Aixi Zhou obtained his Ph.D. in Engineering Mechanics from Virginia Tech in 2002, his M.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Lanzhou University of Technology in 1999, and his B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Shenyang Institute of Aeronautical Engineering in 1996.

He worked as a graduate research assistant and post-doctoral associate in the Department of Engineering Science and Mechanics at Virginia Tech (2000-2002 and 2006-2007), post-doctoral associate in the Department of Structural Engineering at the University of California-San Diego (2002-2003), and senior scientist and lecturer in the School of Architecture, Civil & Environmental Engineering at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology-Lausanne (2003-2006).

His research interests include fire safety, polymer composites and adhesives, and solid mechanics. His instructional interests include courses in fire safety engineering and engineering mechanics.