ZHI-HONG MAO

POSITION

- Assistant Professor, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering and Department of Bioengineering, Swanson School of Engineering, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA

RESEARCH INTERESTS

- Control engineering: neural control, human-centered control, and networked control

- Other interests: systems neuroscience, power and energy systems, transportation systems, communication systems, robotics, and services computing

EDUCATION

- Ph.D. in Electrical and Medical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, MA, September 2005; or as Ph.D. in Medical Engineering and Medical Physics, Harvard University-MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology (HST), Cambridge, MA, June 2006. Advisors: Steve Massaquoi and Eric Feron

- S.M. in Aeronautics and Astronautics, MIT, Cambridge, MA, September 2000. Advisor: Eric Feron

- M.Eng. in Intelligent Control and Pattern Recognition, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China, July 1998. Advisor: Yan-Da Li

- Dual Bachelor's Degrees in Automatic Control and Mathematics, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China, July 1995. Advisors: Liang-Jie Zhang and Xu-Guang Lu

EXPERIENCE

- Assistant Professor, Swanson School of Engineering, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, September 2005--present

- Research Assistant, HST, Cambridge, MA, September 2000--August 2005

- Research Assistant, MIT, Cambridge, MA, September 1998--August 2000

- Clerk in clinical medicine with elective in neurology, Mount Auburn Hospital (Harvard Medical School), Cambridge, MA, January 2003--February 2003 and May 2003--July 2003

HONORS & AWARDS

- Outstanding Educator Award, Swanson School of Engineering, University of Pittsburgh, 2009

- Medical Engineering and Medical Physics Fellowship, HST, 2003

- Zakhartchenko Fellowship, MIT, 2002 and 2001

- David and Beatrice Yamron Fellowship, HST, 2000

- Outstanding Thesis Award, Tsinghua University, 1999

- Outstanding M.Eng. Graduate, Tsinghua University, 1998

- Top Grade Scholarship, Tsinghua University, 1997

- Outstanding B.Eng. Graduate, Tsinghua University, 1995

- Second Prize, National Electronics Design Contest, China, 1994

- IBM Scholarship, 1994

- First Prize, National Math Contest in Modeling, China, 1993

RESEARCH GRANTS

- Commonwealth of Pennsylvania--Ben Franklin Technology Development Authority: Future directions in energy research--technology interfaces of electric power, nuclear, mining engineering, $375,000 (my share: financial support of a graduate research assistant for 16 months), January 2009--December 2010. Role: Co-PI. (PI: Gregory Reed)

- Westinghouse Electric Company: Smart grid interface control methodology development for integrated green energy resource management, $200,000 (my share: half financial support of a graduate research assistant for 12 months), January 2010--December 2010. Role: Co-PI. (PI: Gregory Reed)

- National Science Foundation (NSF): Dimensionality reduction in the control of the human hand, $195,000, September 2007--August 2010. Role: PI. (Co-PIs: Mingui Sun and Heung-No Lee)

- National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL), Department of Energy (DoE): University of Pittsburgh Bioengineering-NETL Collaborative Project: Adaptive dynamic programming for optimization of fossil-energy power generation systems, $47,100, May 2009--April 2010. Role: PI

- Health Future Foundation: System identification and modeling approach to characterizing rigidity in Parkinson's disease, $20,000 (my share: $0), July 2008--June 2010. Role: Co-PI. (PI: Rui-Ping Xia, Creighton University)

- Bechtel Marine Propulsion Corporation: Wireless sensing and control technology, $58,000, January 2009--July 2009. Role: PI

- U.S. Army SBIR Phase II, Subcontract with Energid Technologies: Smart codec with telesurgery capabilities, $40,000, December 2007--November 2009. Role: Subcontract PI at University of Pittsburgh. (PI: David Askey, Energid Technologies)

- Central Research Development Fund, University of Pittsburgh: Robot task learning inspired by human procedural learning, $15,300, July 2006--June 2008. Role: PI

PUBLICATIONS

[* indicates corresponding author]

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Refereed Journal Publications

[24] R. Vinjamuri, M. Sun, C.-C. Chang, H.-N. Lee, R. J. Sclabassi, and Z.-H. Mao*. Temporal postural synergies of the hand in rapid grasping tasks. IEEE Transactions on Information Technology in Biomedicine, 2010 (to appear).

[23] M. H. Mahmood, C.-C. Chang, D. Jung, Z.-H. Mao, H. Lim, and H.-N. Lee*. Throughput behavior of link adaptive 802.11 DCF with MUD capable access node. International Journal of Electronics and Communications, 2010 (to appear).

