Professor Zhao's research focuses on interpersonal relationships in groups and teams. In particular, she is interested in how individuals in teams work together and navigate conflict to support individual and team effectiveness. She utilizes multiple methodologies in her research, including surveys, experiments, and archival data. Her work has been published in Academy of Management Annals and Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes. Her research has been featured in numerous media outlets such as The Wall Street Journal; Fortune Magazine; and Fast Company.

Professor Zhao has taught organizational behavior and negotiations in both Australia and the United States. At McIntire, she currently teaches the third-year core Organizational Behavior course. Previously, she has taught the M.S. in Commerce Organizational Behavior and undergraduate Strategic Leadership courses. Before her academic career, she worked in Australia and the United States.

Professor Zhao received her Ph.D. from the University of Melbourne, and before joining the University of Virginia, she held positions at Carnegie Mellon University.