Earth and Environmental Science

Assistant Professor

Earth and Environmental Science

Office location: HSH 329.3
Email: zhenhao.zhou@acadiau.ca

Research

A mission of geoscience is to understand the Earth in a way that helps people predict natural hazards, explore for resources and better support the life on Earth. Therefore, my ultimate research goal is to investigate geological questions that have both scientific research values and applicable to Earth’s habitability and/or resource industries. With this in mind, I am very interested in applying my expertise in metamorphic and igneous petrology, to understand the processes that occur as different Earth’s systems interact.

For example, my previous research explored how arc magma interacting with pre-existing carbonate rocks in the lithosphere regulates global carbon cycle and planetary habitability. My work has produced fundamental petrogenetic grids useful for both petrologists and economic geologists, and has also revealed a potential link between arc magmatism, metamorphism and the green-house period in the Cretaceous. I am currently developing projects focusing on the granitic rocks in Nova Scotia, with a broader purpose of understanding how crustal magmatic systems evolve in time and space within tectonically active settings. I also enjoy working with students to co-develop projects that align with their interests and curiosity.

Rather than refining particular analytical techniques, I use a wide range of tools as needed, including extensive field observations, petrography, in-situ analytical techniques (EPMA and LA-ICP-MS), stable isotope geochemistry, thermobarometry, phase equilibria modeling, and more.​

More information can be found at my Personal webpage @ www.hizhenhao.com

Scholarly Interests and Expertise

Igneous Petrology

Metamorphic petrology

Thermodynamic modeling (Thermo-calc and Theriak-Domino package)

Fluid inclusion microthermometry

Electron microprobe analysis

Teaching

GEOL3043 Igneous Petrology (2025 Fall)

GEOL4013 Global/North American Geology (2026 Winter)

Education and Training

Post-doctorate – Florida State University (2025)

PhD – University of Toronto (2023)

MSc – University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (2017)

BSc – China University of Geosciences (2013)

Awards & Honors

2021    Recipient of Richard Bedell Explorer Award, University of Toronto

2018    Dr. Norman Keevil Fellowship, University of Toronto.

2018    Excellent Seminar Speaker, Department of Earth Sciences, University of Toronto.

2016    “Teachers Ranked As Excellent By Their Students”, Center for Innovation in Teaching & Learning, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Funding

2025 NSF Grant. Collaborative Research: Depth-dependent decarbonation in a continental arc, Sierra Nevada, California (In progress, 2025-2027)

Supervision Philosophy

I have been fortunate to have very supportive advisors throughout grad schools and post-doctoral training. Therefore, I am passionate to pass on that same culture to my own students. I manage to maintain a balance between keeping things on track and giving students the freedom to explore. It is absolutely not always easy, but I believe good science comes from both solid guidance and a supportive environment. To achieve this, I meet with my student(s) weekly. Sometimes to talk through progress, other times I give mini lectures on scientific skills (writing, illustration, presentation, etc.) and navigate thesis work. I want my student(s) to feel supported, produce high-quality publishable work, and still enjoy the ride.