Dr. Yi is an Associate Professor in School of Civil and Environmental Engineering. He was the Deputy Co-Director of Surbana Jurong-NTU Corporate Laboratory from 2022 to 2024. Dr. Yi obtained his Bachelor's, Master's, and PhD degrees from Southeast University in 2004, 2008, and 2013, respectively. He was a Postdoctoral Fellow in University of Alberta from 2013 to 2016, and an Academic Visitor in University of Cambridge from 2009 to 2010.

Dr. Yi’s research areas include geotechnical engineering, sustainable construction materials, and treatment of solid wastes. He has an ambition to use interdisciplinary approaches to improve the sustainability in geotechnical engineering. Hence, he is specially interested in interdisciplinary areas among geotechnical engineering, materials engineering, and environmental engineering, such as sustainable geo-materials, geo-environmental engineering, and geo-environmental materials. Main research topics in Dr. Yi’s group include: (1) Sustainable geotechnology based on industry by-products/wastes; (2) Durable materials for coastal protection and marine geotechnology; (3) Carbonation for CO2 sequestration, hazard mitigation, and strength enhancement; (4) Treatment and utilization of hazardous solid wastes; and (5) Deep soil mixing for soft ground improvement.

Dr. Yi is serving as Associate Editor for Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering (ASCE) and Editorial Member for Geotechnical Engineering (ICE) and Ground Improvement (ICE). He is the Secretary of ISSMGE Technical Committee 'Sustainability in Geotechnical Engineering (TC307)', member of ASCE Geo-Institute Soil Improvement Committee, and member of Singapore Standards Council Technical Committee member (Civil and Geotechnical Work).