Yongkang Chen | Human Machine Interfaces Design | Best Researcher Award

Posted on by sciencefather

Mr. Yongkang Chen | Human Machine Interfaces Design | Best Researcher Award

PHD student at Tongji university, China

Yongkang Chen is a Ph.D. student at the College of Design and Innovation, Tongji University in Shanghai, China. He is a design researcher focusing on human-computer interaction (HCI) with particular interests in automotive HMI, social robot design, VR, and user behavior analysis. He has co-authored and led numerous high-impact journal publications, participated in international conferences, and collaborated on industrial innovation projects. His academic productivity and design innovation have earned him national recognition and multiple prestigious design awards.

Publication Profile 

Scopus 

Orcid 

Google Scholar

Educational Background 🎓

  • Ph.D. in Design and Innovation
    Tongji University, Shanghai, China
    (Current)

  • Postgraduate Studies
    Hunan University, Changsha, China

  • Undergraduate Studies
    Central South University, Changsha, China

Professional Experience 💼

  • Design Researcher, College of Design and Innovation, Tongji University

  • Industry Project Participation:

    • Midea: Research on user behavior and innovation design

    • Hisense: User behavior and cognitive design research on smart screens

  • Academic Contributions:

    • Published in top-tier journals like Accident Analysis & Prevention, Safety Science, Sensors, International Journal of Human-Computer Interaction, The Design Journal, and Virtual Reality

    • Conference participant: ACM Chinese CHI, HCII, and others

  • Peer-reviewed Work:

    • HCI, social robotics, autonomous vehicle trust, VR, wearable devices, and game design for older adults

Research Interests 🔬

  • Human-Machine Interaction (HMI) in automotive systems

  • Human-Social Robot Interaction Design

  • Privacy and Trust in Human-Computer Interfaces

  • Virtual and Augmented Reality (VR/AR/MR)

  • Wearable Health Technology Usability

  • Emotion-driven Interaction Design

  • Smart Wearables for Autism Spectrum Disorders

  • Cognitive Interaction Interfaces

Awards and Honors🏆✨

  • 🏆 Tongji University Doctoral Scholarship – First Prize

  • 🏆 First-Class Scholarship for Doctoral Students, Tongji University

  • 🥇 DIA China Design Intelligence Award – Honorable Mention

  • 🥇 Golden Reed Award – Outstanding Concept Design

  • 🥈 China Emergency Rescue Design Competition – National Silver Award

  • 🥇 China Good Design Award – Creativity Award

  • 🥉 National College Student Industrial Design Competition – Bronze Award

  • 🥈 Golden Axle Award – National Second Prize

  • 🥇 “Grand Garden Cup” Creative Design Competition – Gold Award

  • 🥈 Innovation for Future Design Competition – Second Prize

  • 🥉 Sannuo Cup Medical Product Design – Third Prize

  • 🏅 Governor’s Cup (Guangdong Province) – Outstanding Award

  • 🥈 China Elderly Care Service Design – National Silver Award

  • 🥇 Hunan Region Industrial Design Competition – First Prize

  • 🏅 Zhuhai Mayor’s Cup – Excellence Award

  • 🎓 Graduate First-Class Scholarship, Hunan University

  • 🎓 National Scholarship for Undergraduates

  • 🎖️ 2019 Graduate of Excellence, Hunan Province

  • 🎖️ 2020 Excellent Graduate Student, Hunan University

Conclusion🌟

Yongkang Chen stands out as a highly productive and interdisciplinary design researcher, bridging design theory, technological application, and user-centered innovation. His research spans high-impact domains like autonomous driving, wearables, and social robots, contributing both academic depth and practical design insights. With numerous awards, international publications, and real-world design engagements, Chen is an emerging thought leader in the human-centered design and innovation community.

