Xiufeng Li

Curriculum vitae

Xiufeng Li

Postdoctoral fellow · VIB Center for AI & Computational Biology and KU Leuven

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Research interests

I study how regulatory elements and chromatin architecture shape gene expression. My work brings together computational genomics and mechanistic biology to understand the regulatory logic of the genome.

I aim to connect mechanistic insights with interpretable AI to model how enhancers and gene loci integrate regulatory information across cell states.

Academic positions

  1. Sep 2026 — present

    Postdoctoral fellow

    VIB Center for AI & Computational Biology and KU Leuven

    Supervisor: Dr. Stein Aerts

  2. Jan 2025 — Aug 2026

    Research assistant

    Tsinghua University

    Supervisor: Dr. Nian Liu

  3. Nov 2018 — May 2019

    Research intern

    Beijing Institute of Genomics, Chinese Academy of Sciences

    Worked with Dr. Mingkun Li on lung microbiome analysis.

    Funded by the Innovation Practice Training Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS).

Education

  1. 2019 — 2024

    PhD in Bioinformatics

    Tsinghua University

    Supervisor: Dr. Nian Liu

  2. 2015 — 2019

    BS in Bioinformatics

    Dalian University of Technology

Publications

* Equal contribution. Author lists are abbreviated; complete authors are provided in BibTeX.

2026

CellCo-first author

Condensates of the chromatin regulator ANKRD11 restrict hypertranscribed genes to safeguard development

Tao Zhang*, Xiufeng Li*, Wei Zhou, et al.

Paper BibTeX
Summary & contribution

ANKRD11 condensates restrain hypertranscribed regions and safeguard transcriptional control during development.

My contribution. I co-conceived the study, led computational and integrative analyses, and developed the hypertranscribed-gene framework.

Keywords
  • Hypertranscription
  • Biomolecular condensates
  • Developmental disorders
2025

Trends in Genetics · 41: 577–589First author · Cover article

Advances in understanding LINE-1 regulation and function in the human genome

Xiufeng Li, Nian Liu

Paper BibTeX
Summary & contribution

A synthesis of LINE-1 regulation and its roles in genome organization, development and disease.

My contribution. I conceived and wrote the review, synthesized the literature, and developed its conceptual framework and figures.

Keywords
  • LINE-1 regulation
  • Chromatin organization
  • Development
2024

Nature Genetics · 56: 1494–1502Co-first author

LINE-1 transcription activates long-range gene expression

Xiufeng Li*, Luyao Bie*, Yang Wang*, Yaqiang Hong*, et al.

Paper Code BibTeX
Summary & contribution

Active LINE-1 elements promote long-range chromatin contacts and distal gene activation, including during zygotic genome activation.

My contribution. I led the computational and conceptual development, integrating genomic analyses into the mechanistic framework.

Keywords
  • LINE-1 regulation
  • 3D genomics
  • Zygotic genome activation
2024

Molecular Cell · 84: 1637–1650.e10Co-author

SAFB restricts contact domain boundaries associated with L1 chimeric transcription

Yaqiang Hong*, Luyao Bie*, Tao Zhang*, et al., including Xiufeng Li

Paper BibTeX
Summary & contribution

SAFB constrains chromatin contact-domain boundaries associated with L1 chimeric transcription.

My contribution. I contributed genomic analyses and interpretation of the genomic results.

Keywords
  • SAFB
  • L1 chimeric transcription
  • Contact-domain boundaries

Honors & awards

Selected presentations

Teaching & mentoring

Service & outreach

Early Career Researcher Reviewer

  • Nature Communications

Co-reviewing

  • Cell
  • Molecular Cell
  • Nature Structural & Molecular Biology
  • Aging Cell
  • Cell Reports
  • Cell Regeneration
  • Journal of Genetics and Genomics
  • Mobile DNA
  • Science China Life Sciences

Science communication on genomics, bioinformatics and academic training.