Liang Zhang

Dr. Liang Zhang is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Civil and Architectural Engineering and Mechanics at the University of Arizona (UofA). Before joining UofA, he was a research scientist at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), where he led U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) projects on building energy modeling, AI in buildings, smart communities, and fault detection. He holds a Ph.D. in architectural engineering from Drexel University, where he developed an AI-enhanced building energy forecasting framework. Dr. Zhang leads the Building Energy & Sustainability Laboratory (BESLab) at UofA, focusing on energy-efficient and sustainable smart buildings and cities. His research includes energy modeling, connecting renewable and conventional resources, and advanced controls for grid security. He is spearheading the AI-Enhanced Interactive Data Infrastructure project to decarbonize building and transportation sectors, funded by FY24 Innovative Projects in Energy Grants.