Dr. Zhang is a professor in the School of Water Resources and Hydropower Engineering at Wuhan University. He develops low-carbon cement-based materials via CO₂ sequestration and waste repurposing and optimizes their engineering properties and lifecycle efficiency. The goal is to mitigate the environmental footprint of the construction industry by shaping sustainable resource flow and circular carbon networks. Based upon multiscale experimentation and modeling, his research involves the following topics:

Carbon-negative concrete design and processing

Developments of high-performance fiber-reinforced cementitious materials

Recycling and beneficiation of large-volume waste streams as construction feedstock

CO₂ mineralization in cementitious materials, aggregates, and fillers for general civil infrastructure and critical energy infrastructure

Characterization, testing, and durability evaluation of low-carbon concrete

Biomass CO₂ conversion and utilization for construction materials

Quantitative lifecycle impact assessment of low-carbon concrete technologies