Wei Zhao (computer scientist)
Wei Zhao is a computer scientist and academic administrator specializing in real-time systems, cyber-physical systems, and distributed computing. He has held significant leadership positions in higher education, focusing on international collaboration and research advancement.
Dr. Zhao received his Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering from Shaanxi Mechanical Engineering Institute (now known as Xi'an University of Technology) in China. He subsequently earned his Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy degrees in computer and information sciences from the University of Massachusetts Amherst.
Throughout his career, Dr. Zhao has made significant contributions to the field of real-time systems. His research has focused on scheduling algorithms, resource allocation, and fault tolerance in time-critical applications. He has also been involved in research related to cyber-physical systems, exploring the integration of computation, communication, and control in physical systems. Furthermore, he has worked on distributed computing problems, addressing issues such as data consistency, fault tolerance, and scalability in distributed environments.
Prior to holding administrative roles, Dr. Zhao served as a faculty member at Texas A&M University. He then joined the National Science Foundation (NSF) as a program director in the Division of Computer and Network Systems, where he managed research grants and initiatives in various areas of computer science.
Dr. Zhao has held several prominent leadership positions in higher education. He served as Dean of the School of Science and Engineering at Southern University of Science and Technology (SUSTech) in Shenzhen, China. He also served as the Rector (President) of the University of Macau. In these roles, he has been instrumental in developing academic programs, fostering research collaborations, and promoting international partnerships. His leadership has aimed to elevate the standing of these institutions in the global academic community.