Melissa Li, Ph.D
About Melissa Li, Ph.D
Melissa Li, Ph.D, is a Senior Game Designer at Riot Games, where she has worked since 2019. She has a background in biomedical engineering and extensive experience in game design, having previously held roles at Riot Games, Wizards of the Coast, and various academic institutions.
Work at Riot Games
Melissa Li, Ph.D., is currently employed at Riot Games as a Senior Game Designer since 2019. In this role, she has contributed to various projects, including serving as the Lead Designer for an upcoming game mode and co-leading the 'Journey to the Peak' game mode. Prior to her current position, she worked as a Senior Narrative Writer for Legends of Runeterra for seven months in 2017 and held the position of Narrative Lead for the same game from 2017 to 2020. Her tenure at Riot Games spans over five years, during which she has focused on integrating storytelling and design.
Education and Expertise
Melissa Li holds a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Biomedical Engineering from Georgia Institute of Technology, where she studied from 2006 to 2013. She also earned a Master of Science (MS) in Biomedical Engineering from the same institution from 2006 to 2008. Additionally, she completed her Bachelor of Science in Engineering with a focus on Bioengineering and Mechanical Engineering at the University of California, Berkeley, from 2001 to 2006. Her academic background provides a strong foundation for her work in game design, particularly in the areas of technology and innovation.
Background
Before joining Riot Games, Melissa Li gained diverse experience in various roles related to game design and research. She worked as a Game Designer at Wizards of the Coast from 2015 to 2017. Her academic career includes serving as a Post-Doctoral Fellow at the University of Washington's Yager Microfluidics Laboratory from 2013 to 2015 and as a TI:GER Fellow at Georgia Institute of Technology from 2010 to 2012. She also held positions as an Undergraduate Researcher at UC Berkeley and as the international iGEM Program Coordinator at MIT, showcasing her multifaceted background in both research and practical applications.
Achievements
Throughout her career, Melissa Li has been dedicated to enhancing the gaming experience through storytelling and design. She has experience in both digital and tabletop game design, contributing to her versatility in the gaming industry. Her leadership roles in game mode development at Riot Games highlight her ability to drive projects from conception to execution. Her academic achievements, including multiple degrees in Biomedical Engineering, further underscore her commitment to integrating scientific principles into her creative work.