’s group will integrate foundation models, generative AI, optimisation, automated reasoning and AI agents with the Earlham Institute’s strengths in computational biology and data infrastructure, complemented by its technologies and capabilities in genomics, single-cell and spatial analysis, engineering biology, and laboratory automation.
Prof Ke Li said: “Joining the Earlham Institute is a rare opportunity to bring frontier AI into direct contact with frontier biology. Earlham Institute has the data, technologies, automation, compute and collaborative culture needed to build AI systems that are not only powerful, but scientifically grounded.
“My ambition is to develop AI for Biology that works with scientists: systems that help generate testable hypotheses, design better experiments, learn from biological data and experimental feedback, and accelerate discovery with rigour and at scale.
“The next generation of biological discovery will depend on our ability to connect AI, genomics, engineering biology and experimental science. Earlham Institute is an ideal place to build that future, and I am excited to work with colleagues across the Institute and Norwich Research Park to turn this vision into impact for health, sustainability and life on Earth.”
