Jerry Zeyu Gao | Smart Cities Awards | Best Researcher Award

Dr Jerry Zeyu Gao | Smart Cities Awards | Best Researcher Award

Dr Jerry Zeyu Gao, San Jose State University, United States

Dr. Jerry Gao is a Full Professor in the Department of Computer Engineering at San Jose State University. With over 20 years of academic and industry experience, Dr. Gao is renowned for his expertise in software engineering, cloud computing, and mobile technologies. He has significantly contributed to the development of innovative systems and solutions through successful R&D projects, securing substantial funding, and delivering impactful publications. His global teaching and consultancy work further showcase his influence in the field of computer engineering.

Publication Profile

Google Scholar

Strengths for the Award

  1. Extensive Research Output:
    • Jerry Gao has published over 200 referred publications, including IEEE and ACM journal papers and conference proceedings, demonstrating a robust research portfolio.
    • His work spans various critical areas such as cloud computing, mobile computing, big data, and software engineering, showing significant contributions to the field.
  2. Proven Impact in Industry:
    • Gao has led multiple industry R&D projects resulting in prototype systems and commercial products. This includes securing significant funding and bringing in $3,000,000 in proposals over three years.
    • His consultancy roles with notable companies like Fujitsu, HP, Huawei, and Cisco reflect his research’s practical impact and relevance.
  3. High-Quality Publications:
    • His publications include high-impact topics such as cloud testing, mobile application testing, and smart cities, with some papers receiving substantial citations.
    • He has authored three technical books and edited numerous proceedings and special journal issues, further showcasing his influence in the field.
  4. Diverse Teaching and Professional Experience:
    • Gao has taught and provided professional training in various prestigious institutions and corporations globally, demonstrating his expertise and the high regard in which his knowledge is held.
    • His involvement in professional courses at institutions like IBM and Huawei highlights his dedication to disseminating knowledge.
  5. Research Grants and Funding:
    • He has been a principal investigator and co-principal investigator for several significant research grants, including projects funded by the NSF, city government, and major research labs.
    • His ability to secure and manage substantial research funds illustrates his leadership and effectiveness in research management.

Areas for Improvement

  1. Broader Research Dissemination:
    • While Gao’s publications are extensive, expanding his research into interdisciplinary fields or emerging areas could enhance his impact and broaden his influence.
  2. Collaboration and Networking:
    • Increasing collaboration with international researchers and institutions could offer new perspectives and opportunities for research innovation.
  3. Focus on Emerging Technologies:
    • Although Gao’s research covers a broad spectrum, focusing on cutting-edge technologies such as artificial intelligence or quantum computing could further strengthen his research profile.

Education

Dr. Jerry Gao earned his Ph.D. in Computer Science and Engineering from The University of Texas at Arlington in 1995. He completed his M.S. in the same field at UT Arlington in 1989, and his B.S. in Computer Science from Nanjing University and HoHai University in 1981. His advanced education laid a strong foundation for his distinguished career in both academia and industry.

Experience

Dr. Gao has held various academic positions at San Jose State University since 1997, progressing from Adjunct Professor to Full Professor. His roles include significant international experience as a Visiting Professor at institutions such as Tsinghua University and Peking University. Additionally, he has extensive industrial experience, consulting for major companies like HP, Fujitsu, and Huawei, and leading impactful research projects in smart cities, cloud computing, and mobile services.

Awards and Honors

Dr. Gao has received several prestigious awards, including the Charles W. Davidson College of Engineering Faculty Award for Excellence in Scholarship (2013) and the KSI Fellow from Knowledge System Institute (2011). He has been recognized as a distinguished alum by the University of Texas at Arlington (2009) and has won multiple Best Paper Awards at international conferences, including MUE2009 and ICRE1998.

Research Focus

Dr. Gao’s research focuses on smart cities, cloud computing, and mobile technologies. His work in Big Data validation, SaaS testing, and mobile application testing addresses current technological challenges and drives innovation. He is particularly interested in the integration of these technologies to enhance system performance, reliability, and user experience in complex environments.

Publication Top Notes

Formal approach to scenario analysis

Testing and Quality Assurance for Component-Based Software

Change impact identification in object oriented software maintenance

Business-to-business e-commerce frameworks

Multistep-ahead time series prediction

Class firewall, test order, and regression testing of object-oriented programs

Class firewall, test order, and regression testing of object-oriented programs

Conclusion

Jerry Gao is a highly qualified candidate for the Best Researcher Award. His extensive publication record, significant industry impact, and successful acquisition of research grants demonstrate a high level of expertise and influence in his field. His ability to bridge the gap between academic research and industrial application, combined with his substantial contributions to software engineering and related domains, underscores his suitability for this award. Enhancing his focus on emerging technologies and broadening his collaborative efforts could further elevate his research profile. Overall, Gao’s achievements make him an exemplary candidate for the Best Researcher Award.

 

 

Sepideh Azizi | Urban and Environmental Planning | Best Researcher Award

Ms. Sepideh Azizi | Urban and Environmental Planning | Best Researcher Award

Gradate Researcher, University of Illinois Urbana Champaign, United States

Sepideh Azizi is an ambitious urban planner and researcher currently pursuing her Master’s degree in Urban Planning at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. She has developed a keen interest in sustainable urban development, transportation, and environmental justice, consistently contributing to academic research and professional projects aimed at addressing global urban challenges. Sepideh has a strong academic background, with top rankings in her undergraduate studies at Shiraz University, and a diverse range of experiences in research, teaching, and professional roles.

Profile

Google Scholar

Based on the detailed CV provided for Sepideh Azizi, here’s an assessment of her suitability for the “Best Researcher Award” and an evaluation of her strengths, areas for improvement, and a conclusion:

Strengths for the Award

Academic Excellence and Educational Background:

Sepideh has an outstanding academic record, highlighted by her top-ranking position in her undergraduate program and several academic awards. Her pursuit of a Master’s degree in Urban Planning at a prestigious institution like the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) further solidifies her academic credentials.

