Dr. Lei Li

Biography

I am currently a joint assistant professor in the Data Science and Analytics (DSA) Thrust and Intelligent Transportation (INTR) Thrust of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (Guangzhou) and affliate with Department of Computer Science and Engineering (CSE) of Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. Before that, I worked as an associate lecturer at Data Science Group, University of Queensland, Australia, and a data scientist at Redback Technologies. I obtained my PhD in September 2018 from Data and Knowledge Engineering (DKE) Group in the School of Information Technology and Electrical Engineering, the University of Queensland under Prof. Xiaofang Zhou's supervision. I obtained my Bachelor and Master degrees from Harbin Institute of Technology in 2012 and 2014 under Prof. Hong Gao's supervision.

Research Interest

Spatial-Temporal and Graph Data Management, Intelligent Transportation Systems, Automated Guided Vehicles AGV, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles UAV, Distributed Database

Position Openings

1. Several PhD positions in DSA and INTR with a scholarship of RMB 15k per month for 2026 in-take. 

2. Two positions for self-funded PhD (RMB 150k per academic year).

   • Computer science, data science, or intelligent transportation background is appreciated.

   • Demonstrated research ability, such as publications in CORE-A* / CCF-A DB conferences.

   • Strong self-motivation and independent critical thinking are essential.

   • It is a chance for us to explore together, not just a way to obtain a degree or escape from job market.

   • Send me your CV, transcripts, and interested research topics via email.

3. MPhil positions with scholarship of RMB 10k per month 

   • No need to contact me for enrollment. Go to the RedBird Master application directly.

   • https://www.hkust-gz.edu.cn/academics/teaching-and-learning-innovation/red-bird-mphil-program/

Due to the large number of applicants and limited time, only matched candidates would be responded.

Selected Publications

1. [VLDB Journal 2025] Jiajia Li, Qiulin An, Yang Song, Xing Xiong, Lei Li, Fengmei Jin, Xiaofang Zhou. "Route Optimisation with Collective Spatial Keywords: A Skyline-based Approach".

2. [KDD 2025] Fengnian Lin, Boyu Ruan, Junhao Gan, Lei Li. "Efficient Bitruss Decomposition without Butterfly Enumeration".

3. [ICDE 2025] Zizhuo Xu, Lei Li, Mengxuan Zhang, Yehong Xu, Xiaofang Zhou. "Ultra-Flexible, Explainable, and Scalable Traffic Prediction with Dynamic Future Routes".

4. [ICDE 2025] Jing Zhao, Lei Li, Mengxuan Zhang, Haolun Ma, Xiaofang Zhou. "A Just-In-Time Framework for Routing-Oriented Traffic Prediction".

5. [PVLDB 2025] Ruizhong Wu, Mengxuan Zhang, Shuxin Wang, Kin Sun Chan, Yan Nei Law, Lei Li. "Continuous Lifelong Conflict-Aware AGV Routing with Kinematic Constraint". 

6. [ICDE 2025] Xinjie Zhou, Mengxuan Zhang, Lei Li, Xiaofang Zhou. "High Throughput Shortest Distance Query Processing on Large Dynamic Road Networks".

7. [PVLDB 2025] Jiajia Li, Yongzhi Chen, Mengxuan Zhang, Lei Li. "A CPU-GPU Hybrid Labelling Algorithm for Massive Shortest Distance Queries on Road Networks".

8. [TKDE 2025] Mengxuan Zhang, Xinjie Zhou, Lei Li, Xiaofang Zhou. "Partitioned Dynamic Hub Labeling for Large Road Networks". 

9. [ICDE 2024] Xinjie Zhou, Mengxuan Zhang, Lei Li, Xiaofang Zhou. "Scalable Distance Labeling Maintenance and Construction for Dynamic Small-World Networks". 

10. [ICDE 2024] Zizhuo Xu, Lei Li, Mengxuan Zhang, Yehong Xu, and Xiaofang Zhou. "Managing the Future: Route Planning Influence Evaluation in Transportation Systems".

11. [ICDE 2024] Jing Zhao, Lei Li, Mengxuan Zhang, Zihan Luo, Xi Zhao, and Xiaofang Zhou. "A Just-In-Time Framework for Continuous Routing".

12. [ICDE 2024] Ziyi Liu, Lei Li, Mengxuan Zhang, Wen Hua, and Xiaofang Zhou. "Approximate Skyline Index for Constrained Shortest Pathfinding with Theoretical Guarantee". 

13. [TKDE 2024] Yehong Xu, Lei Li, Mengxuan Zhang, Zizhuo Xu, Xiaofang Zhou. "Global Optimal Travel Planning for Massive Travel Queries in Road Networks".

14. [TKDE 2024] Xinjie Zhou, Kai Huang, Lei Li, Mengxuan Zhang, Xiaofang Zhou. "I/O-Efficient Multi-Criteria Shortest Paths Query Processing on Large Graphs".

