Dr Zhang started his scientific career with a PhD in Plant Pathology at Nanjing Agricultural University, and then worked for the Institute of Plant Protection (IPP), Chinese Academy of Agricultural Science (CAAS). He had researched on the integrated pest management in agriculture especially by using biological agents, and also worked on the risk assessment of transgenic crops to soil microorganisms. From 2008, his research direction has been adjusted to the agricultural biodiversity and eco-agriculture. He studies the action mechanism of plant diversity on regulating the biodiversity of arthropods in wheat-maize rotation field. Furthermore through planting a wild-flower strip in the border of farmland, it is expected that the biodiversity of natural enemies will be increased and the diseases and pest insects will be correspondently inhibited or reduced in the inner field.