Sa Zhou | Human Machine Interface | Best Researcher Award

Dr. Sa Zhou | Human Machine Interface | Best Researcher Award

Postdoc at Stanford University | United States

Dr. Sa Zhou is a dedicated researcher in the fields of biomedical engineering, neuroscience, and psychiatry, currently working as a postdoctoral scholar at Stanford University. His research emphasizes multimodal neuroimaging, brain-machine interfaces, stroke rehabilitation, cognitive enhancement, and neuromodulation, bridging engineering and medicine to improve human health outcomes. He has published extensively in internationally recognized journals and contributed to conferences with global visibility. His innovative contributions extend beyond academic research into patents, translational projects, and clinical applications, demonstrating his ability to turn theory into practice. Through his involvement in teaching, mentoring, and editorial activities, he has shown leadership and commitment to advancing science and supporting the next generation of researchers. His global collaborations across Asia and the United States reflect his adaptability and international impact. With a strong foundation and innovative approach, he continues to make meaningful contributions with high potential for future leadership in research and society.

Professional Profiles 

Google Scholar | Scopus Profile | ORCID Profile 

Education

Dr. Sa Zhou pursued his higher education with a strong focus on engineering and biomedical sciences, which provided him with a multidisciplinary foundation for his research career. He earned his Bachelor and Master of Philosophy degrees in Electrical Engineering from Yanshan University, where he gained in-depth knowledge of signal processing, system development, and computational approaches to neural data. He then advanced his academic journey by completing his PhD in Biomedical Engineering at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, where he developed expertise in neuroengineering, multimodal neuroimaging, and stroke rehabilitation. His doctoral research explored neural reorganization in sensorimotor impairments and recovery, involving systematic neurological evaluations, electrophysiological analyses, and clinical trials. This educational background not only honed his analytical and technical skills but also laid the groundwork for his interdisciplinary approach, bridging engineering principles with neuroscience and clinical applications. His academic training has shaped his ability to conduct impactful research at the interface of technology and medicine.

Professional Experience

Dr. Sa Zhou’s professional experience reflects a blend of academic research, teaching, and applied innovation in biomedical engineering and neuroscience. He is currently a postdoctoral scholar at Stanford University in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, contributing to projects focused on personalized cognitive enhancement and digital interventions for aging-related disorders. Prior to this role, he worked extensively at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, where he participated in pioneering projects on stroke rehabilitation, neuromodulation, and brain-machine interfaces. His experience also includes collaboration on international research initiatives that integrate engineering, neuroscience, and clinical practice, leading to high-impact publications and translational applications. Alongside research, he has actively contributed to education as a teaching assistant in neuroengineering, applied electrophysiology, and digital signal processing, mentoring undergraduate and postgraduate students. His diverse professional background demonstrates his ability to conduct innovative research, translate findings into practical solutions, and inspire future researchers through academic leadership.

Research Interest

Dr. Sa Zhou’s research interests span a wide spectrum of neuroscience, engineering, and clinical applications, with a particular emphasis on developing innovative technologies for human health and rehabilitation. His work focuses on multimodal neuroimaging techniques, including structural and functional MRI, DTI, and EEG, combined with advanced signal processing and machine learning approaches to understand brain networks. He is also deeply engaged in brain-machine interfaces, stroke rehabilitation, neuromotor interfaces, and robotic systems that enhance motor recovery and cognitive function. His interests extend to non-pharmacological interventions for preclinical Alzheimer’s disease and mild cognitive impairments, reflecting his commitment to addressing aging-related neurological disorders. He also explores neuromodulation methods, including electrical and ultrasound stimulation, to optimize therapeutic outcomes. These diverse interests demonstrate his interdisciplinary approach, integrating engineering innovations with clinical neuroscience to create personalized solutions. His research aims not only to advance scientific knowledge but also to deliver real-world impact in improving patient care and well-being.

