Before joining WMO, Qu was a lecturer at Nanjing University of Information Science & Technology (NUIST) from 2017. His research focused on Aerosol, atmospheric compositions, greenhouse gas emissions, sediments transportation and geochemistry observations, particularly within the Tibetan Plateau and Yangtze River Basin. Following the work during his PhD at Lappeenranta University of Technology in Finland, where he researched the intricate relationships between climate change and cryosphere alterations in the Third Pole region.
Qu's earlier career also includes a Seconded Expert at the China Meteorological Administration (CMA) from 2019 to 2020, where he managed international meteorological collaborations. He also facilitated the application process for a WMO Regional Training Centre component focused on hydrology.
Throughout his career, Qu has demonstrated a deep commitment to environmental sustainability and climate research, contributing significantly to both scientific knowledge and practical applications in the field.