He has been teaching at RIT since 1987. Previously he was the Chair Professor of the Mechanics Department at Shanghai University of Technology. His areas of interest include finite element analysis with ALGOR, computer simulation with working model and Matlab/Simulink, numerical analysis, solid mechanics, heat transfer and system dynamics/vibration. Liu is an active member of the New York State Engineering Technology Association. He has been the recipient of teaching awards in China and was the sole recipient of the 2001 Annual Grant Reward from MSC Software Corporation, San Mateo, CA.