Biography
Cuicheng Zhang is an ARB/RIBA Chartered Architect and a DPhil researcher in Engineering Science at the University of Oxford, where he is affiliated with the Oxford e-Research Centre, Energy and Environmental Informatics, and ZERO Institute. As an ARB/RIBA Chartered Architect holding an MPhil from the University of Cambridge and MArch from AA School, she previously practiced at Foster + Partners, delivering sustainable design solutions. Her doctoral research integrates high-resolution climate modelling with machine learning to address Urban Heat Island (UHI) effects and their impacts on energy systems. Cuicheng actively translates her expertise into practice, recently winning First Place in the 2025 ASHRAE Region XIV Net Zero Building Design Competition. She is also a Finalist in the Stanford Global Sustainability Challenge and a recipient of the 2025 ASHRAE Herman and Dorothy Behls Travel Award.
Research Interests
Cuicheng’s research lies at the intersection of urban climate science, data analytics, and sustainable solutions. Her primary interests include:
- Urban Heat Island (UHI) Evolution: Investigating the dynamics of urban heat under future climate change and socio-economic development scenarios.
- Data-Driven Urban Resilience: Applying machine learning and high-resolution modelling to assess heat risks and inform adaptation strategies.
- Energy Systems: Analysing the compounding implications of climate anomalies on urban energy demand and grid stability.
- Net-Zero Infrastructure: Developing innovative, carbon-neutral design frameworks for high-demand facilities such as data centres.
