Quansong was born in Yichang, Hubei. He holds bachelor’s degrees in Chemistry and Finance from Ocean University of China, and a Ph.D. in Atmospheric Sciences from North Carolina State University. Upon finishing school, Quansong moved to New England where he worked in the Woodrow Wilson School of Princeton University for three years, and occasionally lectured in School of Forestry and Environmental Studies at Yale University. Quansong returned to RTP in 2006, in answering family call, to take a job with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). He is also a faculty member of NCSU Graduate School.

In general, Quansong is interested in understanding the interactions between the environment and human society from an air quality perspective. He utilizes computer models, ground and satellite monitors, and census data to study a number of air quality related issues that include source emissions, air quality forecast, health impact of air pollution, ozone damage to agriculture, air quality policy, and Green GDP.