JIA Zhidong

Zhidong Jia is a Research Professor and PhD Supervisor at Tsinghua Shenzhen International Graduate School, Tsinghua University. His research focuses on high-voltage engineering, insulating materials, and hazard prevention and mitigation technologies for electrical equipment. He also serves as Director of the Shenzhen Engineering Laboratory of Power Equipment Reliability in Complicated Coastal Environments.

To date, he has supervised 11 PhD students and 57 master’s students. He has served as Principal Investigator for six projects funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) and has participated in three national research programs, including the National Basic Research Program of China (973 Program) and the National Science and Technology Support Program. He holds 55 granted invention patents and has published more than 200 academic papers.

Professor Jia serves as the Chinese Member of CIGRE Working Body B2.44, Vice Chair of SAC/TC 8, the National Technical Committee on Environmental Conditions and Environmental Testing for Electrical and Electronic Products, and Vice Chair of the Professional Committee on Environmental Technology for Electrical Products, China Electrotechnical Society. He has also undertaken and participated in the development of multiple international standards, including those of CIGRE and IEEE.

For his contributions to the protection of electrical equipment against environmental hazards, he has received three Tianjin Municipal Science and Technology Progress Awards, two Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region Science and Technology Progress Awards, one Sichuan Province Science and Technology Progress Award, two China Electric Power Science and Technology Progress Awards, one Guangdong Patent Award, and one Science and Technology Progress Award of China Machinery Industry.

Mar. 2001 – Jul. 2003, Tsinghua University, Department of Electrical Engineering (Postdoctoral Research Station of Electrical Engineering), Postdoctoral Researcher

Feb. 1998 – Mar. 2001, Xi'an Jiaotong University, School of Electrical Engineering, Major in Electrical Engineering, Ph.D.

Sep. 1989 – Apr. 1992, Tsinghua University, Department of Electrical Engineering, Major in High Voltage Engineering, Master of Engineering

Sep. 1983 – Jul. 1987, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Department of Electrical Engineering, Major in Electrical Apparatus, Bachelor of Engineering

Jul. 1987 – Sep. 1989, Assistant Engineer, Taiyuan Transformer Factory

Jan. 1993 – Feb. 1998, Lecturer, College of Engineering, Shanxi University

Jul. 2003 – Dec. 2003, Lecturer, Department of Electrical Engineering, Tsinghua University

Dec. 2003 – Sep. 2004, Associate Research Fellow, Department of Electrical Engineering, Tsinghua University

Sep. 2004 – Dec. 2008, Associate Research Fellow, Tsinghua Graduate School at Shenzhen, Tsinghua University

Dec. 2008 – Present, Research Professor and PhD Supervisor, Tsinghua Graduate School at Shenzhen, Tsinghua University

Introduction to Engineering Dielectrics, 70220193-200, SIGS

1. External Insulation of Power Systems: research on pollution flashover prevention for high-voltage external insulation, microbial protection of composite insulators, and anti-icing mechanisms, including the development and application of anti-pollution flashover insulating coatings and anti-icing coatings, as well as condition assessment and fault diagnosis of power cables;

2. Internal Insulation of Power Systems: research on the vibration characteristics and damage mechanisms of large generator stator bars, and on partial discharge in transformers, including the development of diagnostic equipment for stator insulation, as well as partial discharge and vibration detection for GIS terminals.

3. Advanced Insulating Materials: dielectric functionally graded materials, thermally conductive insulating materials, and smart protective materials;

He has served as Principal Investigator for six projects funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) and has participated in three national research programs, including the National Basic Research Program of China (973 Program) and the National Science and Technology Support Program. He holds 55 granted invention patents and has published more than 200 academic papers.

Selected Publicly Funded Research Projects

1. Mechanistic Study on the Electric-Field-Induced Fabrication of Adaptive Dielectric Functionally Graded Materials, General Program, National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC), Jan. 2022 – Dec. 2025

2. Research on Early-Warning Strategies and Countermeasures for Power Transmission and Transformation Equipment in Coastal Areas under Severe Typhoon Conditions, Shenzhen Science and Technology Program, Feb. 2019 – Jan. 2022

3. Study on the Surface Flashover Mechanism of Algae-Covered Silicone Rubber Materials,
General Program, National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC), Jan. 2017 – Dec. 2021

4. Research on the Aging Process and Characterization of Silicone Rubber Insulating Materials under Harsh Operating Environments, General Program, National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC), Jan. 2015 – Dec. 2018

5. Study on Ice Accretion Formation and Discharge Mechanisms on Surfaces of Different Media, General Program, National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC), Jan. 2012 – Dec. 2015

6. Research on Anti-Icing Coatings for Insulators of High-Voltage Transmission Lines, National Key Technology Support Program during the Eleventh Five-Year Plan Period, Jun. 2010

