Bio
Dr. Zhiming Gao is a senior research and development staff member in the Buildings and Transportation Science Division. His research primarily focuses on developing energy-efficient HVAC equipment and enabling technologies for zero-emission buildings, including micro-CHPs, residential furnaces, integrated heat pumps, water heaters, refrigerators, frost sensors, desiccant and membrane-based dehumidification technologies. He is also a recognized expert in vehicle powertrain, emissions control, and LD/MD/HD vehicle electrification. Dr. Gao has authored more than 100 publications in Nature Communications, Chemical Engineering Journal, Energy, Energy Conversion and Management, and many other journals and conferences, including more than 60 as lead author. He has four issued patents/software copyrights and three more patent applications pending, all as lead inventor. In addition, he received 2022 and 2024 R&D 100 Awards, both as team leader. Dr. Gao's accomplishments have been featured by ORNL, DOE Science News, HVAC&R Industry News, and other notable outlets. His works are funded by ARPA-E, BTO, DOE/TCF, UT/Battelle LDRD/TIP, VTO, and WPTO.
Awards
2024 R&D 100 Award for "High-efficiency Micro Combined Heat and Power Device" (Team leader)
2024 American Society of Thermal and Fluid Engineers Best Paper Award (Sole author)
2023 ORNL BTSD Team Science Award (Team leader)
2022 R&D 100 Award for "Ultraclean Condensing Gas Furnace" (Team leader)
2021 ORNL Technology Commercialization Award (Team leader)
2001 Honor Member, Tau Beta Pi Engineering Honor Society
Professional Service
Adjunct professor (Professor Level), Department of Mechanical, Materials & Aerospace Engineering, West Virginia University, 2025-present
Voting Member, ASME Power Division Awards Committee, 2025-present
TRB’s outstanding committee member on air quality and greenhouse mitigation – AMS10, 2020-2026.
Voting Member, ASHRAE T-TAC-TC01.10 Committee: Combined Heat and Power Systems, 2022-2026.