Zhenyu Gao | Engineering | Best Researcher Award

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Zhenyu Gao | Engineering | Best Researcher Award

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Zhenyu Gao | Engineering – Associate Professor at Northeastern University at Qinhuangdao, China

Zhenyu Gao is a distinguished Associate Professor at the School of Control Engineering, Northeastern University at Qinhuangdao. His academic journey is marked by groundbreaking research in control science and engineering, particularly in unmanned systems, autonomous intelligence, and intelligent transportation systems. Gao’s work is recognized globally for its innovative approaches to vehicular platoon control and multi-agent systems, contributing significantly to both theoretical advancements and practical applications in the field. His dedication to academic excellence is reflected in numerous prestigious awards, influential publications, and leadership roles in scientific communities.

Profile:

Orcid

Education:

Zhenyu Gao earned his Ph.D. in Control Science and Engineering from Dalian Maritime University, China, where he developed a strong foundation in advanced control theories. Prior to his doctoral studies, he completed his Bachelor’s degree in Automation at Shandong University of Technology. His educational background reflects a consistent trajectory of academic rigor, equipping him with the analytical skills and technical expertise necessary to excel in complex research areas.

Experience:

Currently serving as an Associate Professor, Gao has played a pivotal role in advancing research in control engineering. His professional journey includes leading several high-impact projects funded by national and provincial research foundations. Gao has also contributed as an Associate Editor for reputable journals and serves as a reviewer for top-tier publications in intelligent transportation systems and vehicular technology. His role as a mentor has guided numerous graduate students, fostering the next generation of researchers in his field.

Research Interests:

Gao’s research interests span unmanned systems, autonomous intelligence, collaborative control, multi-agent systems, and intelligent transportation systems. His work focuses on developing robust control strategies for vehicular platoons, addressing challenges related to actuator nonlinearities, sensor attacks, and real-time system performance. Gao’s innovative approaches have significantly advanced the understanding of dynamic systems and their applications in modern transportation and automation technologies.

Awards 🏆:

  • Wiley Top Downloaded Article Award (2023): Recognizing his highly cited publication in intelligent transportation systems.

  • Excellent Master Thesis Advisor of Northeastern University (2023): Honoring his mentorship and academic guidance.

  • Excellent Master Thesis Advisor of Liaoning Province (2024): Acknowledging his contributions to graduate education and research excellence.

Selected Publications 📚:

  1. Gao, Z., Li, X., Wei, Z., Liu, W., Guo, G., & Wen, S. (2025). Observer-based secure predefined-time control of vehicular platoon systems under attacks in sensors and actuators – IEEE Transactions on Intelligent Transportation Systems 📈 (Cited by 150+)
  2. Gao, Z., Liu, W., Wei, Z., & Guo, G. (2025). Adaptive finite-time prescribed performance control of vehicular platoons with multilevel threshold and asymptotic convergence – IEEE Transactions on Intelligent Transportation Systems 📊 (Cited by 120+)
  3. Gao, Z., Li, X., Wei, Z., Guo, G., Wen, S., Zhao, Y., & Mumtaz, S. (2025). Fixed-time secure control for vehicular platoons under deception attacks on both sensor and actuator via adaptive fixed-time disturbance observer – IEEE Internet of Things Journal 🚗 (Cited by 95+)
  4. Gao, Z., Li, X., Wei, Z., & Guo, G. (2024). Adaptive fuzzy finite-time asymptotic tracking control of vehicular platoons with nonsmooth asymmetric input nonlinearities – IEEE Transactions on Intelligent Transportation Systems 🚀 (Cited by 85+)
  5. Gao, Z., Wei, Z., Liu, W., & Guo, G. (2025). Adaptive finite-time prescribed performance control with small overshoot for uncertain 2-D plane vehicular platoons – IEEE Transactions on Vehicular Technology 🛰️ (Cited by 80+)
  6. Gao, Z., Sun, Z., & Guo, G. (2024). Adaptive predefined-time tracking control for vehicular platoons with finite-time global prescribed performance independent of initial conditions – IEEE Transactions on Vehicular Technology 🚦 (Cited by 75+)
  7. Gao, Z., Zhang, Y., & Guo, G. (2023). Adaptive fixed-time sliding mode control of vehicular platoons with asymmetric actuator saturation – IEEE Transactions on Vehicular Technology 🛣️ (Cited by 60+)

Conclusion:

Zhenyu Gao’s distinguished career reflects an exceptional blend of academic rigor, innovative research, and impactful mentorship. His contributions to control science and engineering, particularly in autonomous systems and intelligent transportation, have set new benchmarks in the field. Gao’s extensive publication record, combined with his leadership in research projects and academic communities, underscores his suitability for the “Best Researcher Award.” His work continues to influence and inspire advancements in control engineering, making him a worthy candidate for this prestigious recognition.

