Wooi-Chen Khoo | Statistical Models and Inference | Best Researcher Award

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Dr. Wooi-Chen Khoo | Statistical Models and Inference | Best Researcher Award

UCSI University | Malaysia

Dr. Wooi-Chen Khoo is a distinguished academician and researcher specializing in actuarial science, business analytics, and applied statistics. With expertise in statistical modeling, time series analysis, survival models, and data analytics, she has built an impressive portfolio of teaching, research, and academic leadership. She has taught across leading institutions such as UCSI University, Sunway University, and the University of Malaya, delivering both undergraduate and postgraduate programs aligned with IFoA and SoA standards. Her research integrates applied probability, statistical inference, and multidisciplinary applications, resulting in impactful publications in high-quality journals. Dr. Wooi-Chen Khoo has successfully supervised PhD and master’s candidates, guiding them toward scholarly and industry-relevant contributions. Beyond academia, she engages with professional bodies such as the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries (IFoA), the Society of Actuaries (SoA), and the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM). Her outreach includes keynote lectures, panel discussions, and workshops for industries, emphasizing data-driven decision-making.

Profile

ORCID 

Googlescholar

Education

Dr. Wooi-Chen Khoo’s academic foundation reflects her strong commitment to mathematics and statistics. She began her journey with a Bachelor’s degree in Mathematical Science at Universiti Sains Malaysia, followed by a Master’s degree in Mathematical Science from the same institution, where she deepened her expertise in applied statistics. She later pursued her doctoral studies at Universiti Malaya, where she completed a PhD in Applied Probability and Statistics. During this period, she refined her focus on statistical modeling of time series and mixture distributions, which became central themes in her scholarly work. Her academic training has equipped her with both theoretical depth and applied skills, enabling her to bridge the gap between pure mathematics and real-world statistical challenges. Complementing her formal education, Dr. Khoo also holds professional qualifications such as HRDF Trainer certification, Google Analytics accreditation, and affiliation with the Society of Actuaries, reflecting her interdisciplinary competence and professional credibility

Experience

Dr. Wooi-Chen Khoo has built a diverse teaching and administrative career across leading Malaysian universities. At UCSI University, she currently serves as Head of the Institute of Actuarial Science and Data Analytics, where she leads programme accreditation, curriculum development, and IFoA alignment. She previously headed the Department of Applied Statistics at Sunway University, driving new programme initiatives and accreditation processes. Earlier, she contributed as a lecturer at Universiti Malaya while pursuing her doctoral studies, strengthening her teaching of probability theory and statistical methods. Her teaching portfolio spans IFoA modules CS1, CS2, and CM1, postgraduate research methodology, and empirical modeling. She has supervised numerous final-year, Master’s, and PhD students, many of whom progressed into impactful research careers. Beyond teaching, Dr. Khoo has held roles as exam coordinator, journal reviewer, invited speaker, and panelist, highlighting her academic leadership. Her consultancy and industry outreach underscore her commitment to data-driven problem solving.

Awards and Honors

Dr. Wooi-Chen Khoo has received recognition for her academic excellence and applied research contributions. She was awarded First Place in an article writing competition organized by the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) for her work on resilience and economic growth in an ageing society, aligning statistical insights with sustainable development goals. Her research excellence was also acknowledged with a Best Paper Award at the IMT-GT International Conference on Mathematics, Statistics, and Their Applications, recognizing her innovative statistical modeling of bus travel time using the Burr distribution. Additionally, she achieved Second Runner-Up for Best Technical Paper at the Malaysian Road Conference & Exhibition and the International Road Federation Asia-Pacific Regional Congress, showcasing the practical impact of her work in transportation systems. These awards reflect her ability to integrate rigorous statistical methodologies with applied contexts, contributing not only to academia but also to national policy and industry practices.

Research Focus

Dr. Wooi-Chen Khoo’s research lies at the intersection of applied probability, statistics, actuarial science, and data analytics. Her work emphasizes statistical modeling, including mixture autoregressive models, time series of counts, and Burr distributions, with applications spanning infectious disease forecasting, unemployment analysis, insurance pricing, and urban transportation. She has published extensively in reputable international journals, demonstrating both theoretical innovation and practical relevance. In transportation studies, her research has advanced understanding of bus travel time variability and reliability, while her contributions to epidemiological modeling offer insights into disease spread and preventive strategies. She has also explored statistical frameworks for socio-economic issues, such as unemployment and insurance schemes. Her current projects expand into reinforcement learning applications and AI-driven modeling, reflecting her adaptability to emerging methodologies. By supervising postgraduate candidates and collaborating with institutions like DOSM, IFoA, and SoA, Dr. Khoo continues to bridge research, policy, and professional practice

 

Publications

 

Title: Modeling time series of counts with a new class of INAR (1) model
Year: 2017
Citation count: 36

