Menghao Qin has performed research into building physics and materials since the late 1990s. His work includes smart materials for built environment control, phase change humidity control materials, polymer hydrogel, hygrothermal performance of buildings, indoor environmental quality (IEQ), and energy-efficient building design. He has developed advanced experimental methods, new smart materials, computer simulation models and environmental control technologies.

He was previously Professor and Director of the Center for Sustainable Building Research at Nanjing University, China and he was a member of the editorial boards of Building and Environment, ASCE Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering, Construction and Building Materials, and Building Research and Information.

He has held guess professor positions at the University of La Rochelle, France the ETH Zurich, Switzerland.