Professor Jimmy Zhu received his B.S. degree in physics from Huazhong University of Science and Technology in China in 1982, M.S. and Ph.D. degrees, both in physics, from the University of California at San Diego in 1983 and 1989, respectively.

He is a full professor in the department of Electrical and Computer Engineering and the Data Storage Systems Center at Carnegie Mellon University and holds the endowed chair ABB Professorship in Engineering. In 1990, he joined the Department of Electrical Engineering at the University of Minnesota as an assistant professor. In 1992 he was granted the McKnight Land Grant Professorship by the Regents. He joined the faculty of Carnegie Mellon University in the beginning of 1997. He was a recipient of 1993-97 NSF Presidential Young Investigator Award . In 1996, his patent on Ultra-High Density Magnetic Sensor won the top 100 inventions award given by R&D magazine. He has authored or co-authored over 170 major technical journal publications and presented over 40 invited papers at various major international conferences. He has supervised and graduated 19 Ph.D. students. His current research includes advanced MRAM device design, advanced GMR heads design, advanced thin film recording media, digital tape recording system, patterned media, and mag -noise in magnetic nano-sensors. He is 2004 IEEE Distinguished Lecturer . He has been an advisory editor for the Journal of Magnetism and Magnetic Materials since 1998.