Award and Honor

Dr. Sa Zhou has been recognized with numerous awards and honors that highlight his academic excellence, research achievements, and leadership potential. He has received prestigious fellowships, including support from international neuroscience and brain aging associations, acknowledging his contributions to advancing cognitive enhancement research. During his doctoral studies, he was awarded the PolyU Research Postgraduate Scholarship for outstanding performance, along with national-level scholarships that placed him among the top-performing postgraduates in China. He has also earned multiple competitive awards in research and innovation competitions, such as the Hong Kong Medical and Healthcare Device Industries Association Student Research Award and the Champion Award in the Three-Minute Thesis Competition. His teaching excellence was recognized with Best Teaching Assistant Awards, demonstrating his impact in both research and education. These accolades reflect his consistent pursuit of excellence, his ability to compete at international levels, and his dedication to advancing science while inspiring peers and students.

Research Skill

Dr. Sa Zhou possesses a wide range of research skills that integrate advanced engineering techniques with clinical neuroscience applications. His expertise includes real-time robotic control, rehabilitation system design, and multimodal neuroimaging analysis, enabling him to develop and test innovative technologies for stroke rehabilitation and cognitive enhancement. He is proficient in conducting clinical trials with stroke patients, performing neuroimaging scans such as fMRI, DTI, and structural MRI, and analyzing electrophysiological signals including EEG, EMG, and LFP. His skillset also extends to neuromodulation experiments using transcranial ultrasound stimulation and neuromuscular electrical stimulation, combined with advanced kinematic signal recording systems. In addition, he has strong programming and analytical abilities in machine learning, Matlab, Python, and C/C++, which support his work in neural decoding and brain network analyses. These skills, coupled with experience in mentoring, peer review, and system development, demonstrate his ability to design, implement, and translate research into impactful clinical and technological outcomes.

Publications Top Notes

Title: Pathway-specific cortico-muscular coherence in proximal-to-distal compensation during fine motor control of finger extension after stroke
Year: 2021
Citation: 32

Title: Corticomuscular integrated representation of voluntary motor effort in robotic control for wrist-hand rehabilitation after stroke
Year: 2022
Citation: 24

Title: Effect of pulsed transcranial ultrasound stimulation at different number of tone-burst on cortico-muscular coupling
Year: 2018
Citation: 20

Title: Optimization of relative parameters in transfer entropy estimation and application to corticomuscular coupling in humans
Year: 2018
Citation: 18

Title: Low-intensity pulsed ultrasound modulates multi-frequency band phase synchronization between LFPs and EMG in mice
Year: 2019
Citation: 17

Title: Impairments of cortico-cortical connectivity in fine tactile sensation after stroke
Year: 2021
Citation: 15

Title: Medical image segmentation using deep semantic-based methods: A review of techniques, applications and emerging trends
Year: 2022
Citation: 5

Title: Automatic theranostics for long-term neurorehabilitation after stroke
Year: 2023
Citation: 4

Title: Estimation of corticomuscular coherence following stroke patients
Year: 2017
Citation: 4

Title: Decoding Visual Experience and Mapping Semantics through Whole-Brain Analysis Using fMRI Foundation Models
Year: 2024
Citation: 1

Title: Personalized cognitive enhancement for older adults: An aging-friendly closed-loop human-machine interface framework
Year: 2025

Title: Relationships between neuropsychiatric symptoms, subtypes of astrocyte activities, and brain pathologies in Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease
Year: 2025

Title: Neural Correlates of Dual‐Functional Local Dynamic Stability in Older Adults
Year: 2024

Title: Profiles of brain topology for dual-functional stability in old age
Year: 2024

Title: Neuromuscular networking connectivity in sensorimotor impairments after stroke
Year: 2023

Conclusion

Dr. Sa Zhou is highly deserving of the Best Researcher Award for his outstanding contributions at the intersection of biomedical engineering, neuroscience, and psychiatry, with impactful research in neuroimaging, brain-machine interfaces, stroke rehabilitation, and cognitive enhancement for aging populations. His work has advanced both theoretical understanding and practical applications, supported by high-quality publications, patents, and international collaborations that bridge engineering and medicine. Beyond research, his leadership in teaching, mentoring, and reviewing reflects a strong commitment to the scientific community and knowledge dissemination. With his growing expertise, innovative approaches, and dedication to addressing critical health challenges, Dr. Zhou shows great promise for future research breakthroughs and leadership in shaping the fields of neuroengineering and translational neuroscience.

