Professor Dai received his BEng and MSc degrees from Dalian University of Technology and PhD degree from Hokkaido University. Prior to joining CityU he was a Full Professor at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, which he joined as Assistant Professor in 2008 and was promoted to Associate Professor and Professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering in 2013 and 2018, respectively. He also had 8 years of research experience in Japan.

Professor Dai’s research theme is “Emerging Material and Structural Systems for Sustainable Concrete Infrastructures”. More specific research interests include Fiber Reinforced Polymer (FRP) Composites, Fiber-reinforced Cementitious Composites, Durability and Life Cycle Maintenance of Marine Concrete Structures, Multiple Functional Coating and Low-carbon Geopolymer Concrete. Professor Dai is among the Stanford's list of top 2% most cited scientists. His research work has been recognized by many academic awards such as the “Best Basic Research Paper Award” from “Journal of Composites for Construction” of American Society of Civil Engineers, “International Outstanding Collaboration Award” from Japan Society of Civil Engineers, “Structural Excellence Award-Grand Award” from Hong Kong Institution of Engineers etc. Professor Dai is also a startup co-founder and received a Gold Medal in the special edition of the Geneva Inventions Expo 2022.

Professor Dai is a Fellow of the International Institution of FRP in Construction (IIFC), Hong Kong Institution of Engineers, Hong Kong Concrete Institute, and the International Association of Advanced Materials. He has contributed significantly to international organizations like ISO, IIFC, and Asian Concrete Federation and served a number of SCI journals in different editorial roles. He has secured significant research grants from various funding agencies, including Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, National Natural Science Foundation of China, Research Grants Council of Hong Kong SAR, Innovation and Technology Fund etc.