Lily L. Tsai is Ford Professor of Political Science at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Tsai is also the founder and Faculty Director of the MIT Governance Lab (MIT GOV/LAB), a group of political scientists working collaboratively with practitioners on research and innovation in citizen engagement and government accountability.

Her research focuses on issues of accountability, governance, and political participation in developing country contexts, with particular emphasis on Asia and East Africa. Her book, Accountability Without Democracy: Solidary Groups and Public Goods Provision in Rural China, was published in Cambridge University's Studies on Comparative Politics and received the 2007-08 Dogan Award from the Society of Comparative Research for the best book published in the field of comparative research. Tsai has also published articles in the American Political Science Review, Comparative Politics, Comparative Political Studies, and World Development.