Academic Qualification

Ph.D. in Xidian University

Master in Xidian University

Bachelor in Xidian University

Research Area

Discrete event systems

Systems control engineering

Petri nets theory and application

Intelligent systems and automation

Visiting Research Experience

University of Toronto

Technion (Israel Institute of Technology)

Martin-Luther University at Halle (supported by Alexander von Humboldt Foundation)

University of Cagliari

Politecnico di Bari

Conservatoire National des Arts et Métiers

King Saud University

Meliksah University

University Sorbonne Paris Nord

Professional Services

Senior   Editor: IEEE Transactions on Automation Science and Engineering (2026-2031)

Associate Editor: ISA Transactions (2024--)

Associate Editor: Information Sciences (2013--)

Associate Editor: Chinese Journal of Mechanical Engineering (2024-)

Distinguished Lecturer: IEEE Systems, Man, and Cybernetics Society (2026-2027)

Working Experience

Jul. 2013 ~ present, Chair Professor, Department of Engineering and Science, Faculty of Innovation Engineering, MUST

Sep. 2002 ~ Jun. 2013, Professor, Xidian University, China

Jul. 1997 ~ Aug. 2002, Associate Professor, Xidian University, China

Sep. 1992 ~ Jun. 1997, Assist Professor, Xidian University, China

Monographs:

1.          Xi Wang and Zhiwu Li, Scheduling and Reconfiguration of Real-Time Systems: A Supervisory Control Approach, Springer-Verlag, 2023.

2.          Yufeng Chen and Zhiwu Li, Optimal Supervisory Control of Automated Manufacturing Systems, NewYork: CRC Press, Taylor & Francis Group, 2013.

3.          Zhiwu Li and Mengchu Zhou, Deadlock Resolution in Automated Manufacturing Systems: A Novel Petri Net Approach, London: Springer-Verlag, Feb. 2009.

Publications and Citations

Dr. Li has published more than 240 papers in IEEE Transactions. Among his publications, 70+ are selected as ESI highly cited papers. His research was cited by leading business giants such as IBM, HP, ABB, Volvo, GE, GM, Mitsubishi, Ford Car, and Huawei. According to Google Scholar, his/her papers (and works) have been cited more than 30,000 times.

Selected Journal publications

1.          Chen Qinrui, Su Rong, Li Zhiwu, Synthesis of Sensor Attacks for Tampering Detectability of Partially Observed Discrete-Event Systems, IEEE Transactions on Automatic Control, vol. 71, no. 1, pp. 443—457, Jan, 2026.

2.          Sun Dajiang, Hadjicostis Christoforos N., Li Zhiwu, Global and Local Error-Tolerant Decentralized State Estimation Under Partially Ordered Observations, IEEE Transactions on Automatic Control, vol. 70, no. 10, pp. 6719—6734, Oct, 2025.

3.          Dong Yifan, Lefebvre Dimitri, Li Zhiwu, K-Step Opacity Verification and Enforcement of Time Labeled Petri Net Systems, IEEE Transactions on Automatic Control, vol. 70, no. 9, pp. 5848—5863, Sept, 2025.

4.          Xiang Zhaoyu, Chen Yufeng, Wu Naiqi, Li Zhiwu, Supervisory Control of Networked Timed Discrete Event Systems with Bandwidth Constraints, IEEE Transactions on Automatic Control, vol. 70, no. 7, pp. 4849—4856, Jul, 2025.

5.          Cong Xuya, Yu Zhenhua, Fanti Maria Pia, Mangini Agostino Marcello, Li Zhiwu, Predictability Verification of Fault Patterns in Labeled Petri Nets, IEEE Transactions on Automatic Control, vol. 70, no. 3, pp. 1973—1980, Mar, 2025.

6.          Gao Chao, Lefebvre Dimitri, Seatzu Carla, Li Zhiwu, Giua Alessandro, State Estimation of Timed Automata Under Partial Observation, IEEE Transactions on Automatic Control, vol. 70, no. 3, pp. 1981—1987, Mar, 2025.

7.          Li Jun, Lefebvre Dimitri, Hadjicostis Christoforos N., Li Zhiwu, Verification of State-Based Timed Opacity for Constant-Time Labeled Automata, IEEE Transactions on Automatic Control, vol. 70, no. 1, pp. 503—509, Jan, 2025.

