糖心Vlog

Jian Zhong

Dr Jian Zhong BEng, PhD, FHEA

Senior Lecturer in Urban Environment

Jian Zhong is a Senior Lecturer in Urban Environment at the School of Computing and Mathematical Sciences, Faculty of Engineering and Science, 糖心Vlog. He is a lead researcher (as part of the Computational Science and Engineering Group) in the Digital Cities theme of the 糖心Vlog’s “Multi-scale, Multi-disciplinary, Modelling for Impact” programme (M34Impact) which is funded by the Expanding Excellence in England (E3) fund of Research England (2024). Before he joined the University from January 2025, he has worked as Postdoctoral Research Fellow since January 2016 (with the promotion to Senior Postdoctoral Research Fellow in June 2023) at the University of Birmingham. He completed his PhD (in Geography & Environmental Sciences) entitled “Modelling Air Pollution within a Street Canyon” at the University of Birmingham in 2015.

He has co-delivered a number of national and international research projects funded by Royal Society, NERC, EPSRC, Research England, Wellcome Trust, BEIS/Met Office, WMCA, The National Trust, European Commission and ERC. His expertise includes air quality modelling, regional and urban climate modelling, coupling atmospheric dynamics with chemistry and air pollution, large-eddy simulation of turbulence, Computational Fluid Dynamics for atmospheric boundary layer processes, geographical data mapping. His research aims to improve the understanding of urban environmental processes and mechanisms by developing and applying a range of state-of-the-art meteorological and air quality models. He has also conducted intensive impact-focused activities by applying environmental research sciences into real-world impacts.

Qualifications

  • BEng in Safety Engineering, Central South University, P.R. China, 2006-2010
  • PhD in Geography & Environmental Sciences, University of Birmingham, UK, 2011-2015
  • Associate Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy, UK, 2022
  • Postgraduate Certificate in Higher Education and Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy, UK, 2025

Responsibilities within the university
  • Lead researcher in the Digital Cities theme of M34Impact
  • Designing a new course on urban modelling
  • Member of Computational Science and Engineering Group
  • Member of Centre for Advanced Simulation and Modelling

Awards
  • 2025           3rd place (Oral presentation) in the Applied Climatology competition of the American Meteorological Society meeting
  • 2024           Outstanding Impact on the Environment award by UoB (WM-Air team)
  • 2024           CIHT National Research Award shortlisted (CRVA tool as co-author)
  • 2024           CIHT WM Sustainability Award shortlisted (CRVA tool as co-author)
  • 2022           “Best technical solution” team prize, “Global Carbon Budget-Near real-time carbon budget estimation” at Environmental Intelligence Grand Challenge 2022 (University of Exeter)
  • 2022          3rd place, UKFN Photo/Video competition #12, “Street scale turbulent flow: pollutant dispersion”,
  • 2022           UoB LES Impact Fund (拢270)
  • 2022           UoB GEES Research Support Fund (拢4,983)
  • 2022           UoB GEES Conference fund (拢1, 300)
  • 2020           A poster prize, Urban Fluid Mechanics Special Interest Group of UK.

Recognition
  • American Meteorological Society (AMS) Membership
  • American Geophysical Union (AGU) Membership
  • European Geosciences Union (EGU) Membership
  • UK Aerosol Society Membership
  • UK Fluids Network
  • UK Urban Fluid Mechanics Special Interest Group
  • UK Weather and Climate Research Special Interest Group
  • R User Group at the University of Birmingham
  • Invited Reviewer for international journals: i.e. Geoscientific Model Development, Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics; Environmental Science & Technology; Boundary-Layer Meteorology; Atmospheric Environment; Environmental Fluid Mechanics; Environmental Science and Pollution Research; Atmosphere; Sustainability; Journal of Applied Meteorology and Climatology; Atmospheric Pollution Research; Building and Environment; Urban Climate; Transportation Research Part D
  • Guest Editor in a special issue of Urban Air Quality Modelling in Atmosphere

Research / Scholarly interests

His research areas are:

  • Modelling the interaction of emissions, chemical and dynamical processes across scales
  • Modelling the evolution of environmental nanoparticles
  • Modelling of weather and climate
  • Geographical data mapping for health modelling
  • Translating environmental research science into impacts

His research outputs have contributed to the impact delivery, e.g.

