Jun Zhang

Jun Zhang is jointly appointed Professor of Physics and Mathematics, NYU, NYU Shanghai. He is also a Global Network Professor, NYU. Since 2001 he has been the Co-Director of the Applied Math Laboratory in the Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences. He holds a PhD in physics from the Niels Bohr Institute at the University of Copenhagen, and is now an elected Fellow of the American Physical Society (APS).
Read more about Jun Zhang's research activities through the reports in public media.
Select Publications
- Wang K.-Z, and Zhang J. Persistent corotation of the large-scale flow of thermal convection and an immersed free body. PNAS, 120, e2217705120 (2023)
- Hu S.-Y., Chu J.-J., Shelley M. and Zhang J. Levy walks and path chaos in the dispersal of elongated structures moving across cellular vortical flows. Phys. Rev. Lett. 127, 074503 (2021)
- Amin K., Huang J.-Z., Hu K., Zhang J. and Ristroph L. The role of shape-dependent flight stability in the origin of oriented meteorites. PNAS, 116, 16180 (2019)
- Newbolt J, Zhang J, and Ristroph L. Flow interactions between uncoordinated flapping swimmers give rise to group cohesion. PNAS 116, 2419 (2019)
- Zhang J. Footprints of a flapping wing. Journal of Fluid Mechanics 818, 1-4 (2017)
- Ristroph L, Liao J, and Zhang J. Lateral Line Layout Correlates with the Differential Hydrodynamic Pressure on Swimming Fish. Phys. Rev. Lett. 114, 018102 (2015)
- Takagi D, Braunschweig A. Zhang J. and Shelley M. Dispersion of self-propelled rods undergoing fluctuation-driven flips. Phys. Rev. Lett. 110, 038301 (2013)
- Ristroph L, Moore M, Childress S, Shelley M, and Zhang J. Sculpting of an erodible body by flowing water. PNAS 109, 19606 (2012)
- Liu B, Ristroph L, Weathers A, Childress S, and Zhang J. Intrinsic stability of a body hovering in an oscillating airflow. Phys. Rev. Lett. 108, 068103 (2012)
- Shelley M. and Zhang J. Flapping and bending bodies interacting with fluid flows. Annual Review of Fluid Mechanics 43, 449 (2011)
- Liu B, Shelley M, and Zhang J. Focused force transmission through an aqueous suspension of granules. Phys. Rev. Lett. 105, 188301 (2010)
- Ristroph L, and Zhang J. Anomalous hydrodynamic drafting of interacting flapping flags. Phys. Rev. Lett. 101, 194502 (2008)
- Liu B, and Zhang J. Self-induced cyclic reorganization of many bodies through thermal convection. Phys. Rev. Lett. 100, 244501 (2008)
- Zhong J.-Q, and Zhang J. Dynamical states of a mobile heat blanket on a thermally convecting fluid. Phys. Rev. E 75, 055301R (2007)
- Shelley M, Vandenberghe N and Zhang J. Heavy flags undergo spontaneous oscillations in flowing water. Phys. Rev. Lett. 94, 094302 (2005)
- Vandenberghe N, Zhang J, and Childress S. Symmetry breaking leads to forward flapping flight. Journal of Fluid Mechanics 506, 147 (2004)
- Alben S, Shelley M, and Zhang J. Drag reduction through self-similar bending of a flexible body. Nature 420, 479 (2002)
- Zhang J, Childress S, Libchaber A, and Shelley M. Flexible filaments in a flowing soap film as a model for one-dimensional flags in a two-dimensional wind. Nature 408, 835 (2000)
- Zhang J, Libchaber A. Periodic boundary motion in thermal turbulence. Phys. Rev. Lett. 84, 4361 (2000)
Education
- PhD, Physics
Niels Bohr Institute of University of Copenhagen
Research Interests
Physics of fluids and fluid dynamics, which include biomechanics and bio-locomotion (organismal swimming, flying and walking)
Geological fluids (thermal convection, continental dynamics and erosion)
Flow-structure interactions with an emphasis on flexible and/or mobile structures
Self-organization phenomena at different length- and timescales
Honors & Awards
APS Fellow, 2017
Courant Holiday Lecture, 2015
Antarctica Service Medal, 2015
Milton Van Dyke Award, APS/DFD (with N. Agre, S. Childress and L. Ristroph) 2014
Courses Taught
Foundations of Science Physics
General Physics II
Optical Imaging: Applications in Biology and Engineering
Physics Capstone Seminar