Dong earned his B.Eng in Engineering Mechanics from Hohai University and M.Eng from China University of Mining and Technology, where he's now a Ph.D candidate. His research primarily focuses on rock mechanics issues in energy extraction, and he has published several articles in this domain. Looking ahead, Dong is dedicated to developing carbon-negative concrete/fill materials, aiming to mitigate CO2 emissions from the mining industry and contribute to addressing the global climate crisis.