Kun Zhang
Manager, Mining Engineering
Contact
303-273-3123
EMI 104
kunzhang@mines.edu
Kun Zhang is an accomplished professional in the field of mining and tunneling engineering, currently serving as the Manager of the Excavation Engineering and Earth Mechanics Institute (EMI) at the Colorado School of Mines. In this role, he supervises laboratory operations, leads analyses related to excavation and drill bit performance, and ensures adherence to environmental compliance and safety standards. His expertise extends to cutterhead design, where he conducts thorough analyses on cutter abrasivity and durability, ensuring alignment with international tunneling standards.
Mr. Zhang holds two Master of Science degrees from the Colorado School of Mines—one in Mining and Earth System Engineering and the other in Civil and Environmental Engineering. His extensive experience encompasses geotechnical design, project management, and research, marking him as a significant figure in his field.
He is a licensed Professional Engineer in the USA, a Chartered Engineer in both the UK and Singapore, and a Registered Professional Engineer in China. Additionally, he holds a Project Management Professional (PMP®) certification, further highlighting his qualifications and leadership in engineering projects.
In his research endeavors, Mr. Zhang focuses on drill bit analysis, intelligent monitoring technologies, and numerical modeling applied to excavation stability and drill bit optimization. His contributions to the field are reflected in several peer-reviewed publications, and he is an active member of various professional societies, including the Society for Mining, Metallurgy, and Exploration (SME), the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET), the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE), and the Society of Exploration Geophysicists (SEG).
Recognized for his leadership and technical contributions, Mr. Zhang received accolades such as the Northern California Project of the Year 2019 for the Oroville Spillways Emergency Recovery. He also serves as a reviewer for the journal Rock Mechanics and Rock Engineering (RMRE) and is an integral member of the Research Council at the Colorado School of Mines.
With a strong commitment to advancing the field of mining and tunneling engineering, Kun Zhang continues to play a pivotal role in research and professional practice, contributing significantly to the development of innovative solutions and practices in the industry.