Ana Barros | Soil Physics | Best Researcher Award

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Prof. Dr. Ana Barros | Soil Physics | Best Researcher Award

Ana Barros | University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign | United States

Ana P. Barros is the Donald Biggar Willett Distinguished Chair of Engineering and Professor and Head of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, United States. Her research focuses on hydrology, hydrometeorology, and environmental physics, with pioneering contributions to AI and machine learning applications in precipitation, flood, and drought prediction. She is a member of the U.S. National Academy of Engineering and a Fellow of AGU, AMS, ASCE, and AAAS, recognized globally for advancing water-cycle science, extreme event forecasting, and climate resilience.

Profiles

Scopus

Orcid

Summary

Dr. Barros has made landmark contributions to hydrological and environmental sciences through innovative methodologies that integrate observational data, remote sensing, computational modeling, and artificial intelligence. Her leadership in research, academia, and international scientific organizations highlights her as a thought leader in climate change resilience, flood prediction, and water-cycle science.

Education

Dr Ana P Barros holds a PhD in Civil Engineering with a major in Hydrology and a minor in Atmospheric Sciences from the University of Washington Seattle She earned an MSc in Environmental Science and Engineering from the Oregon Graduate Institute of Science and Technology OHSU She also completed an MSc in Hydraulics with a specialization in Ocean Engineering from the University of Porto Portugal and obtained a Diploma in Civil Engineering with a double major in Structures and Hydraulics from the University of Porto Portugal.

Experience

Dr Barros is the Donald Biggar Willett Distinguished Chair of Engineering and Professor and Head of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Illinois Urbana Champaign She is also the Founding Director of the Center for Secure Water at UIUC and a Fellow at NOAA CIROH Previously she served as the Edmund T Pratt Jr School Distinguished Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Duke University where she also held roles as James L Meriam Professor and Professor of Earth and Ocean Sciences She has been on the faculty of Harvard University Penn State University and the University of Porto She has served in numerous leadership and advisory roles including the Space Studies Board the Water Science and Technology Board the Board of Atmospheric Sciences and Climate and the US National Committee for the UNESCO International Hydrology Program.

Research Focus

Dr Barros’s research is centered on climate change hydrology hydrometeorology and extreme event prediction with emphasis on multiscale water cycle processes and land atmosphere interactions She investigates orographic precipitation processes precipitation microphysics aerosol cloud precipitation dynamics vegetation soil water interactions and regional climate variability Her work integrates field and laboratory experimentation remote sensing computational and data driven modeling AI based forecasting and environmental sustainability solutions She is deeply engaged in advancing risk assessment tools for extreme precipitation floods and droughts and in developing strategies for climate change adaptation and resilient infrastructure.

Skills

Her expertise spans hydrology hydrometeorology and environmental physics with advanced skills in satellite based remote sensing computational modeling AI and machine learning applications and environmental informatics She is recognized for pioneering early AI and ML applications for precipitation flood and drought estimation as well as long lead forecasting She has strong skills in developing coupled AI and physical modeling frameworks for predicting extreme precipitation floods and drought risk in complex terrain regions.

Awards

Dr Barros is a member of the US National Academy of Engineering and a Fellow of the American Geophysical Union American Meteorological Society American Society of Civil Engineers and the American Association for the Advancement of Science She is a senior member of IEEE and has received major honors including the AIH Ray K Linsley Award the ASCE Ven Te Chow Award the Borland Hydrology Award the NASA Group Achievement Award the NASA Robert H Goddard Award the NSF CAREER Award and the NASA New Investigator Award She has also been recognized with the Lorenz G Straub Award the AMS Sigma Xi Distinguished Lectureship and the Prize Foundation A Almeida for top national student in Civil Engineering.

Publications

  • Toward optimal rainfall for flood prediction in headwater basins – improving soil moisture initialization to close the water budget within observational uncertainty
    Authors: Mochi Liao; Ana P. Barros
    Journal: Journal of Hydrology: Regional Studies (2025)

  • Modeling Celerity‐Discharge Behavior and Riverbank Storage for Improving Flood Simulations in Headwater Basins
    Authors: Mochi Liao; Ana P. Barros
    Journal: Water Resources Research (2025)

  • Thank You to Our 2024 Reviewers
    Authors: Alberto Montanari; Ana Barros; Thorsten Becker; Marc Bierkens; Sharon Billings; M. Bayani Cardenas; Eric Davidson; Nicolas Gruber; Eileen Hofmann; Mary Hudson; et al.
    Journal: AGU Advances (2025)

  • Multi‐Physics Data Assimilation Framework for Remotely Sensed Snowpacks to Improve Water Prediction
    Authors: Prabhakar Shrestha; Ana P. Barros
    Journal: Water Resources Research (2025)

  • The role of root dynamics on the climate sensitivity of ecohydrological processes of over- and understory in a semi-arid groundwater-dependent ecosystem
    Authors: Qiyue Liu; Ana P. Barros
    Journal: Frontiers in Environmental Science (2024)

