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Dr Hongwei Zhang

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  4. Hongwei Zhang

Dr Hongwei Zhang BEng, MSc, PhD, CEng, MIET, FHEA

Co-Director (Academic), Advanced Food Innovation Centre (formerly NCEFE)

Summary

I am a Chartered Engineer, an active researcher, and an experienced academic leader with extensive expertise in advanced control, condition monitoring of complex processes, sustainable food processing, industrial automation, robotics systems, and the integration of AI and digital technologies into practical applications. Since joining Ï㽶ÊÓƵ in 2007, I have held several key leadership roles, including Deputy Head and Interim Head of the Department of Engineering and Mathematics. Currently, as Co-Director (Academic) at the Advanced Food Innovation Centre (AFIC), I am dedicated to driving research excellence and developing innovative solutions for the food and drink industry.

Hongwei Zhang

About

I obtained my BEng in Automatic Control, MSc in Control Engineering, and first PhD in Aerospace Engineering from Harbin Institute of Technology, China, followed by a second PhD in Control Engineering from the University of Manchester.

Since joining Ï㽶ÊÓƵ in 2007, I have held several key leadership roles, including Deputy Head and Interim Head of the Department of Engineering and Mathematics, and I currently serve as the Co-Director (Academic) at the Advanced Food Innovation Centre (AFIC), formerly known as the National Centre of Excellence for Food Engineering (NCEFE).

I am a Chartered Engineer and a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. My career is distinguished by a deep commitment to academic leadership and pioneering research, with a focus on advanced control systems, condition monitoring, sustainable food processing, industrial automation, robotics, and integrating AI and digital technologies. In my role at AFIC, I lead initiatives to promote research excellence and develop innovative solutions that significantly enhance the sustainability and efficiency of the food and drink industry, effectively bridging the gap between academia and industry applications.

Areas of Interest:
- Advanced Process Control
- Condition Monitoring
- Industrial Automation and Robotics
- Industry 4.0
- Artificial Intelligence

Teaching

School of Engineering and Built Environment

College of Business, Technology and Engineering

Power, Electrical and Control Engineering Subject Group

MSc Automation, Control and Robotics
BEng/MEng (Hons) Electrical and Electronic Engineering

Control of Linear Systems
Control Systems and Their Applications

Ï㽶ÊÓƵ

Current Projects

  1. Advanced Continuous Flow Ohmic Heating for Solid-Liquid Foods: Balancing Quality, Safety, Sustainability, and Intelligent Process Control, Funder: Innovate UK, 2023-2025, PI, Total Funding: £325K.
  2. Delivering Sustainable Food Systems in Theme 2 'Food Systems & Environmental Restoration' of the South Yorkshire Sustainability Centre (SYSC), Funder: Ï㽶ÊÓƵ England, 2022-2026, PI (SHU), Total Funding: £747K.
  3. Ohmic Heating Net-Zero Solution Enhancement (SYSC Strategic Capital Funds), Funder: Ï㽶ÊÓƵ England, 2023-2024, PI, Total Funding: £54K.
  4. Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) with Penny Hydraulics Limited, Funder: Innovate UK, 2024-2026, Lead Academic, Total Funding: £206K.
  5. NEXTGen Rice Integrity: AI-Driven Milling Control and Quality Assurance, Funder: Innovate UK, 2024-2025, Co-I, Total Funding: £50K.
  6. Darnall Community Playground Garden Project, Funder: SHU Ï㽶ÊÓƵ and Innovation Fund, 2023-2024, Co-I, Total Funding: £50K.

