Biography

His research focuses on algorithms, reliability engineering, and artificial intelligence, with an emphasis on predicting system degradation and supporting engineering decisions. He develops probabilistic models for lifetime prediction, optimisation methods for inspection and maintenance, and machine learning approaches for diagnosis and prognosis. His work combines mathematical modelling, scientific computing, and research software development, with applications to semiconductor lasers, optical components, and renewable energy systems.

He received his PhD in Computer-Aided Engineering from the University of Greenwich in 2019. Before joining CIOMP in 2024, he held research positions at the University of Cambridge and the University of Hull, and served as a Lecturer at Hull.

Research Areas
Algorithms and Optimisation Reliability Engineering Artificial Intelligence
Student Opportunities

PhD and master's applicants through UCAS are welcome to get in touch.

News

Two master's students received National Scholarships in 2026.

Segmental Viterbi degradation modelling published in Reliability Engineering & System Safety (Zhang, Feng and Jiang, 2027).

Our student paper received the Best Student Paper Award at SRSE 2026.

Pattern Recognition and Machine Learning course materials are now available.

VCSEL inspection optimisation published in Reliability Engineering & System Safety (Zhang, Feng and Zhang, 2027).

Our portfolio optimisation paper received the Best Paper Award at DOCS 2025.

Our AI-based laser reliability paper received the Best Paper Award at SRSE 2025.

Our student paper received the Best Student Paper Award at SRSE 2025.

Our optical maintenance study received Best Session Presentation at SRSE 2025.

Recognised as a Jilin Province High-Level Talent (Category D).

Appointed Associate Professor at CIOMP, Chinese Academy of Sciences.

Selected for the Changbai Talent Program for Overseas Young Talents.

Selected for the Chinese Academy of Sciences Young Talents Program.

Academic Appointments

 
 
 
 
 
Associate Professor
The Changchun Institute of Optics, Fine Mechanics and Physics (CIOMP)
2024 - Present Changchun, China
Conducts research in optical equipment reliability, physical performance modelling, lifetime prediction, and maintenance optimisation. Leads semiconductor laser ageing experiments and research software development, and teaches and supervises postgraduate researchers through UCAS.
 
 
 
 
 
Lecturer
University of Hull
Mar 2023 - Dec 2023 Hull, UK
Delivered teaching in engineering mathematics, fluid mechanics, programming, and control while supporting applied research in digital engineering.
 
 
 
 
 
Postdoctoral Research Fellow
University of Hull
Mar 2020 - Mar 2023 Hull, UK
Worked on offshore wind energy research, simulation workflow development, blade lifetime assessment, and reliability-informed engineering analysis, including VOX-FE-based engineering workflows.
 
 
 
 
 
Research Fellow
University of Cambridge
Sep 2019 - Mar 2020 Cambridge, UK
Investigated computational methods for acoustophoretic separation of circulating tumor cells in a microfluidics research setting.

Education

Formal degree study is listed together with clearly marked non-degree academic study and prior undergraduate study.

 
 
 
 
 
Non-degree study
MA in Global Public Policy
University of Birmingham
2024 - 2025 Birmingham, UK
Academic coursework and writing experience; not listed as an awarded degree.
 
 
 
 
 
Non-degree study
BA in International Business
University of Hull
2021 - 2024 Hull, UK
Coursework and dissertation-style academic writing; not listed as an awarded degree.
 
 
 
 
 
PhD in Computer-Aided Engineering
University of Greenwich
Dec 2014 - Jun 2019 London, UK
Doctoral research on fatigue damage modelling, reliability assessment, and maintenance strategy for wind turbine composite blades.
 
 
 
 
 
MSc in Civil and Structural Engineering
University of Bradford
Sep 2013 - Dec 2014 Bradford, UK
Advanced training in engineering analysis, numerical methods, and computational modelling.
 
 
 
 
 
BEng in Civil Engineering
Chongqing University
Sep 2009 - Jun 2013 Chongqing, China
Foundation in structural analysis, mechanics, and engineering computation, following an internal transfer from Management studies in 2009.
 