15. [TKDE 2023] Mengxuan Zhang, Lei Li, Goce Trajcevski, Andreas Zufle, and Xiaofang Zhou. "Parallel Hub Labeling Maintenance with High Efficiency in Dynamic Small-World Networks". 

16. [ICDE 2023] Yehong Xu, Lei Li, Mengxuan Zhang, Zizhuo Xu, Xiaofang Zhou. "Global Routing Optimization In Road Networks". 

17. [ICDE 2023] Jiajia Li, Xing Xiong, Lei Li, Dan He, Chuanyu Zong, and Xiaofang Zhou. "Finding Top-k Optimal Routes with Collective Spatial Keywords on Road Network".

18. [TKDE 2023] Fengmei Jin, Wen Hua, Lei Li, Boyu Ruan, and Xiaofang Zhou. "Efficient Frequency-based Randomization for Spatial Trajectories under Differential Privacy".

19. [PVLDB 2022] Ziyi Liu, Lei Li, Mengxuan Zhang, Wen Hua, and Xiaofang Zhou. "FHL-Cube:Multi-Constraint Shortest Path Querying with Varying Combination of Constraints". 

20. [PVLDB 2022] Zihan Luo, Lei Li, Mengxuan Zhang, Wen Hua, Yehong Xu, and Xiaofang Zhou. "Diversified Top-k Route Planning in Road Network".

21. [VLDB Journal 2022] Ziyi Liu, Lei Li, Mengxuan Zhang, Wen Hua, and Xiaofang Zhou.``Multi-Constraint Shortest Path using Forest Hop Labeling". 

22. [VLDB Journal 2022] Jiajia Li, Cancan Ni, Dan He, Lei Li, Xiufeng Xia, and Xiaofang Zhou. "Efficient kNN  query  for  Moving  Object  Query  on Time-Dependent Directed Road Network". 

23. [PVLDB 2021] Mengxuan Zhang, Lei Li, and Xiaofang Zhou. "An Experimental Evaluation and Guideline for Path Finding in Weighted Dynamic Network". 

24. [ICDE 2021] Mengxuan Zhang, Lei Li, Wen Hua, Rui Mao, Pingfu Chao, and Xiaofang Zhou. "Dynamic Hub Labeling for Road Networks". 

25. [ICDE 2021] Ziyi Liu, Lei Li, Mengxuan Zhang, Wen Hua, Pingfu Chao, and Xiaofang Zhou. "Efficient Constrained Shortest Path Query Answering with Forest Hop Labeling".

26. [ICDE 2021] Mengxuan Zhang, Lei Li, Wen Hua, and Xiaofang Zhou. "Efficient 2-Hop Labeling Maintenance in Dynamic Small-World Networks”. 

27. [ICDE 2020] Lei Li, Mengxuan Zhang, Wen Hua, and Xiaofang Zhou. "Fast Query Decomposition for Batch Shortest Path Processing in Road Networks". 

28. [TKDE 2020] Lei Li, Sibo Wang, and Xiaofang Zhou. "Fastest Path Query Answering using Time-Dependent Hop-Labeling in Road Network ". 

29. [TKDE 2020] Mengxuan Zhang, Lei Li, Wen Hua, and Xiaofang Zhou. "Stream Processing of Shortest Path Queries in Dynamic Road Networks".

30. [ICDE 2019] Lei Li, Sibo Wang, and Xiaofang Zhou. "Time-Dependent Hop Labeling on Road Network".

31. [VLDB Journal 2018] Lei Li, Kai Zheng, Sibo Wang, Wen Hua, Xiaofang Zhou. “Go Slow to Go Fast: Minimal On-Road Time Route Scheduling with Parking Facilities Using Historical Trajectory".

32. [PVLDB 2017] Lei Li, Wen Hua, Xingzhong Du and Xiaofang Zhou. "Minimal On Road Time Route Scheduling on Time-Dependent Graph".

Tutor

1. Advanced Database Systems, INFS3200/7907                      

   • University of Queensland                       

   • Mar 2015 - Jun 2018

2. Service Oriented Architecture, INFS3204/7204                    

   • University of Queensland                              

   •  Jul   2016 - Dec 2016

3. Set and Graph Theory                                                               

   • Harbin Institute of Technology                     

   • Mar 2013 - Jun 2013

Supervision

Current Research Student

• Zihan Luo (PhD, started in Jul 2021, UQ move to HKUST GZ), Diversified Route Planning

• Yehong Xu (PhD/RA, started in Jan 2021, HKUST, co-supervised with Prof. Xiaofang Zhou), Global Routing Optimization

• Jing Zhao (PhD/RA, started in Jan 2021, HKUST with Prof. Xiaofang Zhou), Just-In-Time Routing