Selection of Past Funded Projects

  1. Improving sustainability in food processing using Moderate Electric Fields (MEF) for process intensification and smart processing (MEFPROC), Funder: SUSFOOD2 - A Horizon 2020 ERA-NET Cofund, 2018 – 2022, PI for UK/SHU, Total Funding: €1.353M (with £100K to SHU).
  2. Driving the electric revolution – building talent for the future, Funder: Innovate UK, 2022, Co-I, Total Funding: £25K.
  3. Smart Power and Energy Management, Funder: SETsquared: ICURe (Innovation to Commercialisation of University Ï㽶ÊÓƵ programme), 2022, PI, Total Funding: £12.5K.
  4. Optimal Flexibility Resource Management - Generating Optimal Flexibility Exchange Strategies to Enable High Renewable, Net Zero Electrical networks and Energy Cost Reduction, Funder: ICURe (Innovation to Commercialisation of University Ï㽶ÊÓƵ programme) Sprint: Energy & Environment Technologies, 2021, PI, Total Funding: £19.5K.
  5. Development of embedded bespoke manufacturing processes to produce high volumes of high value advanced food products, Funder: KTP with World Feeds Ltd, 2017 – 2019, PI as Academic Supervisor, Total Funding: £133K.
  6. Effective milk processing with variable composition, Funder: Innovate UK, 2015 – 2018, Co-I, Total Funding: approx. £784K (with approx. £300K to SHU).

Collaborators and Sponsors

  • Innovate UK
  • Ï㽶ÊÓƵ England
  • South Yorkshire Sustainability Centre (SYSC)
  • DEFRA
  • Premier Foods
  • Koolmill
  • Ohm-E Technology
  • Nestlé UK & Ireland
  • World Feeds Ltd
  • United Utilities
  • Festo Didactic

Publications

Journal articles

Rashvand, M., Paterna, G., Laveglia, S., Zhang, H., Shenfield, A., Gioia, T., ... Genovese, F. (2025). . Journal of Food Composition and Analysis, 142.

Rashvand, M., Kazemi, A., Nikzadfar, M., Javed, T., Luke, L.P., Kjær, K.M., ... Zhang, H. (2025). . Food and Bioprocess Technology.

Rashvand, M., Ren, Y., Sun, D.-.W., Senge, J., Krupitzer, C., Fadiji, T., ... Zhang, H. (2025). . Trends in Food Science & Technology, 159.

Portsmouth, B., Shenfield, A., Zhang, H., Johnston, A., & Limb, J. (2024). . Food Science and Technology, 38 (4), 32-35.

Cui, X., Adebayo, D., Zhang, H., Howarth, M., Anderson, A., Olopade, T., ... Farooq, S. (2024). . Frontiers in Food Science and Technology, 4.

Nikzadfar, M., Rashvand, M., Zhang, H., Shenfield, A., Genovese, F., Altieri, G., ... Di Renzo, G.C. (2024). . Applied Sciences, 14 (21).

Javed, T., Oluwole-Ojo, O.N., Howarth, M., Xu, X., Rashvand, M., & Zhang, H. (2024). . Applied Sciences, 14 (19).

Javed, T., Oluwole-ojo, O., Zhang, H., Akmal, M., Breikin, T., & O’Brien, A. (2024). . Food and Bioprocess Technology, 18, 2195-2217.

Rashvand, M., Nadimi, M., Paliwal, J., Zhang, H., & Feyissa, A.H. (2024). . Applied Sciences, 14 (17).

Oluwole-Ojo, O.N., Javed, T., Howarth, M., Xu, X., O’Brien, A., & Zhang, H. (2024). . Modelling, 5 (3), 752-775.

O’Brien, A., Zhang, H., Allwood, D.M., & Rawsthorne, A. (2024). . Modelling, 5 (1), 201-222.

Oluwole-Ojo, O.N., Zhang, H., Howarth, M., & Xu, X. (2023). . Energies, 16 (2).

Meng, Q., Zhang, H., & Howarth, M. (2022). . International Journal of Modelling, Identification and Control, 40 (1), 27-35.

Ding, Y., Chen, Z., Zhang, H., Wang, X., & Guo, Y. (2022). . Renewable Energy, 189, 188-198.

