Junkan Li is an applied economist specializing in environmental economics, macroeconomics, and regional economics, with a focus on climate change adaptation, natural hazard mitigation, and economic resilience. He earned his Ph.D. in Economics from The Ohio State University in 2022. He subsequently served as a Postdoctoral Associate at Cornell University, where he contributed to the NSF-funded Coastal Hazards, Equity, Economic Prosperity & Resilience (CHEER) project and conducted interdisciplinary research on the economic impacts of natural hazards.

During his time at Cornell, he applied statistical methods, including causal inference and spatial econometrics, as well as computational modeling approaches such as CGE and DSGE frameworks, to study the economic dynamics associated with climate-related risks and shocks. His research covers related topics, including migration, real estate markets, disaster insurance design, and public policies for adaptation and mitigation. By combining empirically validated quantitative economic modeling with interdisciplinary insights, his work examines the systemic impacts of climate challenges in real-world settings, evaluates the effectiveness of market-based solutions and public policies, and translates academic evidence into actionable strategies for resilience and recovery. 

In August 2025, he joined the Agricultural Risk Policy Center at North Dakota State University as a Research Assistant Professor, where he works on projects related to crop yield modeling and agricultural insurance.