2008-2012 Ph.D. Fluid Engineering

Department of Energy and Process Engineering, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Norway. Funded by Shell doctoral fellowship.

2006-2008 M.S. Aerospace Engineering

School of Mechanical Aerospace and Systems Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), South Korea. Funded by KAIST student fellowship and KRF scholarship.

2001-2005 B.E. Power Engineering of Aircraft

Department of Energy and Power Engineering, Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics (NUAA), China.

2024- now Professor

Department of Engineering Mechanics, Tsinghua University, China.

2016- 2024 Associate Professor (Tenured)

Department of Engineering Mechanics, Tsinghua University, China.

2017- 2020 Adjunct Associate Professor

Department of Energy and Process Engineering, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Norway

2012- 2016 Postdoctoral Fellow

Department of Energy and Process Engineering, NTNU, Norway.

2023-now Editorial Advisory Board Member of Mathematics

2022 Scientific Committee of EUROMECH Colloquium 625

2021-now Editorial Advisory Board, Young Editors of Acta Mechanica Sinica

2021 Guest Editor of Acta Mechanica Sinica

2021-now Chair of organizing committee and scientific committee of 1^st , 2^nd, 3^rd BICTAM-CISM Symposium on Dispersed Multiphase Flows.

2020-now Vice director of working group of Environmental Mechanics in The Chinese Society of Theoretical and Applied Mechanics.

2018-2021 Editorial Advisory Board Member of Heliyon.

2017-now Editorial Advisory Board Member of International Journal of Multiphase Flow.

2017-now Editorial Advisory Board Member of Acta Mechanica.

2018-now Grant reviewer for NWO Domain Science (Netherlands), and the National Natural Science Foundation of China.

2019-now Chair of NorAlumni Beijing Chapter.

2017 Organizer of Mini-symposium ‘Atmospheric Boundary Layer and Atmosphere Environment’ of the 2nd International Conference on Computational Engineering and Science for Safety and Environmental problems, Chengdu, China.

2012-now Regular reviewer for 30+ ISI journals; 20+ times annually:

PNAS, PRL, JFM, PRF, Physics of Fluids, Acta Mechanica, Environmental Fluid Mechanics, International Journal of Multiphase Flow etc.

2016 Focus Session Chair in the 9th International Conference of Multiphase Flow, Florence, Italy.

2013 Session chair in the 8th International Conference of Multiphase Flow, Jeju, South Korea.

I'm interested in the dynamics of turbulence and dispersed multiphase flow and the studies are mainly carried out by high-fidelity numerical simulations (DNS, LES). The objective is to understand the dynamics of suspended particles, bubbles, or droplets in a turbulent carrier fluid and the mechanism of the interactions between dispersed phase and fluid phase. Our recent research interests / ongoing projects are:

    Non-spherical particle in wall turbulence

    Sedimentation by fully resolved simulations

    Active particles and navigation strategy obtained by deep reinforcement learning

    Particle-laden non-Newtonian flows

    Droplet and evaporation in turbulence

If you are a motivated student interested in these topics, or a PhD student looking for a Postdoc position in a relevant field, please do not hesitate to contact me.

2025 First Prize of Science and Technology Award sponsored by Chinese Society of Mechanics

2024 Humboldt Research Fellowship for Experienced Researchers

2023 Chou Pei-Yuan Award in Mechanics for Young Scholar (2-3 awardees in 2 years).

2023 Award for excellent PhD thesis supervisor of Tsinghua University (top 10%)

2022 First prize of teaching for young faculties of Tsinghua University

2022 Award for excellent PhD thesis supervisor of Tsinghua University (top 10%)

2016 National Thousand Talents Program for Young Scholars in China.

2015 Research featured in a Focus on Fluids article in the Journal of Fluid Mechanics.

Journal Publications: >100 ( Nature Sustain., Sc. Adv., PRL, 34 JFM)

Citations: 2740 Google Scholar (Sept. 2026)

H-index: 28 Google Scholar (Sept. 2026)

www.researchgate.net/profile/Lihao-Zhao

Selective publications in past five years (* - corresponding author):

2026

1. Enhancement of inertial particle transport in rough-wall turbulence. Z. Wang, J. Huang, Z. Cui, C. Xu, L. Zhao*. Journal of Fluid Mechanics, accepted (2026).

2. Alignment response time for non-spherical particles in turbulence. Z. Cui, L. Zhao*. Journal of Fluid Mechanics, 1043, A24 (2026).

3. Theoretical collision model of elongated particles in turbulence. H. Luo, J. Huang, L. Zhao*. Journal of Fluid Mechanics, 1030, A38 (2026).

4. Particle flocs in homogeneous isotropic turbulence: formation, destruction and lifetime. J. Huang, K. Zhao, X. Jiang, Z. Cui*, C. Xu, E. Meiburg, L. Zhao*. Journal of Fluid Mechanics, 1032, A26 (2026).

