He received his BS with Distinction in Materials Science and Engineering from Stanford University and completed his Ph.D. in Materials at the University of California, Santa Barbara. His primary research interest is the nanoscale engineering of novel semiconductor and composite electronic materials for energy conversion and electronic devices. Zide has received the Goldsmid Award of the International Thermoelectric Society, and the Young Investigator Award from the Office of Naval Research. In 2011, he was named the North American Molecular Beam Epitaxy Young Investigator. In 2012, he received the Deparment of Energy's Early Career Award. He has authored or co-authored over 50 technical papers and presentations and several patents.