He received a BSc degree from Xiamen University in 1987 and MSc and Ph.D degrees in marine studies from the University of Delaware at Lewes in 1997 and 2000, respectively. In addition to his academic career, he has extensive industrial experience, including working as an associate engineer and a sale representative for Xiamen Overseas Chinese Electronic Company from 1987 to 1994; as a software developer for United Stated Data Corporation in Richardson, Texas in 2000; and as a software engineer for eWings Technologies Inc. in Plato, Texas in 2001.