Li Jiaxuan | Ocean Engineering | Best Researcher Award

Dr Li Jiaxuan | Ocean Engineering | Best Researcher Award

PhD student, Harbin Institute of Technology, China

Jiaxuan Li, born in 1998 in Heilongjiang Province, is a passionate and driven ocean engineering researcher currently pursuing a PhD in Civil and Hydraulic Engineering at Harbin Institute of Technology. His academic journey spans from a Bachelor’s in Safety Engineering at Chang’an University to a Master’s in Resource and Environmental Sciences at China University of Geosciences (Wuhan). Under the mentorship of Professor Dagang Lv, his PhD research centers on the reliability of offshore wind turbines under multi-hazard conditions. Li’s interdisciplinary expertise in geotechnics, fluid mechanics, and dynamic modeling informs his contributions to several nationally funded projects, where he excels in finite element analysis and coding. He has authored multiple peer-reviewed journal articles in leading Q1 journals and has garnered recognition for innovation, academic excellence, and leadership. With deep curiosity and technical rigor, Li is making significant strides in ensuring the resilience and safety of marine and offshore structures.

Profile

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🎓 Education 

Jiaxuan Li has pursued a rigorous academic path focused on engineering and environmental resilience. He began with a B.Eng. in Safety Engineering from Chang’an University (2016–2020), where he gained a strong foundation in safety systems, mechanics, and electronic technologies. He then earned his M.Sc. in Resource and Environmental Studies from China University of Geosciences (Wuhan) (2020–2023), specializing in marine geotechnical engineering. His master’s thesis examined the dynamic behavior of offshore pipe piles, under the supervision of Professor Hao Liu. Currently, he is a second-year PhD student at Harbin Institute of Technology (since 2023), majoring in Civil and Hydraulic Engineering. His doctoral research delves into the reliability of offshore wind turbines subjected to complex environmental stresses. Throughout his education, he has mastered advanced analytical tools such as MATLAB, ABAQUS, and AutoCAD, and taken key engineering courses including geotechnical, structural, and thermodynamic systems to support his multifaceted research.

🛠️ Experience 

Jiaxuan Li has hands-on research experience across four major national and provincial scientific programs. He actively contributed to the National Key R&D Program focused on transportation infrastructure resilience by developing finite element models and coding analytical simulations. In the National Natural Science Foundation of China’s General Program, he supported studies on offshore foundation safety and cyclic load responses through theoretical analysis and algorithm development. His work on the Hubei Natural Science Foundation Youth Project centered on soil-plugging effects in pile foundations, while a separate Guangxi-funded project explored safety design of pile-bucket foundations under lateral loads. In every project, Li played key roles in theoretical modeling, data processing, and co-authoring research papers. His experience bridges academic theory and practical engineering with strong computational and structural insights. His skills in MATLAB, ABAQUS, and SOLIDWORKS complement his field knowledge, enabling him to simulate real-world marine and offshore geotechnical challenges with high precision.

🏅 Awards and Honors 

Jiaxuan Li has received multiple awards recognizing both his academic excellence and entrepreneurial innovation. As an undergraduate, he was twice awarded the title of “Excellent League Cadre” and received two university-level scholarships. He excelled in the Internet+ Innovation and Entrepreneurship competitions, earning a Silver Award for his platform on elderly travel and residence, and a Bronze Award for an IoT-based fire escape guidance system. His projects were selected as national and university-level innovation incubators, including “Green Intent Network Technology Co., Ltd.” and subway carriage monitoring applications. During his master’s studies, Li again earned the “Excellent League Cadre” title, won third prize at a university scientific paper presentation, and secured a first-class academic scholarship. These accolades underscore his leadership, creativity, and scholarly rigor in both technological development and scientific research—traits that continue to drive his contributions to the field of ocean engineering and offshore structure safety.

🔬 Research Focus

Jiaxuan Li’s research focuses on the reliability and dynamic behavior of offshore wind turbines under multi-hazard effects. His investigations combine geotechnical engineering, structural dynamics, and marine environmental modeling to assess how wind, waves, seismic activity, and soil-structure interaction impact the performance of offshore energy systems. At the master’s level, he explored the lateral and horizontal dynamic responses of offshore pipe piles, particularly the effects of superstructure and soil plugging, which laid the groundwork for his doctoral research. His PhD project now advances this work by modeling complex multi-hazard scenarios that influence the operational stability and fragility of wind turbine foundations. He employs numerical simulations (e.g., ABAQUS), meta-damping models, and reliability analysis tools to predict failure mechanisms and optimize foundation design. His work supports the development of resilient, cost-effective offshore infrastructure vital to sustainable energy systems. He also contributes to national projects on coastal infrastructure safety and disaster mitigation.

