Professor’s alleged role in China programmes leads to ban from US funding

A professor managed US funding of computer science research for more than two years while failing to disclose that he was simultaneously involved in Chinese government programmes, according to previously unreported documents.

The professor, Tao Li, was a programme officer at the National Science Foundation from 2015 to 2017, a job that included overseeing the awarding of grants for research in areas such as hardware, software and algorithms.

During that time, Li took part in two Chinese talent plans, according to a report by the NSF’s Office of Inspector General. The FBI has warned that such plans can incentivise members to steal or misappropriate foreign knowledge or technology.

In addition, Li was involved in awarding US research grants to at least seven other scientists who also allegedly failed to disclose their participation in one of the Chinese talent plans, called Dragon Star, according to a separate set of documents detailing US national security concerns with Li and such plans.

The FBI first flagged its concerns about Li’s suspected involvement in Dragon Star to NSF leadership in 2019, according to a former CIA analyst who said he took part in the meeting.

The inspector general’s office began an investigation based on the tip, but it would be about seven years from the time of the FBI briefing before the probe concluded and the NSF took action based on its findings.