Changying Zhao directs a thermal laboratory and has been conducting research on micro/nano thermal radiation, porous media heat transfer, and thermal energy storage for over thirty years. He has published more than 300 high-quality papers in top-ranking journals such as 'Nature Materials,' 'Physical Review Letters,' 'Nano Letters,' 'Advanced Materials,' and 'International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer.' Prof. Zhao was awarded the William Begell Medal in 2023 for Excellence in Thermal Science and Engineering on the basis of his lifetime achievements.