The School of Physics and Astronomy at Shanghai Jiao Tong University established a secondary teaching and research center, the "Teaching and Research Center," in 2017 to strengthen undergraduate teaching and integrate related teaching resources. The foundation for this center was built upon the original University Physics Teaching and Research Section and the Physics Experimental Teaching Center. The aim was to create a high-level institution dedicated to teaching research and talent cultivation. The Teaching and Research Center consists of three teaching and research sections: the "University Physics Teaching and Research Section," the "Physics Experiment Teaching and Research Section," and the "Professional Physics Teaching and Research Section." Externally, it retains the titles of "National Demonstration Center for Experimental Teaching" and "National Base for Physics Teaching in Engineering Fundamental Courses."

The Teaching and Research Center currently employs 11 professors, 16 associate professors, 2 lecturers, 3 senior engineers, 2 senior experimentalists, 5 engineers, and 1 experimentalist. The director of the Teaching and Research Center is concurrently held by Professor Chen Sheli, the executive vice-dean of the college, while deputy directors include Professors Yuan Xiaozhong, Wang Yuxing, and Liu Shiyong.

The University Physics Teaching and Research Section, formerly part of the Physics and Astronomy Department's University Physics Teaching and Research Section, primarily focuses on teaching university physics courses to non-physics majors across the university, offering courses such as 'University Physics (Type A),' 'University Physics (Type B),' 'University Physics (Type C),' 'University Physics (Type D),' 'Honors University Physics,' and 'Medical Physics.' The Physics Experiment Teaching and Research Section evolved from the Physics and Astronomy Department's Physics Experimental Teaching Center; it offers over a hundred types of physics experiments and shoulders the responsibility for basic experimental courses for physics majors and university physics experiments for non-physics majors across the university. The Professional Physics Teaching and Research Section is mainly tasked with planning the curriculum for undergraduate physics majors, suggesting instructor assignments, evaluating course effectiveness, and delivering some specialized physics courses, including 'Physical Research Practice' and 'Computational Physics.'

The history of the physics laboratory at Shanghai Jiao Tong University dates back to 1906, making it one of the earliest laboratories established at the university. Since 1980, it has undergone restructuring, initially separating into General Physics Laboratories and Modern Physics Laboratories before merging again in 1997 to form the Physics Experimental Center. The Physics Experimental Center has achieved numerous accomplishments in teaching and research, receiving awards such as First Prize in Shanghai Teaching Achievements, First and Second Prizes in the National Competition for the Development of Experimental Teaching Instruments in Engineering Physics, and recognition as an Advanced Laboratory Work Collective in Shanghai. The University Physics Teaching and Research Section traces its roots back to 1952 when it was founded after departmental adjustments, being the only retained physics entity at Shanghai Jiaotong University following these changes. After the re-establishment of the Applied Physics Department in 1978, the University Physics Teaching and Research Section upheld and developed SJTU's traditions of high starting points, solid foundations, rigorous requirements, practical emphasis, and innovation. It conducted a series of reforms in teaching contents, curriculum structures, teaching methods, and tools, resulting in consistent improvements in teaching quality and effectiveness. The section has garnered multiple awards, including First Prize in Shanghai Teaching Achievements, SJTU Teaching Awards, and the Special Award for Excellent Teaching by the President. It has also published a suite of textbooks, such as 'College Physics' (7th Edition), edited by Cheng Shouzhu and Jiang Zhiyong, 'College Physics Tutorial' (2nd Edition) edited by Wu Xilong, 'University Physics' (by SJTU Physics Teaching and Research Section), 'College Physics Tutorial' (by SJTU Physics Teaching and Research Section), and 'College Physics in Depth and Solutions to Typical Problems' by Li Cuilian.

The National Base for Physics Teaching in Engineering Fundamental Courses at Shanghai Jiao Tong University was approved by the Chinese Ministry of Education in 1996, becoming one of six such bases nationwide. It comprises the University Physics Teaching and Research Section, the Physics Experimental Center, and the CAI Research Room. In 2000, it passed the mid-term check with excellent results from the Ministry of Education, followed by successful final evaluation in 2004, also with an excellent conclusion. Since its establishment, the base has produced a series of substantive outcomes in areas such as curriculum reform, textbook development, pedagogical innovation, state-of-the-art experimental equipment and environment, high-caliber faculty development, and demonstration and radiation effects. These efforts have shaped its distinctiveness and exerted influence and driving force on teaching reform within the university and among peer institutions, showcasing its capacity for comprehensive scale and radiation model functions. The University Physics course was recognized as a National Quality Course in 2004 and later included in the first batch of "National Quality Resource Sharing Courses" by the Ministry of Education in 2016. The Physics Experiment course was designated a National Quality Course in 2005, and the Physics Experimental Center was named a National Demonstration Center for Experimental Teaching in the same year. In 2008, the teaching team from the base was honored as a National Teaching Team.

Faculty members at the Teaching and Research Center are proactive in pursuing teaching-related research, constantly improving their instructional abilities. In recent years, students mentored by instructors such as Wang Jinhui, Li Xiangting, Pan Wei, Luo Xudong, among others, have won awards in national competitions such as the National Undergraduate Physics Experiment Contest and the National Undergraduate Physics Academic Competition. Teachers like Dong Zhanhai, Yuan Xiaozhong, Hu Qitu, Feng Shimeng, Lu Zhiguo, Liu Shiyong, Liu Dangbo, and Pan Wei have received multiple university-level teaching awards, with Professor Hu Qitu being selected as a National Teaching Master under the Ten Thousand Talents Program.