  • Thank You to Our 2023 Peer Reviewers
    Authors: Ana Barros; Thorsten Becker; M. Bayani Cardenas; Eric Davidson; Nicolas Gruber; Eileen Hofmann; Mary Hudson; Tissa Illangasekare; Sarah Kang; Alberto Montanari; et al.
    Journal: AGU Advances (2024)

  • Toward Building a Virtual Laboratory to Investigate Rainfall Microphysics at Process Scales
    Authors: Lihui Ji; Ana P. Barros
    Journal: Journal of the Atmospheric Sciences (2024)

Conclusion

Dr. Ana P. Barros stands out as an exemplary candidate for the Research for Best Researcher Award. Her pioneering scientific achievements, leadership in global hydrological research, and commitment to advancing knowledge for societal benefit strongly align with the award’s vision. While opportunities exist to strengthen cross-disciplinary engagement and policy translation, her impact on the field is both profound and far-reaching, making her highly deserving of this recognition.

Hong Zheng | Soil Physics | Best Researcher Award

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Prof. Hong Zheng | Soil Physics | Best Researcher Award

Prof. Hong Zheng, Beijing University of Technology, china

Prof. Hong Zheng is a distinguished professor at Beijing University of Technology, China, and a leading expert in computational geomechanics. With a Ph.D. in engineering mechanics from the Chinese Academy of Sciences, his work has resolved major challenges in geotechnical modeling and has been applied to significant projects like the Three Gorges Dam. A recipient of the National Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars, Prof. Zheng has published nearly 100 SCI papers, authored a technical book, and holds multiple patents. His contributions have been integrated into academic curricula and international engineering standards.

Profile

Scopus

Summary:

Prof. Hong Zheng stands out as a dedicated and accomplished researcher with substantial contributions to his field. His expertise, leadership, and influence within the academic community make him a strong candidate for the Best Researcher Award. His work continues to inspire innovation and collaboration, positioning him at the forefront of research developments.

🎓 Education

Professor Hong Zheng graduated with a bachelor’s degree from the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Northeastern University in 1985. He continued at the same institution to complete his master’s degree in solid mechanics in 1988. In 2000, he earned his Ph.D. in engineering mechanics from the Graduate University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

💼Experience

Professor Zheng is currently a professor at Beijing University of Technology and holds the title of Beijing Scholar. Between 1995 and 2001, he collaborated with Professor C.F. Lee at the University of Hong Kong. In addition to his academic role, he has led numerous research and consultancy projects, including major initiatives such as the Three Gorges Project.

🔬Research Focus

His primary research area is computational geomechanics, with particular emphasis on the continuous-discontinuous approach in geotechnical mechanics. His work has addressed longstanding challenges in computational mechanics and has significantly influenced the development of textbooks, industry standards, and commercial software applications.

🛠️Skills

Professor Zheng is highly skilled in engineering numerical analysis and computational mechanics. His accomplishments include authoring nearly 100 SCI-indexed journal articles, publishing a technical book (ISBN 978-7-03-072442-7), and contributing to six patents. His expertise also extends to editing academic journals and participating in two professional societies.

🏆Awards

Professor Zheng is a recipient of the prestigious National Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars. His professional contributions and research achievements have gained significant recognition in both national and international academic communities.

📚 Publications

Title: Evaluation of initial geostress field of underground powerhouse in the complex alteration area of western Sichuan based on back-propagation neural network method
Authors: Zheng, Hong; Cao, Shiqi; Jiang, Quan; Xu, Dingping; Li, Zhiwei
Year: 2025
Journal: Geomechanics and Geophysics for Geo-Energy and Geo-Resources


Title: Analysis of transient free surface seepage flow using numerical manifold method
Authors: Jia, Zhen; Zheng, Hong
Year: 2025
Journal: Computers and Mathematics with Applications


Title: A linear fracture constitutive model for the two-dimensional finite-discrete element method (FDEM) and its parameters calibration procedure
Authors: Yan, Chengzeng; Han, Du; Zheng, Hong; Wang, Tie; Ali, Sajid
Year: 2025
Journal: Engineering Analysis with Boundary Elements


Title: Experimental study on dynamic mechanical response and crack control mechanism of anchored layered sandstone by DIC technology
Authors: Lu, Yuyin; Yu, Yang; Feng, Guangliang; Zeng, Jianjun; Zheng, Hong
Year: 2025
Journal: Measurement: Journal of the International Measurement Confederation


Title: Three-dimensional seepage analysis for the tunnel in nonhomogeneous porous media with physics-informed deep learning
Authors: Lin, Shan; Dong, Miao; Luo, Hongming; Guo, Hongwei; Zheng, Hong
Year: 2025
Journal: Engineering Analysis with Boundary Elements

Conclusion:

Prof. Hong Zheng’s suitability for the Best Researcher Award is clear due to his consistent academic excellence and impactful research. However, focusing on expanding his interdisciplinary reach and increasing public engagement could enhance the broader influence of his work. Overall, his contributions to his field make him a deserving nominee for the award, with the potential for even greater impact in the future.