Professor Xiaoping Song obtained his bachelors degree in engineering from Harbin Shipbuilding Institute (now known as Harbin Engineering University) in 1982. In 1984 he completed a masters in engineering at Zhejiang University and started his teaching career that same year at Xi'an Jiaotong University (XJTU). He began part-time doctoral studies at XJTU in 1987 and received his PhD degree in materials science and engineering in 1992.
Professor Song was previously the vice president of XJTU responsible for science and technology. His research areas mainly focus on advanced functional materials, and he has won much national and international recognition for his work.