A few years ago, the shocking death of a Chinese doctoral student studying at the University of Florida, who committed suicide by hanging himself, caused a stir. On Thursday, August 13, Bloomberg revealed more unknown information about the former advisor of the late doctoral student, a Chinese-American tenured professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Florida, Li Tao, once again sparking attention.
In 2019, Li Tao’s Chinese doctoral student
Chen Huixiang
reportedly chose to end his life in the laboratory by hanging himself as he could not bear being forced to falsify data.
In 2021, after investigations conducted by the University of Florida, the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM), and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), Li Tao faced consequences. Subsequently, he returned to China and became the director of the Artificial Intelligence Research Center at
Hunan University of Science and Technology,
an institution affiliated with the Chinese military.
In May 2026, the National Science Foundation (NSF) in the United States imposed a penalty on Li Tao, prohibiting him from receiving federal funding for six years.
“In sum, your behavior is extremely reprehensible, and there is no reason that can mitigate the blame.” This was stated in an official letter sent by the NSF, reviewed by Bloomberg.
The NSF provides about a quarter of federal funding for basic research at American universities, with an annual budget exceeding $8 billion, covering almost all fields of science and engineering research and education except medical sciences.
From 2015 to 2017, Li Tao served as a program officer at the NSF, overseeing the allocation of research funding in areas such as hardware, software, and algorithms. However, during these two years, he secretly participated in two “talent recruitment” programs of the Chinese government—the Thousand Talents Program and the Changjiang Scholars Program.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has warned that such programs may induce participants to steal or misuse foreign knowledge or technology.
Furthermore, another document details the potential national security threats posed by Li Tao and his participation in the Chinese “talent recruitment” programs. The document mentions that while serving as an NSF program officer, Li Tao approved research funding grants in the United States, where at least 7 scientists were also involved in the Chinese “Thousand Talents Program.”
According to official statements from the Chinese government, the Thousand Talents Program aims to elevate the academic training levels of computer and related disciplines in China by inviting renowned overseas Chinese scholars and top international professors to return to the country, systematically delivering cutting-edge research courses to faculty and students at domestic universities and research institutions.
Bloomberg reported that according to a former Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) analyst, the FBI first expressed concerns to the NSF leadership about Li Tao’s alleged involvement in the Thousand Talents Program in 2019. The NSF Office of Inspector General initiated an investigation based on the whistleblower’s report, but it took about seven years from the FBI’s report to the conclusion of the investigation, and the NSF took action based on the investigative findings. The Department of Justice reportedly refused to prosecute Li Tao in 2024.
Li Tao responded to Bloomberg’s inquiries via email, stating that the US government funding awarded to other American scientists participating in the Chinese “talent recruitment” programs was based on their own merits and received the endorsement and unanimous consent of all participating review committees.
Below is the timeline compiled based on Bloomberg’s report.
(Data compiled: The Epoch Times)