In 1999, Wu completed a dual B.S. in materials science and engineering and environmental science and engineering at Tsinghua University (THU). In 2001, she earned a M.S. in materials science and engineering at THU. She conducted her masters thesis, Structure Characterization and Performance of Porous Chemical Adsorbents for Indoor-Air Purification under advisor Feiyu Kang. Wu completed a Ph.D. in materials science and engineering at University of Pennsylvania in 2005. Her dissertation was titled Non-stoichiometric Ordered Perovskites for Microwave Applications. Wus doctoral advisor was Peter K. Davies. From 2005 to 2007, Wu conducted a postdoc as research associate in the National Institute of Standards and Technology Center for Neutron Research.  Her postdoctoral advisor was Terrence J. Udovic. She researched the development and processing of novel metal hydride materials for hydrogen storage and hydrogen-storage materials using neutron scattering techniques.