Xianlian Zhou
Associate Professor, Bio Medical Engineering
- alexzhou@njit.edu
- 973-596-6940
- 614 Fenster Hall (FENS)
About Me
Dr. Zhou is an Associate Professor and Director of the BioDynamics Lab in the Department of Biomedical Engineering at New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT). His research focuses on computational biomechanics, human modeling and simulation, robotics, injury prevention, and personalized medicine. Before joining NJIT, Dr. Zhou worked at CFD Research Corporation over 10 years, where he was a principal research scientist and manager of the Human Performance and Biodynamics group. In the past, Dr. Zhou have developed advanced computational models to simulate and analyze in vivo biomechanical forces on tissues, including muscles, bones, discs, lung, vessels and neurons, under injury and disease conditions such as blast, blunt, and shock impacts. He also helped to evaluate different protective or performance enhancement systems for warfighters such as advanced helmet and body armor systems and wearable assistive devices such as exoskeletons. The modeling tools and software Dr. Zhou developed have been used by U.S. Department of Defense organizations such as the Army Public Health Center, U.S. Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine, and the Naval Air Systems Command, among others. While earning a Ph.D. in mechanical engineering from the University of Iowa, Zhou worked on the Virtual Soldier Research (VSR) program sponsored by the U.S. Army to develop a new generation of digital humans to design safety and ergonomics technologies.
Education
Ph.D.; University of Iowa; Mechanical Engineering; 2007
M.E.; Shanghai Jiao Tong University; Mechanical Engineering; 2003
B.Eng.; Shanghai Jiao Tong University; Engineering Mechanics; 2000
Awards & Honors
2022 Best Paper Award, 7th International Digital Human Modeling Symposium
Website
2026 Fall Courses
BME 700B - MASTER'S PROJECT
BME 491 - RESEARCH & INDEPENDENT STUDY I
BME 701C - MASTER'S THESIS
BME 676 - COMPUTATIONAL BIOMECHANICS
BME 725 - INDEPENDENT STUDY
BME 492 - RESEARCH & INDPNDNT STUDY II
BME 792 - PRE-DOCTORAL RESEARCH
BME 701B - MASTER'S THESIS
BME 790A - DOCTORAL DISSERTATION
BME 726 - INDEPENDENT STUDY II
Teaching Interests
Advanced Mechanics for Biomedical Engineering;
Computational Biomechanics;
Tissue Biomechanics;
Human-Robot Interaction.
Computational Biomechanics;
Tissue Biomechanics;
Human-Robot Interaction.
Past Courses
BME 321: ADV MECHANICS FOR BIOMED ENGR
BME 478: INTRODUCTION TO CAD FOR BIOMECHANICS
BME 601: SEMINAR
BME 601: SEMINAR BIOMEDICAL ENGR
BME 676: COMPUTATIONAL BIOMECHANICS
BME 791: GRADUATE SEMINAR
Research Interests
My research interests are computational biomechanics and bioengineering, digital human modeling, and personalized medicine, specifically including musculoskeletal biomechanics, soft tissue biomechanics, tissue fatigue, injury, and recovery, and system-level human modeling and simulation. My current and future research aim to develop advanced computational methods and frameworks to simulate and analyze biomechanical loadings in biosystems under injury or disease conditions, to develop protection or preventive measures against injuries or diseases, to design and evaluate wearable assistive devices, and to study interaction and collaboration between human and machines or robots.
Conference Paper
"Predicting Metabolic Rate for Firefighting Activities with Worn Loads using a Heart Rate Sensor and Machine Learning"
2023 IEEE 19th International Conference on Body Sensor Networks (BSN) , October (4th Quarter/Autumn), 2023.
2023 IEEE 19th International Conference on Body Sensor Networks (BSN) , October (4th Quarter/Autumn), 2023.
"State-Space Characterization of Human Balance Through a Reinforcement Learning Based Muscle Controller"
ASME 2023 International Design Engineering Technical Conferences and Computers and Information in Engineering Conference. , August, 2023.
ASME 2023 International Design Engineering Technical Conferences and Computers and Information in Engineering Conference. , August, 2023.
