Yuguo Li studied engineering in Shanghai Jiaotong University and Tsinghua University and fluid mechanics in Royal Institute of Technology. He was also a principal research scientist and the team leader of indoor environments at CSIRO Australia prior to 2000 when he joined The University of Hong Kong. Yuguo Li is now a Chair Professor of Building Environment. He has been studying city climate, infection transmission and recently sustainability engineering. His team focuses on required ventilation for SARS-CoV-2, while exploring design forms and technologies for cities for decarbonization. Their work prior to and during the pandemic contributes to redefine the transmission mechanisms of respiratory infection.

Yuguo Li serves as a member of WHO infection prevention and control Guidance Development Group for COVID-19 and co-chaired a WHO working group on transmission through air. He is the founding Editor-in-Chief of Indoor Environments, the new official journal of International Society of Indoor Air Quality and Climate. He is a fellow of Hong Kong Academy of Engineering Sciences and received the Pettenkofer Award, Guanghua Engineering Science and Technology Prize in China, Medal of Honour of HKSAR Government, Louise and Bill Holladay Distinguished Fellow Award, the Rydberg gold medal and an honorary doctor degree of Aalborg University.