Patrick Rodrigues – Methodological approach – Best Researcher Award

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Patrick Rodrigues – Methodological approach – Best Researcher Award

Dr. Patrick Rodrigues   distinguished academic and researcher in the field Methodological Approach. Working mainly in the areas of exercise physiology, effects of passive heating on neuromuscular Function, High-Density sEMG, and recovery management.

 

🌐 Professional Profile

Educations📚📚📚

He obtained his PhD in Exercise Science from Queensland University of Technology (QUT) in 2021, under the supervision of Dr. Geoffrey Minett, Dr. Gabriel Trajano, and Dr. Lee Wharton. His doctoral research focused on thermoregulatory and neuromuscular responses to passive heating in 42°C hot-water immersion. Prior to this, he earned a Master’s Degree by Research in Physical Education with a specialization in Exercise Physiology from the Federal University of Paraná (UFPR) in 2012, where he studied the time course of changes in indirect markers of muscle damage, neuromuscular parameters, and heart rate variability following a 130-km cycling race, under the guidance of Dr. Raul Osiecki. Additionally, he completed a specialization in Exercise Physiology applied in Health at Uniguaçu University in 2009, researching the acute effect of three different warm-up protocols on maximal strength, again supervised by Dr. Raul Osiecki. He also holds a degree in Physical Education from Uniguaçu University, obtained in 2007, where his honours study, supervised by Dr. Fabiano de Macedo Salgueirosa, examined the effect of maximal isometric force following a passive stretching session.

 

Research and Competitive Grant Experience

He has been the recipient of several prestigious awards and scholarships. In 2021, he was awarded $51,373 from the Diabetes Australia Research Trust (League-FIT) and $33,000 from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (New Colombo Plan). Additionally, he received a Write-Up Scholarship (WUS) from Queensland University of Technology, amounting to $4,312. In 2019, he was granted $36,500 by the Department of Education, Skills and Employment through the Endeavour Leadership Program. Furthermore, in 2017, he was honored with an International Postgraduate Research Scholarship.

Awards

He has received several notable awards throughout his academic career. In 2022, he earned the Executive Dean’s Commendation for Outstanding Doctoral Thesis from the Faculty of Health at Queensland University of Technology (QUT). In 2020, he was part of a team that won the Innovation in Curriculum Design and Pedagogy award from the Faculty of Education at QUT. Additionally, in 2019, he secured third place in the 3-Minute Thesis Contest at the Sport and Clinical Exercise Symposium hosted by the School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences (SENS) at QUT.

Professional Experience

He has accumulated a diverse range of professional experience. From May 2023 to June 2024, he served as a University Assistant – Postdoc at the Medical University of Innsbruck, working within the Departments of Physiology and Sports Science. His primary research projects included investigating the effects of a 6-week heat acclimation intervention on exercise performance in acute hypoxia, where he acted as the principal investigator, and examining the physiological responses to different training intensities during incremental exercise as an associate investigator. Prior to this, he held a sessional academic contract at Queensland University of Technology (QUT) from 2018 to 2023, where he taught in programs related to Sport and Exercise Science, Clinical Exercise Physiology, and Health and Physical Education. He also served as a permanent lecturer in Exercise Science and Physical Education at Itajaí Valley University – UNIVALI in Brazil from February 2015 to January 2018 and as a visiting lecturer at Iguaçu Valley University Centre – UNIGUAÇU from 2010 to 2017.

 

