David Zhang
Also known as 张大鹏, Dapeng Zhang
David Zhang is a biometrics researcher whose work runs from palmprint authentication to systems that recognize people from their bodies. He studied computer science at Peking University and the Harbin Institute of Technology, then took a second doctorate at the University of Waterloo in 1994. Hong Kong Polytechnic University made him a chair professor in 2005, and the International Association for Pattern Recognition named him a fellow in 2006 for his biometrics work. Clarivate listed him as a Highly Cited Researcher in Engineering from 2014 to 2021. As of October 2026, he holds a presidential chair professorship at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen.
- Works
- 1,368
Publication numbers from OpenAlex, as of 14 October 2026. Citations and h-index are hidden because this OpenAlex record may be incomplete or mix in other authors.
Timeline
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1974–1985
Computer science degrees
He graduates in computer science from Peking University in 1974 and earns his doctorate at the Harbin Institute of Technology in 1985.
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1986–1988
Postdoctoral work at Tsinghua
From 1986 to 1988 he is a postdoctoral fellow at Tsinghua University, and then he becomes an associate professor at the Academia Sinica in Beijing.
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1994
A second doctorate at Waterloo
In 1994 he receives a second PhD in electrical and computer engineering from the University of Waterloo in Ontario.
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2004
Palmprint authentication systems
In 2004 his co-authored paper on palmprint authentication technologies, systems and applications appears in Lecture Notes in Computer Science.
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2005
Chair professor in Hong Kong
At Hong Kong Polytechnic University he becomes a chair professor in 2005, where he is founding director of its Biometrics Research Centre.
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2006
A fellow of the IAPR
The International Association for Pattern Recognition names him a fellow in 2006 for contributions to biometrics technologies and systems.
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2014–2021
Eight years as highly cited
Clarivate lists him as a Highly Cited Researcher in Engineering for eight consecutive years, from 2014 to 2021.
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As of October 2026
A presidential chair in Shenzhen
At the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen, he holds a presidential chair professorship.
Sources and credits
Photo: www4.comp.polyu.edu.hk; Welcome to Prof. David Zhang's Homepage; creator not stated. License: Not stated by source. Source: www4.comp.polyu.edu.hk. Cropped to a square and resized. Ask us to remove or replace this photo.