Professor Jian Zhao is a current professor in Rock Mechanics and Tunnelling at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL), Switzerland. He graduated in BSc (Hon.), Civil Engineering from University of Leeds, UK, in 1983. He earned his PhD in 1987, in Engineering Rock Mechanics, from the Imperial College, University of London, UK.

He is the editor of Tunnelling and Underground Space Technology international journal (Elsevier), since 2001 and co-editor of GeoMechanics and GeoEngineering international journal (Taylor & Francis), since 2005. Professor Jian Zhao is one of the Editorial Board Member or Editorial Advisor of 10 other international and local technical journals including International Journal of Rock Mechanics and Mining Sciences.

He was the Vice President (2003-2007) of the International Society for Rock Mechanics (ISRM) and Executive Council Member (2001-2004) of the International Tunnelling and Underground Space Association (ITA).