Professor Zhang’s research ranges multi-scale BES from nano/micro-scale in porous media to buildings and urban environment and involves engineering, architectural design, human health, and performance. His research interests include air purification and ventilation, indoor air quality, building energy and environmental systems, and intelligent buildings.

Zhang is involved in a variety of major ongoing research projects, including the Virtual Design Studio, which involves close collaboration between engineers and architects to develop a designer-oriented software tool for performance-based building system design. Professor Zhang also leads an international group in developing methods and tools for combined heat, air, moisture and pollutant simulations (CHAMPS) for building systems.

Professor Zhang has authored/co-authored over one hundred peer-reviewed journal papers and refereed conference papers, one book, 2 ASTM and 1 ANSI/BIFMA Standards. He serves on the Editorial Boards of several international journals: “Energy and Buildings,” HVAC&R Research,” “Ventilation,” “Building Simulations,” “High-Rise Buildings,” and “Frontiers of Architectural Research.”