Working Experience:

• 2020/11 - Now: Associate Professor, School of Economics and Management, Tongji University
• 2017/03 - 2020/11: Assistant Professor (Research), Department of Industrial Systems Engineering and Management, National University of Singapore
• 2016/10 - 2017/03: Visiting Researcher, Department of Industrial Systems Engineering and Management, National University of Singapore

Research Interest

Mixed Integer Programming; Decision Making under Uncertainty; Joint Learning and Optimization; Vehicle Routing; Production Planning

Research Projects

• Principal investigator, Natural Science Foundation of China #72422012: Robust data-driven transportation management and optimization, 2025-2027.
• Principal investigator, Natural Science Foundation of China #72101187: The study of multi-trip time-dependent vehicle routing problems with time windows, 2022-2024.

Selected Publications

• Z. Zhang, Y. Zhang, R. Baldacci. Generalized riskiness index in vehicle routing under uncertain travel times: formulations, properties, and exact solution framework. Transportation Science, 58(4), 761-780, 2024.
• Y. Zhao, Z. Chen, Z. Zhang*. Distributionally robust chance-constrained p-hub center problem. INFORMS Journal on Computing, 35(6), 1361-1382, 2023.
• Y. Zhao, Z. Chen, A. Lim, Z. Zhang. Vessel deployment with limited information: distributionally robust chance constrained models. Transportation Research Part B: Methodological, 161, 197-217, 2022.
• Y. Zhang, Z. Zhang, A. Lim, M. Sim. Robust data-driven vehicle routing with time windows. Operations Research, 69(2), 469-485, 2021.
• Z. Zhang, Z. Luo, R. Baldacci, A. Lim. A Benders decomposition approach for the multivehicle production routing problem with order-up-to-level policy. Transportation Science, 55(1), 160–178, 2021.
• Z. Zhang, Z. Luo, H. Qin, A. Lim. Exact algorithms for the vehicle routing problem with time windows and Combinatorial auction. Transportation Science, 53(2), 427–441, 2019.
• A. Lim, Z. Zhang, H. Qin. Pickup and delivery service with manpower planning in Hong Kong public hospitals. Transportation Science, 51(2), 688–705, 2017.
• Q. Hu, Z. Zhang, A. Lim. Transportation service procurement problem with transit time. Transportation Research Part B: Methodological, 86, 19–36, 2016.
• Z. Zhang, L. Wei, A. Lim. An evolutionary local search for the capacitated vehicle routing problem minimizing fuel consumption under three-dimensional loading constraints. Transportation Research Part B: Methodological, 82, 20–35, 2015.