5. Formation of superswells and domes in layered turbulent convection systems. Y. Wang, H. Liu, L. Zhao*, X. Zhu*. Journal of Fluid Mechanics, 1035, A45 (2026).

6. Clustering and dynamics of finite-size light particles in homogeneous isotropic turbulence. S. Li, X. Jiang*, C. Xu, L. Zhao*. Journal of Fluid Mechanics, 1037, A30 (2026).

7. Temporal and spatial evolution of coherent structures of velocity and temperature fluctuations in compressible turbulent boundary layers. R. Li, L. Zhao, C. Xu*. Journal of Fluid Mechanics, 1041, A34 (2026).

8. Preferential concentration and flow field modification in bubble-laden vertical turbulent channel flow. F. Chen, L. Zhao, C. Xu, W. Huang*. Journal of Fluid Mechanics, 1029, A3 (2026).

2025

1. Biomimetic nanofibres for sustainable thermal insulation. Z. Chen, Z. Cui, Z. Li et al. S. Zhao*, L. Zhao*, H. Wu*. Nature Sustainability 8, 957–969 (2025).

2. Stability analysis on the angular dynamics of a spheroid in simple shear flow: Influence of slip-induced fluid inertial torque. Z. Cui, X. Jiang, J. Qiu, L. Zhao*. Journal of Fluid Mechanics, 1021, A1 (2025).

3. Effects of thermal buoyancy on the dynamics of a rising or falling sphere. S. Li, X. Jiang, C. Xu, L. Zhao*. Journal of Fluid Mechanics, 1018, A22 (2025).

4. How large-scale flow structures affect particle transport in wall turbulence. J. Huang, Y. Jie, Z. Cui, C. Xu, H. Andersson, L. Zhao*. Journal of Fluid Mechanics, 1015, A23 (2025).

5. Pseudo-turbulence induced by settling spheroids in a quiescent fluid. X. Jiang, L. Brandt, C. Xu, L. Zhao*. Journal of Fluid Mechanics, 1011, A22 (2025).

6. Interactions between the near-wall turbulent structures and heavy particles in compressible turbulent boundary layers. M. Yu, L. Zhao, Y. Du, X. Yuan, C. Xu. Journal of Fluid Mechanics, 1010, A68 (2025).

7. Short term vs. long term: Optimization of microswimmer navigation on different time horizons. N. Mousavi, J. Qiu, L. Zhao, B. Mehlig, K. Gustavsson, Physical Review Research, 7, 013258 (2025).

8. Escape from the predator-induced flow: smart prey strategies with steering and swimming actions. B. Li, J. Qiu, L. Zhao*, Soft Matter, 21, 2413-2421 (2025封面文章).

9. Complete breakup of liquids into ultrafine droplets by grid turbulence. Z. Li, Y. Li, Z. Cheng, S. Zhao, Y. Huang, S. Li, Y. Zhou, Y. Fan, P. Du, Y. Yang, S. Lu, Z. Cui*, L. Zhao*, H. Wu*, Nano Letters, 25, 2210-2218 (2025).

2024

1. Prolate spheroids settling in a quiescent fluid: clustering, microstructures and collisions. X. Jiang, C. Xu, L. Zhao*, Journal of Fluid Mechanics, 1000, A49 (2024).

2. Oscillation migration of a neutrally buoyant oblate spheroid in the elasto-inertial duct flow. Y. Li, C. Xu, L. Zhao*, Journal of Fluid Mechanics, 997, A57 (2024).

3. Transport of inertial spherical particles in compressible turbulent boundary layers. M. Yu, L. Zhao, X. Yuan, C. Xu*, Journal of Fluid Mechanics, 990, A5 (2024).

4. Orientation of inertialess spheroidal particles in turbulent channel flow with spanwise rotation. D. Chen, Z. Cui, W. Yuan*, L. Zhao, H. Andersson, Journal of Fluid Mechanics, 990, A5 (2024).

5. Uniform momentum zones in turbulent channel flow. J. Huang, Y. Jie, C. Xu, L. Zhao*, Journal of Turbulence, 25, 9, 303-317 (2024).

6. Temperature statistics of settling particles in homogeneous isotropic turbulence. S. Li, Z. Cui, C. Xu, C. Xu, L. Zhao*, International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer, 228, 125555 (2024).

7. A flow-reconstruction based approach for the computation of hydrodynamic stresses on immersed body surface. X. Jiang, W. Huang, C. Xu, L. Zhao*, Journal of Computational Physics, 508, 113025 (2024).

8. Efficient survival strategy for zooplankton in turbulence. N. Mousavi, J. Qiu, B. Mehlig, L. Zhao, K. Gustavsson, Physical Review Research, 6, L022034 (2024) (Letter).

9. Settling and collision of spheroidal particles with an offset mass center in a quiescent fluid. X. Jiang, C. Xu, L. Zhao*, Journal of Fluid Mechanics, 984, A40 (2024).

