Zhang Cunhao, born in 1928 in Tianjin, is a renowned chemist, former president of the National Natural Science Foundation of China, member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and a fellow of the Third World Academy of Science.

Zhang graduated from the Central University in 1947, then went to study in the United States and received a master's degree in chemical engineering from the University of Michigan in 1950.

His early research fields included catalysis, chemical engineering, chemical kinetics and frontier disciplines including the combustion of propellants, chemical lasers and chemistry of excited states.

In the 1970s, Zhang was engaged in chemical laser research and laser spectroscopy of excited molecules, in which he made major contributions.

He won the National Natural Science Prize four times — in 1956, 1982, 1993 and 1999 — as well as a number of other prizes.