Extensive Research Experience:

Sepideh has a broad research portfolio covering critical areas such as sustainable development, urban planning, environmental science, climate change, and spatial analysis. Her research spans both qualitative and quantitative methodologies, including advanced techniques like statistical modeling, GIS, and remote sensing.

She has published multiple papers in reputable journals and has presented her work at various international conferences, demonstrating her ability to contribute to and disseminate knowledge in her field.

Professional Experience and Contributions:

Sepideh’s work as a Graduate Researcher and her internships in Sustainable Transportation and Environmental Justice at UIUC highlight her ability to apply her research to real-world challenges. These roles involve collaboration with stakeholders, strategic planning, and project management, which are crucial skills for impactful research.

Her involvement in peer-reviewing for Elsevier’s journals shows recognition of her expertise and her contribution to maintaining the quality of academic research.

Technical Skills:

Sepideh possesses strong technical skills in GIS, statistical analysis, and programming, which are essential tools in urban planning and environmental research. Her proficiency in software like ArcGIS, Python, R, and Adobe Creative Cloud enables her to perform complex analyses and visualize her research effectively.

Leadership and Mentorship:

She has taken on leadership roles in various research projects, mentoring undergraduates, and contributing to professional councils. These roles highlight her leadership abilities and her commitment to fostering the next generation of researchers.

Areas for Improvement

Focus and Depth in Research:

While Sepideh’s research covers a broad range of topics, there may be an opportunity to narrow her focus to a few key areas where she can make more significant contributions. This depth could lead to more impactful and specialized research outputs.

International Collaborations:

While she has presented at international conferences, further enhancing her global research collaborations could expand her influence and bring more diverse perspectives to her work. Engaging in joint projects or publishing with international co-authors could be beneficial.

Additional Publications in High-Impact Journals:

While Sepideh has several publications, increasing her presence in high-impact journals within her field would further solidify her status as a leading researcher. A focus on submitting to top-tier journals could amplify her research’s visibility and impact.

Education

🎓 MS, Urban Planning, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (2023-2025)

  • Department of Urban and Regional Planning

🎓 BA, City/Urban, Community and Regional Planning, Shiraz University (2019-2023)

  • GPA: 18:80/20 (Rank: 1/28)
  • School of Art and Architecture, Department of Urban Planning and Design

Experience

💼 Graduate Researcher, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (2023-Present)
Sepideh collaborates on a range of research areas, including sustainable development, transportation, spatial analysis, and environmental science. Her work involves advanced statistical modeling and remote sensing to address pressing urban and environmental challenges.

📍 GIS Assistant & Sustainable Transportation Intern, University of Illinois Facilities & Services (2024-Present)
In her dual roles, Sepideh contributes to maintaining and editing the campus GIS database and maps, coordinating sustainable transportation initiatives, and drafting the Campus Bike Plan. She is instrumental in managing projects that enhance campus resilience and mitigate climate change impacts.

🌱 Environmental Justice Intern, Institute for Sustainability, Energy, and Environment (iSEE) (Summer 2024)
Sepideh integrates environmental justice into the Illinois Climate Action Plan (iCAP), conducting comprehensive research and offering strategic recommendations for iCAP 2025.

Research Interests

Sepideh’s research focuses on sustainable urban development, transportation planning, environmental justice, climate change, and the application of remote sensing and spatial analysis in urban and environmental contexts. She is particularly interested in how these areas intersect to inform policy and planning decisions that promote sustainability and resilience in urban areas.

Awards & Honors

🏅 University Block Grant Fellowship
🏅 Urban and Regional Planning Department’s Scholarship (Spring 2023)
🎓 Directly Admitted for Master’s in Regional Planning at Shiraz University for Outstanding Performance
🥇 Ranked 1st among undergraduate students in Urban Planning at Shiraz University
🏆 Excellent Academic Performance Award for Undergraduate Studies at Shiraz University

Publications Top Notes

📚 Azizi, S., Azizi, T. (2024). “Urban Climate Dynamics: Analyzing the Impact of Green Cover and Air Pollution on Land Surface Temperature – A Comparative Study Across Chicago, San Francisco, and Phoenix, USA”. Atmosphere, MDPI. Read Here.

📚 Azizi, S., Azizi, T. (2024). “Classification of drought severity in contiguous USA during the past 21 years using fractal geometry”. EURASIP Journal on Advances in Signal Processing. Read Here.

📚 Azizi, S., Azizi, T. (2023). “Non-integer Dimension of Seasonal Land Surface Temperature (LST)”. Axioms. Read Here.

📚 Azizi, S., Azizi, T. (2022). “The Fractal Nature of Drought: Power Laws and Fractal Complexity of Arizona Drought”. European Journal of Mathematical Analysis. Read Here.

📚 Azizi, S. (2023). “Drought and Environmental Transformations of Lake Urmia: An Integrated Analysis Using Machine Learning and GIS”. Annals of Environmental Science and Ecology (Submitted).

📚 Azizi, S. (2023). “Assessing the Effects of Drought and Increasing Land Surface Temperatures on Vegetation Health and Agricultural Practices in Kendall County, Texas”. Environmental Management (Submitted).

Conclusion

Sepideh Azizi is a highly qualified candidate for the “Best Researcher Award” given her strong academic background, extensive research experience, and significant contributions to her field. Her ability to blend academic research with practical applications, her technical skills, and her leadership qualities make her a deserving candidate. By focusing on deepening her research in key areas and expanding her international collaborations, she could further enhance her impact and contribution to urban planning and environmental science.