Size Ai | Engineering | Research Excellence Award

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Mr. Size Ai | Engineering | Research Excellence Award 

Harbin Institute of Technology | China

Dr. Size Ai, currently a PhD researcher at the Harbin Institute of Technology, is an emerging scholar in the field of mechanical metamaterials and advanced structural design. Holding a PhD in Mechanics from Harbin Institute of Technology, Dr. Ai has developed strong expertise in the design, modeling, and steady-state analysis of mechanical metamaterials, focusing particularly on negative stiffness structures, multi-stable metastructures, and pneumatic actuators with tunable mechanical responses. His academic journey reflects a commitment to high-quality research, having published three SCI-indexed papers in top-tier JCR Q1 journals such as Thin-Walled Structures and Engineering Structures. His works include: “Analysis of Negative Stiffness Structures with B-spline Curved Beams” (Thin-Walled Structures, 2024), “Design and Analysis of an Origami-Embedded Multi-Stable Metastructure with Shape Reconfiguration” (Engineering Structures, 2025), and “Deep Learning-Based Structural Design and Mechanical Properties Analysis of Pneumatic Actuators with Tunable Multistability” (Thin-Walled Structures, 2025). These publications highlight Dr. Ai’s ability to integrate theoretical modeling, simulation optimization, deep learning techniques, and experimental validation to solve complex challenges in structural mechanics. He has contributed significantly to ongoing national research through his involvement in the National Natural Science Foundation of China project (Grant No. 12372041), which further demonstrates his active engagement in advancing scientific knowledge. One of Dr. Ai’s major contributions includes developing a configuration parameterization method based on B-spline curves to customize negative stiffness characteristics in metamaterials. Additionally, he proposed a steady-state switching strategy using reconfigurable energy barrier elements, enabling precise control over multi-stability and shape transformation in engineered structures. His work successfully demonstrates, through combined theory, simulations, and experiments, the feasibility of programmable mechanical behavior after forming—an advancement with promising applications in soft robotics, adaptive structures, vibration isolation, and smart materials. Dr. Ai’s research continues to attract academic attention, with citations indexed in the Web of Science database. He maintains a strong ethical commitment to research integrity, with no consultancy projects, patents, or books yet undertaken. While he currently holds no editorial appointments, professional memberships, or formal collaborations, his research trajectory shows excellence, independence, and innovation, positioning him as a competitive candidate for the Research Excellence Award. Dr. Ai affirms that all submitted information is accurate, verifiable, and supported by relevant research links, including: 10.1016/j.tws.2025.114287 and 10.1016/j.tws.2023.111418. He fully agrees to the terms, policies, and responsibilities associated with this award nomination and submits this application with the highest level of integrity.

Profile: Scopus

Featured Publications

Ai, S., Xie, Z., & Wei, J. (2025, November). Deep learning-based structural design and mechanical properties analysis of pneumatic actuators with tunable multistability.

Ai, S., Hou, S., Wei, J., & Xie, Z. (2025, October). Design and analysis of an origami-embedded multi-stable metastructure with shape reconfiguration.

Hou, S., Wei, J., Ai, S., & Tan, H. F. (2025, March). Broadband nonlinear vibration isolation for a friction dynamic system via quasi-zero stiffness isolator.

Bian, S., Ai, S., Wei, J., & Qingxiang, J. (2025, March). Structural design and performance analysis of large inflatable solar membrane reflector.

Ai, S., Wei, J., Xie, Z., & Tan, H. F. (2023, November). Analysis of negative stiffness structures with B-spline curved beams.