8.          Xiang Zhaoyu, Chen Yufeng, Wu Naiqi, Li Zhiwu, On the Existence of Nonblocking Bounded Supervisors for Discrete-Event Systems, IEEE Transactions on Automatic Control, vol. 69, no. 11, pp. 8003—8010, Nov, 2024.

9.          Peng Kun, Chen Yufeng, Seatzu Carla, Li Zhiwu, Giua Alessandro, Concealability Analysis for Current-State Opacity Enforcement via Editing Functions, IEEE Transactions on Automatic Control, vol. 69, no. 10, pp. 7231—7238, Oct, 2024.

10.      Duan Wei, Hadjicostis Christoforos N., Li Zhiwu, Event Concealment and Concealability Enforcement in Discrete Event Systems Under Partial Observation, IEEE Transactions on Automatic Control, vol. 69, no. 10, pp. 7263—7269, Oct, 2024.

11.      He Zhaoyang, Wu Naiqi, Li Zhiwu, Estimation and Prevention of Actuator Enablement Attacks in Discrete-Event Systems Under Supervisory Control, IEEE Transactions on Automatic Control, vol. 69, no. 9, pp. 5963—5978, Sept, 2024.

12.      Cong Xuya, Fanti Maria Pia, Mangini Agostino Marcello, Li Zhiwu, Critical Observability Verification and Enforcement of Labeled Petri Nets by Using Basis Markings, IEEE Transactions on Automatic Control, vol. 68, no. 12, pp. 8158—8164, Dec, 2023.

13.      Li Xiaoyan, Hadjicostis Christoforos N., Li Zhiwu, Opacity Enforcement in Discrete Event Systems Using Extended Insertion Functions Under Inserted Language Constraints, IEEE Transactions on Automatic Control, vol. 68, no. 11, pp. 6797—6803, Nov, 2023.

14.      Li Yuting, Hadjicostis Christoforos N., Wu Naiqi, Li Zhiwu, Error- and Tamper-Tolerant State Estimation for Discrete Event Systems Under Cost Constraints, IEEE Transactions on Automatic Control, vol. 68, no. 11, pp. 6743—6750, Nov, 2023.

15.      Kang Tenglong, Liu Ding, Li Zhiwu, Robust Prognosability of Discrete Event Systems Against Stealthy Sensor Attacks, Automatica, vol. 185, Mar, 2026, Art. no. 112740.

16.      Lu Yao, Chen Yufeng, Hadjicostis Christoforos N., Li Zhiwu, Efficient Iterative Deadlock Prevention for Flexible Manufacturing Systems Utilizing Modified Resource Requirement Graphs, Automatica, vol. 183, Jan, 2026, Art. no. 112631.

17.      Wang Yuting, Li Liang, Li Zhiwu, Verification of Current-State Opacity and Opaque Time for Labeled Time Petri Net Systems, Automatica, vol. 176, Jun, 2025, Art. no. 112241.

18.      Shen Yu, Guan Yongqiang, Xu Shiyang, Li Zhiwu, Herdability of Switching Signed Networks, Automatica, vol. 174, Apr, 2025, Art. no. 112124.

19.      Kang Tenglong, Seatzu Carla, Li Zhiwu, Giua Alessandro, A Joint Diagnoser Approach for Diagnosability of Discrete Event Systems Under Attack, Automatica, vol. 172, Feb, 2025, Art. no. 112004.

20.      Li Yuting, Hadjicostis Christoforos N., Wu Naiqi, Li Zhiwu, Tamper-Tolerant Diagnosability Analysis and Tampering Detectability in Discrete Event Systems Under Cost Constraints, Automatica, vol. 171, Jan, 2025, Art. no. 111971.

Professional Certification and Awards

1.          The 2018 Science and Technology Award of Macau-The Third Prize of Natural Science Award

2.          The 2016 Science and Technology Award of Macau-The Third Prize of Technological Invention Award

3.          Highly cited researchers in Thomson Reuters’ Highly Cited Researchers 2014-2018

Professional Society Membership

Fellow, IEEE (2016)