ZHI-HONG MAO

  

POSITION

-  Assistant Professor, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering and Department of Bioengineering, also affiliated with Laboratory for Computational Neuroscience (Center for Clinical Neurophysiology), University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA

 

RESEARCH INTERESTS

-  Control theory and applications: neural control, human-centered control systems, and networked control systems

-  Neural principles of learning

-  Other interests: information theory, optimization, intelligent transportation systems, robotics, and services computing

 

EDUCATION

-  Ph.D. in Electrical and Medical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Harvard University-MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology (HST), Cambridge, MA, September 2005 (GPA: 5.0/5.0)

-  S.M. in Aeronautics and Astronautics, MIT, Cambridge, MA, September 2000 (GPA: 5.0/5.0)

-  M.Eng. in Intelligent Control and Pattern Recognition, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China, July 1998 (GPA: 92/100)

-  B.Eng. in Automatic Control and B.S. in Mathematics, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China, July 1995 (GPA: 90/100)

 

EXPERIENCE

-  Assistant Professor, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, September 2005--present

-  Research Assistant, MIT, Cambridge, MA, September 1998--August 2005

-  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

 

AWARDS

-  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

-  Top Grade Scholarship, Tsinghua University, 1997

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

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

 

RESEARCH GRANTS

-  Dimensionality reduction in the control of the human hand. National Science Foundation, $194,998, September 2007--August 2010. Role: PI. (Co-PIs: Mingui Sun and Heung-No Lee)

-  Smart codec with telesurgery capabilities. Army SBIR Phase II, Subcontract with Energid Technologies, $39,906, December 2007--November 2009. Role: Subcontract PI. (PI: David Askey; Subcontract Co-PI: Heung-No Lee)

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

 

PUBLICATIONS

In journals

[15] K. Treleaven and Z.-H. Mao. Conflict resolution and traffic complexity of multiple intersecting flows of aircraft. IEEE Trans. Intelligent Transportation Systems, accepted, 2008.

[14] Z.-H. Mao, D. Dugail, and E. Feron. Space partition for conflict resolution of intersecting flows of mobile agents. IEEE Trans. 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 Trans. 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 Trans. 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 Trans. 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 Trans. 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. 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 Trans. 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 (Chinese version) 38(3), 100-103, 1998.

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

[3] Z.-H. Mao, X. Zhang, and Y.-D. Li. On universal approximation capability of fuzzy systems. Science in China (Series E, English version) 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 Trans. 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 (China, English version) 14(2), 154-158, 1997.

     

In conferences

[21] 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, August 2008.

[20] 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, July 2008.

[19] M. H. Mahmood, C.-C. Chang, Z.-H. Mao, and H.-N. Lee. Throughput optimization and fairness control for multiple access network. IEEE School of Information Theory Workshop, Pennsylvania State University, University Park Campus, June 2008.

[18] 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, January 2008.

[17] 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, August 2007.

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

[15] 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, October 2006.

[14] 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, September 2006.

[13] 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, April 2006.

[12] 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, November 2005. [Abstract]

[11] 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, April 2005. [Abstract]

[10] 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, November 2002. [Abstract]

[9] 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, vol. 2, 722-729, 2001.

[8] 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, August 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, 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, 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, 166-175, 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, vol. 1, 523-528, 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, 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.

 

CURRENT STUDENTS

-  Christopher Sprague, part-time Ph.D. student

-  Sushant Tare, M.S. student

-  Robert O'Connor, Ph.D. student

-  Mircea Lupu, Ph.D. student

 

FORMER STUDENTS

-  Ramana Vinjamuri, Ph.D. (July 2008), now with University of Pittsburgh Medical Center

-  Christopher Sprague, M.S. (December 2007), now with Bettis Laboratory

-  Kyle Treleaven, M.S. (December 2007), now pursuing Ph.D. at MIT

 

PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES

-  Reviewer for Automatica, IEEE Trans. Automatic Control, IEEE Trans. Circuits and Systems-Part I, IEEE Trans. Fuzzy Systems, IEEE Trans. Intelligent Transportation Systems, IEEE Trans. Neural Networks, IEEE Trans. Systems, Man and Cybernetics-Part B, International Journal of Web Services Research, Physics Letters A, and Transportation Research-Part C

-  Member in AIAA (American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics), IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers), and SFN (Society for Neuroscience)

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

-  Chair of Work-in-Progress Program, 2008 IEEE International Conference on Services Computing, Honolulu, HI, July 2008

-  Member of Program Committee, The 1st International Conference on Networked Robots (ROBOCOMM), Athens, Greece, September 2007

-  Co-Chair of Work-in-Progress Program, 2007 IEEE International Conference on Services Computing, Salt Lake City, UT, July 2007

-  Chair of Work-in-Progress Program, 2006 IEEE International Conference on Services Computing, Chicago, IL, September 2006

 

Older version of my resume from MIT

 

Last modified July 31, 2008 by maozh@engr.pitt.edu