Zhou graduated with Ph.D in Technical Communication from University of Washington, and currently is hired as associate professor of Department of Communication, Writing and the Arts. Zhou founded the Graduate Certificate in Design of User Experience and Desiger Thinking Research Center. During 2008 to 2013 Zhou was employed in University of Wisconsin – Stout. In fall of 2017, he continued visiting research in department of Industrial Design of Delft University of Technology. He has also worked for Microsoft and MSNBC.