1. Engineering Geomechanics 
2. Fracture Mechanism of Engineering Rock Mass and Resistance to In-situ Fracturing 
3. Sealing Safety of Cap Rocks in CO₂ Geological Sequestration Site 
4. Hydraulic fracturing mechanism and technology in shale gas exploitation

• 2010 Ph.D. Institute of Geology and Geophysics, CAS, Beijing
• 2005 B.S. Xi’an University of Science and Technology, Xi’an

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• 2014.1-present Associate Professor of the Institute of Geology and Geophysics, CAS
• 2011.8~2011.12 Visiting Scholar, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia
• 2010.6-2014.1 Postdoctor of the Institute of Geology and Geophysics, CAS

1. Zhen-dong Cui, Da-an Liu, Fa-quan Wu. 2014. Influence of dip directions on the main deformation region of layered   rock around tunnels. 2013. Bulletin of Engineering Geology and the Environment, 73:441–450.  
2. Zhen-Dong Cui, Da-An Liu, Rong-Shu Zeng, Jing-Rui Niu, Hong-Jian Wang, Xiao-Shan Shi. 2013. Resistance of caprock to hydraulic fracturing due to CO₂ injection into sand lens reservoirs. Engineering Geology, 164: 146-154.  
3. Ernest Swierczek, Cui Zhen-Dong, Simon Holford, Guillaume Backé, Rosalind King, Andy Mitchells. 2013. Quantifying fault reactivation risk in the western Gippsland Basin using geomechanical modeling. APPEA Journal, pp.255-272. 
4. Zhen-dong Cui, Da-an Liu, Guang-ming An, Bo Sun, Miao Zhou, Fu-quan Cao. 2010. A comparison of two ISRM suggested chevron notched specimens for testing mode-I rock fracture toughness. International Journal of Rock Mechanics and Mining Sciences, 47: 871-876.