Soujanya Reddy Annapareddy | Engineering | Women Researcher Award

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Mrs. Soujanyareddy Annapareddy | Engineering | Women Researcher Award

TAE Power Solutions | United States

Mrs. Soujanya Reddy Annapareddy is a seasoned Firmware Automation and Software Test Engineer with over 7.5 years of professional experience in embedded systems testing, automation frameworks, and data-driven validation methodologies. Her research and professional interests lie at the intersection of firmware validation, automation engineering, and intelligent system testing, focusing on how advanced test automation techniques enhance the performance, reliability, and scalability of embedded and IoT systems. At TAE Power Solutions, she has contributed to the automation and validation of Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) control platforms, integrating hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) environments and open-source frameworks such as PyTest, pandas, and matplotlib to improve regression coverage and testing efficiency. Her work explores the application of data analytics, fault-injection methods, and CI/CD pipeline integration in firmware testing to ensure real-world performance and fault tolerance. Her prior experience at Google Inc. involved automation testing for Android devices, wearable technologies, and data center systems, where she developed automation scripts in Python, Go, and C++, applied object-oriented design principles, and leveraged tools such as Mobly, Blueberry, and Buganizer for large-scale system validation. Soujanya’s analytical research focuses on automated testing frameworks, system-level reliability modeling, and signal strength optimization in wireless and connectivity domains. Methodologically, she employs Python-based automation, statistical analysis, and cloud-integrated validation frameworks, with hands-on experience in Linux environments, GCP cloud infrastructure, and RF system automation. Her interdisciplinary expertise bridges firmware engineering, test analytics, and computer science, offering insights into how automation accelerates innovation in embedded systems. Soujanya holds a Master of Science in Computer Technology from Eastern Illinois University and a Bachelor of Technology in Electronics and Communication Engineering from Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University Hyderabad (JNTUH), where she graduated with distinction. Her academic projects and industrial research underscore her commitment to advancing intelligent automation, embedded testing, and data-driven system optimization in modern technology ecosystems.

Profile: Google Scholar

Featured Publications

Annapareddy, S. R. (2025). Edge AI for real-time fault detection in embedded systems. International Journal of Emerging Trends in Computer Science and Information Systems.

Annapareddy, S. R. (2024). Managing power flows and energy efficiency in embedded systems for BESS. IJAIDR – Journal of Advances in Developmental Research, 15(2), 1–5.

Annapareddy, S. R. (2024). Advanced fault detection and diagnostics in embedded control units for BESS. IJSAT – International Journal on Science and Technology, 15(4).

Annapareddy, S. R. (2024). Firmware architecture and safety standards in battery energy storage systems. International Journal of Innovative Research in Engineering.

Annapareddy, S. R. (2024). Optimizing Android device testing with automation frameworks. International Journal of Innovative Research and Creative Technology, 10(4), 1–7.

Annapareddy, S. R. (2024). Real-world applications of Python in firmware and software automation. International Journal of Innovative Research and Creative Technology, 10(2), 1–6.

Annapareddy, S. R. (2024). Advancements in firmware testing and validation techniques. ESP Journal of Engineering & Technology Advancements, 4(3).

Chinedu Okere | Engineering | Best Researcher Award

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Dr. Chinedu Okere | Engineering | Best Researcher Award 