7. Research on the Vibration Mechanism and Damage Characteristics of Large Generator Stator Bars, General Program, National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC), 2009 – 2011

8. Research on the Mechanism of Electrospinning and Construction of Fractal Models of Fibers, General Program, National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC), 2007 – 2009

Selected Recent Industry-Sponsored and Collaborative Research Projects

1. Research on Antimicrobial Composite Insulating Materials for Tropical Island Environments, Sep. 2025 – Oct. 2027

2. Research on Fundamental Theories and Key Technologies for Performance Enhancement of Critical Sections of Distribution Network Cables, Oct. 2024 – Dec. 2026

3. Research on Key Technologies for Condition Detection and Diagnostic Evaluation of Degraded Distribution Network Cables, Oct. 2024 – Dec. 2026

4. Research on the Mechanisms, Characteristics, and Early-Warning Technologies for Fire and Explosion in High-Voltage Bushings, Nov. 2022 – Apr. 2024

5. Research on the Interaction Mechanisms between High-Voltage Transmission Lines and Forest Fires and on Risk Assessment Technologies, Apr. 2021 – Dec. 2023

6. Research on Algal Growth Characteristics and the Performance of Novel Coatings, Jul. 2020 – Sep. 2021

7. Fundamental Research, Key Technology Development, and Engineering Application of Humid-Heat Environmental Adaptability of Key Power Grid Equipment in the Tropical Marine Climate of South China, Oct. 2020 – Dec. 2023

[1] Hu H, Xu W, Fan W, et al. A Non-Destructive Airtightness Testing Method for Assessing Interfacial Performance of Cable Accessories[J]. IEEE Transactions on Power Delivery, 2025.

[2] Hu H, Li X, Fan W, et al. Precise Operational Characteristics of Cable Accessories Considering Mechanical Stretching[J]. IEEE Transactions on Dielectrics and Electrical Insulation, 2025.

[3] Hu H, Cao B, Zhang Y, et al. Study on Electrical Properties of Silicone Rubber Insulation for Cable Accessories Under Mechanical Stretching[J]. High Voltage, 2025.

[4] Hu H, Li X, Wang Z, et al. Moisture Degradation Characteristics and Multi-Performance-Based Status Assessment Method of Distribution Cables[J]. IEEE Transactions on Power Delivery, 2024, 39(6): 3017-3027.

[5] Hu H, Jia Z, Wang X, et al. Analysis of conductance and interfacial polarisation behaviours of silicone rubber based on frequency domain spectroscopy[J]. High Voltage, 2023, 8(4): 778-788.

[6] Xu C, Jia Z, Guan R. Research on Controllable Artificial Chalking Method for Silicone Rubber[J]. IEEE Transactions on Dielectrics and Electrical Insulation, 2023, 30(3): 1345-1352.

[7] Jia Z, Xu C, Guan R, et al. Simulation of the Chalking of Silicone Rubber Based on Tetramethylammonium-Hydroxide-Catalyzed Scission Reaction[J]. Polymer Degradation and Stability, 2023, 208: 110251.

[8] Xu C, Guan R, Jia Z, et al. Energy Balance Model for Providing Mechanistic Insights Into HTV and LSR Performance in Inclined Plane Tests[J]. IEEE Transactions on Dielectrics and Electrical Insulation, 2022, 29(5): 1974-1982.

[9] Shen Z, Jia Z, Hao Y, et al. A fabrication method for adaptive dielectric gradient insulating components[J]. High Voltage, 2022, 7(6): 1133-1142.

[10] Shen Z, Hao Y, Xin Z, et al. Meta-Structure Surface Based on Dielectric Tensor Rotation Induced by AC Electric Field for Insulation Improvement[J]. Frontiers in Materials, 2022, 9: 1-11.

[11] Hu H, Jia Z, Wang X, et al. Aging Mechanism of Silicone Rubber Under Thermal-Tensile Coupling Effect[J]. IEEE Transactions on Dielectrics and Electrical Insulation, 2022, 29(1): 185-192.

Insulators and External Insulation of Power Transmission and Transformation Equipment. Tsinghua University Press, Jan. 2006. ISBN 7-302-11942-2.

He has received three Tianjin Municipal Science and Technology Progress Awards, two Science and Technology Progress Awards of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, one Sichuan Province Science and Technology Progress Award, two China Electric Power Science and Technology Progress Awards, one Guangdong Patent Award, and two Science and Technology Progress Awards of China Machinery Industry.

Among his former and current students, six received the IEEE DEI Graduate Student Fellowship Award in 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2013, and 2023, respectively. This fellowship is sponsored by the IEEE Dielectrics and Electrical Insulation Society (DEIS), and only five graduate students worldwide are selected each year.