People

Tao E. Li

Principal Investigator

Assistant Professor of Physics at University of Delaware.

Email: taoeli [AT] udel.edu

More about Tao

Gang Meng

Postdoctoral Researcher

Gang joins the TEL group as a postdoctoral researcher starting October 2025. He studies light-matter interaction theory and performs molecular simulations with EM fields. Before joining the TEL group, Gang completed his Ph.D. and a year of postdoctoral training at the University of Science and Technology of China. His research there focused on energy transfer dynamics during molecule scattering from metals and hot-carriers driven reactions at plasmonic interfaces.

In his free time, Gang enjoys playing soccer and running.

Email: gmeng [AT] udel.edu

Xinwei Ji

PhD Student

Xinwei received his B.S. in Chemistry at Xiamen University, and joined the TEL group as a PhD student in 2024. He is a marathon enthusiast.

Email: astolfo [AT] udel.edu

Andres Felipe Bocanegra Vargas

PhD Student

Andres received his B.S. in Physics at the Universidad del Valle in Colombia. He joined the TEL group as an undergraduate summer researcher in 2024 and became a PhD student in 2025. His current research interest is condensed matter and light-matter interaction. In addition to research, Andres’ hobbies include music and MMORPGs.

Email: andresfb [AT] udel.edu

Evan Jones

PhD Student

Evan received his B.S. from University of Delaware in 2021, then worked in the machine vision industry for two years. Following this, he returned to UD to become a PhD candidate in 2024 with a concentration in theoretical ultra-strong laser interactions with atoms and molecules. Since then, he has joined the TEL group in early 2026 to focus on AI agents for science. Evan’s most notable hobbies include being an avid Counter-Strike player, as well as personal fitness and weightlifting.

Email: ecjones [AT] udel.edu

We welcome prospective graduate students to join our group!

Please feel free to send Tao an email if you are interested in our group. For prospective graduate students, please also directly apply for the graduate program at UD Physics.

Apply to the UD Physics graduate program

Fall admission deadline: Dec 15.

TEL_GROUP::ALUMNI
> Sofia Londoño Toro
  role = Undergrad summer research intern
  year = 2025