Vincent Zakka | Human Behaviour Analysis | Young Scientist Award

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Mr. Vincent Zakka | Human Behaviour Analysis | Young Scientist Award

Postgraduate Research Student of Aston University, United Kingdom

Vincent Gbouna Zakka is a Ph.D. candidate in Computer Science at Aston University, specializing in human behavior analysis in smart environments. His research has applications in ambient assisted living, human-robot collaboration, and user-centered building system control. With a Master’s in Mechatronic Engineering from Zhejiang University and a Bachelor’s in Electronics Information Engineering from Liaoning University of Technology, Vincent has gained valuable experience as a Research Assistant at institutions like The Hong Kong Polytechnic University and Westlake University. His expertise spans activity recognition, vision-based monitoring technologies, and smart building systems. He has received several awards, including Best Paper Runner-Up at the International Conference on AI in Healthcare (2024), and has contributed to numerous publications in high-impact journals. ✨🤖🏠

Publication Profile : 

Scopus

 

🎓 Educational Background :

Vincent Gbouna Zakka is a Ph.D. candidate in Computer Science at Aston University, where he focuses on human behavior analysis in smart environments, with key applications in ambient assisted living, human-robot collaboration, and user-centered building system control. He holds a Master of Engineering in Mechatronic Engineering from Zhejiang University (2018-2021) and a Bachelor of Engineering in Electronics Information Engineering from Liaoning University of Technology (2014-2018).

💼 Professional Experience :

Professionally, Vincent has been a Postgraduate Teaching Assistant at Aston University since October 2022, where he also mentors students and engages in research. Prior to this, he served as a Research Assistant at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (2021-2022) and Westlake University (2021). His dedication to academia is reflected in his contributions to several high-impact conferences and journals, earning recognition such as the Best Paper Runner-Up Award at the 2024 International Conference on AI in Healthcare and the Best Paper Award at the 22nd International Conference on Construction Applications of Virtual Reality in 2022.

📚 Research Interests : 

Vincent’s research interests include activity recognition, user trust in monitoring systems, vision-based technology acceptance in home environments, human-robot collaboration, and smart building systems. His innovative work spans publications on privacy-preserving ambient assisted living, thermal comfort modeling, and IoT-enabled robot skin systems. He actively reviews for leading conferences and journals in his field, such as IROS and ISIE.

📝 Publication Top Notes :

  1. Darras, K., Balle, M., Xu, W., Yan, Y., Zakka Gbouna, V., Toledo, M., Sheng, D., Lin, W., Zhang, B., Lan, Z., Li, F., & Wanger, T. (2024). Eyes on Nature: Embedded Vision Cameras for Multidisciplinary Terrestrial Biodiversity Monitoring. Method in Ecology. Accepted.
  2. Zakka Gbouna, V., Dai, Z., & Manso, L. J. (2024). Hierarchical Temporal Convolution Network: Towards Privacy-Centric Activity Recognition. 16th International Conference on Ubiquitous Computing and Ambient Intelligence. Accepted.
  3. Zakka Gbouna, V., Lee, M., Zhang, R., Huang, L., Jung, S., & Hong, T. (2024). Non-invasive vision-based personal comfort model using thermographic images and deep learning. Automation in Construction, 105811. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.autcon.2024.105811
  4. Zakka Gbouna, V., & Lee, M. (2024). A generalized thermal comfort model using thermographic images and compact convolutional transformers: Towards scalable and adaptive occupant comfort optimization. Building and Environment, 112118. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.buildenv.2024.112118
  5. Zakka Gbouna, V., Dai, Z., & Manso, L. J. (2024). Action Recognition for Privacy-Preserving Ambient Assisted Living. International Conference on AI in Healthcare, 15. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-67285-9_15
  6. Xie, K., Lee, M., Khalid, R., & Zakka Gbouna, V. (2023). The impact of personal environmental control on the performance of thermal systems: Building energy consumption, occupant thermal comfort, and productivity. Energy and Buildings, 113552. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2023.113552
  7. Zakka Gbouna, V., & Lee, M. (2022). An Integrated Design of Energy and Indoor Environmental Quality System for Effective Building Performance Management. Proceedings of the 22nd International Conference on Construction Applications of Virtual Reality.
  8. Zakka Gbouna, V., Pang, G., Yang, G., Hou, Z., Lv, H., Yu, Z., & Pang, Z. (2021). User-interactive robot skin with large-area scalability for safer and natural human-robot collaboration in future telehealthcare. IEEE Journal of Biomedical and Health Informatics, 3082563. https://doi.org/10.1109/JBHI.2021.3082563 (Featured on Cover Paper)
  9. Zakka Gbouna, V., Hou, Z., Pang, G., Yang, H., & Yang, G. (2021). IoT-Enabled Robot Skin System for Enhancement of Safe Human-Robot Collaboration. International Conference on Intelligent Robotics and Applications, 43. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-89098-8_43
  10. Heng, W., Pang, G., Zakka Gbouna, V., Pang, Z., Yi, K., & Yang, H. (2019). Facile Fabrication of Highly Soft Tactile Sensor based on Porous Sponge with Geometry Effect on Sensing Characteristics. 2nd IEEE International Flexible Electronics Technology Conference. https://doi.org/10.1109/IFETC46817.2019.9073774

 

 

 

 

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.

