Dr Ping Yi holds a B.S. degree in engineering mechanics from Hunan University, China, a M.S. degree and a Ph.D. degree in mechanics from Dalian University of Technology, China. She was a visiting scholar at Rutgers University, U.S., for one year. Currently a professor of Dalian University of Technology where she has taught engineering mechanics since 2000. Professional interests include optimization and reliability analysis in structural engineering and geotechnical engineering. Presently Dr. Yi has authored or co-authored more than sixty research papers and six books. Among the papers, 18 of them are published in the SCI international journals.