Zhili Zhang

Zhili Zhang serves as the B. Ray Thompson Professor in the Mechanical, Aerospace and Biomedical Engineering Department at the University of Tennessee's Tickle College of Engineering. He has progressed through the academic ranks since joining in 2008, from Assistant Professor (2008-2014) to Associate Professor (2014-2019) to Professor (2019-2023), and currently holds the distinguished B. Ray Thompson Professorship since August 2023.

Dr. Zhang's academic credentials include:

• PhD in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering from Princeton University (2008)
• MA in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering from Princeton University (2006)
• Bachelor's degree from Tsinghua University (2000)

His research focuses on advanced laser diagnostics for combustion and plasma systems, computational imaging, and spectroscopy. Dr. Zhang has pioneered innovative techniques including Resonantly Ionized Photoemission Thermometry (RIPT), Focused Laser Differential Interferometry (FLDI), and Multiplexed Structured Image Capture (MUSIC), enabling high-speed, non-intrusive measurements in challenging environments like supersonic flows and plasma reactors. His recent work (2023-2025) demonstrates continued innovation in plasma-assisted ammonia synthesis, advanced temperature measurement techniques, and high-speed imaging applications for combustion diagnostics.

Dr. Zhang's scholarly excellence has been recognized through:

• AIAA Walter Lempert Best Paper Award
• Associate Fellowship in the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics
• ASEE Air Force Summer Faculty Fellowship (2012, 2013)
• Crocco Teaching Award from Princeton University
• Tickle College of Engineering Research Achievement Award (2025)
• Outstanding faculty award for research (2023)
• B. Ray Thompson Professor award (2023)

Dr. Zhang has mentored numerous graduate students to completion of their degrees, including Seth Holladay (PhD, 2024), Walker McCord (PhD), Cary Smith (award-winning student), Alexander Miloshevsky (PhD), Camden Carroll (MS), and Anthony Kim (MS). His research group actively participates in major conferences like AIAA SciTech, where they've presented multiple papers annually. He maintains strong collaborations with Oak Ridge National Laboratory, particularly through the ORNL/UT Joint Faculty program, and serves as a mentor for undergraduate research through programs like EUReCA.

Dr. Zhang leads a dynamic research laboratory focused on advanced diagnostics for combustion and plasma systems, with current projects spanning plasma-assisted ammonia synthesis, supersonic flow diagnostics, and high-speed imaging techniques. His group continues to recruit new graduate students and postdoctoral researchers, maintaining an active research environment at the forefront of laser-based diagnostic technologies.