📝🔬Publications📝🔬

1. Rodrigues, P., Orssatto, L., Hecksteden, A., Trajano, G. S., Minett, G. M. (2024). One size does not fit all:
Methodological considerations and solutions for intramuscular temperature assessment depths. Journal of
Thermal Biology.
2. Rodrigues, P., Orssatto, L., Gagnon, D., Dahhak, A., Hecksteden, A., Stewart, I. B., Minett, G. M. (2024). Passive
heat therapy: A promising preventive measure for people at risk of adverse health outcomes during heat
extremes. Journal of Applied Physiology. https://doi.org/10.1152/japplphysiol.00701.2023
3. Rodrigues, P., Trajano, G. S., Wharton, L., Orssatto, L., Minett, G. M. (2023). Hot-water immersion at 42 ºC
improves muscle contractile function and reduces motor unit discharge rate. Scandinavian Journal of Medicine &
Science in Sports. https://doi.org/10.1111/sms.14312
4. Orssatto, L. B. R., Rodrigues, P., Phillips, K. M., Blazevich, A. J., Borg, D. N., Souza, T. R., Sakugawa, R. L., Shield, A.
J., Trajano, G. S. (2023). Intrisic motor neurone excitability is increased after resistance training in older adults.
Journal of Neurophysiology. https://doi.org/10.1152/jn.00462.2022
5. Rodrigues, P., Trajano, G. S., Stewart, I., Minett, G. M. (2022). Potential role of passively increased muscle
temperature on contractile function. European Journal of Applied Physiology. 1-10.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-022-04991-7
Page 3 of 4
6. Rodrigues, P., Trajano, G. S., Wharton, L., Orssatto, L., Minett, G. M. (2021). An acute increase in muscle
temperature by hot-water immersion enhances rapid force production and neuromuscular function in healthy
adults. Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsams.2021.01.003
7. Silva, J. K. F., Sotomaior, B. B., Carneiro, C. F., Rodrigues, P., Wharton, L., Osiecki, R. (2021). Anaerobic threshold
(Dmax method) prediction by the rate of perceived exertion in young competitive male swimmers. Perceptual and
Motor Skills. https://doi.org/10.1177/00315125211005227
8. Rodrigues, P., Trajano, G. S., Wharton, L., Minett, G. M. (2020). Muscle temperature and thermoregulatory
responses to 42 °C hot-water immersion in healthy males and females. European Journal of Applied Physiology. 1-
14. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-020-04482-7
9. Rodrigues, P., Trajano, G. S., Wharton, L., Minett, G. M. (2020). Effects of passive heating on muscle hypertrophy
and neuromuscular function: A systematic review with meta-analysis. Journal of Thermal Biology. 102684.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jtherbio.2020.102684
10. Rodrigues, P., Gabellone Hernandez, S., de Macedo Salgueirosa, F., Oliveira, E., Whaton, L. & Osiecki, R. (2020).
Acute effect of three different warm-up protocols on maximal isokinetic strength in young men. Revista Andaluza
de Medicina del Desporte, 13(1): 5-9. DOI:10.33155/j.ramd.2018.02.007
11. Rodrigues, P., Correia, M. A., Whaton, L. (2019). Effect of menstrual cycle on muscle strength. Journal of Exercise
Physiology Online, 22(5), 89-97.
12. Pianezzer, L., Rodrigues, P. (2019). Comparison of morphological and cardiovascular indices among strength
training, aerobic training and competitive training. RBPFEX-Revista Brasileira de Prescrição e Fisiologia do
Exercício, 13(86), 995-1003. (paper in Portuguese)
13. Oliveira, E. C., Rodrigues, P., Salgueirosa, F. M., Seniski, G. G., Wharton, L., & Osiecki, R. (2018). Effect of ACTN3
R577X genotypes on muscle strength and power in Brazilian mixed martial arts athletes. Journal of Exercise
Physiology Online, 21(2), 202-213.
14. Rodrigues, P., de Macedo Salgueirosa, F. (2018). Effect of an active static stretching session on maximal handgrip
muscular strength production. Educacao Fisica em Revista, 12(1): 1-6.
15. Rodrigues, P., Wassmansdorf, R., Gabellone Hernandez, S., de Macedo Salgueirosa, F., Bonfim Gomes, E., Oliveira,
E., Whaton, L. & Osiecki, R. (2017). Time-course of neuromuscular parameters, muscle soreness and sympathovagal balance following a 130-km cycling race. Revista Portuguesa de Ciências do Desporto, (1).
DOI:10.5628/RPCD.17.01.13
16. de Macedo Salgueirosa, F., Rodrigues, P., Seniski, G. G., Wharton, L., & Osiecki, R. (2017). ACTN3 R577X and ACE
I/D Genotype Frequencies of Professional Soccer Players in Brazil. Journal of Exercise Physiology Online, 20(6),
129-139.
17. Rodrigues, P., Hernandez, S. G., de Macedo Salgueirosa, F., Novack, L. F., Wassmansdorf, R., Wharton, L., &
Osiecki, R. (2017). The influence of two static stretching protocols with different intensities on concentric knee
extension strength. Isokinetics and Exercise Science, 25(1), 41-46.DOI:10.3233/IES-160643
18. Rodrigues, P., Wassmansdorf, R., Salgueirosa, F. M., Hernandez, S. G., Nascimento, V. B., Daros, L. B., Wharton, L.,
& Osiecki, R. (2016). Time-course of changes in indirect markers of muscle damage responses following a 130-km
cycling race. Revista Brasileira de Cineantropometria & Desempenho Humano, 18(3), 322-331. DOI:10.5007/1980-
0037.2016v18n3p322
19. Novack, L. F., Carignano, L. F. B., Rodrigues, P., Salgueirosa, F. (2011). Comparison of the percentage of body fat
between bioelectrical impedance methods – tetrapolar vs bipolar. The FIEP Bulletin, 81(1) 286 – 288. (paper in
Portuguese)
Page 4 of 4
Abstracts published in annals of congress (summary)
1. Rodrigues, P.; Orssatto, L.; Trajano, G.; Minnet, G. The effects of increased muscle vs. core temperature on
neuromuscular function after a hot-water immersion session. Oral presentation. European College of Sport
Science, ECSS 2023.
2. Blazevich, A.; Mackay, K.; Orssatto, L.; Rodrigues, P.; Rosa, T.; Shield, A.; Trajano, G. Increased functional capacity,
power, and maximal strength following short-term power and plyometric training in older adults. Journal of
Science and Medicine in Sport. 2021. v.24. p. s26
3. Rodrigues, P.; Minnet, G.; Trajano, G. S.; Wharton, L. Muscle temperature kinetics and thermoregulatory
responses to 42 °C hot-water immersion in healthy males and females. ESSA Sports Science Twitter Conference
2020.
4. Minnet, G.; Rodrigues, P.; Trajano, G. S.; Wharton, L. Effects of passive heating intervention on muscle
hypertrophy and neuromuscular function: A preliminary Systematic Review with Meta-analysis. ESSA Sports
Science Twitter Conference 2020.
5. Rodrigues, P.; Hernandez, S. G.; Salgueirosa, F. M.; Novack, L. F.; Borges, P. T.; Wassmansdorf, R.; Oliveira, E.;
Osiecki, R. Maximal voluntary contraction response after three different types of warm-up. (Abstract in
Portuguese).
In: 22° Congresso Brasileiro de Medicina do Esporte, 2010, Curitiba.
Revista Brasileira de Medicina do Esporte. 2010. v.16. p.13.
6. Rodrigues, P.; Hernandez, S. G.; Salgueirosa, F. M.; Novack, L. F.; Borges, P. T.; Wassmansdorf, R.; Oliveira, E.;
Osiecki, R. The influence of two static stretching protocols with different intensities on concentric knee extension
strength. (Abstract in Portuguese).
In: 33° Simpósio Internacional de Ciências do Esporte, 2010, São Paulo.
Revista Brasileira de Ciência e Movimento. 2010. p.96
7. Rodrigues, P.; Salgueirosa, F. M. The effect of stretching on maximal force production. (Abstract in Portuguese).
In: Celafiscs, 2008, São Paulo. XXXI Simpósio Internacional de Ciências do Esporte. 2008.