  • The AIR WE BREATHE exhibition
  • Science Futures at Glastonbury Festival
  • UK Fluid Network Gallery and BBC One Panorama
  • Industry engagement
  • Chief Medical Officer’s Annual Report 2022: Air Pollution
  • Chief Medical Officer’s annual report 2024: health in cities
  • West Midlands Air Quality Framework
  • Low Traffic neighbourhood scheme in Birmingham
  • DEFRA target-setting consultation in West Midlands context
  • 2021 WHO Air Quality Guidelines and Implications for the West Midlands

Key funded projects

He has contributed to a number of research projects as PI, Co-I or key researcher, i.e.

  1. 12/24-05/27 WM-Adapt: Maximising Adaptation to Climate Change in the West Midlands, and beyond, NERC, PI: Dr. Ferranti, 拢1.99m. (Co-I)
  2. 07/24-02/25  Exploring options for future regional “stretch” air quality targets, West Midlands Combined Authority, PI: Prof Bloss, CoI: Drs Zhong, Acton, 拢 24,539.
  3. 06/24-08/24  Forest of Arden air quality and land use, The National Trust, PI: Prof Mackenzie, CoI: Dr. Zhong, 拢15,000.
  4. 03/24-02/26  Evaporative Volatile Organic Compounds Emissions from Vehicles in Urban Areas: Contribution to urban ozone pollution, Royal Society International Exchanges 2023 Cost Share (NSFC), PI: Dr. Zhong, CoIs: Profs Harrison, Bloss, Shi, Radcliffe, 拢12,000.
  5. 10/23-09/26  A Health-centred Systems Approach towards Net-Zero: Transforming regional climate mitigation policies, Wellcome Trust, PI: Prof. Shi, 拢2m. (Key researcher)
  6. 10/23-09/28  Global Centers Track 1: CLEETS - CLean Energy and Equitable Transportation Solutions, EPSRC, Prof Radcliffe, 拢6.2m. (Key researcher)
  7. 01/23-12/23  Sustainable Urban Planning To Mitigate Overheating, Institutional QR Policy Support Fund - Research England, PI: Dr. Zhong, CoIs: Drs Ferranti, Stocker (CERC), Thomas (SurveyAR Ltd), Grayson (BCC), 拢49,557.
  8. 04/22-05/22  Bridge the link between carbon and air pollutant emissions, IGI Clean Air – Proof of Concept fund 2021-22, PI: Dr. Zhong, CoIs: Drs Wang and Macintyre (UKHSA), 拢5,000.
  9. 04/22-03/23  Research Infrastructures Services Reinforcing Air Quality Monitoring Capacities in European Urban & Industrial AreaS (RI-URBANS), H2020-EU.1.4., ID 101036245, PI: Prof. Harrison, 鈧�410,000. (Key researcher)
  10. 10/21-03/22  Understanding synergies and tensions in air quality–climate adaptation needs: A UK-India Proof of Concept, NERC, PI: Prof. Bloss, 拢134,000. (Key researcher)
  11. 10/21-03/22  UK-China Collaboration to Optimise net zero Policy options for Air Quality and health (COP-AQ), NERC, 拢630,000, PI: Prof. Shi. (Key researcher)
  12. 01/20-03/22  Multi-model Air Quality System for Health (MAQS-Health), Strategic Priorities Fund, Clean Air Programme CA19-1, BEIS / Met Office (DN424739), PI: Cambridge Environmental Research Consultants Ltd (CERC), 拢700,000. (Key researcher)
  13. 01/19-12/24  WM-Air: West Midlands Air Quality Improvement Programme, NERC (NE/S003487/1), PI: Prof. Bloss; CoIs: Profs Pope, Bryson, Thomas, Chapman, Harrison, MacKenzie, Shi, Drs Cai, Jowett, Bartington, 拢5m. (Key researcher)
  14. 01/16-03/20  Biotelemetry/Bio-aerial platforms in the Urban Boundary Layer (Cityflocks), NERC (NE/N003195/1), PI: Dr Cai; CoIs: Profs MacKenzie, Chapman, Sadler, Drs Reynolds, Quinn, Thomas, 拢826,481. (Key researcher)
  15. 04/13-03/18 Fundamental Studies of the Sources, Properties and Environmental Behaviour of Exhaust Nanoparticles from Road Vehicles (FASTER), EU ERC, PI: Prof. Harrison; CoIs: Prof MacKenzie, Dr Cai et al., 鈧�2.4m. (Key researcher)

