Xinshan Li is a senior lecturer in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Sheffield. She obtained her PhD in 2011 from the Auckland Bioengineering Institute (New Zealand). Dr Li’s research focuses on the biomechanics of bones and soft tissues using personal-specific finite element models. Her pioneering work on children’s bone started in 2013, in collaboration with the Sheffield Children’s Hospital and Great Ormond Street Hospital (London). The project was one of the four pillars in the EPSRC-funded multimillion-pound MultiSim project. Dr Li chaired a session on “Multiscale biomechanics of paediatric musculoskeletal diseases” during the 8th World Congress of Biomechanics. Dr Li’s research has been funded by EPSRC, EU (H2020), UK Charity and the industry. Her work was featured in BBC radio interview (2013) and media release (2018). Dr Li was the finalist for the Asian Women of Achievement Awards (Science category) in 2020.