Title: Short-term impact analysis of fuel price policy change on travel demand in Malaysian cities
Year: 2012
Citation count: 28

Title: Quantifying bus travel time variability and identifying spatial and temporal factors using Burr distribution model
Year: 2022
Citation count: 19

Title: Coherent forecasting for a mixed integer-valued time series model
Year: 2022
Citation count: 7

Title: On the prediction of intermediate-to-long term bus section travel time with the Burr mixture autoregressive model
Year: 2024
Citation count: 6

Conclusion

Dr. Wooi-Chen Khoo is a passionate educator, accomplished researcher, and strategic academic leader whose contributions in applied probability, actuarial science, and data analytics have advanced knowledge, supported industry practices, and shaped future generations of statisticians.

Ang Guo | Problem Solving | Best Researcher Award

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Mr. Ang Guo | Problem Solving | Best Researcher Award

Guo Ang is a dedicated graduate student in Mechanical Engineering at Liaoning University of Technology, China, with a strong academic background and emerging research contributions in advanced manufacturing. He completed his Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Design, Manufacturing, and Automation from Luoyang Institute of Science and Technology. Guo’s master’s research focuses on ultrasound-assisted in-situ preparation of chromium carbide-reinforced nickel-based cladding layers, a topic at the intersection of materials science and surface engineering. Under the supervision of Prof. Li Jinhua, he has developed innovative experimental methods to explore grain refinement in cladding processes. With one journal manuscript under review and strong lab collaboration, Guo is steadily building his academic profile. He is committed to pushing boundaries in multi-functional laser additive manufacturing. His work holds potential applications in enhancing material durability and performance, making significant contributions to industrial engineering practices. Guo is a promising candidate for the Best Research Scholar Award due to his innovation and diligence.

Profile

🎓 Education

Guo Ang is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering at Liaoning University of Technology, where he is expected to graduate in June 2025. His postgraduate research emphasizes advanced laser additive manufacturing techniques, particularly ultrasonic-assisted in-situ preparation methods. Before this, he completed his undergraduate studies at Luoyang Institute of Science and Technology, earning a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Design, Manufacturing, and Automation. During his education, Guo has shown consistent academic excellence and technical curiosity, especially in the field of surface engineering and material coatings. He has gained in-depth knowledge of ultrasonic mechanisms, metallurgical processes, and composite layer formation. Guo’s academic trajectory is characterized by a hands-on approach to experimental mechanics, microstructure analysis, and the development of new coating technologies for industrial applications. His education reflects a blend of theoretical grounding and practical research capabilities that make him well-prepared for a future in advanced manufacturing research and technology innovation.

🧪 Experience

Guo Ang is a graduate researcher at Liaoning University of Technology with focused experience in experimental material science. While currently at an early stage in his professional career, he has played a pivotal role in ongoing laboratory research related to ultrasonic-assisted surface engineering. Working closely with Prof. Li Jinhua and a dedicated team of lab members, he has contributed to experimental setups, data analysis, and microstructural evaluation of laser-cladded coatings. His key experience lies in exploring how ultrasonic frequencies influence coating grain structures, leading to the development of innovative hypotheses about grain refinement mechanisms. Guo’s technical experience includes operating advanced manufacturing equipment, analyzing surface morphology, and characterizing metallurgical phases. Though he has not yet been involved in industry collaborations or consulting projects, his academic lab work demonstrates a high level of initiative, problem-solving, and collaborative research ability. This foundational experience has prepared him to contribute significantly to applied research and innovation in mechanical engineering.

🏅 Awards and Honors

Although Guo Ang is at an early stage of his academic career, he is actively building a foundation for future recognition. He has been nominated for the Best Research Scholar Award, which acknowledges his potential and progress in ultrasonic-assisted composite layer manufacturing. While he has not yet received formal awards, his ongoing contributions have earned recognition within his academic community, particularly from his supervisor, Prof. Li Jinhua. The submission of his research manuscript to the Journal of Alloys and Compounds reflects growing scholarly engagement. His novel approach to analyzing the effect of ultrasonic frequencies on grain size has been commended for its originality and applicability in advanced surface engineering. These accomplishments, though in progress, indicate a promising future in scientific innovation. As his research matures and gains peer-reviewed publication status, Guo is expected to garner further accolades in the field of laser additive manufacturing and composite material engineering.

