Associate professor at Carnegie Mellon University, United States.
Hao Zhang is a Research Associate at Carnegie Mellon University (CMU), conducting postdoctoral research at the Safe AI Lab under Prof. Ding Zhao. He also serves as the Associate Director of the ETAIC Research Lab at the University of Texas at Arlington, led by Prof. Eric Tseng (NAE Member). He holds a Ph.D. from Tsinghua University, co-advised by Prof. Zhi Wang and Prof. Shengbo Eben Li. With over 35 SCI/EI publications and 17 patents, his research advances multi-agent reinforcement learning and closed-loop LLMs for real-world AI deployment in autonomous vehicles, robotics, and smart energy systems. He collaborates globally with academic and industrial leaders such as BYD, SAIC, Dongfeng Motor, and UCL, making impactful contributions to intelligent mobility.
🌍 Professional Profile:
ORCID
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🏆 Suitability for the Best Researcher Award :
Dr. Hao Zhang is an exceptional candidate for the Best Researcher Award due to his groundbreaking work at the intersection of artificial intelligence and real-world applications. His achievements in scalable AI for micro-mobility and autonomous vehicles have led to industrial deployments across leading automotive manufacturers. With a strong publication record, global collaborations, and 17 patents, he exemplifies innovation, impact, and leadership. He bridges theory and practice, pushing the boundaries of safe and trustworthy AI agents. His dual appointments at CMU and UTA and contribution to both academia and industry reflect his versatile excellence. Dr. Zhang’s work not only enhances technological advancement but also fosters a responsible and intelligent future for mobility and energy systems.
🎓 Education :
Hao Zhang received his Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from Tsinghua University, one of China’s most prestigious institutions, where he was co-advised by renowned scholars Prof. Zhi Wang and Prof. Shengbo Eben Li. During his Ph.D., he focused on reinforcement learning and its applications to intelligent vehicle systems. Prior to that, he completed his undergraduate and master’s studies with distinction, developing a strong foundation in robotics, automation, and control systems. His education also included collaborative learning experiences with industry, which laid the groundwork for his multidisciplinary approach to research. Currently, he is expanding his expertise through postdoctoral research at Carnegie Mellon University, contributing to the development of safe AI systems under the mentorship of Prof. Ding Zhao.
🏢 Work Experience :
Dr. Zhang has a rich portfolio of academic and industrial experience. As a Research Associate at Carnegie Mellon University, he works at the forefront of AI safety, while simultaneously serving as Associate Director at the ETAIC Lab at UTA. He has led or participated in five major government-funded research projects and four OEM-sponsored industry projects. His efforts have directly supported intelligent system development for companies such as BYD Auto, SAIC Motor, and Dongfeng. His engineering solutions have real-world applications in autonomous driving, energy management, and mobile robotics. His academic roles, coupled with his industrial consultancy, enable him to effectively translate research into practice. Dr. Zhang’s interdisciplinary experience sets him apart as a leader in applied AI and automation.
🏅Awards and Honors
Hao Zhang’s research excellence has earned him notable recognition across academia and industry. He has published over 35 SCI/EI-indexed journal articles, authored a technical book (ISBN: 9780443329845), and holds 17 patents related to intelligent control and autonomous systems. His work has been cited nearly 500 times, demonstrating significant influence. His research contributions have been integrated into industrial platforms at BYD and Dongfeng, marking a rare crossover between lab and large-scale deployment. Although he is still early in his postdoctoral career, his consistent innovation and impact have made him a rising leader in AI-powered mobility. His contributions position him for prestigious honors such as the Best Researcher Award and similar recognitions for scientific leadership.
🔬 Research Focus :
Dr. Zhang’s research focuses on scalable and trustworthy AI for autonomous systems and smart energy applications. His core expertise includes multi-agent reinforcement learning, closed-loop large language models (LLMs), and intelligent motion control. He develops AI algorithms that can be safely deployed in micro-mobility devices (assistive and mobile robots), connected vehicles, and distributed energy platforms. His work contributes to both algorithmic innovation and real-world adoption, ensuring AI agents are reliable, interpretable, and responsive to dynamic environments. He is particularly interested in bridging theory with practice by collaborating with top-tier institutions and OEMs. Dr. Zhang’s interdisciplinary approach merges robotics, automotive systems, control engineering, and deep learning to create adaptive, secure, and energy-efficient intelligent agents.
📘 Impact of ammonia addition on knock resistance and combustion performance in a gasoline engine with high compression ratio
📅 Year: 2023 | 📊 Cited by: 75 | 🛠️ Energy efficiency, combustion
📘 Hierarchical energy management strategy for plug-in hybrid electric powertrain integrated with dual-mode combustion engine
📅 Year: 2021 | 📊 Cited by: 42 | ⚡ Hybrid vehicles, control systems
📘 Data-driven predictive energy consumption minimization strategy for connected plug-in hybrid electric vehicles
📅 Year: 2023 | 📊 Cited by: 40 | 📡 Connected vehicles, optimization
📘 Experimental study on combustion and emission characteristics of ethanol-gasoline blends in a high compression ratio SI engine
📅 Year: 2023 | 📊 Cited by: 36 | 🔬 Fuel science, engine performance
📘 Learning-based supervisory control of dual mode engine-based hybrid electric vehicle with reliance on multivariate trip information
📅 Year: 2022 | 📊 Cited by: 34 | 🤖 AI control, mobility systems
📘 Integrated thermal and energy management of connected hybrid electric vehicles using deep reinforcement learning
📅 Year: 2023 | 📊 Cited by: 30 | 🧠 Deep learning, hybrid energy systems