[22] L.-J. Zhang, Z. Shan, and Z.-H. Mao*. An optimal-control-based decision-making model and consulting methodology for services enterprises. IEEE Transactions on Engineering Management, 2010 (to appear).

[21] Y. Sun, P. J. Hawrylak, Z.-H. Mao, and M. H. Mickle*. Collision resolution in ISO 18000-6c passive RFID. Applied Computational Electromagnetics Society (ACES) Journal, Special Issue: Computational and Experimental Techniques for RFID Systems and Applications, 2010 (to appear).

[20] R. Vinjamuri, M. Sun, C.-C. Chang, H.-N. Lee, R. J. Sclabassi, and Z.-H. Mao*. Dimensionality reduction in control and coordination of the human hand. IEEE Transactions on Biomedical Engineering 57(2), 284-295, 2010.

[19] C.-C. Chang, Z.-H. Mao, and H.-N. Lee*. MB iterative decoding algorithm on systematic LDGM codes: performance evaluation. Signal Processing 90(1), 373-377, 2010.

[18] J. H. Yang*, Z.-H. Mao, L. Tijerina, T. Pilutti, J. Coughlin, and E. Feron. Detection of driver fatigue caused by sleep deprivation. IEEE Transactions on Systems, Man, and Cybernetics--Part A 39(4), 694-705, 2009.

[17] Z.-H. Mao*, H.-N. Lee, R. J. Sclabassi, and M. Sun. Information capacity of the thumb and the index finger in communication. IEEE Transactions on Biomedical Engineering 56(5), 1535-1545, 2009.

[16] R. Vinjamuri, D. J. Crammond, D. Kondziolka, H.-N. Lee, and Z.-H. Mao*. Extraction of sources of tremor in hand movements of patients with movement disorders. IEEE Transactions on Information Technology in Biomedicine 13(1), 49-56, 2009.

[15] K. Treleaven and Z.-H. Mao*. Conflict resolution and traffic complexity of multiple intersecting flows of aircraft. IEEE Transactions on Intelligent Transportation Systems 9(4), 633-643, 2008.

[14] Z.-H. Mao*, D. Dugail, and E. Feron. Space partition for conflict resolution of intersecting flows of mobile agents. IEEE Transactions on Intelligent Transportation Systems 8(3), 512-527, 2007.

[13] Z.-H. Mao* and S. G. Massaquoi. Dynamics of winner-take-all competition in recurrent neural networks with lateral inhibition. IEEE Transactions on Neural Networks 18(1), 55-69, 2007.

[12] Z.-H. Mao*, D. Dugail, E. Feron, and K. Bilimoria. Stability of intersecting aircraft flows using heading change maneuvers for conflict avoidance. IEEE Transactions on Intelligent Transportation Systems 6(4), 357-369, 2005.

[11] S. Jo*, J. Yin, and Z.-H. Mao. Random neural networks with state-dependent firing neurons. IEEE Transactions on Neural Networks 16(4), 980-983, 2005.

[10] E. Gelenbe*, Z.-H. Mao, and Y.-D. Li. Function approximation by random neural networks with a bounded number of layers. Differential Equations and Dynamical Systems 12(1 and 2), 143-170, 2004.

[9] Z.-H. Mao, E. Feron*, and K. Bilimoria. Stability and performance of intersecting aircraft flows under decentralized conflict avoidance rules. IEEE Transactions on Intelligent Transportation Systems 2(2), 101-109, 2001.

[8] E. Frazzoli, Z.-H. Mao, J.-H. Oh, and E. Feron*. Resolution of conflicts involving many aircraft via semidefinite programming. AIAA Journal of Guidance, Control and Dynamics 24(1), 79-86, 2001.

[7] E. Gelenbe*, Z.-H. Mao, and Y.-D. Li. Function approximation by spiked random networks. IEEE Transactions on Neural Networks 10(1), 3-9, 1999.

[6] Z.-H. Mao*, Y.-D. Li, and Z. Sun. Comments on fuzzy systems approximation by frames (SISO case). Fuzzy Sets and Systems 100, 373-375, 1998.

[5] Z.-H. Mao* and Y. Lin. Extended random neural network model and its probability structure features. Journal of Tsinghua University 38(3), 100-103, 1998 (in Chinese).

[4] T. Zhang*, Z.-H. Mao, and S. Xia. A method to extract numeral string overlapping borders. Chinese Information Journal 12(2), 25-30, 1998 (in Chinese).