🔬 Research Focus

Guo Ang’s research is centered on ultrasound-assisted in-situ preparation of chromium carbide-reinforced nickel-based cladding layers, a promising domain within surface engineering and additive manufacturing. His work explores how varying ultrasonic frequencies influence microstructural characteristics—specifically grain size—during the cladding process. The core hypothesis challenges conventional assumptions by proposing that increased ultrasonic frequency results in finer grains, a finding with implications for coating durability and wear resistance. Guo also investigates the thermodynamic and metallurgical phenomena underlying particle dispersion and solidification behavior during laser cladding. This research integrates simulation and hands-on experimental design to validate theoretical models, providing a dual approach to innovation. In collaboration with Prof. Li Jinhua and his lab team, Guo is advancing methodologies that could be pivotal for industrial applications requiring high-performance, wear-resistant coatings. His broader interests include multifunctional field composite manufacturing and smart surface engineering, aiming to enhance mechanical properties and performance in real-world engineering environments.

✅ Conclusion

Guo Ang is an emerging scholar in mechanical engineering whose innovative research on ultrasonic-assisted cladding methods reflects both academic rigor and practical relevance, making him a strong candidate for the Best Research Scholar Award and a promising contributor to the future of advanced materials and manufacturing science.

Publications

  • Effect of Ultrasonic Vibration on Microstructure and Properties of Ni‐Based Cladding Layers Reinforced by Chromium Carbide In Situ Generated

    Advanced Engineering Materials
    2025-06-03 | Journal article
    DOI: 10.1002/adem.202500105
    Part of ISSN: 1438-1656
    Part of ISSN: 1527-2648
    CONTRIBUTORS: Jinhua Li; Ang Guo; Yongming Dong; Jincheng Song; Fangping ya

Han Xi | Problem Solving | Best Researcher Award

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Mr. Han Xi | Problem Solving | Best Researcher Award

Han Xi is a dedicated Lecturer at Huanghe Jiaotong University and a doctoral candidate in Traffic Engineering at Chongqing Jiaotong University (expected 2025), currently engaged in cutting-edge research on asphalt aging mechanisms and the development of anti-aging road materials. Since joining the academic faculty in 2020, Han has undertaken significant research, contributing to national-level projects such as the Henan Provincial Social Sciences Association Project. With published articles in reputed journals like Material Guide and Journal of Chongqing Jiaotong University, and patents addressing asphalt UV aging testing, Han’s work bridges theoretical innovation with practical engineering application. Passionate about infrastructure sustainability, she explores microstructural changes in asphalt due to UV exposure and seeks to enhance material performance through novel compositions. Her contributions extend to advancing scientific understanding and industrial applications in pavement material science. Han Xi exemplifies interdisciplinary innovation at the intersection of civil engineering and material science.

Profile

Education 🎓

Han Xi began her academic journey at Huanghe Jiaotong University in 2020 and was soon enrolled in the Contractual Doctoral Training Program in Traffic Engineering at Chongqing Jiaotong University in 2021. She is anticipated to complete her doctoral degree by June 2025. Her academic focus is on the intersection of materials science and transportation engineering, especially the impact of ultraviolet (UV) aging on asphalt materials. During her doctoral studies, Han has explored the structural and chemical evolution of asphalt subjected to environmental stressors, contributing to a deeper understanding of material degradation. She integrates theoretical analysis with experimental validation, utilizing advanced testing systems to study rheological and molecular transformations in aged road materials. Her educational path reflects a strong commitment to research excellence, practical innovation, and cross-disciplinary problem-solving, preparing her to address real-world engineering challenges with scientific rigor and methodological precision.

Experience 👨‍🏫

Since 2020, Han Xi has served as a Lecturer at Huanghe Jiaotong University, where she teaches and guides undergraduate students while actively conducting research in road materials engineering. Her experience includes managing a provincial research project and contributing to the design of experimental setups for asphalt aging analysis. Simultaneously, she has undertaken her PhD studies through a contractual training program at Chongqing Jiaotong University, balancing academic responsibilities with doctoral research. Han’s professional journey is marked by innovation, such as her development of patented UV aging testing devices for asphalt. She has presented and published scientific findings in peer-reviewed journals and engaged in collaborations that merge scientific inquiry with practical infrastructure solutions. Her dual roles in teaching and research have allowed her to inspire students while contributing significantly to advancements in road engineering, with a focus on environmental durability and material longevity

Research Interests 🔬

Han Xi’s research centers on the aging mechanisms of asphalt, particularly under ultraviolet (UV) radiation, with a goal of developing advanced, anti-aging road materials that improve pavement durability. She investigates the molecular structure changes, rheological behavior, and chemical transformations that occur during UV and coupled aging processes. Her work combines theoretical modeling with practical experimentation using custom-designed devices—evidenced by her two patented innovations—to simulate and measure asphalt degradation. Through her ongoing doctoral research at Chongqing Jiaotong University, Han examines the structure-activity relationship of aged asphalt and correlates macroscopic changes with microscopic composition. This research provides valuable insights for enhancing the lifespan of road infrastructure and supports the development of environmentally resilient transportation systems. Her scientific contributions aim to solve real-world problems in road engineering by integrating material science, environmental factors, and performance analytics into a unified research agenda focused on sustainable infrastructure.