📄 Publication Top Notes

  1. 📘 Lateral kinematic properties of offshore pipe piles embedded in saturated soil considering soil plug effect 

  2. ⚙️ Lateral dynamic response of offshore pipe piles considering the effect of superstructure 

  3. 🌊 New method to calculate the kinematic response of offshore pipe piles under seismic S-waves 

  4. 🏗️ Analytical solution for kinematic response of offshore piles under vertically propagating s-waves

Conclusion: 

His publication record, involvement in nationally significant research projects, strong academic background, and technical expertise make him stand out. His focus on renewable energy infrastructure is also very timely and aligns with global research priorities.

Yin-Tzer Shih | Fluid Dynamics | Best Researcher Award

Prof. Dr .Yin-Tzer Shih | Fluid Dynamics | Best Researcher Award

Professor , National Chung Hsing University , Taiwan

Dr. Yin-Tzer (Jerry) Shih is a distinguished professor and Vice President of National Chung Hsing University (NCHU) in Taichung, Taiwan. With a background in applied mathematics, he has dedicated his career to both research and academic leadership. Dr. Shih has held numerous leadership roles at NCHU, including Dean of the College of Science and Director of the Big Data Center. He is widely recognized for his contributions to applied mathematics and interdisciplinary research, having worked extensively in AI, data science, and computational modeling. His research spans diverse fields such as climate prediction, medical data analysis, and sustainable agriculture. In addition to his academic work, he is a pioneer in the tech transfer of healthcare innovations, such as the development of a respiratory extubation review system. Dr. Shih’s leadership and research have made significant contributions to both academia and industry.

Profile

Strengths for the Best Researcher Award

  1. Extensive Research Portfolio: Yin-Tzer (Jerry) Shih has an impressive record of research publications spanning multiple high-impact journals, including Scientific Reports, PLoS ONE, and Neurological Research. His research covers diverse topics in applied mathematics, computational modeling, and machine learning, particularly in areas like data science, climate modeling, medical data analysis, and complex systems modeling. This broad range highlights his versatility and ability to tackle both theoretical and applied problems.
  2. Leadership in Research Projects: As Principal Investigator (PI) on numerous research projects, particularly funded by Taiwan’s National Science and Technology Council (NSTC), he has shown leadership in cutting-edge research areas such as polynomial chaos expansions for option pricing, nonlinear dimensionality reduction, and smart sustainable agriculture. These projects indicate his engagement in solving real-world problems and his ability to secure competitive funding.
  3. Interdisciplinary Expertise: Dr. Shih’s academic background (with a Ph.D. in Interdisciplinary Applied Mathematics) and professional work (in areas ranging from medical imaging to finance, AI, and climate studies) showcase his deep understanding of interdisciplinary applications. This is particularly notable in his work with Big Data, AI, and healthcare—fields that have high societal impact.
  4. Academic Leadership: His significant leadership roles, including serving as Vice President and Dean at National Chung Hsing University (NCHU), and heading multiple research centers (Big Data Center, Alumni Center, AI & Data Science Program), underscore his influence in academia and his commitment to advancing research excellence in Taiwan and beyond.
  5. Patent and Tech Transfer: His work on the development of a Respiratory Extubation Review Evaluation System (with a patent issued) and its successful tech transfer to Huide Technology Co., Ltd. for implementation is a notable achievement. It demonstrates his ability to bridge the gap between research and industry, contributing to technological innovation and societal impact.
  6. Recognition and Awards: His receipt of the Industrial-Academic Excellence Award in 2024, and being recognized as a Distinguished Professor at NCHU, highlights the significant impact of his research and contributions to the academic community.

Areas for Improvement

  1. Increased International Collaboration: While Dr. Shih’s work is highly regarded within Taiwan and has international recognition, expanding his research collaborations globally could further enhance the visibility of his work, allowing him to engage in cutting-edge discussions and innovations in his fields of expertise.
  2. Public Outreach and Dissemination: Although Dr. Shih’s technical achievements are significant, increasing his presence in public-facing communication (e.g., through conferences, public lectures, or collaborations with the media) could enhance the impact of his research beyond academic circles, making complex topics in applied mathematics and AI more accessible to a broader audience.
  3. Focus on Emerging Research Areas: While Dr. Shih’s work spans a variety of fields, there might be room for exploring emerging interdisciplinary areas such as AI ethics, quantum computing, or other frontier technologies in applied mathematics. Engaging more in these high-impact areas could ensure his continued relevance in future technological and scientific developments.

