He teaches courses in accounting information systems and managerial accounting. He is published in academic journals including Contemporary Accounting Research, Review of Accounting Studies, Auditing: A Journal of Practice & Theory, and the Journal of Accounting, Auditing & Finance. Gao had been with Governors State University prior to joining WSU. He obtained his M.B.A. and M.S. in accounting and his Ph.D. in business administration from Wayne State University.