2023

1. Rotational dynamics of a neutrally buoyant prolate spheroid in viscoelastic shear flows at finite Reynolds numbers. Y. Li, C. Xu, and L. Zhao*, Journal of Fluid Mechanics, 958, A20 (2023).

2. Dynamics of inertial spheroids in a decaying Taylor-Green vortex flow. R. Jayaram*, Y. Jie, L. Zhao and H. Andersson, Physics of Fluids, 35, 033326 (2023) (Featured Article).

3. Inertial torque on a squirmer. C. Fabien, J. Qiu, L. Zhao, G. Voth and B. Mehlig, Journal of Fluid Mechanics, 953, R1 (2023) (Rapid).

4. Effect of fluid inertial torque on the rotational and orientational dynamics of tiny spheroidal particles in turbulent channel flow. Z. Cui, J. Qiu, X. Jiang, L. Zhao*, Journal of Fluid Mechanics, 977, A20 (2023)

5. Fluid-inertia torque on spheroids in pseudo-plastic fluid flows: effect of shear-thinning rheology. Y. Li, C. Xu, L. Zhao*, Journal of Fluid Mechanics, 970, A12 (2023)

6. Planktonic Prey of Squirmers: Effects of Mobility and Elongation of Planktonic Particles. B. Li, J. Qiu, L. Zhao*, Physics of Fluids, 3, 35, 123315, 2023. (Featured Article, 被美国物理联合会科学之光专题报道AIP Scilight)

7. Particle dynamics in compressible turbulent vertical channel flows. T. Li, Z. Cui*, X. Yuan, Y. Zhang, Q. Zhou, L. Zhao*, Physics of Fluids, 35, 2023.

8. Particle dispersion over side-by-side square cylinders: Proximity interference effects. H. Mahamure, V. Narasimhamurthy, L. Zhao. International Journal of Multiphase Flow, 168, 104571 (2023).

9. Bifunctional activated carbon ultrathin fibers: Combining the removal of VOCs and PM in one material. H. Wang, et al. L. Zhao*, Bo Li*, Hui Wu*. Advanced Fiber Materials, 5, 1934–1948 (2023).

2022

1. An implicit elastic stress/conformation tensor decoupling approach for viscoelastic flow simulation with a monolithic projection method. Y. Li, W. Huang, C. Xu and L. Zhao*, Journal of Computational Physics, 468, 111497 (2022)

2. Shape-dependent regions for inertialess spheroids in turbulent channel flow. Z. Cui, and L. Zhao*, Physics of Fluids, 34, 123316 (2022)

3. Navigation of micro-swimmers in steady flow: the importance of symmetries. J. Qiu, N. Mousavi, K. Gustavsson, C. Xu, B. Mehlig and L. Zhao*, Journal of Fluid Mechanics, 932, A10 (2022).

4. On the existence and formation of multi-scale particle streaks in turbulent channel flows. Y. Jie, Z. Cui, C. Xu, L. Zhao*, Journal of Fluid Mechanics, 935, A18 (2022).

5. Scale-dependent particle clustering in transitional wake flow. Z. Shi, F. Jiang, L. Zhao, H. Andersson, Journal of Fluid Mechanics, 940, A4 (2022).

6. Dispersed multiphase flows: advances in measuring, simulation and modeling. C Marchioli* and L. Zhao*, Acta Mechanica Sinica, 38, 722900 (2022)

7. Chaotic rotation of a finite-size spheroidal particle in oscillating shear flows with fluid inertia. X. Jiang W. Huang, C. Xu and L. Zhao*, Physics of Fluids, 34, 103309 (2022) (Selected as a Featured Article).

8. Saving 80% polypropylene in facemasks by laser-assisted melt-blown nanofibers. C. Yang, X. Jiang, X. Gao, H. Wang, L. Li, N. Hussain, J. Xie, Z. Cheng, Z. Li, J. Yan, M. Zhong, L. Zhao*, and H. Wu*, Nano Letters, 22, 7212–7219 (2022).

9. Gyrotactic mechanism induced by fluid inertial torque for settling elongated microswimmers. J. Qiu, Z. Cui, E. Climent, L. Zhao*, Physical Review Research, 4, 023094 (2022).

10. High-throughput production of kilogram-scale nanofibers by Kármán vortex solution blow-spinning. Z. Li#, Z. Cui#, L. Zhao#, N. Hussain, Y. Zhao, C. Yang, X. Jiang, L. Li, J. Song, B. Zhang, Z. Cheng, H. Wu*, Science Advances, 8, eabn3690 (2022).

11. Active gyrotactic stability of microswimmers using hydromechanical signals. J. Qiu, N. Mousavi, L. Zhao*, K. Gustavsson* Physical Review Fluids, 7, 014311 (2022).

12. Micro-swimmers in vertical turbulent channel flows. Z. Zhang, J. Qiu, and L. Zhao*, International Journal of Multiphase Flow, 151, 104035 (2022).