 

 

 

 

Xinyi Wei | Social Psychological Impacts | Best Researcher Award

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Assoc. Prof. Dr. Xinyi Wei | Social Psychological Impacts | Best Researcher Award

Associate Professor at Renmin University of China and Putian University, China

Xinyi Wei is an Associate Professor at Renmin University of China and Putian University. He graduated from a “Double First-Class” university in China, excelling in a “Double First-Class” discipline. Over his 11-year academic career, he has published over 30 papers, including five as first author in top-tier journals (SSCI Q1), with an impressive impact factor of 10.1 for one of his articles. His research explores the social psychological impacts of emerging technologies, particularly in relation to mobile phone usage and addiction. In addition, he has completed significant projects funded by national and university-level grants.

Publication Profile : 

Scopus

🎓 Educational Background :

  • University: Graduated from a “Double First-Class” university in China 🇨🇳
  • Discipline: Specialized in a “Double First-Class” discipline 📚

💼 Professional Experience :

Xinyi Wei is an Associate Professor at Renmin University of China and Putian University, with 11 years of academic experience. He has published over 30 academic papers, including five first-authored pieces in top-tier journals (SSCI Q1), achieving a maximum impact factor of 10.1. His expertise spans both quantitative and qualitative research methods in social sciences, further enriched by his involvement in significant research projects funded by prestigious organizations.

📚 Research Interests : 

  • 📱 Social psychological impacts of mobile technology
  • 📊 Gender differences in technology usage
  • 🧠 Cognitive and neural mechanisms related to behavioral responses
  • 💡 Smartphone addiction and its implications
  • 🌐 Effects of emerging technologies on society

📝 Publication Top Notes :

  1. Peng, J., Yuan, S., Wei, Z., Wu, S., & Ren, L. (2024). Temporal network of experience sampling methodology identifies sleep disturbance as a central symptom in generalized anxiety disorder. BMC Psychiatry, 24(1), 241. [Open access]
  2. Liu, C., Rotaru, K., Wang, Z., Albertella, L., & Ren, L. (2024). Examining network structure of impulsivity and depression in adolescents and young adults: A two-sample study. Journal of Affective Disorders, 362, 54–61.
  3. Gao, T., Yang, L., Wei, X., Zhang, L., & Lei, L. (2024). Is childhood emotional neglect associated with problematic smartphone use among adolescents? The mediating role of rejection sensitivity and depressive symptoms. Current Psychology, 43(32), 26477–26489.
  4. Wei, X., Chu, X., Geng, J., Wang, C., & Lei, L. (2024). Societal impacts of chatbot and mitigation strategies for negative impacts: A large-scale qualitative survey of ChatGPT users. Technology in Society, 77, 102566. [Open access]
  5. Li, J., Liu, C., Albertella, L., Liu, X., & Ren, L. (2024). Network analysis of the association between Dark Triad traits and depression symptoms in university students. Personality and Individual Differences, 218, 112495.
  6. Chu, X., Chen, Y., Litifu, A., Wei, X., & Lei, L. (2024). Social anxiety and phubbing: The mediating role of problematic social networking and the moderating role of family socioeconomic status. Psychology in the Schools, 61(2), 553–567. [Open access]
  7. Wei, X., Chu, X., Wang, H., Liu, C., & Lei, L. (2024). Does positive coping style alleviate anxiety symptoms after appearing problematic smartphone use for generation Z adolescents? The mediating role of state core self-evaluation. Current Psychology, 43(8), 6783–6795.
  8. Wang, Y., Gu, X., Geng, J., Wei, X., & Lei, L. (2024). Relationships among selfie-viewing on social media, thin-ideal internalization, and restrained eating in adolescents: The buffering role of media literacy. Cyberpsychology, 18(1), 2. [Open access]
  9. Wei, X.-Y., Jiang, Y.-Z., Zhou, H.-L., & Jiang, H.-B. (2023). Erratum: Neuroticism and problematic smartphone use symptom types: Roles of anxiety and alexithymia. Current Psychology, 42(36), 32616–32617. [Open access]