[3] Z.-H. Mao*, X. Zhang, and Y.-D. Li. On universal approximation capability of fuzzy systems. Science in China (Series E) 41(1), 6-12, 1998.

[2] Z.-H. Mao*, Y.-D. Li, and X. Zhang. Approximation capability of fuzzy systems using translations and dilations of one fixed function as membership functions. IEEE Transactions on Fuzzy Systems 5(3), 468-473, 1997.

[1] L.-J. Zhang*, Z.-H. Mao, and Y.-D. Li. Mathematical analysis of mutation operator in genetic algorithms and its improved strategy. Journal of Electronics 14(2), 154-158, 1997.

Book Chapters

[2] E. Gelenbe*, Z.-H. Mao, and Y.-D. Li. Deterministic computation with random G-networks. In Fundamental Concepts in Computer Science (Editors: E. Gelenbe and J.-P. Kahane), Imperial College Press, 71-96, 2009.

[1] S. Jo* and Z.-H. Mao. Basal ganglionic learning applied to control of an underactuated system. In Neurocomputing Research Developments (Editor: H. A. Svensson), Nova Science Publisher, 181-200, 2008.

Refereed Conference Publications

[19] R. O'Connor, G. Reed, Z.-H. Mao, and A. K. Jones*. Improving renewable resource utilization through integrated generation management. 2010 IEEE PES General Meeting, Minneapolis, MN, USA, July 2010 (to appear).

[18] R. Xia*, M. Radovic, Z.-H. Mao, and A. J. Threlkeld. System identification and modeling approach to characterizing rigidity in Parkinson's disease: neural and non-neural contributions. The 4th International Conference on Bioinformatics and Biomedical Engineering (iCBBE 2010), Chengdu, China, June 2010 (to appear).

[17] G. F. Reed*, B. M. Grainger, H. Bassi, E. Taylor, Z.-H. Mao, A. K. Jones. Analysis of high capacity power electronic technologies for integration of green energy management. IEEE PES Transmission and Distribution Conference and Exposition, New Orleans, LA, USA, April 2010 (to appear).

[16] R. Vinjamuri*, M. Sun, D. J. Weber, W. Wang, D. Crammond, and Z.-H. Mao. Quantizing and characterizing the variance of hand postures in a novel transformation task. The 31st International Conference of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society, Minneapolis, MN, USA, 5312-5315, September 2009.

[15] L.-J. Zhang*, Z.-H. Mao, and N. Zhou. Design quality analytics of traceability enablement in service-oriented solution design environment. The 7th IEEE International Conference on Web Services (ICWS 2009), Los Angeles, CA, USA, 944-951, July 2009.

[14] R. Vinjamuri, M. Sun, D. Crammond, R. Sclabassi, and Z.-H. Mao*. Inherent bimanual postural synergies in hands. The 30th International Conference of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, 5093-5096, August 2008.

[13] R. Vinjamuri, Z.-H. Mao*, R. Sclabassi, and M. Sun. Time-varying synergies in velocity profiles of finger joints of the hand during reach and grasp. The 29th International Conference of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society, Lyon, France, 4846-4849, August 2007.

[12] R. Vinjamuri, Z.-H. Mao*, R. Sclabassi, and M. Sun. Limitations of surface EMG signals of extrinsic muscles in predicting postures of human hand. The 28th International Conference of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society, New York City, NY, USA, 5491-5494, September 2006.

[11] R. Vinjamuri, Z.-H. Mao*, R. Sclabassi, and M. Sun. A novel architecture for the design of prosthetic and robotic hands. The 32nd Northeast Bioengineering Conference, Easton, PA, USA, 163-164, April 2006.

[10] E. Gelenbe*, Z.-H. Mao, and Y.-D. Li. Function approximation by random neural networks with a bounded number of layers. Proceedings of the 17th European Simulation Multiconference, Nottingham, UK, 5-24, June 2003.

[9] D. Dugail, Z.-H. Mao, and E. Feron*. Stability of intersecting aircraft flows under centralized and decentralized conflict avoidance rules. AIAA Guidance, Navigation, and Control Conference, Montreal, Canada, Paper No. AIAA-2001-4296, August 2001.

[8] Z.-H. Mao and E. Feron*. Stability and performance of intersecting aircraft flows under sequential conflict resolution. Proceedings of the 2001 American Control Conference, Arlington, VA, USA, vol. 2, 722-729, June 2001.