Recent publications

Article

Sartelet, Karine , Kerckhoffs, Jules, Athanasopoulou, Eleni, Lugon, Lya , Vasilescu, Jeni , Zhong, Jian , Hoek, Gerard , Joly, Cyril , Park, Soo-Jin , Talianu, Camelia (2025), . Elsevier. In: , , , . Elsevier, Environment International, 199: 109474 ISSN: 0160-4120 (Print), 1873-6750 (Online) (doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2025.109474).

Zhong, Jian , Li, Yinghua, Bloss, William James, Harrison, Roy M. (2025), . Elsevier. In: , , , . Elsevier, Environment International, 196: 109265 ISSN: 0160-4120 (Print), 1873-6750 (Online) (doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2025.109265).

Greenham, S.V. , Ferranti, E.J.S., Jones, S., Zhong, J. , Grayson, N. , Needle, S. , Acton, W.J.F. , MacKenzie, A.R. , Bloss, W.J. (2024), . Elsevier. In: , , , . Elsevier, Climate Services, 36: 100521 2405-8807 (Online) (doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cliser.2024.100521).

Cowell, Nicole , Baldo, Clarissa, Chapman, Lee, Bloss, William , Zhong, Jian (2024), . Wiley Royal Meteorological Society. In: , , , . Wiley Royal Meteorological Society, Meteorological Applications, 31: e2220 (4) ISSN: 1350-4827 (Print), 1469-8080 (Online) (doi: https://doi.org/10.1002/met.2220).

Zhong, Jian , Stocker, Jenny, Cai, Xiaoming, Harrison, Roy M. , Bloss, William James (2024), . Elsevier. In: , , , . Elsevier, Urban Climate, 55: 101961 2212-0955 (Online) (doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.uclim.2024.101961).

Hall, James , Zhong, Jian, Jowett, Sue, Mazzeo, Andrea , Thomas, G. Neil , Bryson, John R. , Dewar, Steve , Inglis, Nadia , Wolstencroft, Mark , Muller, Catherine (2024), . Elsevier. In: , , , . Elsevier, Environmental Pollution, 356: 123871 ISSN: 0269-7491 (Print), 1873-6424 (Online) (doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2024.123871).

Zhong, Jian , Harrison, Roy M., James Bloss, William, Visschedijk, Antoon , Denier van der Gon, Hugo (2023), . Elsevier. In: , , , . Elsevier, Environment International: A Journal of Environmental Science, Risk & Health, 181: 108273 ISSN: 0160-4120 (Print), 1873-6750 (Online) (doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2023.108273).

Dai, Yuqing , Mazzeo, Andrea, Zhong, Jian, Cai, Xiaoming , Mele, Benedetto , Toscano, Domenico , Murena, Fabio , Rob MacKenzie, A. (2023), . MDPI. In: , , , . MDPI, Atmosphere, 14: 1385 (9) 2073-4433 (Online) (doi: https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos14091385).

Zhong, Jian , Robert Hodgson, James, James Bloss, William, Shi, Zongbo (2023), . Elsevier. In: , , , . Elsevier, Environmental Research, 236: 116704 (1) ISSN: 0013-9351 (Print), (doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2023.116704).

