Greetings!

Charles QC Li.
Practitioner,
Scholar,
& Person of People,
@Q Labs

About

QC

Human

Intro

I love cities. My work explores the relationship between humans and humans, humans and their environments across many dimensions: ecologies, economies, laws, and aesthetics. A pluralist, I’m drawn to both the sciences and arts that shape how we live together in space.

I currently focus on regulations: the making, interpretation, and advocacy. Two ideas guide me: (1) helping global governments make cities better for people, and (2) helping organizations or individuals navigate actions within the public interest.

I address pressing urban issues: land use, transportation, health, the environment, energy, and innovation. In research, I use causal data science and emerging technologies. In advocacy, I leverage diplomatic, design, and Socratic methods to support ligitation, mediation, and education.

I am nostalgic. I use old-school communication - emails, calls, and face-to-face chats with 👁️ eye contact. I love public speaking.

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See My Skills

Practice

QLabs.

All about human behavior.

Experience

Leading urban policy research projects using causal data science and AI. My research helps ground and advocate for global and U.S. national level policy reforms that advance health, sustainability, and the economy. I work with a diverse range of research units within the UC system: ITS (LA), IoES (LA), IURD (Berkeley), etc. Teaching activities include both theoretical and methodological classes.

Leading urban livability research projects using large-scale data and AI. My research advances global planning paradigm shifts to make cities better for people. I manage end-to-end research workflows, collaborate with multiple PIs, and deliver weekly briefings to industry and municipal partners. I was a speaker at the 2024 MIT Senseable Forum on Future Cities, with over 100 participants from five continents.

Education

2026-; 2021-2023

University of California

Ph.D. - Urban Planning (LA)
Focus: Laws, Policies & Diplomacies

M.Arch. - Architecture (Berkeley)
Focus: Humans and Built Environments

A Class Units / Total Units = 77 / 80 = 96.25%
GPA: 3.877 / 4.000

Sample Courses:
A - Architecture & Urbanism Studio
A - Architecture & Urbanism History
A+ - Culture of Practice
A+ - Scalable Spatial Analytics
A+ - Analytic and Research Methods for Planners: GIS
A - Back-End Web Architecture
A - Locative Media
A - Land and Housing Market Economics
A - Urbanization in Developing Countries
A- - Thesis Seminar & Studio
A- - Urban Informatics and Visualization
A- - Advanced Study of Energy & Environment
A- - Citizen Involvement in the City Planning Process
...

2016-2021; 2015-2016

SEU Architecture | 東南大學建築學院

B.Eng. - Urban and Rural Planning (5-year) | 城乡规划
Focus: Physical Planning & Design

Major - Transportation (1-year)
Focus: Science & Engineering Foundations

A Class Units / Total Units = 188 / 219.5 = 85.60%
GPA: 3.860 / 4.000

Sample Courses:
A - Architectural Design
A - Urban Planning & Design
A - Visual Design
A - GIS & Its Application in Urban Planning
A - Urban Ecology & Environmental Planning
A - Physical Environment Analysis
A - City Policy Analysis
A - Data Analysis of Urban Planning System
A - History of Foreign Landscape
A - Architectural History
A - History of Urban Planning
A - Advanced Mathematics
A - Linear Algebra
...