Dr Zhaoli Dai-Keller’s research analyses local and international epidemiological data to identify key dietary factors associated with preventing functional decline, reducing the burden of chronic disease, and promoting healthy longevity among ethnically diverse older populations. This evidence base informs the co-development and implementation of intervention strategies in community and healthcare settings, aiming to support equitable and sustainable health programs and policy to prolong healthy long life.

Zhaoli is a nutritional epidemiologist with over a decade of experience in public health research and education. She earned her PhD in Epidemiology from National University of Singapore in 2015 and subsequently completed a prestigious NIH T32 postdoctoral fellowship at Boston University under the mentorship of Dr David Felson. In 2018, she relocated with her family to Sydney, Australia.

Her research aims to improve diet quality and promote healthy ageing and longevity among older adults, and those from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. She utilises research cohorts, population surveys, and global data consortium to lead or contribute to both academic and translational research on culturally relevant diet components, burden of disease, healthy longevity, and healthcare access, especially digital health and virtual care utilisation across community, clinical, and policy settings.

Zhaoli is deeply committed to teaching. She educates students at all levels and across health disciplines to train them to think critically and holistically about health problems, with a strong emphasis on equity and cultural relevance for primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention. Her teaching ranges from introduction to public health, epidemiological research methods, program evaluation, to evidence-based health leadership and strategies.

She also provides leadership across institutional, national, and international platforms. She plays an active role in shaping public health initiatives and promoting well-being in ageing populations across various settings, including research, training, and policy. She is Co-Chair of Ageing Research Network at the School of Population Health at UNSW, Executive member of the Australian Association of Gerontology (NSW), Chair of the Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Working Group at the Nutrition Society of Australia, Executive member of the Aging Policy Committee of American Public Health Association, and Co-Chair of the Global Health Ageing at Association of Pacific Rim Universities.