Hongbin Yan | Applied Soft Computing | Research Excellence Award

Prof.  Hongbin Yan | Applied Soft Computing | Research Excellence Award

School of Business, East China University of Science and Technology | China 

Yan Hongbin is a professor of Management Science and Engineering at East China University of Science and Technology (ECUST), where he also serves as a PhD supervisor. He earned a PhD from the Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, following earlier degrees in management from Dalian University of Technology. His teaching covers management information systems, information system analysis and design, IT service management (for MBA students), and research methodology for master and doctoral students. His research centers on decision analysis under uncertainty, new product development, service and quality management, technological innovation, and Kansei (emotion-based) engineering. Over his career, he has authored many peer-reviewed journal and conference papers in outlets such as Computers & Industrial Engineering, Omega, IISE Transactions and others; his work has attracted substantial scholarly attention. According to his public academic profile, his publications have been cited hundreds of times, and his citation count on one platform exceeds seven hundred. Overall, his scholarly output and impact place him among the active contributors in the fields of management science and decision support.

Profile: ORCID 

Featured  Publications 

Yan, H.-B., Qu, L., & Huynh, V.-N. (2025).
A probability based linguistic decision making approach to reliable Kano model for classifying quality attributes. Applied Soft Computing, 114381.

Chen, Z., Zhou, X., Zhang, Z., Yan, H., Niu, X., & Li, Y. (2025).
Using the decomposed theory of planned behavior and a structural equation model with partial least squares to investigate construction and demolition waste reduction behavior. Journal of Construction Engineering and Management, 15810.

Wang, W., Li, Y., Yan, H., Zhao, W., Zhao, Q., & Luo, K. (2025).
A two-phase algorithm for the dynamic time-dependent green vehicle routing problem in decoration waste collection. Expert Systems with Applications, 125570.

Aristide Tolok Nelem | Multicriteria optimization | Research Excellence Award

Dr. Aristide Tolok Nelem | Multicriteria optimization | Research Excellence Award

University of Ebolowa | Cameroon

Dr. Aristide Tolok Nelem is a dedicated academic and researcher specializing in renewable energy and electrical engineering. he serves as lecturer and head of the department of renewable energy at the higher technical teachers’ training college of the University of Ebolowa, where he also leads the computer and automation research group. his scholarly interests centre on developing low-environmental-footprint energy solutions, especially solar-powered and hybrid systems, combining experimental studies with modelling and simulation to address energy deficits. among his peer-reviewed contributions are studies such as “Optimal Placement and Sizing of Distributed Energy Generation in an Electrical Network Using the Hybrid Algorithm of Bee Colonies and Newton Raphson” and “Extraction of the Parameters of a Photovoltaic Solar Cell by a Metaheuristic Method Associated With the Lambert-W Function,” reflecting his commitment to advancing solar energy technologies. as of this writing, publicly accessible databases list at least two such articles under his authorship. however, comprehensive bibliometric indicators (h-index, total document count, total citation count) are not available or cannot be reliably verified from open sources.

Profile: Orcid 

Featured Publications 

Mbakop, F. K., Assoualaye, G., Tom, A., Tolok Nelem, A., Bidias, J. B., Leontie, L., Iacomi, F., & Djongyang, N. (2024). Effect of efficiency of a thermophotovoltaic GaSb solar cell subjected to 1D photonic crystal filter and double/multi-layer anti-reflective coatings. Transactions of the Indian National Academy of Engineering.

Ndzana, N. D. M., Tolok Nelem, A., Abanda, Y. A., Pesdjock, M. J. P., Ngouagna, M. V. T., Zeh, O. F., & Ele, P. (2024). Lithium-ion point-of-care ultrasound battery joint state of charge estimation. Scientific African, 15, e02232.

Tolok Nelem, A., Ele, P., Onanena, R., Olivier, V. B., Ngo Bissé, T. J., & Pesdjock, M. J. P. (2023). An application of multicriteria decision aid in switching state control of a hybrid electric power generation network. Journal of King Saud University – Engineering Sciences, 35(4), 1–12.

Tolok Nelem, A., Ele, P., Ndiaye, P. A., Essiane, S. N., & Pesdjock, M. J. P. (2021). Dynamic optimization of switching states of a hybrid power network. International Journal of Control, Automation and Systems, 19, 1–10.

