Dr. Pengwei Xiao | Nanocomposites Awards | Best Researcher Award

Dr. Pengwei Xiao , MGH/Harvard Medical School , United States

Dr. Pengwei Xiao is a Post-Doctoral Research Fellow at the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard Medical School, Harvard University, where he leads cutting-edge research on knee biomechanics and total joint arthroplasty. He holds a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Texas at San Antonio, where he conducted advanced research on bone biomechanics and fracture risk prediction using AI-assisted modeling techniques. Dr. Xiao also holds an M.Sc. in Engineering Mechanics from Jinan University and a B.Sc. from South China University of Technology. His work integrates computational methods, experimental research, and machine learning to advance orthopaedic surgery and bone health.

Professional Profile:

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Summary of Suitability for Best Researcher Award: Dr. Pengwei Xiao

Dr. Pengwei Xiao is a highly qualified candidate for the Best Researcher Award, given his extensive experience, innovative research contributions, and leadership in the field of biomechanics and orthopaedic surgery.

🎓Education:

Dr. Pengwei Xiao earned his Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Texas at San Antonio in December 2022. Prior to that, he completed his Master of Science (M.Sc.) in Engineering Mechanics at Jinan University in Guangzhou, China, in June 2010. He also holds a Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) in Engineering Mechanics from South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, China, which he obtained in June 2008

🏢Work Experience:

Dr. Pengwei Xiao is currently a Post-Doctoral Research Fellow in the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard Medical School, where he has been leading research since January 2024 on knee biomechanics, total joint arthroplasty, and integrating machine learning models into clinical workflows. Simultaneously, he serves as a part-time Post-Doctoral Research Fellow at the Mechanics of Biological Materials/Structures Lab at the University of Texas at San Antonio, focusing on methods to predict bone fragility fracture risks and conducting advanced research on bone microstructure. From January to December 2023, Dr. Xiao was a full-time Post-Doctoral Research Fellow at the same lab, where he conducted research on bone nanomechanics, finite element modeling, and AI-assisted predictions of bone fragility fractures. His research journey began as a Research Assistant at the Mechanics of Biological Materials/Structures Lab at UT San Antonio, where, from August 2018 to December 2022, he developed probability-based models and deep learning techniques to assess bone structure-function relationships and fracture risks.

Publication Top Notes:

“Socioeconomic Area Deprivation Index is Not Associated with Postoperative Complications Following Revision Total Hip and Knee Joint Arthroplasty”
“Characterization of Trabecular Bone Microarchitecture and Mechanical Properties Using Bone Surface Curvature Distributions”
“A Novel QCT-Based Deep Transfer Learning Approach for Predicting Stiffness Tensor of Trabecular Bone Cubes”
“In-silico Simulation of Nanoindentation on Bone Using a 2D Cohesive Finite Element Model”
“Probability-Based Approach for Characterization of Microarchitecture and Its Effect on Elastic Properties of Trabecular Bone”

Dr. Alexandra Portoaca , Petroleum-Gas University , Romania

Alexandra-Ileana Portoaca, born on January 21, 1992, is a Romanian Assistant Professor at the Petroleum-Gas University of Ploiesti, specializing in Mechanical Engineering. Since March 2021, she has been engaged in teaching laboratories and seminars on Machine Parts, Hydropneumatic Systems, Computer-Aided Design, and Project Management. Additionally, she conducts research on the mechanical characteristics of 3D-printed parts. Alexandra previously worked as a Process Quality Engineer at Driv Romania, where she was responsible for quality assurance, risk management, and implementing quality improvement strategies in the automotive industry. She holds a Master’s degree in Optimal Exploitation of Oilfield Equipment and a Bachelor’s degree in Economic Engineering in the Mechanical Field from the Petroleum-Gas University of Ploiesti. Alexandra is proficient in English, with basic knowledge of German and intermediate proficiency in Spanish.

Professional Profile:

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🎓Education:

Alexandra-Ileana Portoaca holds a Master’s Degree in Optimal Exploitation of Oilfield Equipment from the Petroleum-Gas University of Ploiesti, completed between October 1, 2015, and March 14, 2017, where she focused on the optimization of oil equipment, oil equipment logistics, and project management. She also earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Economic Engineering in the Mechanical Field from the same university, studying from October 1, 2011, to July 24, 2015, with a focus on hydraulic machinery, oil equipment, mechanics, management, and material technology. Additionally, Alexandra participated in an Erasmus+ program at the Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha in Spain, where she studied Engineering and Management of Maintenance from September 17, 2014, to February 17, 2015.

🏢Professional Experience:

Since March 1, 2021, Alexandra-Ileana Portoaca has been serving as an Assistant Professor at the Petroleum-Gas University of Ploiesti. In this role, she teaches various subjects, including Machine Parts, Hydropneumatic Systems, Computer-Aided Design, and Project Management. Additionally, she conducts research on the mechanical characteristics of 3D-printed parts.

Publication Top Notes:

Experimental investigation on corrosion resistance and tribological properties of steel coated with glass-reinforced polymer
- Journal: Tribology and Materials
- Year: 2024
Assessment of Environmental Impact on Glass-Fiber-Reinforced Polymer Pipes Mechanical and Thermal Properties
- Journal: Polymers
- Year: 2024-06-24
Analyzing Sustainable 3D Printing Processes: Mechanical, Thermal, and Crystallographic Insights
- Journal: Polymers
- Year: 2024-05-10
A Study regarding the Technical-Economical Optimization of Structural Components for enhancing the Buckling Resistance in Stiffened Cylindrical Shells
- Journal: Engineering, Technology & Applied Science Research
- Year: 2023
Comparison of the Charpy Resilience of Two 3D Printed Materials: A Study on the Impact Resistance of Plastic Parts
- Journal: Engineering, Technology & Applied Science Research
- Year: 2023