Liu Yang | Quantum Brain Computing | Best Researcher Award

Prof. Liu Yang | Quantum Brain Computing | Best Researcher Award

Professor at School of Computer and Information Engineering, Henan University, China

Professor Yang Liu is a leading researcher in the field of Quantum Brain and Mind-inspired Computing, with an interdisciplinary focus that spans artificial intelligence, computer vision, spiking neural networks, and multimodal big data analysis. He currently serves as a professor and Ph.D. supervisor at the School of Computer and Information Engineering, Henan University, China. Over the years, he has led and contributed to more than 30 national and provincial research projects and published over 70 papers in reputed journals, alongside 11 patents and a scholarly book. His work has advanced intelligent diagnosis systems, environmental data processing, and aesthetic computing, bridging theoretical innovation and real-world application. As a member of prominent organizations like IEEE, ACM, CCF, and CAAI, Professor Liu has built a reputation for academic excellence, technological innovation, and impactful research. His leadership in brain-inspired computing continues to shape emerging trends in cognitive computing and artificial general intelligence.

Professional Profile 

Google Scholar | Scopus Profile | ORCID Profile 

Education

Professor Yang Liu began his academic journey with a Bachelor of Science degree from Changchun University of Science and Technology. He later pursued advanced studies at Henan University, where he earned his Master’s degree and subsequently completed his Ph.D. in Computer Science. His doctoral research laid the groundwork for his later contributions to brain-inspired computing and artificial intelligence. The focus of his academic training has been consistently aligned with high-impact areas such as neural computing, multimodal learning, and cognitive systems. His education at Henan University not only provided him with technical expertise but also positioned him within China’s evolving landscape of intelligent systems research. Throughout his academic development, Professor Liu has maintained a strong commitment to interdisciplinary learning, integrating principles from neuroscience, computer engineering, and information science, which now serve as the foundation for his work in both theoretical research and applied technological innovation.

Professional Experience

Professor Yang Liu has accumulated over two decades of professional experience in academia and research. He is currently a full professor and Ph.D. supervisor at the School of Computer and Information Engineering at Henan University, China. In this role, he leads the Brain-inspired Intelligence Science and Technology Innovative Team, overseeing cutting-edge research in quantum brain-inspired computing and large-scale multimodal systems. Over the years, he has successfully managed over 30 scientific projects at the national and provincial levels, including those funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China and the National Civil Space Infrastructure. He has also played a vital role in national Earth observation initiatives and various cross-disciplinary projects involving remote sensing, medical image analysis, and intelligent systems. In addition to research and teaching, Professor Liu mentors graduate students and contributes to curriculum development, demonstrating his strong leadership and commitment to academic growth and interdisciplinary collaboration.

Research Interest

Professor Yang Liu’s research interests lie at the intersection of brain-inspired computing, artificial intelligence, and multimodal big data processing. A major focus of his work is on Quantum Brain and Mind-inspired Computing (QBMC), a novel theoretical framework that integrates cognitive neuroscience with advanced neural network architectures. His interests also include spiking neural networks, cross-modal recognition, remote sensing intelligence, and the design of algorithms for aesthetic and semantic computing. He explores how neural mechanisms can be simulated and applied in computational models for intelligent diagnosis, environmental monitoring, and decision-making systems. His research spans both theoretical development and system-level implementation, particularly in the analysis of spatiotemporal big data and hyperspectral image classification. Professor Liu is also actively involved in applying AI to fields like healthcare, where he works on developing models for the intelligent diagnosis of mental and neurological disorders. His research aims to bring cognitive intelligence closer to real-world usability and application.

