The Board of Trustees of the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) at its 18 January 2024 meeting, unanimously approved the AIT Presidential Search Committee (PSC) recommendation, to appoint Professor Pai-Chi Li as the next AIT President.
Professor Li served as the Vice President for Research and Development at the National Taiwan University from 2019-2023, and as Associate Dean of the College of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science from 2015-2018. He was the Founding Director of the Institute of Biomedical Electronics and Bioinformatics in 2006-2009 and National Taiwan University Yong-Lin Biomedical Engineering Center in 2009. Professor Li is the TBF Chair in Biotechnology, and he was the Getac Chair, AmTRAN Chair as well as the Y. Z. Hsu Science Chair Professor.
He received B.S. degree in Electrical Engineering from National Taiwan University in 1987 and the M.S. and Ph.D. degrees from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor in 1990 and 1994, respectively, both in Electrical Engineering: Systems. He joined Acuson Corporation, Mountain View, CA, as a member of the Technical Staff in June 1994. In August 1997, he returned to National Taiwan University, where he is currently a Distinguished Professor of the Department of Electrical Engineering and the Institute of Biomedical Electronics and Bioinformatics. His current research interests include biomedical ultrasound, photoacoustics, and medical devices. Dr. Li is IEEE Fellow, IAMBE Fellow, AIUM Fellow, and SPIE Fellow. He was also Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Medical and Biological Engineering and has been Deputy Editor of Ultrasound in Medicine and Biology, Associate Editor of IEEE Transactions on Ultrasonics, Ferroelectrics, and Frequency Control, and on the Editorial Board of Ultrasonic Imaging and Photoacoustics. He has won numerous awards, including the IEEE UFFC Distinguished Lecturer Award, the IFMBE Otto Schmitt Award, the IFMBE Vladimir K. Zworykin Award, Distinguished Research Award from the Ministry of Science and Technology of Taiwan, the Dr. Wu Dayou Research Award from National Science Council of Taiwan, and Academic Award and Distinguished Industrial Collaboration Award from Ministry of Education of Taiwan.
The Board expressed its thanks and appreciation to the Presidential Search Committee (PSC) for the time and effort put in the very thorough process for the selection of the new President. Professor Li brings a wealth of experience and expertise to his new role. His distinguished career encompasses academic leadership, groundbreaking research in biomedical engineering, and successful collaborations with industry leaders. The Board is confident that his vision and leadership will be instrumental in guiding AIT towards its ambitious goals of international recognition and impactful contributions to the region.
Dr. Anat Arbhabirama, Chairman of the AIT Board of Trustees, emphasized the importance of a smooth transition as AIT welcomes its new leader. “Professor Li’s impressive contributions to academia, research, and industry, combined with his proven leadership in educational and institutional development, make him the ideal candidate to propel AIT to even greater heights on the global stage,” Dr. Anat stated. He added that it is very important to ensure a smooth transition that further consolidates and builds upon the good work carried out by President Kazuo Yamamoto. The Board expressed its heartfelt gratitude to President Yamamoto for his unwavering dedication and invaluable contributions to AIT over the years.
AIT looks forward to welcoming Professor Li as its new President effective 1 September 2024, and working together to build a brighter future for the institute and its global community. During this time, he will be making arrangements for his departure from his current institute and begin the transition process.
