Visionary Speakers & Conference Orators
Prof. Weidong Zhu
University of Maryland
USA
Prof. Weidong Zhu
University of MarylandUSA
Biography
Dr. Weidong Zhu is a Professor of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC), where he has served since 1999. He holds a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of California, Berkeley, and dual B.S. degrees in Mechanical Engineering and Computational Science from Shanghai Jiao Tong University. His academic journey includes appointments at the University of Michigan, the Chinese University of Hong Kong, and the University of North Dakota.
Dr. Zhu is internationally recognized for his research in dynamics, vibration, control, applied mechanics, structural health monitoring, and wind energy. His work integrates analytical development, numerical simulation, and experimental validation. He leads two advanced laboratories at UMBC — the Dynamic Systems and Vibrations Laboratory and the Laser Vibrometry Laboratory — supporting research and outreach.
He is a Fellow of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) and has received numerous honors, including the NSF CAREER Award and Maryland Innovator of the Year Award. Dr. Zhu has served as an Associate Editor for the ASME Journal of Vibrations and Acoustics and delivered keynote lectures at global conferences. His research has been supported by government agencies and industry, and he is committed to mentoring students and engaging the broader community in STEM education.
Speech Title
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Summit Speakers
Kirubel Tefera Gesho
Southwest Jiaotong University
China
Kirubel Tefera Gesho
Southwest Jiaotong UniversityChina
Biography
Kirubel Tefera Gesho is a Road and Railway Engineering doctoral candidate at Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu, China, and a full-time lecturer in the Department of Civil Engineering at Dilla University, Ethiopia. His research is at the intersection of structural engineering and earthquake resilience, particularly focusing on seismic fragility assessment and performance-based retrofit strategies for highway bridges subjected to moderate-intensity ground motions.
His doctoral dissertation explores a component-to-system-level probabilistic framework for evaluating seismic demands and retrofit priorities of aging bridge infrastructure, particularly in regions where moderate seismicity is often underestimated. His work employs advanced computational tools such as OpenSees, MATLAB, Ansys, and SAP2000 to perform nonlinear time-history analysis (NLTHA), incremental dynamic analysis (IDA), and probabilistic demand modeling. His approach integrates seismic risk, structural vulnerability, and lifecycle performance—paving the way for more data-driven and resilient infrastructure design practices.
He holds a Master of Science in Geotechnical Engineering from Addis Ababa Science and Technology University, Ethiopia, where he conducted a structural assessment of airport pavements under dynamic loading conditions. He also earned his Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from Mekelle University.
In his academic role at Dilla University, He has contributed to instructional design across structural and geotechnical engineering courses and has supervised numerous undergraduate research projects. His academic output includes peer-reviewed publications in journals such as Structure and Infrastructure Engineering and Advances in Structural Engineering, focusing on probabilistic seismic modeling and performance assessment methodologies.
His broader research interests include sustainable construction materials, soil–structure interaction, infrastructure resilience under multi-hazard loading, and the recycling of industrial by-products in civil engineering applications. As a scholar committed to bridging theory with practical implementation, He aims to advance seismic design practices, particularly in developing countries, where infrastructure resilience is critical to economic and social sustainability.
