Zhang Xin is a PhD in Mining Engineering at China University of Mining and Technology–Beijing (CUMTB). He is currently a visiting researcher at CERENA, Instituto Superior Técnico (IST), University of Lisbon. His research focuses on the progressive failure mechanisms of coal walls and the stability control of mining panels. He is particularly interested in the failure characteristics of coal and rock under different stress paths, mine pressure control theory, and stability control methods for mining panels. His current work contributes to the safe and efficient production of coal mines.