Kokkrathoke, S., Rawsthorne, A., Zhang, H., & Xu, X. (2022). . International Journal of Modelling, Identification and Control, 38 (2), 175-189.

Oluwole-Ojo, O., Zhang, H., Howarth, M., & Xu, X. (2021). . Modelling, 2 (4), 641-658.

Zhang, H., Mohamed, A., Breikin, T., & Howarth, M. (2021). . Open Journal of Modelling and Simulation, 9 (1), 26-42.

Saleh, I., Ali, R., & Zhang, H. (2018). . Journal of Materials Science and Chemical Engineering, 6 (4), 202-218.

Saleh, I.M., Ali, R., & Zhang, H. (2018). . Energy and Power Engineering, 10 (03), 87-105.

Ding, Y., Zhu, C., & Zhang, H. (2017). . Paiguan Jixie Gongcheng Xuebao/Journal of Drainage and Irrigation Machinery Engineering, 35 (9), 774-779.

Saleh, I.M.M., Ali, R., & Zhang, H. (2016). . Journal of Modern Power Systems and Clean Energy, 4 (4), 668-679.

Zhang, H. (2008). . International Journal of Engineering Systems Modelling and Simulation, 1 (1), 63-68.

Zhang, H., Klaveness, B., & Vagapov, Y. (2006). . World Journal of Engineering, 3 (4), 1-8.

Zhang, H., Lian, Z., Yan, K., Sun, Y., Yuan, J., & Zhang, Z. (2006). . Energy Policy, 34 (17), 3359-3364.

Zhang, H. (2005). Controller Performance Monitoring of Batch/Fed-batch Fermentation Processes using Multivariate Statistical Process Control Methods. World Journal of Engineering, 2 (2), 70-80.

Lennox, B., Zhang, H., Lovett, D., & Sandoz, D. (2004). . Computing and Control Engineering Journal, 15 (1), 32-37.

Zhang, H., & Lennox, B. (2004). . Journal of Process Control, 14 (1), 41-50.

Zhang, H., & Lennox, B. (2003). . Transactions of the Institute of Measurement and Control, 25 (5), 403-417.

Zhang, H., Lennox, B., Goulding, P.R., & Leung, A.Y.T. (2000). . Smart Materials and Structures, 9 (4), 552-557.

Zhang, H., Zhang, T., Xu, S., & Huang, W. (2000). Real-coded Genetic Algorithm for Optimal Vibration Control of Flexible Structure. Journal of Harbin Institute of Technology (New Series), 2000 (3), 27-31.

Zhang, H., Mu, Q., Xu, S., & Huang, W. (2000). Finite Element Modeling and Feedback Control of Piezoelectric Smart Structures. Journal of Harbin Institute of Technology (English Edition), 2000 (1), 6-10.

Zhang, H., Xu, S., & Huang, W. (1999). Global Optimization of Actuators/Sensors Placement Using A Float-Encoding Genetic Algorithm (Published in Chinese). Zhendong Gongcheng Xuebao/Journal of Vibration Engineering, 12 (4), 93-98.

Zhang, H., Xu, S., & Huang, W. (1999). Optimal Vibration Control Design of Piezoelectric Smart Structures Using a Float-Encoding Hybrid Genetic Algorithm (Published in Chinese). Zhendong yu Chongji/Journal of Vibration and Shock, 18 (4), 121-126.

Zhang, H., Huang, W., Xu, S., & Zheng, G. (1997). Tendency of the Integrated Passive-Active Vibration Control Strategy for Space Structures (Published in Chinese). Zhendong Gongcheng Xuebao/Journal of Vibration Engineering, 1 (1), 128-134.

Zhang, H., Li, D., Guo, S., & Tian, Z. (1996). The Design and Implementation of a Real-time Automatic Testing System for PIGA (Published in Chinese). Journal of China Inertia Technology, 4 (4), 40-43.

