Zhang Rui studied architecture at Tianjin University, obtaining her PHD in 2011 with a dissertation on the research of Cohousing abroad. She has been a visiting scholar at Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning in University of Michigan. From 2013 to now she is an lecturer in Tianjin University.

Rui’s current research focuses on the Ecological city and Sustainable community. She has presided over two national natural science fund projects and participated in another 6 NTFS projects. She has published dozens of important core journal articles and will publish a book about cohousing community in 2018.

In addition to her academic research, on architecture design practice, Rui is a national class 1 Registered Architect(PRC). With more than ten years of rich practical experience in architecture, Rui has presided over the completion of the overall planning and architectural design of more than ten large public buildings.