Jun Zhang

Jun Zhang (张骏)
Co-Director of the NYU-ECNU Institute of Physics, Professor of Physics and Mathematics, NYU Shanghai; Global Network Professor, Department of Physics, Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences, NYU
Email
jz11@nyu.edu, nycdot@gmail.com
Room
E601

Jun Zhang is the Co-Director of the NYU-ECNU Institute of Physics and a Professor of Physics and Mathematics at NYU Shanghai. He is also a jointly appointed Global Network Professor in the Department of Physics and the Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences at NYU. Since 2001 he has been the Co-Director of the Applied Math Laboratory at 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) and a member of the Academia Europaea (MAE).

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

  • Member of Academia Europaea, 2024

  • 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