Journal Article
Shuzhen Luo, Ghaith Androw, Sergei Adamovich, Hao Su, Erick Nunez, Xianlian A. Zhou. 2023. "Robust Walking Control of a Lower Limb Rehabilitation Exoskeleton Coupled with a Musculoskeletal Model via Deep Reinforcement Learning." Journal of NeuroEngineering and Rehabilitation, vol. 20, no. 34, pp. 19.
Shuangyue Yu, Jianfu Yang, Tzu-Hao Huang, Junix Zhu, Christopher Visco, Farah Hameed, Joel Stein, Xianlian A. Zhou, Hao Su. 2023. "Artificial Neural Network-Based Activities Classification, Gait Phase Estimation, and Prediction." Annals of Biomedical Engineering, vol. 51, no. 7, pp. 1471-1484.
Ravishekar Kannan, Narender Singh, Andrzej Przekwas, Xianlian A. Zhou, Ross Walenga, Andrew Babiskin. 2021. "A Quasi-3D Model of the Whole Lung: Airway Extension to the Tracheobronchial Limit using the Constrained Constructive Optimization and Alveolar Modelling, using a Sac-Trumpet Model." Journal of Computational Design and Engineering, vol. 8, no. 2, pp. 691–704.
Nathan Pickle, Timothy Zehnbauer, Vincent Harrand, Gary Zientara, Xianlian A. Zhou, Paulien Roos. 2021. "Automated Medical Avatar Animation for Warfighter Mission Simulation." Journal of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery, vol. 91, no. 25, pp. S107--S112.
Xianlian A. Zhou, Xinyu Chen. 2021. "Design and Evaluation of Torque Compensation Controllers for a Lower Extremity Exoskeleto." Journal of Biomechanical Engineering, vol. 143, no. 1, pp. 011007 (11 pages).
Teseo Schneider, Daniele Panozzo, Xianlian A. Zhou. 2021. "Isogeometric high order mesh generation." Computer Methods in Applied Mechanics and Engineering, vol. 386.
Xianlian A. Zhou, Liying Zheng. 2021. "Model-based Comparison of Passive and Active Assistance Designs in an Occupational Upper Limb Exoskeleton for Overhead Lifting." IISE Transactions on Occupational Ergonomics and Human Factors.
Shuzhen Luo, Ghaith Androwis, Sergei Adamovich, Hao Su, Erick Nunez, Xianlian A. Zhou. 2021. "Reinforcement Learning and Control of a Lower Extremity Exoskeleton for Squat Assistance." Frontiers in Robotics and AI, vol. 8.
Paulien E Roos, Anita Vasavada, Liying Zheng, Xianlian A. Zhou. 2020. "Neck musculoskeletal model generation through anthropometric scaling." PloS one, vol. 15, no. 1.
Xuan Liu, Basil Hubbi, Xianlian A. Zhou. 2019. "Spatial coordinate corrected motion tracking for optical coherence elastography." Biomedical Optics Express, vol. 10, no. 12, pp. 6160-6171.
Xiaolong Yang, Tzu-Hao Huang, Hang Hu, Shuangyue Yu, Sainan Zhang, Xianlian A. Zhou, Alessandra Carriero, Guang Yue, Hao Su. 2019. "Spine-Inspired Continuum Soft Exoskeleton for Stoop Lifting Assistance." IEEE Robotics and Automation Letters, vol. 4, no. 4, pp. 4547-4554.
Shruti Motiwale, Adhitya Subramani, Reuben H Kraft, Xianlian A. Zhou. 2018. "A non-linear multiaxial fatigue damage model for the cervical intervertebral disc annulus." Advances in Mechanical Engineering, vol. 10, no. 6, pp. 1-16.
Xianlian A. Zhou, Kay Sun, P Roos, Peng Li, Brian Corner. 2016. "Anthropometry model generation based on ANSUR II database." Int. J. Digit. Hum, vol. 1, no. 4, pp. 321--343.
Salvador Dura-Bernal, Xianlian A. Zhou, Samuel A Neymotin, Andrzej Przekwas, Joseph T Francis, William W Lytton. 2015. "Cortical spiking network interfaced with virtual musculoskeletal arm and robotic arm." Frontiers in neurorobotics, vol. 9, pp. 13.