Tanaya Mandal | Engineering | Best Researcher Awards

Ms. Tanaya Mandal | Engineering | Best Researcher Awards

PhD Candidate | Texas A&M University | United States

Short Bio 🌟

Tanaya Mandal is a dynamic materials engineer and Ph.D. candidate at Texas A&M University, with over four years of experience in researching the impact of material temperature on product performance. She has worked with prestigious institutions such as GE and TRI, and she actively chairs the Materials for Extreme Environments Technical Committee at SAMPE North America.

Profile

SCOPUS

Education 🎓

Tanaya Mandal is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Materials Science and Engineering at Texas A&M University, maintaining a perfect GPA of 4.00. She previously earned her M.E. in the same field with a Corrosion Certificate from Texas A&M University in December 2020. Before that, she received her M.HSc from Trinity School of Medicine in May 2019, and her B.S. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from Houston Baptist University in May 2013.

Experience 🛠️

Texas Research Institute, Austin, TX
Application Engineering/Research & Development Intern (May 2023 – August 2023)
Tanaya collaborated with customers to develop prototypes for aerospace applications and engaged in the development of wear protection coatings. She worked closely with the sales team and analyzed high-temperature adhesion applications.

Texas A&M University, College Station, TX
PhD Research Student/Graduate Teaching Assistant (January 2021 – Present)
She led a project for the Air Force Office of Scientific Research, creating and analyzing self-healing vitrimer composites for aerospace. She also taught and assessed courses in materials science and engineering.

General Electric Global Research, Niskayuna, NY
Edison Technical Research Intern (June 2020 – August 2020)
Tanaya designed multilayer nitride coatings, evaluated hardness testing of various alloys, and participated in electrochemistry testing for accident tolerant fuel projects.

Research Interest 🔬

Tanaya’s research interests include the development and characterization of high-performance materials for extreme environments, particularly focusing on self-healing composites, high-temperature adhesion applications, and advanced nuclear reactors.

Awards 🏆

  • Best Oral Presentation in Advanced Materials and Nanotechnology at the Chemical Engineering Graduate Student Association (ChEGSA) Research Symposium (2024)
  • Moderator for Non-Destructive Evaluation & Materials Testing Technical Presentations at CAMX (2023)
  • SAMPE Student Chapter Grant Award (2021-2023)
  • Semifinalist for SAMPE University Research Symposium (URS) Program Competition (2021)
  • Women in 3D Printing (Wi3DP) Next Gen Mentorship Program (2021-present)
  • Judge for Senior Division of Materials Science at the Texas Science & Engineering Fair (2021)
  • SAMPE University Leadership Experience Award (2020)
  • Judge for Undergraduate Research Symposium at TAMU (2019)

Publications 📚

  • Mandal, T., Ozten, U., Vaught, L., Meyer, J.L., Amiri, A., Polycarpou, A., Naraghi, M. (2024). Processing and Mechanics of Aromatic Vitrimeric Composites at Elevated Temperatures and Healing Performance. J. Compos. Sci., 8, 252.
  • Mandal, T., Rodriguez-Melendez, D., Palen, B., Long, C.T., Chiang, H., Sarikaya, S., Naraghi, M., Grunlan, J.C. (2023). Heat Shielding Nanobrick Wall for Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymer Composites. American Chemist Society Applied Polymer Materials, 5(5), 3270-3277.
  • Hoffman, A. K., Umretiya, R. V., Crawford, C., Spinelli, I., Huang, S., Buresh, S., Perlee, C., Mandal, T., Abouelella, H., Rebak, R. B. (2023). The relationship between grain size distribution and ductile to brittle transition temperature in FeCrAl alloys. Materials Letters, 331, 133427.