Huang Danian, a geophysicist who returned to China seven years ago from Britain and contributed greatly to deep earth exploration technology. [Photo/Xinhua]

"I always expected Danian to excel at anything he wished to do. It does not surprise me at all." he added.

In 2008, China launched a national recruitment program for global top talent, called the "Thousand Talent" program, as part of its efforts to become an innovation-driven economy. The program encourages overseas Chinese and foreign professionals to work in China.

Huang became one of the first to participate in the program in 2009. He gave up his position in Britain and sold his house and property to work at Jilin University in Changchun.

Upon return, Huang was invited to be the chief scientist of a branch of China's biggest deep earth exploration program. The program aims to install high-tech cameras on aircraft, ships and satellites that enable them to see through the earth's crust without digging into it. Investment in his branch of the program has reached more than 300 million yuan ($43.5 million).

Wasting no time, Huang holed up in his office and worked day and night, with only two to three hours of sleep a day, earning him the deserved title of "workaholic".

"He doesn't take sleeping very seriously," Huang's wife Ren Lijuan once said.