Dr. Congcong yang – Metallurgy – Best Researcher Award

Dr. Congcong yang - Metallurgy - Best Researcher Award

Central South University - China

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📚 Early academic pursuits

Congcong yang embarked on his academic journey in 2007 at central south university (csu), where he pursued a bachelor's degree in minerals processing engineering. demonstrating early promise in research and technical expertise, he continued his academic progression at csu with a master's degree, followed by a ph.d. in the same field under the guidance of prof. deqing zhu. in 2017, he was selected as a joint ph.d. student at csiro mineral resources in brisbane, australia, working with dr. liming lu. his academic foundation was marked by a strong focus on innovative processing technologies and sustainability in metallurgy, especially in fields intersecting with power electronics applications in materials engineering.

🏢 Professional endeavors

After earning his doctorate, congcong began his professional career as a research assistant at csu in 2018. he was soon promoted to lecturer in 2020 and then to associate professor in 2022. in 2024, he assumed the role of deputy director at the vale-csu joint laboratory for low-carbon and hydrogen metallurgy. throughout his career, he has collaborated with global industry leaders including vale, bhp, rio tinto, and china baowu. his work environment reflects a balance between academia and industry, enabling him to bring practical insights into academic research and to explore advancements in power electronics related to metallurgical process control.

🔬 Contributions and research focus

Congcong yang's research is centered around three core areas: the characterization, processing, and evaluation of iron ores; low-carbon and hydrogen metallurgy; and the comprehensive Metallurgy utilization of low-grade ores and solid wastes. he has contributed significantly to the development of sustainable and energy-efficient processing techniques, often integrating concepts related to power electronics for smarter material handling systems. his focus on low-carbon technologies is timely and addresses urgent global needs for green metallurgy solutions.

🌍 Impact and influence

Over the past five years, congcong has managed more than 20 major research projects funded by the national natural science foundation of china, provincial bodies, and global mining Metallurgy corporations. he has authored over 60 sci-indexed papers, three book chapters, and holds more than 30 national invention patents. as a result of his growing impact, he has been recognized with two provincial science and technology progress awards and named among the world's top 2% scientists in mining and metallurgy by elsevier and stanford university for both 2023 and 2024. his role in integrating power electronics into metallurgy highlights his interdisciplinary influence.

📈 Academic cites

Congcong yang serves as a youth editorial board member for five technical journals and a regular reviewer for over 50 international journals, showcasing his academic visibility and Metallurgy commitment to peer research validation. he is an active member of prominent professional organizations such as the china nonferrous metals society, the chinese society for metals, and the australian institute of mining and metallurgy (ausimm), further strengthening his international scholarly network.

🌱 Legacy and future contributions

Congcong’s long-term vision is to lead sustainable innovations in low-carbon metallurgy by advancing scientific understanding and industrial applications. his leadership at the vale-csu joint lab underscores his role in pioneering hydrogen-based metallurgical solutions. he aims to continue bridging academia and industry while mentoring the next generation of engineers and researchers. with a firm grounding in both theoretical and practical frameworks, his future work will likely explore deeper integrations of power electronics in smart metallurgical systems and process automation.

Notable Publications 

  • Title: Granulation effectiveness of iron ore sinter feeds: Effect of ore properties
    Authors: Congcong Yang, Deqing Zhu*, Jian Pan, et al.
    Journal: ISIJ International, 2018, 58(8): 1427–1436

  • Title: Oxidation Behavior of High-FeO Ferrous Spinels and Its Impacts on Induration Characteristics of Oxidized Pellets
    Authors: Chenmei Tang, Congcong Yang*, Jian Pan, Deqing Zhu, Liming Lu, Zhengqi Guo
    Journal: Metallurgical and Materials Transactions B, 2024, 55: 3072–3086

  • Title: Oxidation kinetics of typical high FeO ferrous spinels
    Authors: Chenmei Tang, Congcong Yang*, Jian Pan, Deqing Zhu, Zhengqi Guo
    Journal: Thermochimica Acta, 2024, 736: 179758

  • Title: New pyrometallurgical route for separation and recovery of Fe, Zn, In, Ga and S from jarosite residues
    Authors: Deqing Zhu**, Congcong Yang*, Jian Pan, Zhengqi Guo, Siwei Li
    Journal: Journal of Cleaner Production, 2018, 205: 781–788

  • Title: Hydrogen-based direct reduction behavior of iron ore pellets with iron grades ranging from 59% to 68%
    Authors: Congcong Yang, Wei Liu*, Deqing Zhu, et al.
    Journal: International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 2025, 138: 787–801

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

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

University of Applied Sciences, Darmstadt - Germany 

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🎓 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