Zhang, H., Guo, S., Li, D., & Tian, Z. (1996). Ï㽶ÊÓƵ of the Data Processing Method in Two-Axis Servo Drift Testing. Journal of Harbin Institute of Technology (English Edition), 2 (1), 34-37.

Zhang, H., & Li, D. (1995). A New D-Optimal Design Scheme for the Identification of a Cubic Polynomial. Journal of Harbin Institute of Technology (English Edition), 1 (4), 24-27.

Saad, S., BAHADORI, R., Bhovar, C., & Zhang, H. (n.d.). . International Journal of Lean Six Sigma.

Javed, T., Akmal, M., Breikin, T., & Zhang, H. (n.d.). . International Journal of Modelling and Simulation.

Conference papers

Yubonbanditkun, P., Tristano, M., Righetti, G., Zhang, H., Lenzo, B., & Xu, X. (2024). Nonlinear Concurrent Control of Yaw and Lateral Dynamics of Electric Vehicles. In Lecture Notes in Mechanical Engineering, (pp. 643-652). Springer Nature Switzerland:

Saad, S.M., Ubeywarna, D., & Zhang, H. (2024). . Procedia Computer Science, 232, 3206-3215.

Saad, S., Ubeywarna, D., & Zhang, H. (2023). . Advances in Transdisciplinary Engineering, 132-137.

Saad, S.M., Bahadori, R., Zhang, H., & Albaqami, A. (2021). . In ICMR2021: 18th International Conference on Manufacturing Ï㽶ÊÓƵ, Virtual, 7 September 2021 - 9 September 2021 (pp. 368-373). IOS Press:

Saad, S., Bhovar, C., Bahadori, R., & Zhang, H. (2021). . In ICMR2021: 18th International Conference on Manufacturing Ï㽶ÊÓƵ, University of Derby, UK, 7 September 2021 - 9 September 2021 (pp. 341-346). IOS press:

Meng, Q., Zhang, H., & Howarth, M. (2019). . 2019 International Conference on Artificial Intelligence, Control and Automation Engineering (AICAE 2019).

Haire, M., Xu, X., Alboul, L., Penders, J., & Zhang, H. (2019). . ECMR 2019 (European Conference on Mobile Robotics).

Haire, M., Xu, X., Alboul, L., Penders, J., & Zhang, H. (2019). . 2019 IEEE International Symposium on Safety, Security, and Rescue Robotics (SSRR).

Kalashnikov, A., Zhang, H., & Abramiuk, M. (2018). . PROCEEDINGS OF THE VI INTERNATIONAL SCIENTIFIC CONFERENCE ADVANCED INFORMATION SYSTEMS AND TECHNOLOGIES AIST-2018, 81-84.

Kalashnikov, A., Zhang, H., Jennings, J., & Abramriuk, M.-.M. (2017). . In Comparison of the responsiveness of ultrasonic oscillating temperature sensors (UOTSes) and conventional sensors to temperature inflection points, (pp. 43-46). Springer:

Butler, D., & Zhang, H. (2012). . In Proceedings of 2012 UKACC International Conference on Control, (pp. 281-285). IEEE:

Zhang, H., Zhang, Z., & Lan, L.H. (2010). . In 2010 International Symposium on Computer, Communication, Control and Automation, Tainan, 5 May 2010 - 7 May 2010 (pp. 403).

Lan, L.H., & Zhang, H. (2010). . In 2010 International Symposium on Computer, Communication, Control and Automation, 3CA 2010, Tainan, 5 May 2010 - 7 May 2010 (pp. 318).

Zhang, H. (2008). . In Proceedings of the UKACC International Conference on Control 2008. University of Manchester:

Zhang, H., & Vagapov, Y. (2006). . In 2006 IEEE International Conference on Electro/Information Technology, (pp. 564-568). IEEE:

Belloc, C., Zhang, H., Vagapov, Y., & Moreno, P. (2006). . In 2006 IEEE International Conference on Electro/Information Technology, (pp. 109-112). IEEE:

Katawaluwa, M., Zhang, H., Vagapov, Y., & Evans, J. (2006). . In 2006 IEEE International Conference on Electro/Information Technology, (pp. 479-482). IEEE:

Zhang, H., Zouaoui, Z., & Lennox, B. (2005). . IFAC Proceedings Volumes, 38 (1), 55-60.

