I obtained my B.S. degree in electrical and mechanical engineering from Nanchang University, China in 1982. I earned an M.S. degree in materials science and engineering from Zhejiang University, China in 1984 and completed a Ph.D. degree in mechanical engineering from Iowa State University in 1991. My major research interests rest on database and systems, biomedical devices, materials, quality systems, problem solving, failure analysis, renewable energy and sustainability, smart grid and smart homes.

I started working with graduate students on databases especially on Oracle database in 1996. I am certified by Oracle Corp. as Oracle Certified Professional (OCP) for database administration. I am a registered professional engineer (PE) in the State of Illinois, a certified quality engineer (CQE) by American Society for Quality and a certified senior technology manager (CSTM) by Association of Technology, Management and Applied Engineering.

I am currently a full professor, and assistant chair in the School of Technology, and serving as the founding director of Center for Clean Energy Research and Eduction (CENCERE) at Eastern Illinois University. I was the developer of the Computer Technology program at EIU while serving as the coordinator of MS in Technoloogy program for 15 years. Our team has just developed a new undergraduate program of Computer and Information Technology launched in Fall 2017.

I have a wife, two daughters and a dog (Buddy). In my family, I make all big decisions and my wife makes the small ones. For example, I deal with such things as global warming, terrorism fighting, international relations, crimes in the streets, and increases in taxes. My wife decides the minor things such as which house to buy, what kind of car we drive, how much money to spend, and how to raise the children.