Dr. Rui Zhang is a world-renowned scholar and leader in wireless communications and electrical engineering, holding the prestigious position of Provost's Chair Professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the National University of Singapore. He earned his B.Eng. with First-Class Honors and M.Eng. degrees from the National University of Singapore before completing his Ph.D. at Stanford University, all in electrical engineering. His distinguished academic career has been marked by rapid recognition and leadership, establishing him as one of the most influential researchers in wireless technology globally. Dr. Zhang's strategic vision has positioned his work at the forefront of next-generation wireless communication systems development.
Dr. Zhang's groundbreaking research has fundamentally transformed wireless communications through his pioneering work on intelligent reflecting surfaces, reconfigurable antennas, and wireless power transfer systems. His innovative frameworks for non-terrestrial communications and UAV-enabled wireless networks have solved critical challenges in coverage and efficiency for modern wireless infrastructure. With an exceptional publication record exceeding 600 papers, his work has garnered over 118,000 citations and an h-index above 150, making him one of the most cited researchers in engineering. Dr. Zhang has received 18 IEEE Best Journal Paper Awards, including the prestigious IEEE Marconi Prize Paper Award twice and the IEEE Communications Society Heinrich Hertz Prize Paper Award three times, demonstrating the exceptional quality and impact of his scholarly contributions.
As a Highly Cited Researcher consecutively since 2015, Dr. Zhang has significantly shaped the global trajectory of wireless communications research through his leadership and scholarly influence. He serves as Editorial Board Member for npj Wireless Technology and chairs the IEEE Communications Society Wireless Communications Technical Committee Award Committee, guiding the field's development and recognizing excellence. Dr. Zhang's current research focuses on movable antenna systems, intelligent surfaces, and radio mapping, promising to revolutionize wireless networks with unprecedented flexibility and performance. His ongoing work continues to push technological boundaries, inspiring researchers worldwide to develop innovative solutions for future connectivity challenges in an increasingly wireless-dependent society.
