Professor Zhang conducts research on Rock Mechanics, Rock Engineering, Sustainable Geotechnics, Geoenvironmental Engineering and Earthquake Engineering. He received his Master's Degree in Geotechnical Engineering from Tongji University, China and in Civil and Environmental Engineering from MIT, USA. His PhD was received in Geotechnical Engineering from MIT. He has published over 50 articles in international peer reviewed journals such as Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering, International Journal of Rock Mechanics and Mining Sciences. Currently Prof. Zhang teaches the following courses at graduate level at The University of Arizona:• Geotechnical Engineering and Design• Foundation Engineering• Earth Structures in Geotechnical Engineering• Ground Improvement• Geoenvironmental EngineeringProfessor Zhang is the Principal Investigator or Co-PI in more than 15 grants and contracts from National and State institutions and Private Companies. He has received awards such as ASCE ExCEEd Teaching Fellow, 2011; First Runner-Up, Young Professor Paper Competition, Deep Foundations Institute, 2008; Arthur D. Little Corporate Star Case Awards, 2001, 2002; Science and Technology Progress Award, China Education Ministry, 1994 ;Outstanding Young Faculty Member Award, Tongji University, Shanghai, China, 1993In 2014 Professor Zhang was Co-Chair of GeoShanghai International Conference.