1. Spatial Temporal Data Management
2. Graph Data Management
3. Distributed Database
4. Data-Driven Machine Learning 

1. Deep Learning Research in Finance Data Applications, OKT2 – HKUST-Kaisa Joint Research Institute, 2021- , Leading.
2. Key Techniques of the Large Scale Dynamic Time-Dependent Road Network, NSFC Youth Program, 2023-2025, Leading.
3. Efficient Approximate Constrained Shortest Path Finding in Dynamic Road Network, Guangzhou-HKUST(GZ) Joint Funding Scheme, 2023-2025, Leading.
4. Large Scale AGV Path Planning System, HKUST \& HKPC Joint Laboratory, 2022-2023, Leading.
5. Efficient Multi-Objective Shortest Path Finding in Dynamic Road Network, Jiangsu Province Big Data Intelligent Engineering Lab, 2023-2024, Leading.
6. Big Data Intelligence Key Laboratory, 2023 Guangzhou-HKUST(GZ) Joint Funding Scheme, 2023-2025, Participating.

1. Lei Li, Wen Hua, Xingzhong Du, and Xiaofang Zhou. “Minimal on‑road time route scheduling on time‑dependent graphs”. PVLDB 2017
2. Lei Li, Kai Zheng, Sibo Wang, Wen Hua, and Xiaofang Zhou. “Go slow to go fast: minimal on‑road time route scheduling with parking facilities using historical trajectory”. VLDB Journal 2018
3. Lei Li, Sibo Wang, and Xiaofang Zhou. “Time‑dependent hop labeling on road network”. ICDE 2019
4. Lei Li, Sibo Wang, and Xiaofang Zhou. “Fastest Path Query Answering using Time‑Dependent Hop‑Labeling in Road Network”. TKDE 2020
5. Lei Li, Mengxuan Zhang, Wen Hua, and Xiaofang Zhou. “Fast Query Decomposition for Batch Shortest Path Processing in Road Networks.” ICDE 2020
6. Mengxuan Zhang, Lei Li, Wen Hua, and Xiaofang Zhou. “Stream Processing of Shortest Path Queries in Dynamic Road Networks.” TKDE 2020
7. Mengxuan Zhang, Lei Li, Wen Hua, and Xiaofang Zhou. “Efficient 2‑Hop Labeling Maintenance in Dynamic Small‑World Networks.” ICDE 2021
8. Ziyi Liu, Lei Li, Mengxuan Zhang, Wen Hua, Pingfu Chao, and Xiaofang Zhou. “Efficient Constrained Shortest Path Query Answering with Forest Hop Labeling”. ICDE 2021
9. Mengxuan Zhang, Lei Li, Wen Hua, Rui Mao, Pingfu Chao, and Xiaofang Zhou. “Dynamic Hub Labeling for Road Networks”. ICDE 2021
10. Mengxuan Zhang, Lei Li, and Xiaofang Zhou.“An Experimental Evaluation and Guideline for Path Finding in Weighted Dynamic Network”. PVLDB 2021
11. Ziyi Liu, Lei Li, Mengxuan Zhang, Wen Hua, and Xiaofang Zhou.“Multi‑Constraint Shortest Path using Forest Hop Labeling”. VLDBJ 2022
12. Zihan Luo, Lei Li, Mengxuan Zhang, Wen Hua, and Xiaofang Zhou. “Diversified Top‑k Route Planning in Road Network” VLDB 2022
13. Ziyi Liu, Lei Li, Mengxuan Zhang, Wen Hua, and Xiaofang Zhou.“FHL‑Cube:Multi‑Constraint Shortest Path Querying with Varying Combination of Constraints”. VLDB 2022
14. 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”. VLDBJ 2022
15. Jiajia Li, Xing Xiong, Lei Li, Chuanyu Zong, and Xiaofang Zhou.“Finding Top‑k Optimal Routes with Collective Spatial Keywords on Road Networks”. ICDE 2023
16. Mengxuan Zhang, Lei Li, Goce Trajcevski, Andreas Zufle, and Xiaofang Zhou. “Parallel Hub Labeling Maintenance with High Efficiency in Dynamic Small‑World Networks”. TKDE 2023

Current Teaching Assignments:

1. DSAA 5027, Spatio-Temporal Data Analysis, Fall 2022
2. DSAA 5012, Advanced Database Management for Data Science, Spring 2023
3. UCMP 6010, Cross-Disciplinary Research Methods, Spring 2023

Past Teaching Assignments:

1. DSAA 5012, Advanced Database Management for Data Science, Spring 2021

Current RPGs

Doctor of Philosophy:

1. Ziyi Liu, started in 10/2019
2. Zihan Luo, started in 01/2022
3. Zizhuo Xu, started in 01/2022
4. Xinjie Zhou, started in 01/2022
5. Chuyi Li, started in 01/2023

Graduated RPGs

Doctor of Philosophy:

1. Mengxuan Zhang, graduated in 08/2021
2. Xuanyi Zhang, graduated in 07/2021