Professor Ni Jun, earned his doctorate in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1987, has achieved significant recognition and leadership roles in both academia and the society. He holds the title of Shien-Ming (Sam) Wu Collegiate Professor Emeritus of Manufacturing Science by the Regents of the University of Michigan; Dean of SJTU Global Institute of Future Technology; Chief Manufacturing Officer of CATL (Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Ltd.); Honorary Dean of UM-SJTU Joint Institute(University of Michigan-Shanghai Jiao Tong University); Director of S. M. Wu Manufacturing Research Center; Co-Director of National Science Foundation Industry/University Cooperative Research Center for Intelligent Maintenance Systems.

Professor Ni Jun has been the recipient of over 40 awards in recognition of his accomplishments in academia, and he has also been awarded fellowships from numerous institutions. Receiving the Outstanding Young Manufacturing Engineer Award, Society of Manufacturing Engineers in 1991; Presidential Faculty Fellow Awards, National Science Foundation in 1994; Changjiang Endowed Chair Professorship, Ministry of Education, PRC in 1999-2002; Outstanding Oversea Scientist Award, National Natural Science Foundation of China in 1999; Fellow of Society of Manufacturing Engineers in 2002; Fellow of American Society of Mechanical Engineers in 2004; William T. Ennor Manufacturing Technology Award, ASME in 2009; Gold Medal, Society of Manufacturing Engineers in 2013, a historic achievement as the first Chinese academic to be honored with this prestigious award since its establishment in 1955.