His many and varied research interests include studies of magnetic and phase behavior of iron pnictide superconductors using nuclear resonant scattering, the study of valance and phase behavior of selected compounds under high pressure; and development and deployment of a range of x-ray beamline techniques and instrumentation including micro-focusing by a Kirkpatrick-Baez mirror for NRS at high pressure and high temperature; a world-first laser-heated diamond-anvil-cell system at Sector 3 for high-pressure (>100 GPa) and high-temperature (>3000 K) studies; and monochromator development and applications of krypton nuclear resonance at 9.4 keV in clathrate hydrates. The Kr nuclear resonance program developed at the APS by Dr. Zhao and his co-workers is unique in the world.