He received his doctoral degree in natural resources and environmental sciences with a specialization in environmental and natural resource sociology from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Qin teaches courses in sociology of the environment and natural resources; community, sustainability and natural resources; and population, development and environmental change. His research focuses include: population (migration) and the environment; vulnerability and adaptation to climate change; community-based conservation and natural resource management; sustainable livelihoods; and risk and disaster.