Zekun Li – Graphic analysis

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Dr. Zekun Li  – Leading Researcher in Graphic analysis

Dr. Zekun Li a distinguished academic and researcher in the field of Graphic analysis,His academic journey began with a Bachelor of Science degree in Optoelectronic Information Science and Engineering (OSE) at Xi’an University of Posts and Telecommunications (XUPT), Shaanxi, China, where he completed his undergraduate studies from 2014 to 2018. 📚

Education📚

He is currently a Ph.D. student in Instrument Science and Technology (IST) at Xidian University, Shaanxi, China, with an expected completion date in March 2024. Prior to his doctoral studies, he pursued a master’s degree in Aerospace Engineering (AE) at Xidian University from 2018 to 2020, following a combined Master and Ph.D. program.

Professional Profiles:

 Research interests 

  • Fast 2D Shape Recognition, Fast 3D Shape Recognition, Deep
    Learning, Constrain Reduction of Feature Structure

Honors and awards

He has demonstrated exceptional academic and innovative achievements throughout his educational journey. Achieving the First Prize in ‘The Second National College Internet of Things Technology and Application ‘Three Creation’ Competition’ highlights his prowess in IoT technology. As an Excellent Student at Xi’an University of Posts and Telecommunications, he received recognition for his outstanding performance. Winning the First Prize in the 14th China Postgraduate Electronic Design Contest for the Northwest Region further underscores his excellence in electronic design. Additionally, his contribution to the development of a Rugged Terrain Measurement System based on Beidou earned him the Third Prize in the Postgraduate Group. Acknowledged as an Outstanding Graduate Student at Xidian University, he has consistently received academic scholarships every year since 2014, showcasing his sustained commitment to scholarly excellence. 🏆🎓

