Yan-Jiang Zhao | Robotics and Automation | Excellence in Research Award

Prof. Yan-Jiang Zhao | Robotics and Automation | Excellence in Research Award 

Harbin University of Science and Technology | China

Prof. Yan-Jiang Zhao is a distinguished researcher and academic leader in the field of mechanical engineering and medical robotics, currently serving as Professor and Head of the Department of Engineering Graphics at Harbin University of Science and Technology, China. With extensive international research exposure, including postdoctoral training at Thomas Jefferson University, USA, he has established a strong interdisciplinary research program that bridges mechanical engineering, robotics, and medical applications. Prof. Zhao’s primary research interests encompass medical robotics, flexible and steerable needle insertion systems, multi-fingered dexterous robotic hands, composite filament winding technologies, and TRIZ-based mechanical system innovation. His work focuses on integrating mechanics-based modeling, multimodal sensing, and intelligent control strategies to improve precision, safety, and adaptability in robotic systems, particularly for minimally invasive medical procedures. His recent research efforts include variable-curvature flexible needle insertion, multimodal perception frameworks, and advanced control methods for medical robotic platforms. Throughout his academic career, Prof. Zhao has led or participated in more than 20 competitive research projects, including eight national-level grants such as the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) General and Young Scientist Funds, alongside multiple provincial and enterprise-funded projects. These projects have resulted in the development of functional robotic prototypes, innovative mechanical designs, and industry-ready technologies. In parallel, he has completed several consultancy and industry collaborations, contributing to composite material structural component development and industrial product design optimization. Prof. Zhao has an impressive scholarly output, having published over 40 peer-reviewed journal articles, with more than 30 indexed in SCI and EI databases. His research has appeared in leading international journals including Expert Systems with Applications, IEEE Robotics and Automation Letters, IEEE Access, Medical Engineering & Physics, Physics in Medicine & Biology, and the International Journal of Medical Robotics and Computer-Assisted Surgery. According to the Web of Science Core Collection, his indexed publications have received over 90 citations, with an h-index of 6 (2025).

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Featured Publications

 

Lamia Fourati | Computer Science | Best Researcher Award

Prof Dr. Lamia fourati | Computer Science | Best Researcher Award

Computer science and multimedia higher institute of Sfax | Tunisia

Prof. Lamia Chaari Fourati is a distinguished Professor of Telecommunications at the Higher Institute of Computer Science and Multimedia (ISIMS), Sfax University, Tunisia, and a senior researcher at the Digital Research Center of Sfax (CRNS) within the SM@RTS Laboratory. With over two decades of academic and research excellence, she has established herself as one of North Africa’s leading figures in wireless communications, intelligent network systems, and AI-driven communication technologies. Her research is centered on the design, optimization, and security of wireless networks—including Wireless Body Area Networks (WBANs), Internet of Things (IoT), UAV-based networks (FANETs), and Internet of Vehicles (IoV). She has significantly contributed to developing MAC and routing protocols, trust management frameworks, and privacy-preserving communication systems for next-generation wireless infrastructures. Her innovative work also spans AI, machine learning, reinforcement learning, blockchain, and federated learning, applied to 6G, edge, and cloud computing ecosystems, with a focus on security, reliability, and energy efficiency. Prof. Fourati’s international collaborations are extensive. She serves as a Working Group Member in European COST Actions such as INTERACT (CA20120) and CA22168 on Physical Layer Security for Trustworthy and Resilient 6G Systems. She has led and participated in multiple sponsored projects on AI-based secure frameworks for UAVs, trust management in IoV, and smart water systems, in partnership with institutions like University of Troyes (France) and University of Aveiro (Portugal). Her research has also been pivotal in developing autonomous and energy-efficient communication systems for smart cities, vehicular networks, and healthcare applications. A dedicated educator and mentor, Prof. Fourati has supervised numerous Master’s and Ph.D. theses and has served on national and international doctoral juries. Her global academic engagements include visiting professorships in India, delivering advanced courses on LLMs, generative AI, network security, IoT, and mobile networks, as well as invited tutorials and talks at major IEEE and international events such as NoF, CRiSIS, IEEE ICBC, and ICHI. Her distinguished contributions have earned her prestigious recognitions, including the African Union Kwame Nkrumah Regional Scientific Award (2016), Miss.Africa Seed Fund Award (2018), Burj Kallel Award for Best Researcher (2019), and Outstanding Woman in Tech – North Africa (2021). In 2024, she was named among the Top Tunisian Women in Tech. An IEEE Senior Member and active participant in organizations such as OWSD, N2Women, ISOC, and ITU, Prof. Fourati continues to inspire the next generation of researchers and women in STEM. Her work integrates sustainable development, green computing, and ethical AI, aiming to build a future where intelligent, secure, and inclusive communication systems empower societies globally.

Profiles: Scopus | Orcid

Featured Publications

Fourati, L. C. (2024). Investigation of security threat datasets for intra- and inter-vehicular environments. Sensors, 24(11), 3431. https://doi.org/10.3390/s24113431

Fourati, L. C. (2022). Analysis of LoRaWAN 1.0 and 1.1 protocols security mechanisms. Sensors, 22(10), 3717. https://doi.org/10.3390/s22103717

Fourati, L. C. (2022). A genetic algorithm-based intelligent solution for water pipeline monitoring system in a transient state. Concurrency and Computation: Practice and Experience, 34(21), e5959. https://doi.org/10.1002/cpe.5959

Fourati, L. C. (2022). Cyber-physical systems for structural health monitoring: Sensing technologies and intelligent computing. Journal of Supercomputing, 78, 15126–15153. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11227-021-03875-5

Fourati, L. C. (2022). Investigation on vulnerabilities, threats and attacks prohibiting UAVs charging and depleting UAVs batteries: Assessments and countermeasures. Ad Hoc Networks, 131, 102805. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.adhoc.2022.102805

Fourati, L. C. (2021). 5G network slicing: Fundamental concepts, architectures, algorithmics, projects practices, and open issues. Concurrency and Computation: Practice and Experience, 33(24), e6352. https://doi.org/10.1002/cpe.6352

Fourati, L. C. (2021). A convoy of ground mobile vehicles protection using cooperative UAVs-based system. In 2021 International Symposium on Networks, Computers and Communications (ISNCC) (pp. 1–6). IEEE. https://doi.org/10.1109/ISNCC52172.2021.9615724

Fourati, L. C. (2021). A survey of 5G network systems: Challenges and machine learning approaches. International Journal of Machine Learning and Cybernetics, 12, 1–27. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13042-020-01178-4

Fourati, L. C. (2021). Blockchain-based trust management approach for IoV. In Lecture Notes in Networks and Systems (Vol. 206, pp. 455–467). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-75100-5_42