Dr Peggy Qi Zhang is a Lecturer in the School of Engineering at Macquarie University. Her research focuses on ferroelectric and multiferroic materials, with particular expertise in epitaxial thin-film fabrication, scanning probe microscopy and nanofabrication.

Dr Zhang’s work centers on the design, fabrication, and characterisation of functional oxide thin films and nanomaterials, aiming to enable next-generation energy-efficient electronics. Her research integrates advanced thin-film deposition techniques (i.e., pulsed laser deposition and chemical solution deposition) with scanning probe microscopy and nanofabrication techniques to explore domain and domain wall functionalities, ferroelectric tunnelling junctions, and emergent topological defect driven low-energy devices.

Prior to joining Macquarie University, Dr Zhang held research and teaching positions at the University of New South Wales (2015-2023) and CSIRO (2023-2026). She has led and contributed to multiple ferroelectric based interdisciplinary projects. She was awarded the Women-in-FLEET Fellowship by the ARC Centre of Excellence in Future Low-Energy Electronics Technologies in 2019. 

Her current research aims to develop strain-engineered and topology-driven material platforms for future low-energy devices.

• Topological phase transitions in ferroic materials including topological defects, domain walls and Skyrmion structures.
• Development of new synthesis techniques for novel ferroelectric oxides with topological properties
• New nanolithography techniques to fabricate ferroelectric domain wall memory devices
• Investigation of nanoscale domains and topological transitions in ultrathin ferroelectric films
• Characterization using scanning probe microscopy (including piezoresponse force microscopy, conductive atomic force microscopy, Kelvin probe force microscopy, electrostatic force microscopy, etc.).

• ENGG1000 - Introduction to Engineering 
• MECH2005 - Engineering Materials