Dr. Yihuai Zhang - Dr. Zhang is a Lecturer (Assistant Professor) in Geo-Energy Engineering at the University of Glasgow and the founder of the GeoEnergy Materials & Flow Research Lab (GEM-Flow). His research focuses on understanding fluid flow, transport, and coupled reactions in complex geo-materials, integrating pore-scale imaging, laboratory experiments, AI-assisted image analysis, and multi-scale numerical modelling. The overarching aim of GEM-Flow is to develop fundamental and predictive frameworks that support net-zero geo-energy technologies, including carbon dioxide and hydrogen geological storage, geothermal energy, subsurface energy storage, and planetary construction materials for lunar and Martian environments.
Dr. Zhang’s work bridges pore-scale physics and field-scale behaviour, leveraging advanced in situ and 4D X-ray micro-CT imaging, high-pressure–high-temperature core-flooding, and digital rock modelling to quantify how pore structure, wettability, and material evolution control multiphase flow and trapping processes. More recently, his research has expanded to geo-energetic and planetary materials, including regolith-based concrete and extreme-environment material performance, positioning GEM-Flow at the interface of geo-energy, materials science, and planetary engineering. He has authored more than 50 journal articles with more than 4000 citations.
Dr. Zhang received a dual BSc degree from the China University of Petroleum, Beijing and the Missouri University of Science and Technology in 2014, and completed his PhD at Curtin University in 2018. During his doctoral training, he worked at the National Geosequestration Laboratory, gaining extensive experience in CO₂ storage experiments and subsurface flow characterisation. Following his PhD, he contributed to EU Horizon 2020–funded research on caprock integrity and fracture flow at Heriot-Watt University in 2018, and later conducted advanced pore-scale imaging and modelling research as a Research Associate at Imperial College London until 2022.
Through GEM-Flow, Dr. Zhang leads a diverse, inclusive, and international research team, working closely with academic, national-facility, and industrial partners to address critical challenges in energy transition, subsurface engineering, and planetary infrastructure.
Main supervised PhD students, PDRA, and visiting scholars:
(PhD student)
(PhD student)
(PhD student)
(PhD student)
Adam Thorburn
(Master by research)
Oliver Hardman
(MEng student)
Adam Nadeem
(MEng student)
Co-supervised PhD students, PDRAs, and visiting scholars:
Saad R M R Alrashdan (PhD student, co-supervised with Dr Amanda Owen)
Mohammed Saif Said Abdullah Al Rashdi (PhD student, co-supervised with Prof. Manosh Paul)
Ruofan Wang (PhD student in Khalifa University , UAE)
Dr. Ping Wang (now at Hunan University of Science and Technology)
Dr. Zhengdong Liu (now at Northeastern University)
For postdoc 👽: We will advertise when we have an open postdoc position. At the same time, throughout the year, we are happy to host and support candidates who wish to apply for the Newton International Fellowship (NIF), MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships, and Leverhulme Trust Early Career Fellowships.
For PhD applicants 🎯 : Accept new PhD students, with the following scholarship opportunities provided, please contact me for details: College/EPSRC full PhD studentships, several CDT opportunities, James McCune Smith Scholarships, China Scholarship Council (CSC) - Glasgow PhD scholarship (only for Chinese), Commonwealth PhD Scholarships scheme, PTDF overseas Scholarship Scheme (only for Nigerians), Partnership PhD.