Publications 📚

  • 📝 Chen, Y., Wang, J., Jia, F.* et al. (2025).
    Is control necessary for drivers? Exploring the influence of human-machine collaboration modes on driving behavior under different hazard visibility scenarios
    Accident Analysis and Prevention
    🔬 SCI/SSCI, JCR Q1, IF=5.9

  • 📝 Chen, Y., Wu, X., Jia, F.* et al. (2024).
    Exploring the impact of social robot design characteristics on users’ privacy concerns: Evidence from PLS-SEM and FsQCA
    International Journal of Human-Computer Interaction
    🔬 SCI/SSCI, JCR Q1, IF=4.5

  • 📝 Wang, J., Chen, Y., Huo, S. et al. (2023).
    Research hotspots and trends of social robot interaction design: A Bibliometric Analysis
    Sensors
    🔬 SCI/EI, JCR Q2, IF=3.7

  • 📝 Chen, Y., Jia, F., Xiao, Q., Wu, X.* (Under Review).
    Understanding how fully autonomous vehicles’ design characteristics influence pedestrian trust
    Safety Science
    🔬 SCI, JCR Q1, IF=5.3

  • 📝 Lin, R., Chen, Y.*, Qiu, L. et al. (2024).
    The influence of Interactivity, Aesthetic, Creativity and Vividness on consumer purchase of virtual clothing
    International Journal of Human-Computer Interaction
    🔬 SCI/SSCI, JCR Q1, IF=4.5

  • 📝 Qiu, T., Li, H., Chen, Y., et al. (2024).
    Continuance intention toward VR games of intangible cultural heritage: A stimulus-organism-response perspective
    Virtual Reality
    🔬 SCI JCR Q1, IF=5.4

  • 📝 Hu, L., Chen, Y., Cao, E., Hu, W.* (2024).
    User Experience & Usability of Wearable Health Device: A Bibliometric Analysis of 2014–2023
    International Journal of Human-Computer Interaction
    🔬 SCI/SSCI, JCR Q1, IF=4.5

  • 📝 Xiao, Q., Chen, Y.* (Revised).
    The Influence of Interaction Quality, Aesthetic Quality, Social Presence and Empathy on Users’ Intention to Continue Using Virtual Companion Applications
    The Design Journal
    🔬 AHCI, JCR Q1, IF=1.5

  • 📝 Wu, X., Chen, Y., Liu, M., Guo, M.* (2025).
    Game Design for Older Adults: A Bibliometric Analysis
    International Journal of Human-Computer Interaction
    🔬 SCI/SSCI, JCR Q1, IF=4.5

  • 📝 Dai, J., Chen, Y.*, He, M. et al. (Under Review).
    Effect of Hindrance Expectation, Privacy Risk, Warmth, and Emotion on Guiding Diagnosis Robot Acceptance
    International Journal of Social Robotics
    🔬 SCI, JCR Q2, IF=4.3

  • 📝 Qian, J., Chen, Y.* (Revised).
    Evaluation Index System of Smart Wearables for Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Delphi-AHP Method
    The Design Journal
    🔬 AHCI, JCR Q1, IF=1.5

  • 📝 Bai, X., Liu, Y., Dai, Z., Chen, Y., et al. (2024).
    Determinants of Perceived Comfort: Smart Bedding Design
    Sensors
    🔬 SCI/EI, JCR Q2, IF=3.7

 

 

 

 

Allan Fowler | UX/UI | Excellence in Research Award

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Dr. Allan Fowler | UX/UI | Excellence in Research Award

Associate Professor at University of Auckland, New Zealand

Dr. Allan Fowler is a distinguished academic specializing in game design, educational technologies, augmented and virtual reality, and human-computer interaction, with a strong focus on inclusive design for neurodiverse populations. He currently holds academic appointments in New Zealand and the United States, and has gained international recognition for his research, teaching, and service to the academic and gaming communities. His multidisciplinary work bridges technology, education, and social inclusion, making him a leading voice in the domain of games for learning and digital interaction.

