Li Narangoa completed her PhD in East and Central Asian History at the University of Bonn, Germany. She specializes in modern Northeast Asian history, with a particular focus on Japanese and Mongolian history, culture, and politics. Prior to joining the faculty at ANU, she was a researcher at the University of Bonn and the Nordic Institute of Asian Studies in Copenhagen.

At ANU, she teaches courses on Japanese history and language, the Mongol Empire in World History, and broader thematic courses such as "Memories of Conflicts and Reconciliation." Her research interests include borders, empires, nationalism, memories, and knowledge heritage. Currently, her projects focus on the memories of conflicts and heritage-making, Japan's relations with other Asian countries in the 20th century, and the transmission of medical knowledge and healing traditions on the Mongolian plateau.