Professor ZHANG obtained his BSc and MSc, both in Mechanical Engineering from Donghua University, China in 1986 and 1994 respectively.  He received his PhD in Mechanical Engineering from Laval University, Canada in 2000.  He joined Ontario Tech University (OTU), Canada, as Assistant Professor in 2004 and was promoted to Associate Professor and Professor in 2006 and 2011 respectively.  During the appointment period in OTU, he also served as Founding Chair in the Department of Automotive, Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering (2012 – 2014) and was awarded the Canada Research Chair in Advanced Robotics and Automation (2009 – 2015).  Since 2016, he transferred to York University, Canada as Kaneff Professor and also took up the role of Department Chair in the Department of Mechanical Engineering from 2016 to 2018.  Thereafter, he was awarded the Tier 1 York Research Chair in Advanced Robotics and Mechatronics. 

Professor ZHANG is a well-accomplished educator and an internationally renowned expert in the areas of parallel robotic machines and their applications in manufacturing systems. His influential scientific contributions have led to novel robotic system designs and development of new comprehensive models for better understanding of globe stiffness and robotic calibrations. His research applications have tackled some of the world's most challenging problems in high dynamic performance manufacturing robotic systems. His leadership has resulted in significant contributions to the areas of robotics, mechatronics, reconfigurable/sustainable manufacturing systems and MEMS devices. His accomplishments have been recognized by many honors and awards including Canada Research Chair, Research Excellence Awards, Tier 1 York Research Chair, Lassonde Innovation Awards --- Established Researcher, Early Researcher Award by Ministry of Research and Innovation, Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Engineering (CAE), Fellow of the Engineering Institute of Canada (EIC), Fellow of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) and Fellow of the Canadian Society for Mechanical Engineering (CSME).

Professor ZHANG's research interests include: synthesis and optimization of parallel and hybrid mechanisms; generalized parallel mechanisms research; reconfigurable robots; micro/nano manipulation and mems devices (e.g., sensors); rescue robots; smart biomedical instruments (e.g., exoskeleton robots and rehabilitation robotics); AI/robotics/autonomous systems; Aerial and Underwater Robotics and Artificial Intelligence for Robotics.

Professor ZHANG has published 246 journal papers and 187 conference papers, 12 books, 9 book chapters and numerous other technical publications. Professor ZHANG has served as a General Chair for 67 International Conferences and delivered 117 keynote speeches. Professor ZHANG is listed as the World’s Top Two Percent Researchers by Stanford’s Standardized Citation Indicators in 2020, 2021 and 2022.