Nikolaos Tavoularis | Resilience Engineering | Best Researcher Award

Dr. Nikolaos Tavoularis | Resilience Engineering | Best Researcher Award

National Technical University of Athens | Greece

Dr. Nikolaos Tavoulari’s is an accomplished Engineering Geologist with over two decades of industrial, academic, and public sector experience. His professional journey reflects expertise in geosciences, geotechnics, slope stability, landslide risk assessment, and civil engineering applications. He has served in both private and governmental institutions, contributing to high-profile motorway, railway, and tunneling projects as well as environmental and regional planning. His dedication to applying geological engineering solutions to infrastructure development and natural hazard mitigation has earned him recognition as a European Geologist and as a respected contributor to the scientific community.

Publication Profile

ORCID

Google Scholar

Education Background

He holds a Ph.D. in Engineering Geology from the National Technical University of Athens, where he focused on landslide susceptibility factors and slope failure prognosis. As a postdoctoral researcher at Democritus University of Thrace, he specialized in landslide risk assessment, developing geodatabases and web-based GIS tools. He earned an M.Sc. in Environmental Geology from the Agricultural University of Athens, where his thesis explored the impact of geothermal liquids on aquifer quality. His academic foundation was established with a B.Sc. in Geology from the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, complemented by comprehensive field-based research.

Professional Experience

Dr. Nikolaos Tavoulari’s has extensive experience in both private and public sectors, beginning with large-scale geotechnical investigations for major civil engineering works, including highways, railways, tunnels, and metro projects. In his public service roles, he has managed environmental and geotechnical projects at the Ministry of Environment and later at the Region of Attica, focusing on tender evaluations, contract management, geological mapping, and infrastructure risk assessments. He has been responsible for supervising technical works across Attica and nearby islands, preparing damage reports, and auditing performance for civil projects, consistently applying scientific knowledge to real-world engineering challenges.

Awards and Honors

His career has been recognized with professional credentials and memberships that reflect his expertise and contributions to the field. He was awarded the title of European Geologist by the European Federation of Geologists, a distinction highlighting his professional competence across Europe. He is an active member of international and national scientific societies, including the International Association of Engineering Geologists, the Geotechnical Chamber of Greece, and the Geological Society of Greece. These affiliations showcase his strong presence in both the academic and professional spheres, underscoring his commitment to advancing geological engineering practices.

Research Focus

Dr. Nikolaos Tavoulari’s research interests are deeply rooted in landslide susceptibility, hazard mapping, and risk assessment, with an emphasis on applying advanced engineering geology techniques to improve infrastructure resilience. He has developed methods combining Rock Engineering Systems, GIS applications, and geostatistical approaches for identifying and mitigating geohazards. His studies extend to soil erosion, slope stability, and environmental geology, aiming to provide practical solutions for sustainable infrastructure and disaster risk reduction. Through publications, conference participation, and peer-review contributions, he actively advances knowledge in geotechnical risk management and fosters collaboration between scientific research and engineering practice.

Publication Notes

Title: Towards the Resilience of Attica Region’s Provincial Road 3 in Greece, Due to Slope Failure by Applying Civil Engineering Techniques and a Semi-Quantitative Assessment Approach
Published Year: 2025
Citation: 1

Title: Restoration of damage to a provincial road in the Region of Attica after a disastrous weather event
Published Year: 2024
Citation: 3

Title: How the EU Soil Observatory contributes to a stronger soil erosion community
Published Year: 2024
Citation: 9

Title: Soil Erosion and Landslide Susceptibility Mapping in Western Attica, Greece: A Rock Engineering System Approach
Published Year: 2023
Citation: 7

Title: Development of the landslide susceptibility map of Attica Region, Greece based on the method of rock engineering system
Published Year: 2021
Citation: 23

Conclusion

In summary, Dr. Nikolaos Tavoularis exemplifies the role of a modern Engineering Geologist whose career spans critical infrastructure projects, advanced academic research, and public sector responsibilities. His expertise in geohazard management and geotechnical engineering has contributed significantly to improving safety and sustainability in both urban and rural regions of Greece. Recognized with European-level professional accreditation and actively engaged in scientific societies, he continues to bridge the gap between applied geology and societal needs. His dedication to both practice and research ensures that his work remains impactful in shaping resilient infrastructure and addressing environmental challenges.

Dr. Yang Zhao | Risk Management | Best Researcher Award

Dr. Yang Zhao | Risk Management | Best Researcher Award

Staff Software Engineer, Xmotors.ai, United States

Yang Zhao is a distinguished researcher and software engineer specializing in operations research, machine learning, and simulation-based evaluation of autonomous systems. With a deep passion for data-driven insights, he has made significant contributions to the fields of causal inference, risk modeling, and volatility analysis. Currently based in Mountain View, California, he brings a wealth of expertise in statistics, econometrics, and artificial intelligence to his work in autonomous vehicle assessment and optimization. 🚀

Publication Profile

ORCID

🎓 Education

Yang Zhao holds a Ph.D. in Operations Research from North Carolina State University (2018), where he maintained a perfect 4.0 GPA and pursued a minor in Statistics. His research focused on simulation, risk management, and volatility modeling. Prior to this, he earned a B.S. in Financial Management from Huazhong University of Science and Technology in China (2013). His academic journey has equipped him with a strong foundation in mathematical modeling, optimization, and data science. 📚