 
 
 
 
Transferred major
Undergraduate Study in Management
Chongqing University
2008 - 2009 Chongqing, China
Initial bachelor's study before transferring internally to Civil Engineering.

Selected Publications

Selected journal articles and refereed conference papers.

Selected Journal Articles
  1. Segmental Viterbi estimation using transition constraints for covariate-dependent hidden semi-Markov degradation models with right censoring C. C. Zhang*, X. Feng, and J. Jiang, Reliability Engineering & System Safety, vol. 278, Art. no. 113615, 2027. Article · Code.
  2. Variable-length multiobjective optimization of inspection schedules for condition-based maintenance of vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers under imperfect detection C. C. Zhang*, X. Feng, and H. Zhang, Reliability Engineering & System Safety, vol. 277, Art. no. 113039, 2027. ScienceDirect · Data and scripts.
  3. Local optical feasibility maps for compound lens optimization under direct modulation transfer function constraints C. C. Zhang, Y. Cui, J. Jiang, H. Lou, and L. Sheng*, Optics Express, 2026. Article.
  4. Rapid stress birefringence mapping in mounted curved lenses with a curved-layer Jones approximation C. C. Zhang*, S. Zhang, H. Lou, J. Jiang, L. Sheng, and G. Markou, Optics Express, vol. 34, no. 21, pp. 39011–39027, 2026. Article · Code.
  5. Prefix Treatment and Bayesian Partial Pooling for Early-Stage Lifetime Prediction from Degradation Data C. C. Zhang*, X. Feng, and J. Jiang, Journal of Dynamics, Monitoring and Diagnostics, vol. 5, no. 2, pp. 117–130, May 2026. Article.
Selected Conference Papers
  1. Task-Aligned Variational CPAE with Stacking Ensemble Learning for CMP Material Removal Rate Prediction X. Feng and C. C. Zhang, International Conference on System Reliability and Safety Engineering (SRSE), pp. 146–151, 2026. Best Student Paper Award.
  2. Evolving Portfolio Heuristics: A Self-Correcting LLM Framework for Portfolio Optimization X. Chen, Z. Wang, and C. Zhang*, in Proc. 2025 7th Int. Conf. Data-driven Optimization of Complex Systems (DOCS), pp. 540–545, 2025. Best Paper Award.
  3. Reliability Analysis of Photovoltaic Modules Based on Joint Bayesian Model C. C. Zhang, Z. Wang, K. F. Tee, and J. Jiang, in Proc. 2025 16th Int. Conf. Reliability, Maintainability and Safety (ICRMS), pp. 143–147, 2025.
  4. Integrating AI Agents with Classical Reliability Assessment via LLMs of Semiconductor Lasers C. C. Zhang, T. Wang, and J. Jiang*, in Proc. 7th Int. Conf. System Reliability and Safety Engineering (SRSE), pp. 283–289, 2025. Best Paper Award.
  5. Phase-Modulated LSTM for the Degradation Prediction of Chemical Mechanical Planarization Z. Wang, C. C. Zhang*, X. Ke, T. Wang, and S. Zhang, in Proc. 7th Int. Conf. System Reliability and Safety Engineering (SRSE), pp. 23–29, 2025. Best Student Paper Award.
Academic Activities

Explore publications, talks, academic service, projects, software, teaching, and honours.

View Activities

Teaching & Supervision

Teaching Record
Fall 2026

Pattern Recognition and Machine Learning

Open Course
Spring 2026

Artificial Intelligence and Neural Networks

Open Course
Spring 2025

Artificial Intelligence and Neural Networks

Spring 2023

Mathematics for Engineers

2022

Fluid Mechanics and Finite Element Method

Supervision Record (until 2026)
1 PhD in progress
7 Master's students in progress
2 Master's students completed

The two completed master's students continued to doctoral study at UCAS.

Contact

Email

zhangchizhi@ciomp.ac.cn

Institution

Changchun Institute of Optics, Fine Mechanics and Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun, China.

Address

3888 Dong Nanhu Road, Changchun, Jilin 130033, China.

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