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.