Zhang, H., & Lennox, B. (2003). Fault detection and isolation in a FED-batch penicillin fermentation process. 2003 European Control Conference (ECC), 1670-1675.

Zhang, H., Lennox, B., Goulding, P.R., & Wang, Y. (2002). ADAPTIVE INFORMATION SHARING FACTORS IN FEDERATED KALMAN FILTERING. IFAC Proceedings Volumes, 35 (1), 79-84.

Zhang, H., Xu, S., Zheng, G., & Huang, W. (1998). Mixed Sensitivity H-infinity Design for Vibration Control of Piezoelectric Smart Beam. In International Conference of Vibration Engineering, Dalian, China. Journal of Vibration Engineering

Book chapters

Xu, X., Zhang, H., & Carbone, G. (2017). . In Boubaker, O., & Iriarte, R. (Eds.) The inverted pendulum in control theory and robotics. From theory to new innovations. (pp. 225-262). London: IET:

Zhang, H. (2009). . In Nicoletti, M.D.C., & Jain, L.C. (Eds.) Computational Intelligence Techniques for Bioprocess Modelling, Supervision and Control. (pp. 25-56). Springer-Verlag:

Books

Atkinson, P. (Ed.). (2012). . Sheffield: Northend Creative Print Solutions.

Reports

Smith, D., Woodroofe, N., Little, L., Slay, O., Handforth, R., Beckingham, S., ... Ludwig, F. (2019). . Ï㽶ÊÓƵ.

Zhang, H., Saad, S., & Jon, M. (2018). . Ï㽶ÊÓƵ and SSG Insight.

Theses / Dissertations

Alblooshi, K.M. (2024). . (Doctoral thesis). Supervised by Zhang, H.

Alhashmi, S.H.M.F. (2024). . (Doctoral thesis). Supervised by Zhang, H.

Alhashmi, S.H.M.F. (2024). . (Doctoral thesis). Supervised by Zhang, H.

Alblooshi, K.M. (2024). . (Doctoral thesis). Supervised by Zhang, H.

Oluwole-Ojo, O. (2023). . (Doctoral thesis). Supervised by Zhang, H.

Oluwole-Ojo, O. (2023). . (Doctoral thesis). Supervised by Zhang, H.

Alshamsi, O.M.A. (2022). . (Doctoral thesis). Supervised by Zhang, H.

Alshamsi, O.M.A. (2022). . (Doctoral thesis). Supervised by Zhang, H.

Mestiyage Don, R. (2021). . (Doctoral thesis). Supervised by Zhang, H., & Perera, T.

Mestiyage Don, R. (2021). . (Doctoral thesis). Supervised by Zhang, H., & Perera, T.

Haire, M.S. (2021). . (Doctoral thesis). Supervised by Xu, X.

Haire, M.S. (2021). . (Doctoral thesis). Supervised by Xu, X.

Meng, Q. (2020). . (Doctoral thesis). Supervised by Zhang, H., & Halliday, I.

Meng, Q. (2020). . (Doctoral thesis). Supervised by Zhang, H., & Halliday, I.

Po-Lynn, E. (2019). . (Doctoral thesis). Supervised by Perera, T.

Po-Lynn, E. (2019). . (Doctoral thesis). Supervised by Perera, T.

Elberegli, M.A. (2018). . (Doctoral thesis). Supervised by Perera, T.

Elberegli, M.A. (2018). . (Doctoral thesis). Supervised by Perera, T.

Bahadori, R. (2018). . (Doctoral thesis). Supervised by Saad, S.

Bahadori, R. (2018). . (Doctoral thesis). Supervised by Saad, S.

