She has successfully transferred new technologies from her laboratories to commercial companies. She has over 300 scientific publications and seven patents. She was recognized as the Phenomenal Faculty by UC Davis in 2014, and Engineering Innovator by the UC Davis College of Engineering in 2012.

She led and conducted innovative research and technology development on the production of bioenergy, biofuels and biochemicals from agricultural, food and municipal organic wastes, as well as energy crops. Dr. Zhang directed UC Davis Biogas Energy Project, which was sponsored by an alliance between UC Davis and private industry, for research and demonstration of new advanced anaerobic digestion and other technologies to convert a variety of organic residuals into biogas fuels and other valuable products. Dr. Zhang received many prestigious awards, including the New Holland Young Researcher Award from the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers in 2003, Environmental Award from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in 2007, and Distinguished Career Award from Association of Overseas Chinese Agricultural, Biological and Food Engineers in 2010, Achievement Award from California Bioresources Alliance in 2013, and CleanTech Innovator of the Year from Sacramento Regional Technology Alliance (SARTA) in 2014. She was elected in 2016 as Fellow of American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers.