1998年日本原子力研究所共同研究员；2001年-2002年日本原子力研究所，东京大学日本学术振兴会资助博士后。

获奖情况 2000年获北京大学教学优秀奖 2001年获北京大学优秀博士论文奖

功能高分子材料，光/激光化学及高能辐射化学

天然高分子，生物高分子材料的光化学，高能辐射化学改性及激光光解，脉冲辐解聚合物自由基反应动力学的研究； 燃料电池聚合物质子交换膜的合成及开发研究； 环境敏感性聚合物凝胶材料的合成及应用研究；天然药物的包埋、缓释、透皮吸收及临床应用研究。

IAEA/RCA项目“天然高分子辐射改性”中国国家技术协调员，中国化学会会员，北京核学会理事，辐射研究与辐射工艺学会委员。 Macromolecular Chemistry & Physics， Polymer International，Carbohydrate Polymers, Radiation Physics & Chemistry等刊物审稿人。

1．Maolin Zhai*, Hisaaki Kudoh, Guozhong Wu, Radoslaw A Wach, Yusa Muoroya, Yosuke Katsumura, Naotsuqu Nagasawa, Long Zhao and Fumio Yoshii, Laser photolysis of carboxymethylated chitin derivatives in aqueous solution, Part 1 Formation of hydrated electron and a long-lived radical Biomacromolecules, 2004, 5: 453-458. 2．Maolin Zhai*, Hisaaki Kudoh, Radoslaw A Wach, Guozhong Wu, Mingzhang Lin, Yusa Muoroya, Yosuke Katsumura, Long Zhao, Naotsuqu Nagasawa, and Fumio Yoshii, Laser photolysis of carboxymethylated chitin derivatives in aqueous solution, Part 2 Reaction of OH radical and sulfate radical with carboxymethylated chitin derivatives, Biomacromolecules, 2004, 5: 458-463. 3．Maolin Zhai*, Yanfeng Chen, Min Yi, Hongfei Ha, Swelling behavior of a new kind of polyampholyte hydrogels composed of dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate and acrylic acid, Polymer International, 2004, 53(1): 33-36. 4．Zhugen Liu, Min Yi, Maolin Zhai*, Hongfei Ha, Radiation synthesis and environmental responsiveness of semi-interpenetrating polymer networks composed of poly(demethylaminoethyl mothacrylate) and poly(ethylene oxide), Journal of Applied Polymer Science, 2004, 92: 2995-3001. 5．Maolin Zhai, Fumio Yoshii*, Tamikazu Kume. Radiation modification of starch-based blend plastic sheets, Carbohydrate Polymers, 2003, 52: 311-317. 6．Maolin Zhai, Fumio Yoshii*, Tamikazu Kume, Kamaruddin Hashim, Syntheses of PVA/starch Grafted Hydrogels by Irradiation, Carbohydrate Polymers. 2002. 50(3): 295-303. 7．Pengfei Li, Maolin Zhai, Jilan Wu*, Study on Radiation-induced grafting of Styrene onto Chitin and Chitosan, Radiat. Phys.Chem. 2001. 61: 149 8．Maolin Zhai, Hongfei Ha, Fumio Yoshii, Keizo Makuuchi, Effect of KC on the Properties of PVP/KC Blend Hydrogel Synthesized by g-Radiation Technology. Radiat. Phys. Chem.2000, 57: 459~464. 9．Maolin Zhai, Ning Liu, Jun Li, Min Yi and Jiuqiang Li, Radiation Preparation of PVA-g –NIPAAm in Homogeneous System and its Applications in Controlled Release. Radiat. Phys. Chem. 2000, 57: 481~484. 10．Maolin Zhai, Jun Li, Min Yi, Hongfei Ha, The Swelling Behavior of Radiation Prepared of Semi-interpenetrating Polymer Networks Composed of PolyNIPAAm and Hydrophilic Polymers. Radiat.Phys.Chem., 2000, 58: 397~400.