[7] Z.-H. Mao, E. Feron*, and K. Bilimoria. Stability of intersecting aircraft flows under decentralized conflict avoidance rules. AIAA Guidance, Navigation and Control Conference, Denver, CO, USA, Paper No. AIAA-2000-4271, August 2000.

[6] K. Bilimoria*, H. Q. Lee, Z.-H. Mao, and E. Feron. Comparison of centralized and decentralized conflict resolution strategies for multiple-aircraft problems. AIAA Guidance, Navigation, and Control Conference, Denver, CO, USA, Paper No. AIAA-2000-4268, August 2000.

[5] E. Gelenbe*, Z.-H. Mao, and Y.-D. Li. Approximation by random networks with bounded number of layers. IEEE Workshop on Neural Networks for Signal Processing, Madison, WI, USA, 166-175, August 1999.

[4] E. Gelenbe*, Z.-H. Mao, and Y.-D. Li. Approximation with spiked random networks. Proceedings of the 37th IEEE Conference on Decision and Control, Tampa, FL, USA, vol. 1, 523-528, December 1998.

[3] L.-J. Zhang*, Z.-H. Mao, and Y.-D. Li. Mathematical analysis of crossover operator in genetic algorithm and its improved strategy. IEEE International Conference on Evolutionary Computing, Australia, 412-417, November/December 1995.

[2] L.-J. Zhang*, Z.-H. Mao, and Y.-D. Li. Mathematical analysis of mutation operator in genetic algorithms and its improved strategy. Proceedings of International Conference on Neural Information Processing, China, vol. 1, 267-270, 1995.

[1] L.-J. Zhang*, Z.-H. Mao, and Y.-D. Li. An improved genetic algorithm based on combinatorial theory and fuzzy reasoning and its applications. Proceedings of International Conference on Neural Information Processing, Korea, 180-185, 1994.

Other Conference Publications

[9] Y. Ma, W. Jia, C. Li, J. Yang, Z.-H. Mao, and M. Sun*. A magnetic hand motion tracking system for human-machine interaction. The 11th Joint MMM (Magnetism and Magnetic Materials)-Intermag Conference, Washington, DC, USA, January 2010. [Abstract]

[8] R. Vinjamuri, M. Sun, and Z.-H. Mao*. A framework for extracting kinematic synergies of hand movement. Proceedings of NSF Engineering Research and Innovation Conference, Honolulu, HI, USA, June 2009.

[7] R. Vinjamuri, M. Sun, R. Sclabassi, and Z.-H. Mao*. Temporal variation of postural synergies of the human hand during grasping. The 16th International Conference on Mechanics in Medicine and Biology, Pittsburgh, PA, USA, July 2008.

[6] R. Vinjamuri, D. Crammond, D. Kondziolka, and Z.-H. Mao*. Extraction of neural sources from kinematic profiles of hand movement. Proceedings of NSF Engineering Research and Innovation Conference, Knoxville, TN, USA, January 2008.

[5] J. H. Yang*, Z.-H. Mao, T. Pilutti, L. Tijerina, and E. Feron. Detection of human drowsiness in simulated driving: experimental design and preliminary results. The 4th Annual STISIM Drive User Group Meeting, Cambridge, MA, USA, October 2006.

[4] T. M. Ngo, Z.-H. Mao, and S. G. Massaquoi*. Procedural learning of fourth order sequential dependencies. Society for Neuroscience Annual Meeting, Atlanta, GA, USA, November 2006. [Abstract]

[3] Z.-H. Mao and S. G. Massaquoi*. Dynamics of winner-take-all competition in striatal networks and their role in Parkinsonian rest tremor and rigidity. Society for Neuroscience Annual Meeting, Washington, DC, USA, November 2005. [Abstract]

[2] Z.-H. Mao and S. G. Massaquoi*. A multi-input multi-output adaptive switching (MIMOAS) model of frontocortical and basal ganglionic interaction in procedural learning. Society for Neural Control of Movement Annual Meeting, Key Biscayne, FL, USA, April 2005. [Abstract]

[1] Z.-H. Mao, E. J. Lim, and S. G. Massaquoi*. A model of "lower" cortico-basal ganglia-thalamocortical circuit function and dysfunction. Society for Neuroscience Annual Meeting, Orlando, FL, USA, November 2002. [Abstract]