Xianlian A. Zhou, Phillip Whitley, Andrzej Przekwas. 2014. "A musculoskeletal fatigue model for prediction of aviator neck manoeuvring loadings." Int. J. Hum. Factors Model. Simul, vol. 4, no. 3/4, pp. 191--219.
Xianlian A. Zhou, Andrzej Przekwas. 2011. "A fast and robust whole-body control algorithm for running." International journal of human factors modelling and simulation, vol. 2, no. 1-2, pp. 127--148.
Jia Lu, Xianlian A. Zhou. 2011. "Cylindrical element: Isogeometric model of continuum rod." Computer Methods in Applied Mechanics and Engineering, vol. 200, no. 1-4, pp. 233--241.
Xianlian A. Zhou, Madhavan L Raghavan, Robert E Harbaugh, Jia Lu. 2010. "Patient-specific wall stress analysis in cerebral aneurysms using inverse shell model." Annals of biomedical engineering, vol. 38, no. 2, pp. 478--489.
Xianlian A. Zhou, Jia Lu. 2009. "Estimation of vascular open configuration using finite element inverse elastostatic method." Engineering with Computers, vol. 25, no. 1, pp. 49.
Xianlian A. Zhou, Jia Lu. 2008. "Inverse formulation for geometrically exact stress resultant shells." International journal for numerical methods in engineering, vol. 74, no. 8, pp. 1278--1302.
Jia Lu, Xianlian A. Zhou, Madhavan L Raghavan. 2008. "Inverse method of stress analysis for cerebral aneurysms." Biomechanics and modeling in mechanobiology, vol. 7, no. 6, pp. 477--486.
Jia Lu, Xianlian A. Zhou, Madhavan L Raghavan. 2007. "Computational method of inverse elastostatics for anisotropic hyperelastic solids." International journal for numerical methods in engineering, vol. 69, no. 6, pp. 1239--1261.
Jia Lu, Xianlian A. Zhou, Madhavan L Raghavan. 2007. "Inverse elastostatic stress analysis in pre-deformed biological structures: demonstration using abdominal aortic aneurysms." Journal of biomechanics, vol. 40, no. 3, pp. 693--696.
Karim Abdel-Malek, Jingzhou Yang, Timothy Marler, Steven Beck, Anith Mathai, Xianlian A. Zhou, Amos Patrick, Jasbir Arora. 2006. "Towards a new generation of virtual humans." International Journal of Human Factors Modelling and Simulation, vol. 1, no. 1, pp. 2--39.
Xianlian A. Zhou, Jia Lu. 2005. "Biomechanical analysis of skeletal muscle in an interactive digital human system." SAE International Journal of Passenger Cars—Mechanical Systems, vol. 114, no. 6, pp. 2921--2929.
Conference Proceeding
"Prediction of Walking Kinematics and Muscle Activities under Idealized Lower Limb Exoskeleton Assistances"
International Ergonomics Association's Technical Committee on Digital Human Modeling and Simulation. , August, 2022.
International Ergonomics Association's Technical Committee on Digital Human Modeling and Simulation. , August, 2022.
"Optimized Torque Assistance during Walking with an Idealized Hip Exoskeleton"
International Design Engineering Technical Conferences & Computers and Information in Engineering Conference (IDETC-CIE), 2021.
International Design Engineering Technical Conferences & Computers and Information in Engineering Conference (IDETC-CIE), 2021.
"Augmented reality anatomy visualization for surgery assistance with hololens: AR surgery assistance with hololens"
June, 2021.
June, 2021.
"Predictive Human-in-the-Loop Simulations for Assistive Exoskeletons"
Proceedings of the ASME 2020 International Design Engineering Technical Conferences and Computers and Information in Engineering Conference. , 2020.
Proceedings of the ASME 2020 International Design Engineering Technical Conferences and Computers and Information in Engineering Conference. , 2020.
