On December 7, 2015, the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Chinese Academy of Engineering both announced the list of newly-elected academicians. The advisory committee members of NIT, Professor Yang Shufeng (Geoscience Academy, Zhejiang University) and Professor Chen Yunmin (Civil Engineering Institute, Zhejiang University), were elected academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

They are both the leading professors in their respective fields. Professor Yang Shufeng, from Geoscience Academy in Zhejiang University, has made great achievements in doing research in genesis of granites guided by the plate tectonics theory. Professor Chen Yunmins innovations in civil engineering have been applied to more than 60 key projects.