Khamkham, M. (2017). . (Doctoral thesis). Supervised by Saad, S.

Elsaghier, E.H. (2017). . (Doctoral thesis). Supervised by Saad, S.

Khamkham, M. (2017). . (Doctoral thesis). Supervised by Saad, S.

Elsaghier, E.H. (2017). . (Doctoral thesis). Supervised by Saad, S.

Mohamed, A.M.A. (2016). . (Doctoral thesis). Supervised by Saad, S.

Salah, I.M.M. (2015). . (Doctoral thesis). Supervised by Ali, R., & Zhang, H.

Al Afifi, M.N.A. (2015). . (Doctoral thesis). Supervised by Saad, S.

Presentations

Zhang, H., Oluwole-Ojo, O.N., Howarth, M., & Xu, X. (2022). . Presented at: The 15th Conference of Food Engineering, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA, 2022

Zhang, H., Oluwole-Ojo, O.N., Howarth, M., & Xu, X. (2022). . Presented at: The 15th Conference of Food Engineering, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA, 2022

Other activities

IET Academic Accreditor

Member-at-Large, Executive Committee, Society of Food Engineering (SoFE)

Editorial Board Member and Guest Editor:

  • Editorial Board Member, CABI Food Science and Nutrition Cases
  • Editorial Board Member, International Journal of Modelling, Identification and Control
  • Editorial Board Member, International Journal of Engineering Systems Modelling and Simulation
  • Guest Editor, Processes for the special issue "Machine Learning-Based Intelligent Industry 4.0 Control Systems for Manufacturing"
  • Guest Editor, Frontiers in Food Science and Technology for the special issue "Modelling and Simulation of Novel Food Processing Technologies"
  • Guest Editor, Energies for the special issues "Digital Twins, Industry 4.0 and Energy Management" and "Internet of Things, Edge Computing, and Artificial Intelligence for Smart Grid"

Reviewer:

  • Reviewer, IEEE Transactions on Control Systems Technology, Journal of Process Control, Neurocomputing, Chemical Engineering Science, International Journal of Systems Science, MDPI journals
  • Reviewer for Grants and Fellowships for EPSRC, Innovate UK
  • Book Reviewer, Pearson, Newnes, Routledge

Postgraduate supervision

I have a successful track record in PhD supervision, having supervised/co-supervised 19 PhD students to completion and currently overseeing 9 PhD students and 1 MPhil student, serving as Director of Studies (DoS) for 4 of these PhD students. My current students are listed below:

  • Alexander O’Brien - Advanced Real-Time Control and Optimisation of Mixed-Culture Beer Fermentation
  • Tasmiyah Javed - Model-Based Control and Optimisation of MEF Electrified Processing to Decarbonise Food Manufacturing
  • Benjamin Maduka Ilo - Application of AI and Industry 4.0 Technologies for Fault Detection and Diagnosis
  • Leo Pappukutty Luke - From Laboratory to Industrial Scale - Model-Based MEF Processing to Decarbonise Food Manufacturing
  • Olamilekan Saheed Shobayo - Artificial Intelligence Techniques Development for Infra-Red Imaging Based Bone Fracture Screening
  • Dasunika Madhuhansi Ubeywarna - Dynamic Reconfiguration of the Supply Chain for Risk Management in the Digital Era
  • Somayeh Hatami - Development of a Sustainable Supply Chain Model within the Food Industry Regarding Outsourcing Performance Measures
  • Parichat Yubonbanditkun - Nonlinear Optimal Control of Yaw and Lateral Dynamics of Electric Vehicles
  • Syed Haseeb Haider Zaidi - Machine Learning for Fault and Anomaly Detection in Food and Drink Manufacturing
  • Dan Rippon - Development of Inline Sampling Techniques for Quality Assessment in Rice Milling

Additionally, I am line managing the following researchers:

  • Dr Mahdi Rashvand
  • Aida Daei
  • Donya Asgharzadeh

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