[1] Zhang was born in Shangluo County, Shaanxi, on 16 March 1960.
In 1994, he attended Tokyo Institute of Technology where he received his doctor's degree in 1997.
[2] In April 1998, he joined the faculty of Tsinghua University.
He was named deputy dean of the School of Civil Engineering and Water Conservancy in July 2003.
He moved up the ranks to become party chief in August 2004 and dean in July 2015.