Patent
• Baolong Guo, Li, Zekun, Wenqiang Mo, et al., A shape description and retrieval
method based on the vertical inner-distance ratio of minimum bounding rectangle
(Publicly available)
• Baolong Guo, Li, Zekun, Chao Wang, et al., An intelligent scene perception
defense device and method based on multi-source information fusion (Publicly
available)
• Chao Wang, Baolong Guo, Li, Zekun, et al., A frequency domain sparse signal
transmission and reception system implementation method based on IFFT (Publicly available)
• Chao Wang, Baolong Guo, Li, Zekun, et al., A garbage image classification
method based on transfer learning (Publicly available)

Published

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Maria Pregnolato – Causal mapping

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Assoc Prof Dr. Maria Pregnolato – Leading Researcher in Causal mapping

Dr Maria Pregnolato is a Civil Engineer and holds a MSc in Building Engineering and Architecture from the University of Pavia (Italy) and the Tongji University of Shanghai (China), a PhD in Civil Engineering from Newcastle University (UK) and MSc in Strategy, Leadership and Change from the University of Bristol (UK). Her work focuses on infrastructure resilience and risk management from natural hazards, in particular the impact of flooding to road networks, bridges and buildings. She held an EPSRC (Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, UK) Fellowship to investigate the impact of extreme flooding to bridges, including hydrodynamic modelling and scour risk management. In recent years, she has been

Education📚

🎓 Maria Pregnolato’s educational and professional journey is a testament to her dedication and expertise. From November 2020 to November 2022, she pursued her Master of Science in Strategy, Change, and Leadership at the School of Management, University of Bristol, UK, laying the groundwork for her proficiency in strategic management and leadership.

🏗️ Building on this, from January 2014 to November 2017, Maria embarked on a transformative research venture, earning her Doctorate in Urban Infrastructure Resilience at the School of Engineering, Newcastle University, UK. This impactful journey was funded by EPSRC, with contributions from ESRC, iBUILD EP/K012398/1, and EU H2020 RAMSES no. 308497. Her thesis, “Risk analysis of the disruption to urban transport networks from pluvial flooding,” showcased her commitment to understanding and mitigating risks in urban environments.

Rewinding to her earlier years, from October 2007 to December 2012, Maria pursued a Master of Science in Building Engineering-Architecture, earning the distinction of magna cum laude. This joint degree, funded by MIUR and a collaboration between the Università degli Studi di Pavia (Italy) and Tongji University of Shanghai (China), was a platform for her thesis, “Architecture and Structure: a new relation with Landscape,” where she explored innovative connections between architecture and the environment.

Professional Profiles:
ACADEMIC AND RESEARCH EXPERIENCE

🌐 Since March 2023, she has been serving as an Associate Professor in Flood Risk Management and Resilient Infrastructure at TU Delft in the Netherlands. This role, based in Delft, involves contributing to the Faculty of Civil Engineering & Geosciences within the Department of Hydraulic Engineering. Additionally, she holds an Honorary Associate Professor position in Infrastructure Resilience at the University of Bristol in the UK, fostering collaborative ties between these two esteemed institutions.

🏛️ Before her current position, from August 2022 to March 2023, she served as a Senior Lecturer in Civil Engineering at the University of Bristol, contributing to the Department of Civil Engineering within the School of Civil, Aerospace, and Mechanical Engineering (CAME). This role followed her tenure as a Lecturer in Civil Engineering from November 2018 to August 2022, where she actively engaged in shaping the academic landscape.

👩‍🏫 Her academic journey includes a significant role as an EPSRC Fellow from March 2018 to May 2022, supported by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council. During this time, she conducted personal research and contributed to advancements in the field.

✈️ The global scope of her academic endeavors includes visiting assistant professorships in various locations. In June 2022, she contributed to TU Delft in the Netherlands, followed by a stint in Milan, Italy, from February to May 2022, at the Polytechnic of Milan’s Department of Architecture, Built Environment, and Construction Engineering. Her international experiences also extend to a visiting assistant professor role at the University of Washington in Seattle, USA, from May to September 2019.

🔬 Earlier in her career, from March 2017 to March 2018, she served as a Research Associate at Newcastle University in the UK, contributing to the EPSRC ITRC-MISTRAL project (EP/N017064/1) within the School of Engineering.

