PNNL

Xiaoqin Zang is a computational scientist at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) in the Earth System Predictability and Resilience group, supporting the Energy and Environment Directorate. Zang received her PhD in applied marine physics from the University of Miami. Her PhD research focused on the acoustic Green’s function extraction in the ocean through ambient noise interferometry and long-range deep-ocean acoustic communication, with applications to acoustical oceanography and geoacoustic inversion. Zang is an expert in understanding sound propagation in the ocean through theory, modeling, ocean experiments, and digital signal processing. She got her bachelor's degree in ocean technology from Ocean University of China, with a background in ocean acoustics and electrical engineering. 

At PNNL, Zang’s research extends to bioacoustics, including assessing the affects of anthropogenic sound on aquatic ecosystems, evaluating the affects of swimbladders on the beam pattern of acoustic fish tags, and developing machine-learning tools to monitor migrating American eels with adaptive resolution imaging sonar. In addition, she collaborates with PNNL's battery experts to monitor the status of vanadium redox flow batteries with a self-designed ultrasonic nondestructive probing device. Her expertise is extended to acoustic device design and nondestructive testing, data analysis using machine learning, sonar image processing, and evaluating and mitigating the affects of marine energy facilities on marine animals. 

• Ocean acoustics and acoustical oceanography 

• Noise interferometry and geoacoustic inversion 

• Assessing the affects of anthropogenic sounds on fish and marine mammals 

• Ultrasonic nondestructive test and condition monitoring 

• Digital signal processing and sonar image processing 

• Applying machine learning to acoustical data analysis 

• Underwater acoustics 

• Wireless communications systems  

• Bio-acoustic technologies 

• Digital signal processing 

• High-performance computing  

• Machine learning 

• Modeling and simulation 

• Nondestructive testing 

• PhD in applied marine physics, University of Miami 

• BS in ocean technology (ocean acoustics), Ocean University of China 

• Acoustical Society of America 

• American Geophysical Union 

Wang, W., X. Zang, L. Yan, D. Deng, Y. Yang, P. Huilin, Z. Nie, and J. Lu. 2022. In Operando, Non-Invasive State-of-Charge Monitoring for Redox Flow Batteries. US Patent No. 11,415,552. 

2023 

Zang X., T.J. Carlson, J.J. Martinez, J. Lu, and Z. Deng. 2023. "Towards assessing the impact of anthropogenic sound on fishes: gaps, perspectives, and a case study of a large floating bridge." Fisheries Research 265. PNNL-SA-167026. doi:10.1016/j.fishres.2023.106747 

2022 

Haxel J., X. Zang, J.J. Martinez, B. Polagye, G.J. Staines, Z. Deng, and M. Wosnik, et al. 2022. "Underwater noise measurements around a tidal turbine in a busy port setting." Journal of Marine Science and Engineering 10, no. 5:Art. No. 632. PNNL-SA-170999. doi:10.3390/jmse10050632 

2021 

Li H., Z. Deng, J. Lu, J.J. Martinez, B. Wu, and X. Zang. 2021. "A miniaturized long-life acoustic transmitter for animal tracking in marine environments." In Global Oceans 2020: Singapore - U.S. Gulf Coast, October 5-30, 2020, Biloxi, MS, 1-4. Piscataway, New Jersey:IEEE. PNNL-SA-155697. doi:10.1109/IEEECONF38699.2020.9389355 

Zang X., T. Yin, Z. Hou, R.P. Mueller, Z. Deng, and P. Jacobson. 2021. "Deep Learning for Automated Detection and Identification of Migrating American eel Anguilla rostrata from Imaging Sonar Data." Remote Sensing 13, no. 14:2671. PNNL-SA-149057. doi:10.3390/rs13142671 

2020 

Yin T., X. Zang, Z. Hou, P. Jacobson, R.P. Mueller, and Z. Deng. 2020. "Bridging the Gap between Laboratory and Field Experiments in American Eel Detection Using Transfer Learning and Convolutional Neural Network." In Proceedings of the 53rd Hawaii International Conference on System Sciences (HICSS-53) January 6-10, 2020, Maui, HI, 932-939. Honolulu, Hawaii:University of Hawaii. PNNL-SA-144397. doi:10.24251/HICSS.2020.116 

2019 

Zang X., J.J. Martinez, J. Lu, P. Titzler, and Z. Deng. 2019. "Does the Hood Canal Bridge traffic noise affect migrating steelhead smolts?." In OCEANS 2019 MTS/IEEE, October 27-31, 2019, Seattle, WA. Piscataway, New Jersey:IEEE. PNNL-SA-147262. doi:10.23919/OCEANS40490.2019.8962877 

Zang X., K. Jung, R.W. Walker, and Z. Deng. 2019. "The effect of fish bodies on the source level and beam pattern of acoustic transmitters in juvenile Chinook salmon." Journal of the Acoustical Society of America 145, no. 6:EL554-EL559. PNNL-SA-140604. doi:10.1121/1.5112836 

Zang X., L. Yan, Y. Yang, H. Pan, