2007年在中国科学院化学研究所获得理学博士学位，2007-2010在美国新墨西哥大学从事博士后研究。2010年10月作为引进人才加入到陕西师范大学工作。近年来一直从事功能化共轭聚合物荧光探针的设计合成及其在生物传感和生化分析方面的应用研究。
先后主持国家自然科学基金优秀青年基金、国家自然科学基金面上项目及青年项目、教育部及陕西省自然科学基础研究计划项目多项。在J. Am. Chem. Soc.、Adv. Mater.、Anal. Chem.、Chem. Commun.、ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces等国际知名学术杂志上发表论文50余篇，发表的文章被引用2000多次，H因子23；获得了2015年度陕西省中青年科技创新领军人才称号、2009年度全国优秀博士学位论文提名、2008年度中国科学院优秀博士学位论文。
1. Xiaoqian Zhang, Qi Zhao, Yanru Li, Xinrui Duan, Yanli Tang*, Multifunctional Probe Based on Cationic Conjugated Polymers for Nitroreductase-Related Analysis: Sensing, Hypoxia Diagnosis, and Imaging. Anal. Chem. 2017, 89(10), 5503-5510.
2. Qi Zhao, Ziqi Zhang, Yanli Tang*, A New Conjugated Polymers-Based Combination Probe for ATP Detection Using Multisite-Binding and FRET Strategy, Chem. Commun. 2017, 53, 9414 - 9417.
3. Junting Li, Qi Zhao, Feng Shi, Chenghui Liu*, Yanli Tang*, NIR-Mediated Nanohybrids of Upconversion Nanophosphors and Fluorescent Conjugated Polymers for High-Efficiency Antibacterial Performance Based on Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer, Adv. Healthc. Mater. 2016, 5(23), 2967-2971.
4. Qi Zhao, Junting Li, Xiaoqian Zhang, Zhengping Li, Yanli Tang*, Cationic Oligo(thiophene ethynylene) with Broad-Spectrum and High Antibacterial Efficiency under White Light and Specific Biocidal Activity against S. aureus in Dark, ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces 2016, 8(1), 1019-1024.
5. Chun Wang, Yanli Tang*, Yue Liu, Yang Guo, Water-soluble Conjugated Polymer as a platform for Adenosine Deaminase Sensing Based on Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer Technique, Anal. Chem. 2014, 86(13), 6433-6438.
6. Chun Wang, Yanli Tang*, Yang Guo, Adenosine Deaminase Biosensor Combining Cationic Conjugated Polymer-based FRET with Deoxyguanosine-based Photoinduced Electron Transfer, ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces 2014, 6(23), 21686-21691.
7. Yanli Tang*, Yue Liu, Ali Cao, Strategy for Sensor Based on Fluorescence Emission Red Shift of Conjugated Polymers: Applications in pH Response and Enzyme Activity Detection, Anal. Chem. 2013, 85(2), 825-830.
8. Ali Cao, Yanli Tang*, Yue Liu, Huanxiang Yuan and Libing Liu*, A strategy for antimicrobial regulation based on fluorescent conjugated oligomer–DNA hybrid hydrogels, Chem. Commun. 2013, 49, 5574-5576.
9. Yue Liu, Yanli Tang*, Ali Cao, Reversible Logic Gate Modulated by Nucleases Based on Cationic Conjugated Polymer/DNA Assembly, Polym. Chem. 2013, 4(20), 5206-5211.
10. Ali Cao, Yanli Tang*, Yue Liu, Novel Fluorescent Biosensor for α-Glucosidase Inhibitor Screening Based on Cationic Conjugated Polymers. ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces 2012, 4 (8), 3773–3778.