Other Publications

• X. Pei, Z. Zhang, J. Chen, J. Wang, Z. Zhang. Neural combinatorial optimization for robust routing problem with uncertain travel times. NeurIPS 2024, 2024.
• J. Wei, M. Poon, Z. Zhang*. A branch-and-cut algorithm for the time-dependent vehicle routing problem with time windows and combinatorial auctions. Computers & Operations Research, 172, 106807, 2024.
• J. Zhao, M. Poon, V.Y.F. Tan, Z. Zhang*. A hybrid genetic search and dynamic programming-based split algorithm for the multi-trip time-dependent vehicle routing problem. European Journal of Operational Research, 317(3), 921-935, 2024.
• Z. Zhang*, Y. Che, Z. Liang. Split-demand multi-trip vehicle routing problem with simultaneous pickup and delivery in airport baggage transit. European Journal of Operational Research, 312(3), 996-1010, 2024.
• Y. Che, Z. Zhang. An Integer L-shaped algorithm for vehicle routing problem with simultaneous delivery and stochastic pickup. Computers & Operations Research, 154, 106201, 2023.
• Q. Hu, Z. Zhang, R. Baldacci, C.D. Tarantilis, E. Zachariadis. The bus sightseeing problem. International Transactions in Operational Research, 30(6), 4026-4060, 2023.
• J. Zhao, M. Poon, Z. Zhang, R. Gu. Adaptive large neighborhood search for the time-dependent profitable dial-a-ride problem. Computers & Operations Research, 147, 105938, 2022.
• K. Hu, Y. Che, Z. Zhang. Scheduling unrelated additive manufacturing machines with practical constraints. Computers & Operations Research, 144, 105847, 2022.
• Z. Luo, M. Poon, Z. Zhang, Z. Liu, A. Lim. The multi-visit traveling salesman problem with multi-drones. Transportation Research Part C: Emerging Technologies, 128, 103172, 2021.
• B. Pan, Z. Zhang, A. Lim. Multi-trip time-dependent vehicle routing problem with time windows. European Journal of Operational Research, 291(1), 218–231, 2021.
• B. Pan, Z. Zhang, A. Lim. A hybrid algorithm for time-dependent vehicle routing problem with time windows. Computers & Operations Research, 128, 105193, 2021.
• Y. Che, K. Hu, Z. Zhang, A. Lim. Machine scheduling with orientation selection and two-dimensional packing for additive manufacturing. Computers & Operations Research, 130, 105245, 2021.
• Z. Zhang, B. Cheang, C. Li, A. Lim. Multi-commodity demand fulfilment via simultaneous pickup and delivery for a fast fashion retailer. Computers & Operations Research, 103, 81–96, 2019.
• L. Wei, Z. Zhang, D. Zhang, S.C.H. Leung. A simulated annealing algorithm for the capacitated vehicle routing problem with two-dimensional loading constraints. European Journal of Operational Research, 265(3), 843–859, 2018.
• L. Wei, Z. Zhang, D. Zhang, A. Lim. A variable neighborhood search for the capacitated vehicle routing problem with two-dimensional loading constraints. European Journal of Operational Research, 243(3), 798–814, 2015.
• Z. Zhang, M. Liu, A. Lim. A memetic algorithm for patient transportation problem. Omega, 54, 60–71, 2015.
• B. Cheang, C. Li, A. Lim, Z. Zhang. Identifying patterns and structural influences in the scientific communication of business. Scientometrics, 103(1), 159–189, 2015.
• L. Wei, Z. Zhang, A. Lim. An adaptive variable neighborhood search for heterogeneous fleet vehicle routing problem with three-dimensional loading constraints. IEEE Computational Intelligence Magazine, 9(4), 18–30, 2014.
• S.C.H. Leung, Z. Zhang, D. Zhang, X. Hua, M.K. Lim. A meta-heuristic algorithm for heterogeneous fleet vehicle routing problems with two-dimensional loading constraints. European Journal of Operational Research, 225(2), 199–210, 2013.
• P.C. Chang, W.H. Huang, Z. Zhang. A puzzle-based genetic algorithm with block mining and recombination heuristic for the traveling salesman problem. Journal of Computer Science and Technology, 27(5), 937–949, 2012.
• W.H. Huang, P.C. Chang, M.H. Lim, Z. Zhang. Memes co-evolution strategies for fast convergence in solving single machine scheduling problems. International Journal of Production Research, 50(24), 7357–7377, 2012.

Invited Reviewer (Selected)

• Operations Research
• Transportation Science
• INFORMS Journal on Computing
• INFORMS Journal on Optimization
• Manufacturing & Service Operations Management
• European Journal of Operational Research
• Transportation Research Part B: Methodological
• Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review
• Transportation Research Part D: Transport and Environment
• IISE Transactions
• Annals of Operations Research
• Computers & Operations Research
• International Journal of Production Research
• IEEE Transactions on Evolutionary Computation
• IEEE Transactions on Intelligent Transportation Systems

• Meritorious Service Award, Transportation Science, 2023
• Best Paper Award, The 14th International Workshop on Computational Transportation Science, 2023
• Best Paper Award, World Transport Convention, 2023
• Best Paper Finalist Award, International Conference on Logistics and Maritime Systems, 2019
• Outstanding Academic Performance Award, City University of Hong Kong, 2016