🌟 Maria Pregnolato’s academic and research journey reflects a commitment to excellence, collaboration, and contributing to the fields of flood risk management, resilient infrastructure, and civil engineering on both national and international stages.

 

SPECIAL AWARDS, HONOURS

In 2023, she received the IABSE (International Association for Bridge and Structural Engineering) Outstanding Paper Award in the Scientific Paper category for the work by Orcesi et al. in 2022. This recognition highlights the excellence and impact of her research in the field.

In 2021, she was honored with the European Geoscience Union (EGU) Outstanding Early Career Award, acknowledging her contributions to the geoscience community.

Since 2019, she has held the prestigious position of an EPSRC Fellow of the Women in Engineering Society (WES), reflecting her commitment to advancing women’s participation and recognition in the engineering field.

In 2019, she achieved 1st place at the “Italy Made Me” UK Early-career Awards, underlining the recognition of her early-career achievements.

The year 2018 brought further accolades, including the EPSRC RISE (Recognizing Inspirational Scientists and Engineers) Award, acknowledging her inspirational contributions to the field. Additionally, she secured 2nd place at the ABTA UK Doctoral Researcher Awards, further highlighting the quality and impact of her doctoral research.

In 2016, she was honored with the Young Author Award for the best oral presentation at FLOODrisk 2016 in Lyon, recognizing the excellence of her work in the field of flood risk management.

Her contributions were further acknowledged in 2017 when she became a shortlisted finalist at STEM for Britain, an event hosted at the House of Commons in London, demonstrating the recognition of her work at a national level. These awards collectively reflect her dedication to advancing knowledge and making significant contributions to the scientific community.

COMMITTEE and MEMBERSHIPS

2023-now –   Board Member of 4TU Resilience Engineering Centre (4TU.RE)
2022-now  – Board Member of NERC Digital Research and Infrastructure Group (DRIG)
2016-now –  Member of the European Geoscience Union
2022-23  –  UKCRIC Soil-Foundation-Structure Interaction (SoFSI) Executive Board member
2021-23 –  Co-leader for the Met Office Academic Partnership (MOAP)
2021-23  – Board member of the Brunel Institute
2021-22  – Digital Environment Fellow ofthe NERC UKRI ‘Constructing a Digital Environment’ Programme
2020-21 –  Board member of the GW4 Water Security Alliance

Publications:

  • Kumar, V., Gunner, S., Pregnolato, M., Tully, P., Georgalas, N., Oikonomou, G., Karatzas, S. and Tryfonas, T. (accepted October 2023). From IoT sensors and Open Data Platforms to Urban Observatories. IET Smart Cities, in press.
  • Evans, B., Lam, A., West, C., Ahmadian, R., Djordjevic, S., Chen, A.S. and Pregnolato, M. (2023). A combined stability function to quantify flood risks to pedestrians and vehicle occupants. Science of the Total Environment, 168237. Link
  • Beevers, L., Popescu, I., Pregnolato, M., Liu, Y. and Wright, N. (2022). Identifying hotspots of hydro-hazards under global change: a worldwide review. Frontiers in Water, 4: 1-14. Link
  • Pregnolato, M., Gunner, S. D., Voyagaki, E., De Risi, R., Gavriel, G., Carhart, N.J., Macdonald, J.H.G., Tryfonas, T. and Taylor, C. A. (2022). Towards Civil Engineering 4.0: concept, workflow and application of Digital Twins for existing infrastructure. Automation in Construction, 141: 104421. Link
  • Pregnolato, M., Winter, A.O., Mascarenas, D., Sen, A.D., Bates, P. and Motley, M.R. (2022). Assessing flooding impact to riverine bridges: an integrated analysis. Nat. Hazards Earth Syst. Sci, 22: 1559–1576. Link
  • Jaroszweski, D., Wood, R., Chapman, L., …, Pregnolato, M., … et al. (2021). Infrastructure. In: The Third UK Climate Change Risk Assessment Technical Report. [Betts, R.A., Haward, A.B., Pearson, K.V. (eds)] Prepared for the Climate Change Committee, London. Link
  • **Arrighi, C., Pregnolato, M. and Castelli, F. (2021). Indirect flood impacts and cascade risk across interdependent linear infrastructures. Nat. Hazards Earth Syst. Sci., 21: 1955–1969. [Link](https://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-21-1955-202