Publication Profile 

Scopus

Educational Background 🎓

  • PhD in Computer Science
    Auckland University of Technology, New Zealand (2010–2014)

Professional Experience 💼

  • Associate Professor, Columbia University (2022–present)

  • Associate Professor, University of California (2020–present)

  • Senior Lecturer, Design Programme, Faculty of Creative Arts and Industries, University of Auckland (2020–present)

Additional Professional Roles:

  • Editor/Associate Editor for:

    • Springer-Nature Humanities & Social Sciences

    • Journal of Applied Computing and Information Technology

    • International Journal of Game-Based Learning

  • Program Committee Member:

    • ACM ITiCSE, SIGCSE

    • Foundations of Digital Games (FDG)

    • iLRN and Game Jam Conferences

  • Board Member: Digital Games Research Association (DiGRA)

  • Judge: NZ Game Awards, Independent Games Festival (IGF)

Research Interests 🔬

  • Game Design and Game Jams

  • Games for Learning and Education Technology

  • Human-Computer Interaction (HCI)

  • Augmented and Virtual Reality (AR/VR)

  • Digital Inclusion and Neurodiversity in Technology Use

  • Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs) in Game Development

Awards and Honors🏆✨

  • Best Paper Award, ICGJ 2021

  • Presidential Diversity Award – Outstanding Contribution

  • Excellence in Research Award

  • CITRENZ Awards:

    • Collaborative Research

    • Excellence in Educational Innovation

Research Grants (Selected):

  • 2022: InternetNZ Digital Inclusion Grant – STEAM Powered Futures

  • 2021: University of Auckland PBRF Grant – Inner PEACE Project

  • 2017: NSF INCLUDES – SEAPD-STEM, Senior Investigator/Co-PI

Conclusion🌟

Dr. Allan Fowler is a pioneering scholar and educator at the intersection of digital technology, education, and inclusive design. With academic appointments across multiple countries and a portfolio of research that includes games for social good, educational innovation, and interactive technologies, he is making significant contributions to both academia and the global game development community. His leadership in game-based learning and commitment to diversity and inclusion continue to shape future directions in digital education and human-computer interaction.

Publications 📚

  1. 📄 Luxton-Reilly, A., Tempero, E., Arachchilage, N., Chang, A., Denny, P., Fowler, A., et al. (2023)
    Automated Assessment: Experiences From the Trenches.
    📍 25th Australasian Computing Education Conference (ACE)
    🔗 doi:10.1145/3576123.3576124

  2. 📄 Tu, Y.-C., Terragni, V., Tempero, E., Shakil, A., Meads, A., Giacaman, N., Blincoe, K., & Fowler, A. (2022)
    GitHub in the Classroom: Lessons Learnt.
    📍 Australasian Computing Education Conference
    🔗 doi:10.1145/3511861.3511879

  3. 🎮 Lai, G., Kultima, A., Khosmood, F., Pirker, J., Fowler, A., Vecchi, I., et al. (2021)
    Two Decades of Game Jams.
    📍 6th International Conference on Game Jams, Hackathons, and Game Creation Events (ICGJ)
    🔗 doi:10.1145/3472688.3472689

  4. 👦 Fowler, A. (2019)
    Jamming with Children.
    📍 14th International Conference on the Foundations of Digital Games (FDG)
    🔗 doi:10.1145/3337722.3341842

  5. 📖 Fowler, A., & Khosmood, F. (2022)
    Game Jams – History, Technology, and Organisation.
    🏢 Springer Nature
    🔗 doi:10.1007/978-3-031-15187-3

  6. 📖 Kultima, A., Fowler, A., & Khosmood, F. (2023)
    There Is No One Way to Jam.
    📍 In: Game Jams – History, Technology, and Organisation
    🔗 doi:10.1007/978-3-031-15187-3_2

  7. 📘 Fowler, A. (2019)
    Beginning iOS AR Game Development: Developing Augmented Reality Apps with Unity and C#.
    🏢 Apress, Berkeley, CA
    Chapters include:

    • 🔍 Hit Testing and Lighting

    • 🌐 Adding Plane Detection and Point Clouds

    • 🎮 Making AR Games

  1. 🗞️ Fowler, A. (2021)
    Explaining China’s Games Ban.
    📍 Newsroom (Ideasroom)
    🔗 Read article

  2. 💊 Baghaei, N., Fowler, A., & Maddison, R. (2020)
    Supporting Disease Prevention and Lifestyle Changes Through Gaming.
    📄 Games for Health Journal, 9(6), 387–388
    🔗 doi:10.1089/g4h.2020.0161