• Zizhuo Xu (PhD, started in  Sep 2021, HKUST GZ), Future Spatiotemporal Data Management

• Chuyi Li (PhD, started in Feb 2023, HKUST GZ, co-supervised with Prof. Wei Zeng), Network Optimization and Visualization

• Ruizhong Wu (PhD, started in Aug 2023, HKUST GZ), Large Scale AGV Routing

• Yunjie Huang (PhD, started in Aug 2023, HKUST GZ), AGV RL Routing

• Haolun Ma (PhD, started in Sep 2024, HKUST GZ), Learn to Routing

• Yongzhi Chen (PhD, to start in Sep 2025, HKUST GZ)

• Chenxi Hao (PhD, to start in Sep 2025, HKUST GZ) 

• Chuhan Hu (PhD, to start in Sep 2025, HKUST GZ) 

• Teng Zhang (PhD, to start in Sep 2025, HKUST GZ)

• Yanchen Zhu (PhD, to start in Sep 2025, HKUST GZ)

• Mingyu Yang (PhD, started in Jun 2023, HKUST GZ, co-supervised with Prof. Wei Wang) High Dimensional Data Retrieval

Complete 

1. Mengxuan Zhang (PhD, Feb 2018 - Jul 2021, UQ), Efficient Shortest Path Query Processing in Dynamic Road Networks, UQ Dean's Award for Outstanding HDR Theses 2021, now a Lecturer at the Australian National University, Australia. 

2. Xuanyi Zhang (MPhil, Apr 2019 - Aug 2021, UQ), Experimental Studies on Exact Multi-Constraint Shortest Path Finding, now a Ph.D. student at Northeastern University, China.

3. Ziyi Liu (PhD, Oct 2019 - Jun 2023, UQ), Constraint Route Planning, UQ Dean's Award for Outstanding HDR Theses 2023, now a Research Assistant Professor at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology.

4. Fengmei Jin (RA/PhD,  Apr 2022 - Apr 2023, UQ+HKUST GZ), Spatiotemporal Privacy, now a Research Assistant Professor at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University.

5. Xinjie Zhou (PhD,  Sep 2021 - Jun 2025, HKUST GZ), Scalable Shortest Path Query Processing on Large Dynamic Graphs, now a researcher at Huawei.

6. Zhe Zhang (Redbird Master, Nov 2023 - Jun 2025, HKUST GZ) UAM Airspace Design, Simulation and Benchmarking: A Multi-Strategy Approach Based on Layers, Tubes, Zones, and Network,  now a Ph.D. student at South China University of Technology.

7. Doucheng Pan (Redbird Master, Nov 2023 - Jun 2025, HKUST GZ) The Optimization of Efficient Route Data Management System in Mixed Traffic. 

Services

PC Chair:

• APWeb-WAIM 2025

Senior PC:

• DASFAA 2023-2025

PC Member:

• VLDB 2022-2023

• ICDE 2023-2025

• SIGKDD 2022-2024

• WSDM 2022-2025

• CIKM 2021-2024

• ECML-PKDD 2023-2025

• ICDM 2022-2024

• PAKDD 2024-2025

• IEEE DSAA 2022

• IEEE COINS 2022-2023

• IEEE BigData 2024

• ADMA 2019-2023

• ADC 2019-2023

Local Arrangements Chair:

• VLDB 2024

Registration Chair:

• ICDE 2025

Publication Chair:

• ADC 2021, 2022

Invited Journal Reviewer:  

• IEEE Transactions on Knowledge and Data Engineering

• The VLDB Journal

• IEEE Transactions on Dependable and Secure Computing

• IEEE Internet of Things Journal

• IEEE Transactions on Intelligent Transportation Systems

• World Wide Web Journal

• Knowledge and Information Systems

• GeoInformatica

• Journal of Computer Science and Technology

• IEEE Transactions on Industrial Informatics

• ACM Transactions on Spatial Algorithms and Systems 

• IEEE Transactions on Network Science and Engineering

• IEEE Transaction on Big Data

• Data Science and Engineering

• IEEE Transactions on Computational Social Systems

• IEEE/CAA Journal of Automatica Sinica

• IEEE Access

• Hindawi Complexity Journal

• Engineering Computations

• IEEE Networking Letters

• International Journal of Geo-Information

• Journal of Computer Science and Technology

• International Journal of Sensors, Wireless Communications and Control

• International Journal of Communication Systems

External reviewer 

SIGMOD,  EDBT, COGN, MDM, CEUS

Awards

1. Best Paper Award, ADC 2022

2. Student Best Paper, ADC 2021

3. Student Best Paper honorable Mention, ADC 2020

4. Best Paper Runner-up, ADC 2019

5. Outstanding Graduates of Harbin Institute of Technology, HIT