Prof. Rao has over 50 years of mineral processing experience. She has developed a number of special processing technology that has had significant impact in the industry.

She specialized in metallurgical process in iron, titanium, lead, zinc, copper, gold and silver with projects in China, Mongolia, Kazakhstan, Zambia, South Africa and North Korea.

She was the former Chief Director of Beijing Geological Resources Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (BGRIMM), and was the chairlady of China Mining Value-added Services Alliance and Beijing China Oriental Mining Limited.