Assoc. Prof. Dr. Kai Zhao | Engineering | Best Researcher Award

Dalian Maritme University, China

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Kai Zhao is an accomplished researcher and academic at the School of Information Science and Technology, Dalian Maritime University, specializing in optoelectronic information science, micro-nano sensing, and environmental monitoring technologies. He obtained his Ph.D. in Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering from the University of Waterloo, Canada, in 2019, and subsequently completed a postdoctoral fellowship at ETH Zurich, Switzerland, before joining Dalian Maritime University as an Associate Professor in 2020. His professional experience covers teaching and research in areas such as micro-nanophotonic integration, digital logic design, signal and image processing, and optoelectronic detection systems, coupled with leadership in advanced projects funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China, Liaoning Provincial Foundation, and international innovation programs. Dr. Zhao’s research interests focus on micro-nano sensing and detection, microfluidic chips, artificial intelligence for micro-nano target recognition, intelligent sensing of marine micropollutants, microbial detection, clean energy, and invasive species identification, all of which reflect his commitment to sustainable marine technology and global environmental solutions. He is highly skilled in micro-nano device fabrication, photoelectric detection, signal analysis, microfluidics, and integrated circuit applications, with an impressive publication record of 36 research articles, cited over 704 times with an h-index of 15, in leading journals including Nature Communications, Environmental Pollution, Analytical Chemistry, ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, IEEE Transactions on Instrumentation and Measurement, and Nanoscale. His academic excellence has been recognized with numerous awards and honors, such as the First Prize of Guangdong Environmental Protection Science and Technology Award (2024), the Innovation Team Award from the China Society of Naval Architecture and Shipbuilding (2023), the Science and Technology Progress Award of the China Instrument and Control Society (2022), and the National Teachers’ Teaching Innovation Competition Prize (2023). In conclusion, Dr. Zhao’s blend of strong academic foundations, pioneering research achievements, international collaborations, and leadership in both teaching and mentorship demonstrate his exceptional contributions to science, positioning him as a rising global leader in optoelectronics, micro-nano sensing, and environmental monitoring technologies.

Profiles:  Scopus | ORCID | Google Scholar | LinkedIn

Featured Publications

1. chDing, S., Dang, Y. G., Li, X. M., Wang, J. J., & Zhao, K. (2017). Forecasting Chinese CO₂ emissions from fuel combustion using a novel grey multivariable model. Journal of Cleaner Production, 162, 1527–1538.

2. Zhao, K., Wei, Y., Dong, J., Zhao, P., Wang, Y., Pan, X., & Wang, J. (2022). Separation and characterization of microplastic and nanoplastic particles in marine environment. Environmental Pollution, 297, 118773

3. Zhao, K., Larasati, Duncker, B. P., & Li, D. (2019). Continuous cell characterization and separation by microfluidic alternating current dielectrophoresis. Analytical Chemistry, 91(9), 6304–6314.

4. Alvarez, L., Fernandez-Rodriguez, M. A., Alegria, A., Arrese-Igor, S., Zhao, K., & others. (2021). Reconfigurable artificial microswimmers with internal feedback. Nature Communications, 12, 4762.

5. Zhao, K., & Li, D. (2017). Continuous separation of nanoparticles by type via localized DC-dielectrophoresis using asymmetric nano-orifice in pressure-driven flow. Sensors and Actuators B: Chemical, 250, 274–284.