Academic Staff

Professor Zhu obtained his Bachelor of Engineering and Master of Science degrees from Zhejiang University, China in 1982 and 1984 respectively, and Doctor of Philosophy degree from The University of Sheffield (UoS), U.K. in 1991, all in Electrical Engineering. 

Professor Zhu started his academic career in Zhejiang University as Assistant Lecturer and Lecturer from 1984 to 1988.  Subsequently, he worked at UoS for 38 years from 1988 to 2025, initially as Visiting Researcher, then as Research Associate, and then Senior Research Officer and Senior Research Scientist (promoted to professorial level in 1997), and from 2000 to 2025, he was Professor of Electrical Machines and Control Systems in the Department of Electronic and Electrical Engineering.  Besides, from 2008 to 2025, he was Head of Electrical Machines and Drives Research Group in UoS, which is a world leading research group in the field of electrical machines, power electronics, control and energy conversion and storage systems, particularly well-known for its research and development on permanent magnet machines and systems. Since November 2025, he has been Chair Professor of Electrical Machines and Control Systems in the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering at Hong Kong Polytechnic University. Professor Zhu is also Founding Director of four research centers, including Sheffield Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy Research Center and Midea Shanghai Electrical Machines and Control Systems Research Center. 

Professor Zhu’s research interests focus on “eMOTOR+”, i.e. design and control of permanent magnet machines and drives for applications ranging from electrified transportations (electric vehicles, fast trains, electric aircrafts) through wind power generation to domestic appliances, industrial drives, and automation components and systems etc., which have been commercially exploited extensively by many global leading industries based in the UK, Germany, Denmark, France, Japan, USA, and China etc., including Siemens, Midea, Toyota, Nissan, Valeo, Rolls-Royce, and CRRC etc.

Professor Zhu has >200 granted and filed invention patents and published 6 monographic books and 5 edited books, more than 1500 journal and conference papers with citation of more than 60,000 and h-index of 123 (Google Scholars, by October 2025).  More than 600 of his papers have been published in Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Transactions and Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) Proceedings.  
Professor Zhu is a Fellow of various prestigious professional bodies including Royal Academy of Engineering, IEEE, IET, Chinese Society for Electrical Engineering (CSEE), and China Electrotechnical Society (CES).  He received numerous international awards, such as 2024 Global Energy Prize, 2021 IEEE Nikola Tesla Award, and 2019 IEEE Industry Applications Society Outstanding Achievement Award, as well as 42 Best Paper Awards including 8 IEEE Transactions / IET Proceedings Best Journal Paper Awards.  

Professor Zhu is Editor-in-Chief of IET Electric Power Application (EPA, 2022-) and Distinguished Lecturer of IEEE Industry Applications Society (2026-2027). He was Chair/Co-chair of 28 leading international conferences including IEEE-ECCE2011, VPPC2016, ICEMS2008/11/14/17/19/23. He has delivered 61 Keynote Speeches at leading international conferences including IEMDC2011 and ICEMS2008/11/14/17/23, as well as more than 300 research seminars globally. He is/was Panel member of Royal Academy of Engineering, Panel 7 - Electrical & Electronic (2018-), EPSRC Engineering Panel member (2013-2019), NSFC Panel member (2001-2006), IEEE Medal in Power Engineering Committee member (2018-2021), IEEE IAS Outstanding Achievement Award Committee Member (2020-2025).

•    Bachelor of Engineering (B.Eng.), Zhejiang University, China
•    Master of Science (M.Sc.), Zhejiang University, China
•    Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), University of Sheffield, UK

•    Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering (FREng), UK
•    Fellow of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (FIEEE), USA
•    Fellow of the Institution of Engineering and Technology (FIET), UK
•    Fellow of the Chinese Society for Electrical Engineering (FCSEE), China
•    Fellow of the China Electrotechnical Society (FCES), China
•    Chartered Engineer (CEng), UK