Dai, Yuqing , Cai, Xiaoming, Zhong, Jian, Robert MacKenzie, A. (2022), . Nature Research. In: , , , . Nature Research, npj Climate and Atmospheric Science, 5 (102) 2397-3722 (Online) (doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41612-022-00323-w).

Dai, Yuqing , Cai, Xiaoming, Zhong, Jian, Mazzeo, Andrea , MacKenzie, A. Rob (2022), . Elsevier. In: , , , . Elsevier, Environmental Pollution, 315: 120347 ISSN: 0269-7491 (Print), 1873-6424 (Online) (doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2022.120347).

Mazzeo, Andrea , Zhong, Jian, Hood, Christina, Smith, Stephen , Stocker, Jenny , Cai, Xiaoming , Bloss, William J. (2022), . MDPI. In: , , , . MDPI, Atmosphere, 13: 377 (3) 2073-4433 (Online) (doi: https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos13030377).

Dai, Yuqing , Cai, Xiaoming, Zhong, Jian, Robert MacKenzie, Angus (2021), . Elsevier. In: , , , . Elsevier, Atmospheric Environment, 264: 118709 ISSN: 1352-2310 (Print), 1878-2442 (Online) (doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atmosenv.2021.118709).

Zhong, Jian , Hood, Christina, Johnson, Kate, Stocker, Jenny , Handley, Jonathan , Wolstencroft, Mark , Mazzeo, Andrea , Cai, Xiaoming , James Bloss, William (2021), . MDPI. In: , , , . MDPI, Atmosphere, 12: 983 (8) 2073-4433 (Online) (doi: https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos12080983).

Zhong, Jian , Cai, Xiaoming, Xie, Zhen-Tong (2021), . European Geosciences Union - Copernicus Publications. In: , , , . European Geosciences Union - Copernicus Publications, Geoscientific Model Development, 14 (1) . pp. 323-336 ISSN: 1991-959X (Print), 1991-9603 (Online) (doi: https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-14-323-2021).

Bannister, Edward J. , Cai, Xiaoming, Zhong, Jian, Rob MacKenzie, A. (2020), . Springer. In: , , , . Springer, Boundary-Layer Meteorology, 179 . pp. 259-289 ISSN: 0006-8314 (Print), 1573-1472 (Online) (doi: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10546-020-00593-y).

Zhong, Jian , Nikolova, Irina, Cai, Xiaoming, MacKenzie, A. Rob , Alam, Mohammed S. , Xu, Ruixin , Singh, Ajit , Harrison, Roy M. (2020), . Elsevier. In: , , , . Elsevier, Environmental Pollution, 266: 115223 (PART 3) ISSN: 0269-7491 (Print), 1873-6424 (Online) (doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2020.115223).

Book section

Zhong, Jian and , Hodgson, James (2022), . University of Birmingham. In: , , In: Aleksandra 膶avo拧ki, Suzanne Bartington, William Bloss, John Bryson (eds.), Policy Solutions to the Clean Air Challenge. University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK Policy solutions to the clean air challenge (1st) . pp. 36-38 (doi: https://doi.org/10.25500/epapers.bham.00004048).

Bloss, William , Acton, Joe, Zhong, Jian (2021), . Corporate Services, University of Birmingham. In: , , In: Jane Arrowsmith, Suzanne Bartington, Beck Lockwood, Iseult Lynch, Kate McGowan, Jonathan Radcliffe, Jeremy Swan, Helen Toft, Ceara Wason (eds.), Addressing the climate challenge. Corporate Services, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK (1st) . pp. 72-74 (doi: https://doi.org/10.25500/epapers.bham.00003451) NB Item availability restricted.

Conference item

Zhong, Jian , Hall, James, Hodgson, James, Jowett, Sue , Bartington, Suzanne , Bloss, William , Shi, Zongbo (2024), . In: 2024 UKRI/Met Office Clean Air Programme Conference 鈥楢nalysis and Solutions: Responding to the Clean Air Challenge鈥� (Transition Clean Air Network), 2nd - 3rd October 2024, Edgbaston Park Hotel and Conference Centre, Birmingham , . , (doi: https://transition-air.org.uk/events/2024-clean-air-programme-conference-birmingham-2-3-october-2024/).

