Song Gao is a Professor of Environmental Science/Chemistry at Duke Kunshan University. He received his B.S. in Materials Science (Chemistry track, with Honors) from the University of Science and Technology of China, his Ph.D. in Analytical/Environmental Chemistry from the University of Washington, and then continued with postdoctoral training on Atmospheric Chemistry/Environmental Engineering at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech). Prior to joining DKU, he served on the chemistry faculty in Stetson University in the US as well as Hong Kong University of Science and Technology.

Dr. Gao takes an interdisciplinary approach, combining field, laboratory and modeling studies, to understanding the scientific mechanisms behind complex environmental pollution issues and finding remediation solutions. In particular, his research and peer-reviewed publications have focused on the physicochemical mechanisms of smog pollution, chemical nature and transformation of atmospheric aerosols, remediation technologies in removing halogenated compounds in groundwater. He has also taken on a keen interest in formulating science-based policies, in particular, mitigating ozone depletion, climate change and plastics pollution with co-benefits approach. He has received research funding from the United States National Science Foundation and Hong Kong Research Grants Council, and has served as a reviewer for US NSF grants and a myriad of international journals. He is currently an Editor for Case Studies in the Environment (University of California Press) and an Associate Editor for Journal of Environmental Studies and Sciences (Springer).

He is also passionate about teaching, having taught both undergraduate and graduate courses in chemistry, energy and environmental science. Two of his undergraduate students recently received Green Chemistry Scholarships awarded by US National Science Foundation/American Chemical Society for their research work under his supervision.