Xiaodong Gong got his bachelor's degree in management science at Fudan University, Shanghai, in 1989 and his master's in economics at Renmin University, Beijing, in 1993. He stayed at Renmin as a lecturer before starting his doctoral studies in econometrics at Tilburg University, the Netherlands. His main research interest is in the microeconomic modelling of individual behaviour and in the application of advanced econometric techniques, in particular, to the problems in the labor market and consumer demand.

In September 2000 Xiaodong Gong joined IZA as a Research Associate. Since moving to Australian National University in November 2001, he has continued to keep close ties to IZA as a Research Fellow. Currently, Xiaodong is a professor at Faculty of Business, Government, and Law, University of Canberra.