ADVISED STUDENTS

Current Students

- Ibrahem Atawi, Ph.D. student, since January 2010

- Shimeng Huang, Ph.D. student, since January 2010

- Ang Li, M.S. student, since September 2008

- Mircea Lupu, Ph.D. student, since September 2008

- Robert O'Connor, Ph.D. student (co-advised with Alex Jones and Gregory Reed), since May 2008

- Gregory Silvaggio, Ph.D. student, since January 2010

- Iheanyi Umez-Eronini, Ph.D. student, since January 2008

- Hao Wang, M.S. student, since January 2010

Graduated Students

- Mircea Lupu, M.S., September 2008--November 2009. Thesis: Human strategies in the control of time critical unstable systems. First employment: continuing Ph.D. study at Pitt

- James Cavanaugh, M.S., September 2008--September 2009. Thesis: The effect of time delay on the human ability to control unstable systems. First employment: Bechtel Plant Machinery, Inc.

- Sushant Tare, M.S., September 2007--March 2009. Thesis: Estimation of stretch reflex contributions of wrist using system identification and quantification of tremor in Parkinson's disease patients. First employment: ATI Allegheny Ludlum

- Kyle Treleaven, M.S., January 2007--December 2007. Thesis: Conflict resolution and traffic complexity of multiple intersecting flows of aircraft. First employment: pursuing Ph.D. study at MIT

- Christopher Sprague, M.S., September 2006--December 2007. Thesis: System identification of wrist stiffness in Parkinson's disease patients. First employment: Bachtel Marine Propulsion Corporation

- Ramana Vinjamuri, Ph.D., September 2005--July 2008. Dissertation: Dimensionality reduction in control and coordination of the human hand. First employment: Postdoctoral Fellow at University of Pittsburgh Medical Center

PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES

Professional Society Activities

- Senior Member (since December 2009), IEEE

- Member, Society for Neuroscience (SfN)

- Co-Chair of Pittsburgh Chapter, IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society, January 2006--present

Services for Journals

- Reviewer for AIAA Journal of Guidance, Control and Dynamics; Automatica; Computer Journal; IEEE Transactions on Automatic Control; IEEE Transactions on Automation Science and Engineering; IEEE Transactions on Circuits and Systems--Part I; IEEE Transactions on Fuzzy Systems; IEEE Transactions on Intelligent Transportation Systems; IEEE Transactions on Neural Networks; IEEE Transactions on Systems, Man and Cybernetics--Part B; IEEE Transactions on Vehicular Technology; International Journal of Web Services Research; Physics Letters A; and Transportation Research--Part C

- Member of Editorial Review Board, International Journal of Web Services Research, March 2007--present

- Guest Co-Editor, EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking, Special Issue on Network Coding for Wireless Networks, expected publication date: April 1, 2010

Services for Conferences

- Reviewer for IEEE International Conference on Services Computing (SCC), 2008, 2007, and 2006; IEEE Multi-Conference on Systems and Control, 2008; International Conference on Networked Robots (ROBOCOMM), 2009 and 2007

- Associate Editor for Invited Papers, 2010 IEEE Conference on Decision and Control, Atlanta, GA, USA, December 2010

- Chair of Ph.D. Symposium, joint conferences of (i) IEEE SCC, (ii) the 8th IEEE International Conference on Web Services (ICWS), (iii) the 6th IEEE World Congress on Services (SERVICS), and (iv) the 3rd IEEE International Conference on Cloud Computing (CLOUD), Miami, FL, USA, July 2010

- Associate Editor for ISA Contributed Papers, American Control Conference (ACC), Baltimore, MD, USA, June/July 2010

- Member of Program Committee, 2010 International Workshop on Computing Technologies and Business Strategies for u-Healthcare (CBuH 2010), Seoul, Korea, July 2010

- Member of Program Committee, the 2nd ROBOCOMM, Odense, Denmark, March/April 2009

- Chair of Work-in-Progress Program, IEEE SCC, Honolulu, HI, USA, July 2008

- Member of Program Committee, the 1st ROBOCOMM, Athens, Greece, September 2007

- Co-Chair of Work-in-Progress Program, IEEE SCC, Salt Lake City, UT, USA, July 2007

- Chair of Work-in-Progress Program, IEEE SCC, Chicago, IL, USA, September 2006

Reviewer for Textbook

- Springer, 2007

Grant Review Activities

- Reviewer, Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR), December 2008

- Panelist, NSF Division of Information and Intelligent Systems (IIS), April 2009

- Panelist, NSF Division of Civil, Mechanical and Manufacturing Innovation (CMMI), April and December 2009

Older version of my resume from MIT and Harvard