Dr. Vinit Vijay Deshpande – Computational mechanics – Best Researcher Award

Dr. Vinit Vijay Deshpande - Computational mechanics - Best Researcher Award

University of Applied Sciences, Darmstadt - Germany 

Author Profile 

SCOPUS 

ORCID 

🎓 Early academic pursuits

Vinit Vijay Deshpande embarked on his academic journey with a bachelor of technology in mechanical engineering from the college of engineering, pune, graduating in 2010 with an impressive cgpa of 8.74/10. his passion for mechanics and computational sciences led him to pursue a master of technology in engineering mechanics at the prestigious indian institute of technology, delhi, where he graduated in 2013 with a remarkable cgpa of 9.93/10. his master's research under prof. puneet mahajan focused on the mechanical behavior of composite materials, which laid a strong foundation for his future endeavors. currently, he is on the verge of completing his phd in computational mechanics at the university of applied sciences, darmstadt, where his thesis focuses on "computational strategies for characterization, reconstruction, and property estimation of ceramic foam," under the guidance of prof. dr. romana piat, achieving magna cum laude honors.

🏢 Professional endeavors

Vinit's professional path has been a dynamic blend of academic research and industrial experience. his early industry exposure began as a trainee in computer-aided engineering at tata technologies ltd, where he focused on developing mesh models for vehicle safety and durability studies. he further enhanced his practical expertise at hero motocorp's centre of innovation and technology as an analyst, leading simulations to optimize vehicle dynamics and braking systems for two-wheelers. transitioning into academia, he has significantly contributed as a scientific assistant and now as a research associate in the computational mechanics group at the university of applied sciences, darmstadt, where he leads innovative projects on modeling conductive polymer composites and porous ceramics.

🧠 Contributions and research focus

Vinit’s research revolves around developing advanced computational methods to solve complex problems in material science. his key contributions include microstructure reconstruction algorithms, constitutive modeling, and the application of machine learning-based surrogate models to predict material behavior. his innovative work on random sequential adsorption Computational mechanics algorithms has advanced the modeling of composite microstructures, while his finite element simulations have provided deep insights into fracture mechanics and electrical conductivity in complex materials. his efforts to integrate data-driven models, such as neural networks and path-finding algorithms, have positioned him at the forefront of computational material characterization.

🏅 Accolades and recognition

Vinit has earned academic distinctions throughout his career, most notably graduating magna cum laude for his phd research, a testament to his dedication and excellence. his outstanding Computational mechanics performance during his master's program at iit delhi also earned him top honors. beyond formal accolades, his work has been recognized through his contributions to high-impact projects and research collaborations, as reflected in his growing presence on platforms such as orcid and scopus, where his scholarly work continues to make an impact.

🌍 Impact and influence

Vinit's research has significantly influenced the fields of computational mechanics and materials engineering. his innovative algorithms and simulation techniques have been vital in enhancing Computational mechanics the understanding of microstructural behavior, directly contributing to the development of more efficient and robust materials, such as conductive polymer composites and porous ceramics. through his academic collaborations and mentorship roles, vinit has played a pivotal role in advancing computational strategies that benefit both scientific communities and industrial applications, bridging the gap between theoretical research and practical implementation.

🔬 Legacy and future contributions

Looking ahead, vinit aims to further push the boundaries of computational mechanics by integrating emerging technologies like artificial intelligence and machine learning into microstructural analysis and material property prediction. his vision is to develop versatile surrogate modeling frameworks that can accelerate the design of advanced materials with tailored properties, ultimately contributing to industries such as aerospace, automotive, and electronics. with a strong foundation in both academic research and industrial applications, vinit aspires to leave a lasting legacy of innovation and interdisciplinary collaboration in computational materials science.

Notable Publications 

  1. Title: Biaxial compression failure of brittle foams: A transfer learning-based strategy
    Authors: Vinit Vijay Deshpande; Romana Piat
    Journal: Procedia Structural Integrity

  2. Title: Numerical Strategies to Study Compression Failure in Brittle Foams with 3D Realistic Microstructures
    Authors: Vinit Vijay Deshpande; Romana Piat
    Journal: Advanced Structured Materials

  3. Title: Numerical studies of the elastic properties of ceramic foam by creation of the artificial microstructures after processing of computed tomographic images
    Authors: Romana Piat; Vinit Vijay Deshpande
    Journal: AIP Conference Proceedings

  4. Title: Compression failure of porous ceramics: A computational study about the effect of volume fraction on damage evolution and failure
    Authors: Vinit Vijay Deshpande; Romana Piat
    Journal: Mechanics of Materials

  5. Title: Application of statistical functions to the numerical modelling of ceramic foam: From characterisation of CT-data via generation of the virtual microstructure to estimation of effective elastic properties
    Authors: Vinit Vijay Deshpande; Kay André Weidenmann; Romana Piat
    Journal: Journal of the European Ceramic Society