Wen Ni graduated from Central South University of Mining and Metallurgy in 1982, majoring in mineral survey and exploration, with a bachelor's degree. From 1985 to 1989, he studied for a master's degree at Beijing Iron and Steel Institute. He obtained a Ph.D. in mineralogy and diagenetic fluids at the University of Birmingham, UK in 1992. He has been working at the University of Science and Technology Beijing since 1992. He is currently a professor and doctoral supervisor, and concurrently serves as the chief expert of the China Association for Comprehensive Utilization of Resources and the deputy secretary-general of the Tailings Alliance; the executive director of the Chinese Ceramic Society and the chairman of the Technology Petrology Branch; China Minerals and Rocks Executive director of the Geochemical Society and member of the Science and Education Committee of the China Building Materials Federation. In 1996, he was named an outstanding teacher in Beijing's universities. In 1998, he was named a young subject leader in Beijing's universities. In 2003, he was awarded the Cross-Century Excellent Talents Fund of the Ministry of Education. He has long been engaged in research on mineral materials, insulation refractory materials, and solid waste recycling. He has published 160 papers, 40 of which were included in SCI and EI.