Dr. Jie Lian received his Ph.D. degree in Nuclear Engineering & Radiological Sciences from University of Michigan in 2003, and his M.S. degree in Materials Science & Engineering from Tsinghus University at 1998 and Electrical Engineering from University of Michigan in 2001. He obtained his B.S. degree in Materials Science and Engineering from Yanshan University in China in 1995.

Dr. Lian joined the Department of Mechanical, Aerospace & Nuclear Engineering at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute as an Assistant Professor in June 2008 and was promoted to Associate Professor with tenure at July 2013. Prior to this appointment, Dr. Lian was a postdoc research fellow (May 2003-December 2004) and research faculty (Jan 2005 till May 2008) at University of Michigan. He was promoted to full professor in July 2017.

In July 2023 Dr. Lian was named William Weightman Walker Professor of Engineering, an endowed chaired professorship.