Lin was born and raised in Baotou, Inner Mongolia, with his ancestral home in Gaomi, Shandong.
[2] During the Cultural Revolution, he taught at a school in Jalaid Banner, Inner Mongolia.
[citation needed] Lin taught at Peking University since 1986, he became a professor at the College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Peking University (CCME) in August 1995.
In July 1997 he became deputy dean of the College of the CCME, rising to president in April 2001.
[citation needed] In December 2010 he was promoted to become the president of Chongqing University, a position he held until June 2013.