Shaolei Dai is a Ph.D. candidate in Civil Engineering at Zhejiang University since 2022. His research focuses on glued laminated bamboo (glubam), a sustainable bio-based composite material, and its applications in real-world building and construction projects. He has played a key role in the design and construction of the Double-Water Low Carbon Community Center in Ninghai, Zhejiang, a landmark demonstration project showcasing engineered bamboo in modern architecture.
He received both his B.S. and M.S. degrees from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, with research focused on structural engineering and CFRP strengthening materials. Prior to his doctoral studies, he served as R&D Manager at Shanghai Horse Construction Co., Ltd., where he led the development of CFRP materials and prestressing anchorage systems, and contributed to several major CFRP prestressed strengthening projects, including the rehabilitation of the Wuhan Junshan Yangtze River Bridge. Earlier, he worked as a structural engineer at Shanghai Construction Design & Research Institute Co., Ltd. He also lectured at the Zhejiang College of Construction for two years.