He was elected as an Academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences in 2011. He graduated from Peking University in 1982. He continued to conduct research at Peking University and obtained his Ph.D. in 1988. Then he joined Peking University as a lecturer and was promoted to professor in 1992. He was the vice president of Nankai University in 2016-2017. Currently, he is the president of Lanzhou University and the director of State Key Laboratory of Rare Earth Materials Chemistry and Applications of Peking University. He received more than 20 academic awards, including the State Natural Science Award, the 2nd Grade (2006), and the National Award of Science and Technology Progress, the 2nd Grade (1999).

His research is focused on the control of the structure and microstructure, particle size and its distribution, morphology, and surface and interface of rare earth functional materials, so as to modify and enhance the behaviors.