Dr. Xu Zhang (Sabrina)

Originally from Beijing, China, I studied and worked in Beijing, Hong Kong, UK, and Ireland.

As a researcher and lecturer specialising in logistics and supply chain management, I am passionate about disseminating sustainable practices and technologies in urban mobility through teaching and professional collaboration.

My research work focuses on city logistics, sustainability reporting and assessment, the adoption of green logistics technologies, and transport decarbonisation policy. I have also expanded my research interests to transport geography and urban studies. I consider myself a qualitative researcher, but I am always open to exploring new methodologies, especially with the rapid advancements in AI. I believe that by leveraging different approaches, we can harvest new data and gain fresh insights, enhancing the stories we tell through research.

In my spare time, I enjoy exploring different cities, reading, and (mostly watching) table tennis games.

I am open to collaborations and contract opportunities, particularly in teaching, training design, and academic or industry consultancy projects. Get in touch with me at hello@xuzhang.ie

BA, Beijing International Studies University
MA, The Chinese University of Hong Kong
MSc, Cranfield University, United Kingdom
PhD, TU Dublin, Ireland

What I do

Teaching

I teach university courses focused on sustainable city logistics, green logistics technologies, urban mobility, and sustainable supply chain operation and design, and research methods. My courses emphasise the importance of sustainable practices in urban environments, exploring how logistics and transport can adapt to and support sustainable city goals.

Training

With 10-year experience in academic and industry settings, I provide training and training programme design in areas such as sustainable freight transport systems, city logistics, sustainability reporting, and logistics technology adoption. I am also committed to training the next generation of professionals on the challenges of urban mobility and decarbonisation in logistics.

Consultancy

I am actively engaged in research and consultancy projects related to sustainable city logistics and policy development, advising on projects that address urban mobility strategies, and the impacts of last-mile delivery. My consultancy work includes collaborations with policymakers and industry partners to promote sustainable logistics solutions within urban environments.

Research

I am dedicated to advancing in sustainable logistics and mobility, integrating the latest practices in city logistics and green technology to improve urban living. My work has contributed to advancing city logistics frameworks and sustainable practices that align with broader urban sustainability goals, earning recognition within the academic and professional communities.

Here are some of my featured articles in media.

Can cargo bikes fix the last-mile delivery problem in our cities?

We share our findings on the citizens’ attitudes and preferences for cargo bike delivery services among five captical cities in Europe.

What's the size of your next-day delivery's carbon footprint?

We discuss last-mile delivery in urban areas, and explains how we as e-shoppers, can be more climate-savvy and make a little difference in our online shopping.

Are we on the road to sustainable freight transport?

Reflecting on the latest Ten-year Strategy for the Haulage Sector in Ireland, we propose a few discussion points on the recent policies towards low-carbon freight transport.

6 years a PhD, 6 research resources guided me through

In this blog, I share six research resources that I think are very helpful along my PhD journey. I hope these will be useful for early career researchers and Master’s students who may be working on their research studies.

The Hardest Part of a PhD Journey (and How to Overcome It)

In this Research Hub's vlog, I shared one of the biggest challenge in my PhD journey and how I dealt with it. Hope this might be helpful to early-career researchers alike.

Email: hello@xuzhang.ie