Li, Wendong（李文東）

Biography

Prof. Wendong Li is an Associate Professor in Department of Management, The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK). He obtained his PhD degree from National University of Singapore. Prior to joining CUHK, he worked as an Assistant Professor at Kansas State University for three years. Prof. Li conducts research on proactivity across a number of areas, including leadership, work design, and well-being. He is intrigued by how people are willing and able to modify, but also adapt to, their environments. His work examines individual (e.g., personality traits and genetics) and environmental (e.g., work context and culture) factors that may prompt proactivity, as well as the consequences of being proactive. Recently, he is conducting research that looks at the role of time and change-related issues on leadership, motivation, proactivity, and well-being.

His research has been published in leading management and general science journals including Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America (PNAS), Journal of Applied Psychology, Annual Review of Organizational Psychology and Organizational Behavior, Personnel Psychology, and Leadership Quarterly. His work has won the Hogan Award for Personality and Work Performance, Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology, the International HRM Scholarly Achievement Award and Best Student Convention Paper Award, Academy of Management, as well as the Best Paper Award in the OB Division, Asian Academy of Management. His research has also been covered in media outlets, such as the Economist, USA Today, the Washington Post, LA Times, and the South China Morning Post.

He is an associate editor for Journal of Occupational and Organizational Psychology, a senior editor for Management and Organizational Review, and Asia Pacific Journal of Management, and a contributing editor for Journal of Applied Psychology. He has also been an editorial board member for Journal of Management, Personnel Psychology, Journal of Organizational Behavior, and Acta Psychologica Sinica, the best Chinese psychology journal in China. He is a member of board of directors for Asian Academy of Management as well.

Teaching Areas

Organisational Behaviour
Human Resource Management
Leadership
China Related Issues
Research Methods

Research Interests

Proactivity, Leadership and Leader Development
Work Design
Well-being
Individual Differences (Personality and Genetics)
Change-related Issues
Mindfulness

• Publications & Working Papers
  • Song, Z., Li, W. D., Fan, Q. (2022), “Hunting for leadership “causal” genes: Mission possible?” Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 119 (29), e220811511.
  • Song, Z.†, Li, W. D.†, Li, H. et al. (2022), “Genetic basis of job attainment characteristics and the genetic sharing with other SES indices and well-being,” Scientific Reports, 12, 8902.
  • Song, Z.†, Li, W. D.†, Jin, X., Feng, J., Ying, J., Zhang, X.*, Song, Y., Li, H., & Fan, Q. (2022), “Genetics, leadership position, and well-being: An investigation with a large-scale GWAS,” Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 119 (12), e2114271119
  • W.D. Li, S. Li, J. Feng, M. Wang, H. Zhang, M. Frese, and C.H. Wu (2021), “Can becoming a leader change your personality? An investigation with two longitudinal studies from a role-based perspective,” Journal of Applied Psychology, 106(6), 882-901.
  • J. Sun*, W.D. Li*, Y. Li, R. Liden, S. Li, and X. Zhang (2021), “Unintended consequences of being proactive? Linking proactive personality to coworker envy, helping, and undermining, and the moderating role of prosocial motivation,” Journal of Applied Psychology, 106(2), 250-267.
  • W.D. Li, S. Li, D. Fay, and M. Frese (2019), “Reciprocal relationships between dispositional optimism and work experiences: A five-wave longitudinal investigation,” Journal of Applied Psychology, 104(12), 1471-1486.
  • W.D. Li, J. Schaubroeck, J.L. Xie, and A. Keller (2018), “Is being a leader a mixed blessing? Dual pathways linking leadership role occupancy to well-being,” Journal of Organizational Behavior, 39(8), 971-989.
    • Winner of the 2015 Best OB Paper award, Asian Academy of Management
  • W.D. Li, K. Stanek, Z. Zhang, D.S. Ones, and M. McGue (2016), “Are genetic and environmental influences on job satisfaction stable over time? A three-wave longitudinal twin study,” Journal of Applied Psychology, 101 (11), 1598–1619.
  • W. Chi, W.D. Li, N. Wang, and Z. Song (2016), “Can genes play a role in explaining turnover? An examination of gene-environment interaction from human capital theory,” Journal of Applied Psychology, 101(7), 1030-1044.
  • W. D. Li, Z. Zhang, Z. Song, and R.D. Arvey (2016), “It is also in our nature: Genetic influences on work characteristics and in explaining their relationships with well-being,” Journal of Organizational Behavior, 37(6), 868–888.
  • R. Arvey, W.D. Li, and N. Wang (2016), “Genetics and Organizational Behavior,” Annual Review of Organizational Psychology and Organizational Behavior, 3, 167-190.
  • W.D. Li, N. Wang, R. Arvey, R. Song, S. M. Saw, and Z Song (2015), “A mixed blessing? Dual mediating mechanisms in the relationship between dopamine transporter gene DAT1 and leadership role occupancy,” The Leadership Quarterly, 26(5), 671-686.
  • W.D. Li, D. Fay, M. Frese, P. D. Harms, and X. Gao (2014), “Reciprocal relationship between proactive personality and work characteristics: A latent change score approach,” Journal of Applied Psychology, 99(5), 948-965.
    • Winner of the 2016 SIOP Hogan Award for Personality and Work Performance
  • M. Zyphur, Z. Zhang, A. P. Barsky, and W.D. Li (2013), “An ACE in the hole: Twin family models for applied Behavioural genetics research,” The Leadership Quarterly, 24(4), 572-594.
  • W.D. Li, R. D. Arvey, Z. Zhang, and Z. Song (2012), “Do leadership role occupancy and transformational leadership share the same genetic and environmental influences?” The Leadership Quarterly, 23(2), 233-243.
  • W.D. Li, Z. Song, and R. D. Arvey (2011), “The influence of general mental ability, self-esteem and family socioeconomic status on leadership role occupancy and leader advancement: The moderating role of gender,” The Leadership Quarterly, 22(3), 520-534.
  • Z. Song, W.D. Li, and R. D. Arvey (2011), “Associations between dopamine and serotonin genes and job satisfaction: Preliminary evidence from the Add Health Study,” Journal of Applied Psychology, 96(6), 1223-1233.
  • P. J. Taylor, W.D. Li, K. Shi, and W. C. Borman (2008), “The transportability of job information across countries,” Personnel Psychology, 61, 69–111.
    • Winner of the Academy of Management International HRM Scholarly Research Award
  • W.D. Li, Y. Wang, P. Taylor, K. Shi, and D. He (2008), “The influence of organizational culture on work-related personality requirement ratings: A multilevel analysis,” International Journal of Selection and Assessment, 16(4), 367-385.
    • Winner of the Academy of Management HR Division Best Student Convention Paper Award
  • Z. Luo, K. Shi, W.D. Li, and D. Miao (2008), “Construct of job performance: Evidence from Chinese military soldiers,” Asian Journal of Social Psychology, 11, 222-231.

