Li Jiaxuan | Ocean Engineering | Best Researcher Award

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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.

Pedro Silva | Earthquake Engineering Award | Best Researcher Award

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Dr Pedro Silva | Earthquake Engineering Award | Best Researcher Award

Dr Pedro Silva, The George Washington University, United States

Dr. Pedro Franco Silva is a Professor at The George Washington University, specializing in civil engineering with a focus on structural design and seismic performance. He began his career in architectural design firms in California, where he gained over 10 years of experience. Dr. Silva earned his BS and MS from the University of California at Irvine while working full-time. He later transitioned to structural engineering, working for over two years designing structural systems for buildings. Dr. Silva then pursued academia, earning his PhD from the University of California at San Diego. With over 20 years in academia, he has contributed significantly to research on bridge and building structures, focusing on innovative design and experimentation.

Publication Profile

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Strengths for the Award

  1. Extensive Experience: Dr. Silva has over 20 years of academic experience and over 12 years in industry, bringing a wealth of practical and theoretical knowledge to his work.
  2. Innovative Research: His research focuses on innovative procedures for civil structures to resist both natural and man-made hazards. His work on unbonded post-tensioned shear walls, seismic design practices, and stochastic methodologies for bridge safety highlights his contributions to advancing structural engineering.
  3. Publications and Citations: With 68 journal publications and a citation index of 25, Dr. Silva has made significant contributions to his field, demonstrating the impact and recognition of his work.
  4. Patents and Editorial Role: He holds a patent for a mechanical device for prestressing CFRP sheets and serves as an Associate Editor for the journal Structures, showcasing his leadership and innovation.
  5. Collaborations and Memberships: His collaborations with notable researchers and his memberships in professional organizations like EERI, ACI, and ASEE reflect his active engagement and influence in the engineering community.
  6. Contributions to Standards and Guidelines: Dr. Silva’s leadership in developing seismic strengthening guidelines for concrete buildings using FRP composites is a notable achievement, indicating his contributions to establishing industry standards.

Areas for Improvements

  1. Books Published: Dr. Silva has not published any books. Authoring a book could further establish his expertise and reach a broader audience.
  2. Consultancy and Industry Engagement: While he has significant industry experience early in his career, recent and ongoing consultancy projects or industry collaborations could strengthen his application by demonstrating continued practical impact.
  3. Broader Citation Index: Although a citation index of 25 is commendable, further increasing this number through more high-impact publications and citations could enhance his academic standing.

Education  

Dr. Pedro Franco Silva’s academic journey is a testament to his dedication and excellence in civil engineering. He obtained his Bachelor of Science (BS) and Master of Science (MS) degrees from the University of California at Irvine, where he honed his skills while balancing full-time work in architectural design firms. His passion for structural engineering led him to pursue a PhD from the University of California at San Diego, specializing in the design and experimentation of structural systems. Dr. Silva’s advanced education has equipped him with the knowledge and expertise to innovate and lead in the field of civil engineering, particularly in the areas of seismic performance and structural resilience.

Experience 

Dr. Pedro Franco Silva’s professional experience bridges both industry and academia. He began his career with over 10 years in architectural design firms in California, where he developed a strong foundation in designing complex structures. Following this, he spent more than two years at a structural engineering firm, focusing on the design of building systems. Transitioning to academia, Dr. Silva has spent over 20 years teaching and conducting groundbreaking research at The George Washington University. His extensive experience includes developing innovative design procedures for civil structures to withstand man-made and natural hazards. Dr. Silva’s dual background in industry and academia provides him with a unique perspective, enabling him to contribute significantly to both practical applications and theoretical advancements in civil engineering.

Awards and Honors  

Dr. Pedro Franco Silva’s contributions to civil engineering have been recognized with numerous awards and honors. He is a voting member of the American Concrete Institute (ACI) Committees 440, where he played a pivotal role in developing the first worldwide code of practice for the seismic strengthening of concrete buildings using FRP composites. Dr. Silva has also been acknowledged for his research on seismic design recommendations for bridge structures, funded by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and the Alaska Department of Transportation. His role as an Associate Editor for the journal “Structures” further underscores his leadership and influence in the field. These accolades reflect Dr. Silva’s dedication to advancing civil engineering through innovative research and professional service.

Research Focus  

Dr. Pedro Franco Silva’s research focuses on the development of innovative design procedures for civil structures to withstand man-made and natural hazards. His current projects include creating new interface configurations for unbonded post-tensioned shear walls that dissipate energy through contact friction while remaining damage-free. He is also advancing state-of-the-art seismic design practices for assessing and designing reinforced concrete slender bridge columns. Additionally, Dr. Silva’s research explores stochastic methodologies to quantify the probability of bridge collapse due to heavy truck collisions and subsequent fires from flammable vapors with fast heating rates. Through his pioneering research, Dr. Silva aims to enhance the resilience and safety of civil structures, contributing to the field’s understanding of structural behavior under extreme conditions.

Publication Top Notes

Seismic response of sacrificial shear keys in bridge abutments

Cyclic crack monitoring of a reinforced concrete column under simulated pseudo-dynamic loading using piezoceramic-based smart aggregates

Development of a performance evaluation database for concrete bridge components and systems under simulated seismic loads

Improving the blast resistance capacity of RC slabs with innovative composite materials

Rehabilitation of steel bridge members with FRP composite materials