"Spline-Based Modeling and Control of Soft Robots"
2020 IEEE/ASME International Conference on Advanced Intelligent Mechatronics (AIM) , 2020.
2020 IEEE/ASME International Conference on Advanced Intelligent Mechatronics (AIM) , 2020.
"An Open Source, Geometry Kernel Based High-Order Element Mesh Generation Tool"
AIAA Scitech 2019 Forum, 2019.
AIAA Scitech 2019 Forum, 2019.
"Effects of Head Supported Mass on Predicted Neck Musculoskeletal Loadings during Walking and Running"
ASME International Design Engineering Technical Conferences & Computers and Information in Engineering Conference (IDETC-CIE), paper number: IDETC2019-97389, 2019.
ASME International Design Engineering Technical Conferences & Computers and Information in Engineering Conference (IDETC-CIE), paper number: IDETC2019-97389, 2019.
"Comparison of Gender Specific and Anthropometrically Scaled Musculoskeletal Model Predictions Using the Sorensen Test"
Proceedings of 8th International Conference on Applied Human Factors and Ergonomics (AHFE 2017), 2017.
Proceedings of 8th International Conference on Applied Human Factors and Ergonomics (AHFE 2017), 2017.
"Modeling of Muscle Atrophy and Exercise Induced Hypertrophy"
Proceedings of 8th International Conference on Applied Human Factors and Ergonomics (AHFE 2017), 2017.
Proceedings of 8th International Conference on Applied Human Factors and Ergonomics (AHFE 2017), 2017.
"Damage Prediction for a Cervical Spine Intervertebral Disc"
ASME 2016 International Mechanical Engineering Congress and Exposition, 2016.
ASME 2016 International Mechanical Engineering Congress and Exposition, 2016.
"Towards a micromechanical model of intervertebral disc degeneration under cyclic loading"
ASME 2014 International Mechanical Engineering Congress and Exposition, 2014.
ASME 2014 International Mechanical Engineering Congress and Exposition, 2014.
"Virtual musculoskeletal arm and robotic arm driven by a biomimetic model of sensorimotor cortex with reinforcement learning"
2013.
2013.
"High-Fidelity and Compact Modeling for Bone Conduction Communication Systems"
ASME 2009 International Mechanical Engineering Congress and Exposition, 2009.
ASME 2009 International Mechanical Engineering Congress and Exposition, 2009.
"Virtual Body Generator for Anthropometry and Physiology Based Modeling"
SAE Technical Paper, 2009.
SAE Technical Paper, 2009.
"New Capabilities for the Virtual-Human Santos™"
SAE International, 2006.
SAE International, 2006.
"NURBS-based Galerkin method and application to skeletal muscle modeling"
Proceedings of the 2005 ACM symposium on Solid and physical modeling, 2005.
Proceedings of the 2005 ACM symposium on Solid and physical modeling, 2005.
Chapter
Xianlian A. Zhou, Ashley Mont, Sergei Adamovich. "Evaluation of a 1-DOF Hand Exoskeleton for Neuromuscular Rehabilitation." In Ateshian G., Myers K., Tavares J. , eds., "Computer Methods, Imaging and Visualization in Biomechanics and Biomedical Engineering. CMBBE 2019. Lecture Notes in Computational Vision and Biomechanics," pp. pp. 384-397. Springer International Publishing, 2020.
Reuben H Kraft, Rebecca A Fielding, Kevin Lister, Allen Shirley, Tim Marler, Andrew C Merkle, Andrzej J Przekwas, XG Tan, Xianlian A. Zhou. "Modeling Skeletal Injuries in Military Scenarios." pp. 3--35. The Mechanobiology and Mechanophysiology of Military-Related Injuries, Springer International Publishing, 2016.
Conference Abstract
"Exoskeleton Hip Assistance during Walking: Assisting Flexion or Extension?"
42nd Annual Meeting of the American Society of Biomechanics, 2020.
42nd Annual Meeting of the American Society of Biomechanics, 2020.
"A Software Platform for Dynamic Simulation of Anatomically Realistic Warfighter Avatars During Military-Relevant Tasks"
The Military Health System Research Symposium (MHSRS), 2019.
The Military Health System Research Symposium (MHSRS), 2019.