Dr. Fan Li | Engineering | Research Excellence Award

Senior Engineer | Shandong Hi-Speed Group Innovation Research Institute | China

Dr. Fan Li is a researcher in underground engineering with expertise in the stability of surrounding rock in deep caverns and tunnels. Holding a Ph.D. in engineering, his work focuses on failure mechanisms, particularly splitting failure in high sidewall caverns under complex stress conditions. He applies experimental methods, physical modeling, and numerical simulation to analyze rock behavior and support systems. His contributions enhance understanding of failure mode transformation, anchoring effects, and lining–rock interaction. With 11 publications, 91 citations, 11 documents, and an h-index of 5, his research supports safer and more efficient geotechnical and underground engineering practices.

Featured Publications

Experimental and numerical simulation study on failure mode transformation in deep high sidewall cavern

– Sustainability

Failure Mechanism and Numerical Simulation of Splitting Failure for Deep High Sidewall Cavern under High In-suit Stress

– Sustainable Futures

A Large-Scale Three-Dimensional Apparatus to Study Failure Mechanisms of Rockfalls in Underground Engineering Contexts

– Journal of Thoracic Disease

Investigating the mechanism of splitting failure in deep high sidewall cavern based on complex function and strain gradient

– BMC Medicine

Luminous and bonding performance of self-luminescent cementitious coatings based on white cement and geopolymer

– Journal of Thoracic Disease

Dong-Bin Kwak | Mechanical Engineering | Best Researcher Award

Assist. Prof. Dr Dong-Bin Kwak, Seoul National University of Science and Technology, South Korea

Assist. Prof. Dr. Dong-Bin Kwak 🎓🔬 is a dedicated mechanical engineer specializing in nanoparticle engineering and filtration systems. He earned his Ph.D. from the University of Minnesota 🏫 (2017-2023) and his B.Sc. summa cum laude 🎖️ from Hanyang University (2011-2017). Currently, he is an Assistant Professor at Seoul National University of Science and Technology 📚, leading the Nanoparticle Engineering Laboratory. His cutting-edge research focuses on air filtration, hydrosol measurements, and heat sink optimization 💨⚙️. Dr. Kwak is a recipient of the Young Scientist Award 🏆 and the AFS Fellowship. He has authored impactful publications and delivered numerous invited talks globally 🌍.

Publication Profile

google scholar

Education

Assist. Prof. Dr. Dong-Bin Kwak is an accomplished mechanical engineer with an impressive academic journey 📚. He earned his Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, USA (Sep. 2017 – Jan. 2023) 🌏🔧. Prior to this, he completed his Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering with summa cum laude honors at Hanyang University, Seoul, Korea (Mar. 2011 – Feb. 2017) 🌟💼. His dedication to excellence and innovation has marked his academic and professional endeavors 💡. With expertise in mechanical engineering and a global education, Dr. Kwak continues to make impactful contributions to the field 🛠️📈.

Research and Project Experience

Assist. Prof. Dr. Dong-Bin Kwak is an esteemed Assistant Professor at Seoul National University of Science and Technology, leading the Nanoparticle Engineering Laboratory (NEL) 🎓. His research spans air filtration systems 💨, CMP-slurry filtration 🌎, and nanoparticle measurement 🔢, supported by LG and Samsung Electronics. Dr. Kwak optimizes filtration efficiency under varying humidity 🌪 and temperature ☀️ and pioneers AI-based heat sink designs 🧮. With expertise from roles at Onto Innovation 🌟 and the University of Minnesota, he advanced automated optical inspection 👁️ and contamination control 💧. His work also explores COVID-19 ventilation optimization 🦠 and electrospun nanofiber filtration. Dr. Kwak is a trailblazer in environmental and thermal engineering 🏫🔄.

Awards

Assist. Prof. Dr. Dong-Bin has earned numerous prestigious accolades 🏆 throughout his academic and professional journey. He received the Young Scientist Award from KSMPE in Dec. 2024 🧪 and the AFS Fellowship twice (2019, 2023) 🌍. Notably, he was honored with the Mechanical Engineering Fellowship and Honorary Hanyang Study Abroad Scholarship (2017-2018) 📚. His excellence began early, winning the National Engineering Fully Funded Scholarship (2011-2017) 🛠️ and multiple awards at Hanyang University, including the President’s List Scholarship 🥇. His achievements span Best Design 🏅, Capstone Chief Award 🎓, and Excellence Awards in competitions 🏗️. He also received the Best Tutor Award for Engineering Mathematics 📐.

Collaborations & Teaching 📚

Assist. Prof. Dr. Dong-Bin Kwak fosters innovation through impactful collaborations with industry giants like Samsung and LG 🤝💡. His commitment to nurturing future leaders is evident through his mentorship of undergraduate students 🎓✨. Dr. Kwak has shared his expertise as a professor at Seoul National University of Science and Technology 🏫🇰🇷 and as a course instructor at the University of Minnesota 📚🇺🇸. These roles highlight his dedication to academic growth and knowledge dissemination 📖🧑‍🏫. By bridging academia and industry, Dr. Kwak continues to drive technological advancements and inspire the next generation of innovators 🚀🔬.

Research Focus

Assist. Prof. Dr. Dong-Bin Kwak’s research focuses on thermal management systems, nanoparticle behavior, and nanofiber filtration technology 🔬🌡️. His studies include improving nanofiber filter performance 🧵🔍, modeling inverse heat conduction for irregular structures 🏗️🔥, and optimizing radial heat sinks with triangular fins for efficient cooling 🌀❄️. Dr. Kwak also investigates nanoparticle transport, deposition, and pressure drop across sharp-bent tubes and membranes, contributing to filtration efficiency and thermal sciences 🧪📊. His interdisciplinary work advances air quality, heat transfer, and filtration systems, addressing real-world challenges in energy and environmental engineering 🌍⚙️. His findings aid in optimizing industrial systems and cutting-edge filtration technologies 🏭✨.