主要研究领域：
昆虫分类学：研究鞘翅目露尾甲科等昆虫的鉴定、分类和各阶元间亲缘关系。明确各个分类阶元的鉴定特征，发现新的分类单元并对现有分类进行完善和修订。
昆虫形态学：利用光学显微镜、电子显微镜（扫描电镜和透射电镜）和显微CT获取形态结构特征和3D数据，对形态结构指标进行评估和筛选，并解决特征连续性变异的问题。
系统发育研究：结合形态特征、分子数据和生物学习性构建符合自然历史发展规律的系统发育树，探讨各单元之间的亲缘关系，预测其分歧时间，追溯其进化过程。
主持科研项目：
● 湖北省人才项目（2021–2025）。
● 威尼斯9499登录入口“长江人才计划”菁英人才（2021–2025）。
● 国家自然科学基金青年基金（32000321），访花露尾甲对花粉食物的取食与消化形态结构适应性研究（2021–2023）。
● 威尼斯9499登录入口第二批ESI学科提升计划资助项目（2019–2021）。
● 威尼斯9499登录入口博士科研启动基金项目（2019–2021）。
● 威尼斯9499登录入口博士科研启动基金项目（2019–2021）。
主要学术论文（第一作者（含共一）或通讯作者）：
● Liu M., Huang M., Cline A.R., Mancini E., Scaramuzz A., Paradisi S., Audisio P., Badano D. & Sabatelli S. (2021) Rosaceae, Brassicaceae and pollen beetles: exploring relationships and evolution in an anthophilous beetle lineage (Nitidulidae, Meligethes-complex of genera) using an integrative approach. Frontiers in Zoology, 18 (1): 1–20.
● Li Q., Chen L., Liu M.; Wang W., Sabatelli S., Giulio A.D. & Audisio P. (2021) Scanning Electron Microscope Study of Antennae and Mouthparts in the Pollen-Beetle Meligethes (Odonthogethes) chinensis (Coleoptera: Nitidulidae: Meligethinae). Insects, 12 (7): 1–17.
● Ren Y., Lu H., Chen L., Sabatelli S., Wang C., Xie G., Wang P., Liu M., Wang W. & Audisio P. (2021) Comparative Mitogenomic Analysis of Two Longhorn Beetles (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae: Lamiinae) with Preliminary Investigation into Phylogenetic Relationships of Tribes of Lamiinae. Insects, 12 (9): 1–13.
● Sabatelli S., Liu M., Cline A.R., Lasoń A., Macuvele S., Muambalo K., Chuquela L. & Audisio P. (2020) Palms and pollen beetles: two new anthophilous beetle species of Meligethinus from Mozambique (Coleoptera: Nitidulidae: Meligethinae). Zootaxa, 4802 (1): 32–40.
● Liu M., Yang X.K., Huang M., Cline A.R., Sabatelli S. & Audisio P. (2020) Five new species of Lamiogethes Audisio & Cline from China (Coleoptera: Nitidulidae: Meligethinae). Zootaxa, 4728 (1): 63–76.
● Liu M., Huang M., Cline A.R., Cardoli P., Audisio P. & Sabatelli S. (2020) Re-examination of the genus-level taxonomy of the pollen beetle subfamily Meligethinae – Part 1. Sagittogethes Audisio & Cline 2009 and allied genera; with description of a new genus (Coleoptera: Nitidulidae). Fragmenta entomologica, 52 (1): 119–135.
● Sabatelli S.#, Liu M. #, Badano D., Mancini E., Trizzino M., Cline A.R., Endrestøl A., Huang M. & Audisio P. (2019) Molecular phylogeny and host‐plant use (Lamiaceae) of the Thymogethes pollen beetles (Coleoptera). Zoologica Scripta, 49 (1): 28–46.
● Liu M., Sabatelli S., Mancini E., Trizzino M., Huang M., Cline A.R. & Audisio P. (2019) Rediscovery of Brassicogethes salvan (Coleoptera: Nitidulidae, Meligethinae) in the southwestern Alps. Insect Conservation and Diversity, 12 (1): 80–87.
● Liu M., Huang M., Cline A.R. & Audisio P. (2018) New and poorly known Meligethes Stephens from China, with bionomical data on some species (Coleoptera: Nitidulidae: Meligethinae). Zootaxa, 4392 (3): 546–566.
● Liu M., Huang M., Cline A.R. & Audisio P. (2017) Two new Lamiogethes Audisio & Cline from China (Coleoptera: Nitidulidae, Meligethinae). Fragmenta entomologica, 49 (2): 145–150.
● Liu M., Huang M., Cline A.R., Sabatelli S. & Audisio P. (2017) A new species of Meligethes Stephens from China and additional data on members of the M. chinensis species-complex (Coleoptera: Nitidulidae, Meligethinae). Fragmenta entomologica, 49 (1): 79–84.
● Liu M., Yang X.K., Huang M., Jelínek J. & Audisio P. (2016) Four new species of Meligethes Stephens from China and additional data on other species of the genus (Coleoptera: Nitidulidae: Meligethinae). Zootaxa, 4121 (2): 101–116.
● Liu M., Yang X.K. & Huang M. (2016) One new species and one newly recorded species of Cyllodes Erichson from China (Coleoptera: Nitidulidae: Nitidulinae). Zootaxa, 4079 (3): 345–356.