💼 Experience

With a career spanning across top technology and research-driven companies, Yang Zhao has held key roles in the autonomous vehicle and data science sectors. He is currently a Staff Software Engineer at Xmotors.ai (2025–Present), where he develops simulation-based evaluation workflows for autonomous driving systems. Previously, as a Senior Data Scientist at Cruise LLC (2022–2025), he contributed to scene detection, safety proxy modeling, and reliability performance prediction. His prior experience includes roles at DiDi Labs (2021–2022), where he built causal inference models for pricing strategies, and SAS Institute (2018–2021), where he developed deep learning-based causal inference products and Monte Carlo simulation tools. His expertise in data science, machine learning, and simulation has been instrumental in advancing AI-driven decision-making. 🏆

🏅 Awards and Honors

Yang Zhao has been recognized for his groundbreaking contributions in statistics, econometrics, and AI-driven solutions. His innovative work in deep learning for causal inference and policy optimization has led to multiple patents. His contributions to risk estimation and volatility modeling have been published in top-tier journals, further solidifying his reputation in the field. His cutting-edge software products at SAS Institute have been widely utilized in financial modeling and simulation. 🏅

🔬 Research Focus

Yang Zhao’s research interests lie at the intersection of machine learning, statistical modeling, and AI-driven decision-making. He has extensively worked on causal inference, deep learning, survival analysis, time-series forecasting, and risk assessment. His expertise in simulation-based modeling for autonomous systems, safety evaluation, and reliability estimation has contributed to advancements in self-driving technology. Additionally, his work on Bayesian analysis, stochastic processes, and Monte Carlo methods has played a crucial role in optimizing financial and operational risk models. 📊

🎯 Conclusion

Yang Zhao is a visionary researcher and software engineer whose expertise in simulation, AI, and statistical modeling has had a profound impact on autonomous systems, risk assessment, and financial modeling. His deep understanding of machine learning and optimization, combined with hands-on experience in AI-driven evaluation, makes him a leading figure in his field. With multiple patents, high-impact publications, and contributions to top AI companies, he continues to drive innovation in data science and AI applications. 🚀

📚 Publications

A Simple and Robust Approach for Expected Shortfall Estimation (2021) – Journal of Computational Finance, 25(1). [[Read More](website W)] 📖

On GARCH and Autoregressive Stochastic Volatility Approaches for Market Calibration and Option Pricing (2023) – Risks, 13(2):31. [[Read More](website W)] 📖

Peng Yue | Uncertainty| Best Researcher Award

Prof. Dr. Peng Yue | Mathematics | Best Researcher Award

Ocean University of China, China

Prof. Dr. Peng Yue is a distinguished Professor at the School of Physics and Optoelectronic Engineering, College of Information Science and Engineering, Ocean University of China 🌊. He is an active member of the Chinese Mathematical Society, the Chinese Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics, and the Chinese Society of Mechanics. Before his tenure at Ocean University of China, he worked at the University of Electronic Science and Technology of China and served as a Professor at the Institute of Space Technology at the China Aerodynamics Research and Development Center 🏫. With a robust academic background, he earned his Bachelor’s (2011), Master’s (2013), and Ph.D. (2017) degrees in mechanics from the National Aerospace University “Kharkov Aviation Institute” 🎓. His work explores the development of mathematical and mechanical theories, focusing on nonlinear and complex systems 🔍.

Publication Profile

Education

Prof. Dr. Peng Yue’s educational journey began at the National Aerospace University “Kharkov Aviation Institute,” where he completed his Bachelor’s degree in Theoretical and Applied Mechanics in 2011. He continued his studies, earning his Master’s degree in Mechanics in 2013 and a Ph.D. in Mechanics in 2017, all of which provided him with a strong foundation in the principles of mathematics, mechanics, and physics 🎓.

Experience

Prof. Yue has held prestigious academic and research positions over the years. From 2019 to 2023, he was part of the University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, contributing to the advancement of his field. Prior to that, he worked at the China Aerodynamics Research and Development Center, where he served as a Professor at the Institute of Space Technology from May 2020 to May 2023 🏢. His expertise extends to both theoretical and applied areas, demonstrating leadership and innovation across several roles in academia and research.

Awards and Honors

Prof. Dr. Peng Yue’s career is marked by numerous accolades in recognition of his contributions to the fields of mathematics, mechanics, and physics. His membership in leading national societies highlights his ongoing commitment to scientific progress and collaboration 🏆.

Research Focus

Prof. Yue’s research focuses on the development of mathematical and mechanical theories, algorithms, and models applied to nonlinear and complex systems. His expertise spans a variety of fields, including mathematics, mechanics, physics, and engineering technologies. He is particularly involved in advancing theoretical and practical knowledge through his research in complex system modeling and fluid dynamics 🔬. His innovative work includes developing algorithms for the analysis and computation of multi-field coupling mechanisms and fluid dynamics.

Conclusion

Prof. Dr. Peng Yue is an accomplished researcher and academic leader whose work is influencing several fields, including mathematics, physics, and engineering. His dedication to advancing complex system theories and practical applications continues to propel his research to new heights 🌟.

Publications

Uncertain Numbers (2025) Mathematics

Mathematical Model for Excited State Fluid Dynamics (2023) Journal of Physics: Conference Series

Surface Pressure Calculation Method of Multi-Field Coupling Mechanism under the Action of Flow Field (2023) SymmetryMathematical Model and Analysis Method for Flowfield Separation and Transition (2021) Physics of Fluids

Numerical Implementation of Boundary Element Method for Determining Aerodynamic Characteristics around Airfoil System by Viscous Media (2020) AIP Advances

Extension of Calculus Operations in Cartesian Tensor Analysis (2020) Mathematics