Professor Zhili Sun was born in China. He obtained a BSc degree in Mathematics from Nanjing University, China in 1982. He worked as a Teaching Assistant in the Department of Computer Science and Engineering, Southeast University after his graduation. In 1985, the Chinese Ministry of Education awarded him a scholarship to study for a Master Degree in Computer Networks in Lancaster University in UK, and in 1986 he was awarded the Overseas Research Studentship (ORS), the Peel Studentship and Senate Scholarship from Lancaster University in the Department of Computing for his PhD project on Managing Large Scale Distributed Systems. From 1989 to 1993, he worked as a Postdoctoral Researcher in Broadband Communications and Networks in the Department of Electronic Engineering, at Queen Mary, University of London. Professor Sun is a well recognised leading researcher and expert in the fields of Satellite Networking and Internet Protocols. He has led a research team for many years working as Principal Investigator in a number of research projects. He has published a monograph book titled “Satellite Networking” by John Wiley and over 112 papers in international journals. He has made several contributions to international standards (ITU-T, ETSI and IETF). He has been successful in winning over 17 projects with a total funding of over £2.5m from European Union Framework Programmes (EU FP), European Space Agency (ESA), UK Research Council (EPSRC) and industries. He has also served as Expert Reviewer to audit and review EU projects and government research programmes in UK and Europe. He lectures as module leader and contributor in four course modules at postgraduate and undergraduate levels, and supervises a number of Postdoctoral Research fellows and PhD researchers as well as MSc and undergraduate projects. Professor Sun has served as a member in numerous International Technical Advisory and Planning Committees, has chaired various international conferences, and been invited to give keynote speeches and invited seminars and lectures, as an authority in the satellite networking area. He has acted as external examiner in a number of Universities in UK, France, Spain, Singapore and China.

Professor Zhili Sun's research interests include: Broadband Communications and Networks, Satellite Networking and Internet Protocols