Area of Research: Computational Materials Science The general area of research of Dr. Zhang is computational and theoretical materials science. Specifically, he is interested in the structure and the properties of defects, atomic-level mechanisms of defect migration and microstructural evolution in polycrystalline materials. In particular, Dr. Zhang focuses on examining anisotropic properties in grain boundaries, identifying the atomistic mechanism by which grain boundaries migrate, exploring the fundamental mechanisms behind the plastic deformation of nanocrystalline materials, investigating mechanical response in nanostructured materials, and predicting microstructural evolution in polycrystalline metals.