  ^*denotes equal authorship

• Grants
  • “Youth identity status and its psychosocial correlates: A longitudinal study in Hong Kong”, University Grants Committee, UGC/IDS(C)15, HK$3,465,000, 2020-2022 (Co-Investigator)
  • “The dynamics of shared leadership in entrepreneurial teams: A latent change score approach”, General Research Fund (13500817) awarded by the University Grants Committee with HK$358,405, 2018-2020 (Co-Investigator)
  • “Influences of becoming a leader on personality change: A longitudinal investigation”, awarded by the Chinese University of Hong Kong with HK$60,000, 2018-2019 (Principal Investigator)
  • “Effects of mindfulness intervention on change of well-being”, awarded by the Chinese University of Hong Kong with HK$20,000, 2018 (Principal Investigator)
  • “Influences of work experiences on change of optimism: A longitudinal study”, awarded by the Chinese University of Hong Kong with HK$80,000, 2016-2017 (Principal Investigator)
  • “Is being a leader a mixed blessing? Dual pathways linking leadership role occupancy to well-being”, Faculty Development Award, awarded by Kansas State University with US$1,000, 2015 (Principal Investigator)
  • “The reciprocal relationship between trait affectivity and work experiences: Disentangling genetic and environmental influences”, Faculty Enhancement Program, Kansas State University, awarded with US$10,000, 2014 (Principal Investigator)

• Awards & Honours
  • Best Senior Editor Award for Management and Organization Review, IACMR, 2022
  • Hogan Award for Personality and Work Performance, Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology, 2023
  • Hogan Award for Personality and Work Performance, Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology, 2016
  • Best Paper Award in the OB Division, Asian Academy of Management, 2015
  • 30 Most Influential Living I/O Psychologists, Human Resources MBA, 2014
  • Wang Gungwu Medal and Prize for the best dissertation in Social Sciences and Humanities, National University of Singapore, 2014
  • International HRM Scholarly Research Award, Academy of Management, 2009
  • President’s Graduate Fellowship, National University of Singapore, 2009
  • Best Student Convention Paper Award of the HR Division, Academy of Management, 2007

• Academic and Professional Services

  Editorial Boards

  • Journal of Applied Psychology, 2021-Present
  • Journal of Management, 2020-Present
  • Journal of Organizational Behavior, 2020-Present
  • Acta Psychologica Sinica, 2017-Present

  Editorship

  • Associate Editor, Journal of Occupational & Organizational Psychology
  • Senior Editor, Management and Organization Review
  • Senior Editor, Asia Pacific Journal of Management
  • Guest Editor, Journal of Organizational Behavior (From Personality Traits to Personality Dynamics: New Approaches to Personality Research in Organizational Settings)

  Service to Academic Communities

  • Member of Board of Directors, Asian Academy of Management (AAOM),   2020 – present 
  • Member, International Affairs Committee and Small Grant Committee, Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology, 2020 
  • Research committee member, International Association for Chinese Management Research (IACMR), 2017-Present
  • Member, Award Committee for Hogan Award for Personality and Work Performance, Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology, 2017
  • Panelist, the 2017 Professional Development Workshop “Bridging the Gap: International Student Consortium” by the HR Division, Academy of Management
  • Panelist, Friday seminar on Biological Foundations of Organizational Behavior, Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology, 2014