University of Houston | United States

Dr. Chinedu (Junior) Okere is a dynamic early-career researcher whose interests span subsurface hydrogen generation, large-scale hydrogen storage in geological formations, experimental and numerical modelling of CO₂ capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS), methane leakage from orphaned wells, and drilling/fracturing fluid design and formation-damage mitigation in petroleum reservoirs. His professional trajectory has taken him from graduate research at the China University of Petroleum (Beijing) (M.Eng., 2022) to doctoral studies at the Texas Tech University (Ph.D., 2025) and onward to a post-doctoral appointment in the Department of Petroleum Engineering at the University of Houston (from mid-2025). In these roles he has supervised PhD students, managed a U.S. Department of Energy-funded CarbonSAFE project on CO₂ storage, and led the development of grant proposals, patents and peer-reviewed publications. According to his Google Scholar profile he has to date achieved 659 citations and an h-index of 15, with an i10-index of 19. His publication record includes a broad spectrum of articles (20+, depending on counting method) covering topics from “clean hydrogen generation from petroleum reservoirs” to fuzzy-ball fluid‐induced damage in tight reservoirs, reservoir suitability for hydrogen storage, and methane leakage from abandoned wells. Most recently, his first‐author papers (2024-2025) address techno-economic feasibility of in-situ hydrogen production from petroleum reservoirs, SARA-based experimental and numerical investigations of in-situ hydrogen generation, and comparative numerical studies for optimisation of hydrogen production and CCUS strategies. In recognition of his impact he has received numerous honours including the 2024 International Inventions Awards – Hydrogen Energy Best Researcher Award, and the Society of Petroleum Engineers Permian Basin Scholarship. With strong interdisciplinary credentials spanning petroleum engineering, energy systems, reservoir simulation, and hydrogen/CCUS technologies, Dr. Okere stands out as an emerging scholar bridging the conventional oil-&-gas domain with the clean/hydrogen energy transition. His h-index of 15 reflects a solid early‐career impact: it means he has at least 15 publications each cited at least 15 times. (The h-index concept was originally proposed by J. E. Hirsch as a simple measure of productivity and citation impact. Going forward, his strong publication momentum, growing citation base and leadership in grant/industry-adjacent projects suggest that he is well-positioned to further increase both his research output and influence in the hydrogen/CCUS engineering community.

Profiles: Scopus | Orcid | Google Scholar 

Featured Publications

Okere, C. J., & Sheng, J. J. (2023). Review on clean hydrogen generation from petroleum reservoirs: Fundamentals, mechanisms, and field applications. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 101.

Edouard, M. N., Okere, C. J., Ejike, C., Dong, P., & Suliman, M. A. M. (2023). Comparative numerical study on the co-optimization of CO₂ storage and utilization in EOR, EGR, and EWR: Implications for CCUS project development. Applied Energy, 347, 121448.

Eyitayo, S. I., Okere, C. J., Hussain, A., Gamadi, T., & Watson, M. C. (2024). Synergistic sustainability: Future potential of integrating produced water and CO₂ for enhanced carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS). Journal of Environmental Management, 351, 119713.

He, J., Okere, C. J., Su, G., Hu, P., Zhang, L., Xiong, W., & Li, Z. (2021). Formation damage mitigation mechanism for coalbed methane wells via refracturing with fuzzy-ball fluid as temporary blocking agents. Journal of Natural Gas Science and Engineering, 90, 103956.

Okere, C. J., Su, G., Zheng, L., Cai, Y., Li, Z., & Liu, H. (2020). Experimental, algorithmic, and theoretical analyses for selecting an optimal laboratory method to evaluate working fluid damage in coal bed methane reservoirs. Fuel, 282, 118513.

Tao, X., Okere, C. J., Su, G., & Zheng, L. (2022). Experimental and theoretical evaluation of interlayer interference in multi-layer commingled gas production of tight gas reservoirs. Journal of Petroleum Science and Engineering, 208, 109731.

Okere, C. J., & Sheng, J. J. (2024). A new modelling approach for in-situ hydrogen production from heavy oil reservoirs: Sensitivity analysis and process mechanisms. Energy, 302, 131817.

Opara, S. U., & Okere, C. J. (2024). A review of methane leakage from abandoned oil and gas wells: A case study in Lubbock, Texas, within the Permian Basin. Energy Geoscience, 5(3), 100288.

Xinyang Yao | Engineering | Best Researcher Award | 13214

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Mr. Xinyang Yao | Engineering | Best Researcher Award 

Mr. Xinyang Yao, Xinjiang Key Laboratory for Geodynamic Processes and Metallogenic Prognosis of the Central Asian Orogenic Belt, China

Mr. Xinyang Yao is affiliated with the Xinjiang Key Laboratory for Geodynamic Processes and Metallogenic Prognosis of the Central Asian Orogenic Belt in China. His work focuses on studying geodynamic processes and metallogenic mechanisms in the Central Asian Orogenic Belt, contributing to advancements in mineral resource exploration and understanding of tectonic evolution in the region.

