Xiaoming Zhao is a professor at the School of Geoscience and Technology, Southwest Petroleum University, China. He received his bachelor and master degrees from Southwest Petroleum University in 2005 and 2008, and PhD from China University of Petroleum (Beijing) in 2011. From the year 2016 to 2017, he worked as a visiting scholar in University of Leeds.

Prof. Zhao serves as the executive dean for School of Geoscience and Technology at Southwest Petroleum University. He has been selected as a high-level scientific and technological innovation talent by the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Distinguished Expert of Sichuan Province. He is now the Deputy Secretary General of Geological Education Branch of Chinese Geological Society, the Academic Committee Member of Oil and Gas Reservoir Development Geology Group of Chinese Petroleum Society, the Executive Director of Sichuan Geological Society, and the Deputy Secretary General of Geological Exploration Committee of Sichuan Petroleum Society. He is a reserve candidate for academic and technical leaders in Sichuan Province. He also serves as a member of the editorial board for multiple journals such as Natural Gas Industry, Acta Sedimentologica Sinica, and Marine Oil and Gas Geology.

Prof. Zhao does research in Petroleum Production Geology, Clastic Sedimentology, and Artificial Intelligence Prediction of Petroleum Reservoirs，and is the Director of Deep-water Sedimentology and Petroleum Geology Research Group which is supported by China government research funds and by the energy industry, and significant breakthroughs have been made in the theory of deep-water siliciclastic sedimentary architecture and the petroleum geology of deep-water settings. The scientific research achievements have been nominated for one first prize in provincial and ministerial level scientific and technological progress (R1), the China Youth Geological Science and Technology Award (Silver Hammer Award), and the International Eni Award. He has published over 60 research papers. He currently has authorized more than 20 invention patents and software, 1 industry standard, participated in editing 2 books.