She received her Ph.D. in human development and family science from Syracuse University, her master of education degree in applied psychology from Jilin University, and her bachelor of engineering in pharmaceutical engineering degrees from the University of Jinan.

Zhang's research interests are in the longitudinal associations between early life context (e.g., interparental violence, maternal mental health, poverty, etc.) and the development of cognitive, social, and emotional functioning from early childhood to adolescence.

She has co-published in Research in Higher Education, Journal of Child and Family Studies, Family Relations, and Early Child Development and Care, and has delivered a number of other peer-reviewed conference presentations

Zhang previously served as an instructor at Syracuse University.