Education 

Dr. Yin-Tzer (Jerry) Shih holds a Ph.D. in Interdisciplinary Applied Mathematics from the University of Maryland, College Park, where he worked under the supervision of Howard C. Elman in the Department of Computer Science. His doctoral thesis focused on “Upwind Finite Element Solutions for Convection-Diffusion Problems,” a topic bridging applied mathematics and computational modeling. Prior to his Ph.D., Dr. Shih earned an M.S. in Applied Mathematics from National Tsing Hua University in Taiwan and a B.S. in Applied Mathematics from his alma mater, National Chung Hsing University. His educational background uniquely blends applied mathematics with computational science, equipping him to approach complex problems from multiple interdisciplinary perspectives. This foundation has been instrumental in his later success, driving both his academic leadership and his innovative research endeavors in data science, AI, and mathematical modeling.

Experience 

Dr. Yin-Tzer (Jerry) Shih’s academic career is marked by significant leadership and contributions to both research and university administration. He has served as Vice President of National Chung Hsing University (NCHU) since 2023, providing strategic oversight and fostering academic growth. Prior to this, Dr. Shih was Dean of the College of Science (2018-2024) and Director of the Big Data Center at NCHU, positions through which he significantly advanced the university’s focus on AI, data science, and interdisciplinary research. From 2015 to 2017, he chaired the Department of Applied Mathematics & Institute of Statistics at NCHU. Dr. Shih has also contributed to industrial and governmental projects, having worked as a Senior Software Engineer with the Aviation Weather Center at NCEPT/NWS/NOAA and with medical optical imaging in the U.S. His leadership in academic administration and applied mathematics research has earned him recognition across Taiwan and internationally.

Awards and Honors

Dr. Yin-Tzer (Jerry) Shih has received numerous prestigious awards in recognition of his excellence in research, leadership, and academic contributions. In 2024, he was honored with the Industrial-Academic Excellence Award by National Chung Hsing University (NCHU), which acknowledges his significant role in advancing the university’s mission and bridging the gap between academia and industry. From 2018 to 2020, Dr. Shih was awarded the Distinguished Professorship at NCHU, highlighting his impact on both the university’s academic environment and the broader scientific community. He has also served in key leadership roles such as the President of the Professor Association at NCHU and as an executive committee member of the Mathematical Society of Taiwan. His work on applied mathematics, AI, and data science has earned him respect as a thought leader in these fields, while his involvement in industrial innovation further enhances his standing in academia and industry.

Research Focus 

Dr. Yin-Tzer (Jerry) Shih’s research spans a wide range of fields, with a focus on applied mathematics, computational modeling, and data science. His work involves utilizing advanced mathematical techniques, including polynomial chaos expansions and graph convolution networks, to solve complex real-world problems in areas such as climate modeling, healthcare, and finance. He has led multiple research projects funded by Taiwan’s National Science and Technology Council (NSTC), addressing challenges like climate prediction, nonlinear dimensionality reduction for medical data, and the development of smart, sustainable agriculture solutions. Additionally, Dr. Shih’s research applies deep learning techniques to solve problems in healthcare, such as predicting the outcomes of strokes and understanding genetic correlations in diseases like hyperuricemia and osteoporosis. His interdisciplinary approach, which combines mathematical modeling with AI and machine learning, has made significant contributions to both theoretical advancements and practical applications in diverse sectors.

Publications 

  • The role of extracranial carotid duplex in predicting functional outcome in first-time lacunae strokes 🧠
  • Predicting adverse drug effects: A heterogeneous graph convolution network with a multi-layer perceptron approach 💊
  • Functional outcome prediction of ischemic stroke patients with atrial fibrillation accepting post-acute care training 🚑
  • A numerical scheme for the ground state of rotating spin-1 Bose–Einstein condensates 🌀
  • A note on stochastic polynomial chaos expansions for uncertain volatility and Asian option pricing 📉
  • Stability analysis and continuation for the coupled Gross–Pitaevskii equations 🌌
  • A flexible Bayesian non-parametric approach for fitting the odds to case II interval-censored data 📊
  • Early prediction of ventilator weaning with decision tree analysis 🌬️
  • Tailored Finite Point Methods for Solving Singularly Perturbed Eigenvalue Problems with Higher Eigenvalues 🔢
  • Tailored finite point method for solving one-dimensional Burgers’ equation 🌊

Conclusion

Dr. Yin-Tzer (Jerry) Shih is an exemplary candidate for the Best Researcher Award due to his groundbreaking research, leadership in academic administration, successful tech transfer, and impactful interdisciplinary work. His ability to connect complex mathematical modeling with real-world applications, such as climate forecasting, healthcare, and sustainable agriculture, positions him as a leader in his field. His extensive academic career, patent, and leadership in critical research projects solidify his qualifications for this award. Expanding his international collaborations and increasing public outreach would further elevate his contributions to science and technology.