Award and Honor

Professor Yang Liu has earned multiple accolades throughout his academic career, reflecting his impactful contributions to research and innovation. He has served as the Principal Investigator of several high-profile projects funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China and national Earth observation programs. He has been recognized for his excellence in research through leadership roles and inclusion in prestigious innovation teams, such as the Brain-inspired Intelligence Science and Technology Innovative Team. His publications in leading journals, patents, and research outputs have received commendation at both institutional and national levels. He is also a respected member of global scientific organizations such as IEEE, ACM, CCF, and CAAI, which acknowledges his contributions to the advancement of intelligent systems and computer science. These recognitions highlight his academic excellence, leadership capabilities, and commitment to addressing global challenges through innovative research in AI and cognitive computing.

Research Skill

Professor Yang Liu possesses a robust set of research skills that span theoretical modeling, algorithm development, data analysis, and interdisciplinary integration. His expertise in Quantum Brain and Mind-inspired Computing equips him with the ability to design complex neural models inspired by human cognition. He is highly proficient in developing and implementing spiking neural networks, cross-modal learning algorithms, and neural cognitive computing systems. His skills extend to remote sensing data analysis, aesthetic computing, and hyperspectral image processing using advanced AI methods. With hands-on experience in managing multimodal big data and leading AI-driven applications in healthcare and environmental science, Professor Liu combines domain knowledge with technical rigor. He is adept in MATLAB, Python, TensorFlow, and other scientific computing tools. Additionally, his ability to lead collaborative projects and guide Ph.D. students reflects his strengths in research planning, team management, and scientific communication. His research skills make him a key contributor to the evolution of intelligent systems.

Publications Top Notes

Title: SAR ship detection using sea-land segmentation-based convolutional neural network
Authors: Y Liu, M Zhang, P Xu, Z Guo
Year: 2017
Citations: 112

Title: Chi-squared distance metric learning for histogram data
Authors: W Yang, L Xu, X Chen, F Zheng, Y Liu*
Year: 2015
Citations: 43

Title: Aircraft detection for remote sensing images based on deep convolutional neural networks
Authors: L Zhou, H Yan, Y Shan, C Zheng, Y Liu, X Zuo, B Qiao
Year: 2021
Citations: 32

Title: Spatio-temporal variations in NO2 and PM2.5 over the central plains economic region of China during 2005–2015 based on satellite observations
Authors: K Cai, S Li, F Zheng, C Yu, X Zhang, Y Liu, Y Li
Year: 2018
Citations: 30

Title: Review on High Resolution Remote Sensing Image Classification and Recognition
Authors: Y Liu, Z Fu, F Zheng*
Year: 2015
Citations: 30

Title: A novel image encryption algorithm using PWLCM map-based CML chaotic system and dynamic DNA encryption
Authors: J Tian, Y Lu, X Zuo, Y Liu, B Qiao, M Fan, Q Ge, S Fan
Year: 2021
Citations: 29

Title: SWDet: Anchor-based object detector for solid waste detection in aerial images
Authors: L Zhou, X Rao, Y Li, X Zuo, Y Liu, Y Lin, Y Yang
Year: 2022
Citations: 22

Title: Deep metric learning for accurate protein secondary structure prediction
Authors: W Yang, Y Liu, C Xiao
Year: 2022
Citations: 22

Title: Object-oriented and multi-scale target classification and recognition based on hierarchical ensemble learning
Authors: Y Liu, F Zheng
Year: 2017
Citations: 22

Title: Hyperspectral image classification of brain-inspired spiking neural network based on attention mechanism
Authors: Y Liu, K Cao, R Wang, M Tian, Y Xie
Year: 2022
Citations: 21

Title: RepDarkNet: A multi-branched detector for small-target detection in remote sensing images
Authors: L Zhou, C Zheng, H Yan, X Zuo, Y Liu, B Qiao, Y Yang
Year: 2022
Citations: 21

Conclusion

Professor Yang Liu is highly deserving of the Best Researcher Award for his groundbreaking contributions to Quantum Brain and Mind-inspired Computing, which have advanced the fields of computer vision, intelligent healthcare, environmental monitoring, and multimodal data analysis. His extensive research output, patents, and leadership in national-level projects have not only enriched academic knowledge but also delivered practical solutions with societal impact. With his strong foundation in innovation, dedication to mentoring future researchers, and potential to expand global collaborations, he is well-positioned to continue making significant contributions to both scientific advancement and the broader community.