  3. 🎮 Fowler, A., & Pirker, J. (2021)
    Tokenfication – The Potential of Non-Fungible Tokens (NFT) for Game Development.
    📍 Extended Abstracts of CHI PLAY 2021
    🔗 doi:10.1145/3450337.3483501

 

 

 

 

Mohsen Mohammadi | Immersive Human-Building Interactions | Best Researcher Award

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Dr. Mohsen Mohammadi | Immersive Human-Building Interactions | Best Researcher Award

Graduate Researcher at New Jersey Institute of Technology, United States

Dr. Mohsen Mohammadi is a Senior Structural and GeoStructural Engineer at Schnabel Engineering in Jersey City, NJ, with a Ph.D. in Civil and Environmental Engineering from the New Jersey Institute of Technology, where he achieved a 4.0 GPA. His dissertation focused on developing intelligent sensor fusion IoT-enabled devices for smart city applications in facility management. With extensive experience in structural design, project management, and geotechnical engineering, Dr. Mohammadi has led the design of over 200 buildings and played a key role in significant projects, including the tallest building in Iraq, the E1 Tower. His research interests encompass smart construction technologies, water quality assessment, and innovative flood mitigation strategies.

Publication Profile : 

Scopus

 

🎓 Educational Background :

  • Ph.D. in Civil and Environmental Engineering
    New Jersey Institute of Technology, Newark, NJ, USA
    Expected: May 2024
    Dissertation: Developing Intelligent Sensor Fusion IoT-enabled Devices and Virtualization Systems for Facility Management Applications in Smart Cities
    GPA: 4.0/4.0
    Advisor: Professor Rayan H. Assaad (rayan.hassane.assaad@njit.edu)
  • Master of Science (M.S.) in Structural Engineering
    Islamic Azad University, Mahabad, Iran
    February 2012
    Thesis: Structural Behavior of Hybrid Fiber-Reinforced Polymer-Autoclave Aerated Concrete Panel
    GPA: 3.7/4.0
    Advisor: Professor Arastou Armaghani (aarmaghani@yahoo.com)
  • Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Civil Engineering
    Shahid Rajaee Teacher Training University, Tehran, Iran
    August 2008
    Concentration: Architectural Engineering, Construction Management

💼 Professional Experience :

  • Senior Structural and GeoStructural Engineer
    Schnabel Engineering, Jersey City, NJ, USA
    June 2024 – Present

    • Lead geostructural engineering projects from inception to completion.
    • Conduct intricate design and analysis for foundations, retaining walls, and tunnels.
    • Provide technical oversight to junior engineers and ensure regulatory compliance.
    • Engage with clients for project updates and satisfaction.
    • Plan and oversee geotechnical site investigations and prepare detailed technical reports.
  • Graduate Research Assistant
    New Jersey Institute of Technology, Smart Construction and Intelligent Infrastructure Systems (SCIIS) Lab, Newark, NJ
    August 2022 – May 2024
  • Senior Structural Engineer
    Construction Civil Engineers of Iran, Kurdistan, Iran
    November 2011 – July 2022

    • Led the design for over 200 buildings, ensuring adherence to safety and regulatory standards.
    • Conducted structural analysis using ETABS, SAFE, and SAP 2000 software.
    • Managed projects from conception to completion, focusing on timelines and budget constraints.
  • Senior Structural Designer
    Kirmanj Construction Co., Erbil, Iraq
    March 2019 – August 2021

    • Spearheaded the structural design for The Zaniary Tower, a landmark skyscraper.
  • Construction Management Engineer
    CAN Holding Co., Kurdistan, Iran
    February 2013 – November 2016
  • Construction Management Engineer
    Kurdistan Municipality, Kurdistan, Iran
    March 2011 – October 2013

📚 Research Interests : 