Zhong, Jian , Hodgson, James, Bloss, William, Shi, Zongbo (2023), . In: UK-US Collaboration on Air Quality Modelling & Exposure Science, 16th Annual Workshop 2023, 4th December 2023, Online , . , (doi: ).

Zhong, Jian and , Harrison, Roy M. (2023), . In: EAC 2023: European Aerosol Science Conference 2023, 2nd - 8th September 2023, Malaga, Spain , . , (doi: https://www.dfmf.uned.es/EAC2023/).

Zhong, Jian and , (2023), . In: FUTURE cities 鈥� the challenge of changing urban form (Joint FUTURE/UFM hybrid meeting), 3rd - 4th April 2023, University of Surrey, UK , . , (doi: https://www.urbanfluidmechanics.org/meetings/surrey-april-3-4-2023).

Zhong, Jian , Bloss, William J., Harrison, Roy M. (2023), . In: The Joint 3rd Street-in-Grid and Urban Air Quality Modeling Symposium and the 4th Street-in-Grid Model Training Workshop, 6th - 10th March 2023, Champs-sur-Marne, France , . , (doi: https://cerea.enpc.fr/sing-workshop-2023/).

Zhong, Jian , Cai, Xiaoming, Bloss, William James (2022), . In: 10th UFM meeting: High-resolution prediction for urban modelling and design applications, 1st -2nd September 2022, University of Reading (Met Office) , . , (doi: https://www.urbanfluidmechanics.org/meetings/metofficereading-sept-1-2-2022).

Zhong, Jian , Action, W. Joe, Bloss, William James (2021), . In: Net Zero Futures: Developing Skills and Talent for the Zero Carbon Transition, 27th October 2021, University of Birmingham , . , (doi: https://generic.wordpress.soton.ac.uk/ukcricsupportedphdprojects/2021/10/27/net-zero-futures-21-conference/).

Zhong, Jian and , (2020), . In: UK-US Collaboration on Air-Quality Modelling & Exposure Science: Workshop, 16th 鈥� 17th November 2020, Online , . , (doi: ).

Conference proceedings

Greenham, S.V. , Ferranti, E.J.S., Cork, N., Jones, S.A. , Zhong, J. , Haskins, B. , Grayson, N. , Needle, S. , Acton, W.J.F. , Mackenzie, A.R. (2025), . International Society for Horticultural Science (ISHS). In: ISHS Acta Horticulturae 1429: III International Symposium on Greener Cities: Improving Ecosystem Services in a Climate-Changing World (GreenCities2024), , In: T. Blanu拧a, M. Gush (eds.), ISHS Acta Horticulturae 1429: III International Symposium on Greener Cities: Improving Ecosystem Services in a Climate-Changing World (GreenCities2024). International Society for Horticultural Science (ISHS), Wisley, Woking, United Kingdom , Acta Horticulturae (1429) . pp. 439-448 . ISBN: 9789462614284ISSN: 0567-7572 (Print), 2406-6168 (Online) (doi: https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2025.1429.53).

Lerdrittipong, Surapong , Zhong, Jian, Widmann, Martin, Bradley, Christopher , Dixon, Simon (2024), . European Geosciences Union. In: , , , EGU General Assembly 2024 (European Geosciences Union),14th - 19th April 2024. European Geosciences Union, Vienna, Austria (21379) (N/A) (doi: https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu24-21379).

Zhong, Jian , Lu, Yanzhi, Stocker, Jenny, Hamilton, Victoria , Johnson, Kate (2024), . European Geosciences Union. In: EGU General Assembly 2024, 14th 鈥� 19th April 2024, Vienna, Austria , EGU General Assembly 2024 (European Geosciences Union),14th - 19th April 2024. European Geosciences Union, Vienna, Austria (19930) (doi: https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu24-19930).

