Dr. Zhao received Ph.D degree of physics from University of Colorado, Boulder, USA in 2013.

He did research work in different topics in experimental condensed matter physics, such as magnetoelectric coupling effect and dielectric measurements of molecular motors. Dr. Zhao joined the School of Physical Science and Technology, Southwest Jiaotong University in 2015. Since then, he has been deeply involved in the study of topological materials, including topological insulators and topological superconductors. He has also advised several graduate students in this research field.

In the meanwhile, Dr. Zhao is taking teaching duties for undergraduate students. He taught university physics, thermodynamics and physics lab. He is also making contribution to the education in the Leeds-SWJTU joint school.