Dr. Yifan Zhou is a Lecturer in Structural Engineering at the University of Western Australia. She holds a PhD in Structural Engineering from the University of Sydney, where her doctoral research focused on the behaviour and design of stainless steel–concrete composite structure. Her work integrated experimental testing, finite element modelling, and advanced design approaches, contributing to the development of national and international structural design standards. Dr. Zhou is a member of the Standards Australia Committee panel, contributing to the revision of AS/NZS 2327 for composite structures.

Dr. Zhou combines academic expertise with industry experience, having worked as a structural engineer on major infrastructure and building projects prior to her academic appointment. At UWA, she coordinates and teaches CIVL3404/4404 Structural Steel and CIVL5552 Civil Structural Design Project, incorporating student-centred pedagogies, authentic assessments, and industry engagement.

Her research focuses on the performance and design of advanced steel and composite structural systems. She is also actively exploring interdisciplinary collaborations that connect structural engineering with emerging fields such as machine learning and electronic sensor technologies, aiming to improve structural health monitoring, predictive maintenance, and data-informed design.