Professor Li Yuanyuan graduated from the Department of Mechanical Engineering, Hunan University in 1982. He earned his Ph.D degree in Mechanical Engineering at South China University of Technology in 1998.  He has been the president of South China University of Technology since 2003.

Professor Li Yuanyuan’s current professional appointments include: Director of the Guangdong Key Laboratory for Advanced Metallic Materials Processing, Commissioner of the 7th Chinese Association for Science and Technology, Commissioner of the Division of Materials Engineering of the Science and Technology Commission of the State Ministry of Education, Deputy Director of both the Foundry Institution and the Powder Metallurgy Institution of the Chinese Mechanical Engineering Society, Director of the Foundry Institution of Guangdong Mechanical Engineering Society.

Professor Li Yuanyuan is mainly engaged in the preparation and formation of novel metallic materials and composite materials, of which he established and enriched new basic theories. He has also developed an advanced technology for the preparation and formation of high performance steel-based and iron-based powder materials, metallic based composite materials, and nonferrous alloys. He has solved key technological problems in the research and development of various important materials and components.

Professor Li Yuanyuan has won 12 awards at the National and Provincial level, including: the second place prize of National Technology Progress, the first place prize for Technology Progress of Guangdong Province, and the first place prize of National Excellent Teaching Award. Five of his 12 awards are in the first place category. Additionally, he also was awarded the 4th Science and Technology Award for Chinese Youth.

Professor Li Yuanyuan has been granted 18 patents for his inventions. He was awarded an honorary Doctor of Science by the University of Glamorgan, UK.