主要从事工程爆破技术、机器学习的矿业领域应用等方面的教学和科研工作；主持了中南大学研究生自主探索创新项目，参与了国家自然科学基金等多项纵向课题，负责了纳米比亚共和国、中国河南、中国广东等地的多项横向课题；发表SCI论文20余篇，授权国家发明专利10余项，长期担任Rock Mechanics and Rock Engineering、Journal of Rock Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering等国际知名期刊审稿人。

[1] 中南大学研究生自主探索创新项目: 露天台阶爆破爆堆运移效应研究，主持；
[2] 国家自然科学面上基金，深部硬岩矿柱结构病害的点云数据深度学习识别与演化预测，参与；

[1] Yu Z, Gou YG, Zhang ZX, et al (2023) Using a dividing open-pit blast (DOPB) method to reduce ore loss and dilution caused by blast-induced rock movement. Acta Geotechnica 3:.
[2] Yu Z, Shi XZ, Zhang ZX, et al (2022) Numerical Investigation of Blast-Induced Rock Movement Characteristics in Open-Pit Bench Blasting Using Bonded-Particle Method. Rock Mechanics and Rock Engineering 55:3599–3619.
[3] Yu Z, Shi XZ, Zhou J, et al (2021) Machine-Learning-Aided Determination of Post-blast Ore Boundary for Controlling Ore Loss and Dilution. Natural Resources Research 30:4063–4078.
[4] Yu Z, Shi XZ, Qiu XY, et al (2021) Optimization of postblast ore boundary determination using a novel sine cosine algorithm-based random forest technique and Monte Carlo simulation. Engineering Optimization 53:1467–1482.
[5] Yu Z, Shi XZ, Chen X, et al (2021) Artificial intelligence model for studying unconfined compressive performance of fiber-reinforced cemented paste backfill. Transactions of Nonferrous Metals Society of China 31:1087–1102.

[1] 2020年博士研究国家奖学金