Zhong, Jian and , Harrison, Roy M. (2023), . European Geosciences Union (EGU). In: EGU General Assembly 2023, 23rd - 28th April 2023, Vienna, Austria and online , EGU General Assembly 2023, Vienna, Austria, 24th 鈥� 28th Apr 2023. European Geosciences Union (EGU), Munich, Germany (3202) (N/A) (doi: https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu23-3202).

Zhong, Jian , Hood, Christina, Johnson, Kate, Stocker, Jenny , Handley, Jonathan , Wolstencroft, Mark , Mazzeo, Andrea , Cai, Xiaoming , Bloss, William James (2023), . Springer Nature - Springer Proceedings in Complexity. In: , , Cham In: Clemens Mensink, Oriol Jorba (eds.), Air Pollution Modeling and its Application XXVIII. Springer Nature - Springer Proceedings in Complexity, Cham, Switzerland (1st) . pp. 77-82 . ISBN: 9783031127861; 9783031127854ISSN: 2213-8684 (Print), 2213-8692 (Online) (doi: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-12786-1_10).

Monograph

Greenham, Sarah , Ferranti, Emma, Cork, Nick, Jones, Stephen , Zhong, Jian , Haskins, Bethany , Higgins, Will , Grayson, Nick , Needle, Simon , Acton, Joe (2024), . WM-Air, University of Birmingham. In: , , , . WM-Air, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK (N/A) (doi: https://doi.org/10.25500/epapers.bham.00004371).

Acil, Nezha , Barker, Jake, Baziotis, Christos, Beltran, Allan , Dai, Duiyi , Deakin, Jordan , Dettmer, Samuel , Fentham, Daniel , Fontrodona-Bach, Adri脿 , Hart-Villamil, Roberto (2023), . Birmingham Environment for Academic Research, University of Birmingham. In: , , In: Aslam Ghumra (ed.), . Birmingham Environment for Academic Research, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK (1st) (doi: https://doi.org/10.25500/epapers.bham.00004303) NB Item availability restricted.

Greenham, Sarah , Jones, Stephen, Ferranti, Emma, Zhong, Jian , Acton, Joe , Robert MacKenzie, Angus , Grayson, Nick (2023), . WM-Air, University of Birmingham. In: , , , . WM-Air, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK (N/A) (doi: https://doi.org/10.25500/epapers.bham.00004259).

Baldo, Clarissa , Zhong, Jian, Hall, James, Muller, Catherine L. , Bartington, Suzanne , Bloss, William (2023), . WM Air - University of Birmingham. In: , , , . WM Air - University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK (N/A) (doi: https://doi.org/10.25500/epapers.bham.00004251).

Hall, James , Zhong, Jian, Harrison, Roy, Baldo, Clarissa , Jowett, Sue , Mazzeo, Andrea , Bartington, Suzanne (2023), . WM-Air, University of Birmingham. In: , , , . WM-Air, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK (N/A) (doi: https://doi.org/10.25500/edata.bham.00000935).

Acton, Joe , Zhong, Jian, Bloss, William (2023), . WM-Air, University of Birmingham. In: , , , . WM-Air, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK (N/A) (doi: https://doi.org/10.25500/epapers.bham.00004241).

Lacey, Stephanie , Zhong, Jian, Ghaffarpasand, Omid, Bartington, Suzanne (2023), . WM Air - University of Birmingham. In: , , , . WM Air - University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK (N/A) (doi: https://doi.org/10.25500/epapers.bham.00004249).

Video

Zhong, Jian and , Cai, Xiaoming (2022), . University of Cambridge. In: , , , . University of Cambridge, (N/A) (doi: https://downloads.sms.cam.ac.uk/4028455/4028463.mp4).

Zhong, Jian , Hood, C., Johnson, K., Stocker, J. , Handley, H. , Wolstencroft, M. , Mazzeo, A. , Cai, X. , Bloss, W.J. (2022), . UOBengage. In: , , , . UOBengage, (N/A) (doi: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PCZkdYoK49w).