Dr. Chao was born on December 18, 1918 in Suzhou, China and came to the United States in 1948. He received a B.S. degree in electric engineering summa con laude from National. Chiao-Tung University in 1939 and a doctorate from Victoria University, Manchester, England in 1947. His doctoral disseertaiton is entitled "The Effect of Speed and Feed on the Mechanics of Metal Cutting." He joined the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana as Visiting Research Assistant in 1948. He taught at the Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, UIUC as assistant professor (1951-53), associate professor (1953-55), full professor (1955-87) and department head (1975-87),. He retired as professor emeritus in 1987.
In addition to teaching, Dr. Chao served as design engineer, Scully Jones Co., Chicago (summer 1951-52); resident research associate, Argonne National Laboratory (Summer 1961); member of technical staff, Jet Propulsion Laboratory (Summer 1964); Russell S. Springer visiting professor of mechanical engineering, University of California, Berkeley (Spring 1973); visiting scientist, Argonne National Laboratory (1975), and consultant to Scully Jones and Co., U.S. Atomic Energy Commission, University of Washington in Seattle, Clemson University, State University of New York, Buffalo, and Argonne National Laboratory.
A recognized expert on heat transfer and energy systems, Dr. Chao is the author of over 100 articles, four U.S. patents, and a well received book, Advanced Heat Transfer (1969). received many honors and awards: member, National Academy of Engineering; member, Academia Sinica, Republic of China, fellow, American Society of Mechanical Engineers; fellow, American Association for the Advancement of Science; fellow, American Society for Engineering Education; Boxer Indemnity Scholar, Sino-British Cultural and Educational Foundation (1945-48); Blackall Machine Tool and Gage Award, American Society of Mechanical Engineers (1957); Distinguished Lecturer, University of Washington, Seattle (1964); Distinguished Lecturer, Ohio State University (1970); Heat Transfer Memorial Award, American Society of Mechanical Engineers (1971); Russell S. Springer Visiting Professor of Mechanical Engineering, University of California, Berkeley (1973); Western Electric Fund Award, American Society of Engineering Education (1973); Ralph Coats Roe Award (1st), American Society for Engineering Education (1975); Service Award, National Science Council, Republic of China (1976, 1979); Five-Year Effective Teacher Award, Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering Alumni Association, UIUC (1978); Southwest Mechanics Lecturer, Southwest Universities Association (1982); Board of Governors' Certificate of Appreciation for Service as Technical Editor (1975-1981), Journal of Heat Transfer, American Society of Mechanical Engineers (1982); Max Jakob Memorial Award, American Society of Mechanical Engineers and American Institute of Chemical Engineers (1983) ; Prince Distinguished Lecturer, Arizona State University (1984); Outstanding Achievement Award, American Academy of Higher Education (1984); Lamme Medal, American Society for Engineering Education (1984); Tau Beta Pi Daniel C. Drucker Eminent Faculty Award (1st), College of Engineering, UIUC (1985); University Scholar, UIUC (1985-88); William T. Ennor Manufacturing Technology Award, American Society of Mechanical Engineers (1992); Centennial Medallion, American Society for Engineering Education (1993); NASA Certificate of Recognition for Creative Development (1993).
Dr. Chao is very active in his profession. He is member of a number of professional societies, founding member of the Society of Engineering Science, and a honorary member of Phi Tau Sigma. Dr. Chao is listed in a number of biographies, including Dictionary of International Biography, Who's Who in the World, Who's Who in America, and Who's Who in Engineering.