In November 2020, the university decided to establish Shanghai Jiao Tong University Zhangjiang Institute for Advanced Study (ZIAS) and set up the General Branch Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) at ZIAS. In December 2022, to further strengthen the Party organization and enhance the cohesion and combat effectiveness of Party branches, the university decided to establish the Committee of the CPC at ZIAS, in accordance with the scale of Party member development at ZIAS.

Currently, the ZIAS Committee of the CPC has nine subordinate Party branches: Transformative Molecules Party Branch, Synthesis Science Party Branch, Future Materials & Ultrafast Science Party Branch, Administrative Party Branch, Graduate Student First Party Branch, Graduate Student Second Party Branch, Graduate Student Third Party Branch, Graduate Student Fourth Party Branch, and Graduate Student Fifth Party Branch.

In July 2024, the General Meeting of Party Members of the CPC ZIAS Committee was held. The ZIAS Committee of the CPC holds high the great banner of socialism with Chinese characteristics, guided by Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, thoroughly implements the spirit of the 20th National Congress of the CPC and the spirit of the 11th Party Congress of SJTU, leads all Party members, faculty and students to play the "opening move" of technological innovation, seize the "commanding heights" of interdisciplinary research, adhere to high-quality Party building leading high-quality development, and strive tirelessly to build a world-class interdisciplinary innovation platform.