Born and raised in Penang, Dr Heah Zi-Ling is currently a Full-Time Lecturer in Music at UCSI University. Zi-Ling received her Doctoral and Master's degrees in Piano Performance from West Virginia University and Bowling Green State University in the USA. Prior to pursuing her studies in the USA, she also graduated with a bachelor’s degree in law.

Zi-Ling held various job positions during her postgraduate studies in the USA, including Adjunct Lecturer as Collaborative Pianist and Graduate Assistant in Choral Accompanying. In addition to collaborating with instrumentalists and vocalists, she also taught piano in community school programs in the USA and students who are taking piano as their minor instrument for their undergraduate degree in music.

Her interest in music research lies primarily in French Piano Music as her final DMA dissertation, titled "Evocations of Nature in Selected Piano Works by Debussy" was subsequently awarded the Mary T. Ferrer Award for excellence in DMA research.

She currently teaches individual piano lessons and coaches chamber music ensembles in UCSI University. The undergraduate and graduate courses which she teaches in UCSI include music history, and piano pedagogy.