  • Quantifying Reliability of Shared Economy Systems
    August 2022 – February 2023
    Developed metrics to assess reliability and pricing models for shared economy systems.
  • Modeling Flooding Events Effects
    November 2022 – August 2023
    Analyzed direct and indirect impacts of flooding on transportation infrastructure.
  • Benefit-Cost Analysis for Flood Mitigation Projects
    January 2023 – May 2023
    Conducted analysis to prioritize flood mitigation projects.
  • Intelligent Cloud-Based IoT System for Water Quality Assessment
    February 2023 – July 2023
    Developed IoT-based devices for real-time water quality monitoring.
  • IoT System for Leak Detection
    March 2023 – November 2023
    Created devices for accurate leak detection in smart city applications.
  • Enhancing Human-Technology Interaction using IoT and VR
    June 2023 – December 2023
    Developed a virtual environment for facility management using Unity and IoT sensors.
  • Enhancing Human-Technology Interaction using IoT and AR
    August 2023 – February 2024
    Integrated AR applications for real-time thermal comfort monitoring in smart buildings.

Honors & Awards :

  • 2024: National Science Foundation (NSF) I-Corp Award for an innovative IoT-based workforce health monitoring device.
  • 2022-2024: Gary Thomas Assistantships Fellowship, New Jersey Institute of Technology.
  • 2024: Graduate Student Research and Presentation Travel Award from the Graduate Student Association (GSA), NJIT.
  • 2024: Civil and Environmental Engineering Outstanding Graduate Student Award, NJIT.
  • 2004-2008: Full fellowship for bachelor studies at Shahid Rajaee Teacher Training University.

📝 Publication Top Notes :

  1. Mohammadi, M., Poudel, O., & Assaad, R. H. (2024). An Intelligent IoT-enabled Multimodal Sensing Device as a Wearable Health Monitoring System for Comprehensive Physiological Symptoms Tracking. Elsevier Journal of Measurement. (Under Review), Impact Factor: 5.2.
  2. Mohammadi, M., Assaf, G., & Assaad, R. H. (2024). Real-time Visualization of Thermal Comfort and Interaction with HVAC Systems by Integrating Immersive Virtual Reality Technologies and IoT-Enabled Intelligent Sensors for Indoor Facilities. Emerald Smart and Sustainable Built Environment. (Under Review), Impact Factor: 3.6.
  3. Mohammadi, M., Poudel, O., Assaf, G., & Assaad, R. H. (2024). An Intelligent Acoustic-based IoT-enabled Water Monitoring Sensing System for Automated Real-Time Water Leak Detection, Localization, and Pinpointing. Elsevier Journal of Expert Systems with Applications. (Under Review), Impact Factor: 7.5.
  4. Mohammadi, M., Assaf, G., Assaad, R. H., & Chang, A. J. (2024). An Intelligent Cloud-Based IoT-Enabled Multimodal Edge Sensing Device for Automated, Real-Time, Comprehensive, and Standardized Water Quality Monitoring and Assessment Process Using Multisensor Data Fusion Technologies. ASCE Journal of Computing in Civil Engineering. Impact Factor: 6.9.
  5. Mohammadi, M., Assaf, G., & Assaad, R. H. (2024). Real-time Spatial Mapping and Visualization of Thermal Comfort and HVAC Control by Integrating Immersive AR Technologies and IoT-Enabled Wireless Sensor Networks. Elsevier Journal of Building Engineering. Impact Factor: 6.4.
  6. Assaad, R. H., Mohammadi, M., & Assaf, G. (2024). Determining Critical Cascading Effects of Flooding Events on Transportation Infrastructure Using Data Mining Algorithms. Journal of Infrastructure Systems, 30(3), 04024006. Impact Factor: 3.3.
  7. Assaad, R. H., Mohammadi, M., & Chang, A. (2023). An IoT-Enabled Sensing Device to Quantify the Reliability of Shared Economy Systems Using Intelligent Sensor Fusion Building Technologies. Buildings, 13(9), 2182. Impact Factor: 3.8.
  8. Sahour, S., Khanbeyki, M., Gholami, V., Sahour, H., Karimi, H., & Mohammadi, M. (2023). Particle swarm and grey wolf optimization: enhancing groundwater quality models through artificial neural networks. Stochastic Environmental Research and Risk Assessment, 1-15. Impact Factor: 4.2.
  9. Mohammadi, M., & Armaghani, A. (2014). Structural behavior of hybrid fiber–reinforced polymer-Autoclave Aerated concrete panels. Impact Factor: 0.9804.