Profile

Orcid

🎓 Early Academic Pursuits

Xinyang Yao’s academic journey began with a profound interest in geological resources and engineering. As a postgraduate student specializing in Geological Resources and Geological Engineering, Xinyang developed a strong theoretical foundation and analytical skills essential for tackling complex geological challenges. This passion for understanding Earth’s processes led to a focused interest in Underground Coal Gasification (UCG)—a field with immense potential for energy sustainability.

Xinyang’s early education emphasized both theoretical and practical aspects of geology, fostering a deep curiosity about unconventional resource development and the technological innovations required to unlock its potential.

💼 Professional Endeavors

Xinyang’s professional experience highlights a pivotal collaboration with PetroChina Xinjiang Oilfield Company, where the focus was on advancing research in underground coal gasification. Serving as a key contributor, Xinyang played an instrumental role in conducting numerical simulations to enhance understanding of UCG processes. This work emphasized safety and efficiency, addressing challenges in fracture propagation and stress concentration—key factors for designing practical and sustainable UCG systems.

Through rigorous research, Xinyang has demonstrated a commitment to developing innovative solutions that align with industry needs, ensuring that geological expertise translates into real-world applications.

🔬 Contributions and Research Focus

Xinyang’s research has made significant contributions to the field of underground coal gasification. Aimed at enhancing operational safety and efficiency, the work includes:

  • Controlling Temperature Fields: Developing methods to predict and regulate temperature zones during UCG projects to prevent operational hazards.
  • Induced Fracture Analysis: Investigating the propagation height of fractures and understanding displacement characteristics of overlying strata.
  • Designing Optimal UCG Schemes: Using research findings to propose more effective strategies for gasification, incorporating considerations for fracture behavior and stress distribution.

These innovations underscore Xinyang’s dedication to advancing unconventional resource technologies and promoting sustainable energy solutions.

🏆 Accolades and Recognition

Despite being at an early stage in the academic journey, Xinyang has achieved notable recognition. The successful collaboration with PetroChina Xinjiang Oilfield Company and publication of a research paper in an SCI-indexed journal reflect Xinyang’s academic rigor and industry relevance. The research, accessible through DOI link, highlights a commitment to addressing global energy challenges through impactful scientific contributions.

🌍 Impact and Influence

Xinyang’s research has implications that extend beyond academia to influence industry practices in energy resource management. By addressing critical aspects such as fracture propagation and stress concentration, Xinyang’s work offers:

  • Improved Safety: Enhancing the predictability and control of risks in UCG operations.
  • Increased Efficiency: Providing frameworks for optimizing resource extraction while minimizing environmental impact.
  • Sustainability: Contributing to cleaner and safer methods of utilizing underground coal resources, reducing dependency on conventional extraction techniques.

Through this work, Xinyang has demonstrated a capacity to influence both research and practical implementation in the field of geological engineering.

🌟 Legacy and Future Contributions

Xinyang aspires to leave a lasting impact on the field of underground coal gasification and unconventional resource development. Future research endeavors are focused on:

  • Expanding Technological Innovations: Exploring new methods for controlling gasification processes and mitigating environmental risks.
  • Collaborative Research: Strengthening partnerships with industry leaders and academic institutions to accelerate advancements in geological engineering.
  • Mentorship and Knowledge Sharing: Contributing to the development of young researchers and professionals in the field, ensuring the transfer of knowledge and expertise to future generations.

Publication Top Notes

Numerical simulations of fracture propagation in overlying strata for deep underground coal gasification using controlled retraction injection point technology

Contributors: Xinyang Yao; Xin Li; Bo Wei; Jijun Tian; Shuguang Yang; Yiwen Ju
Journal: Energy
Year: 2025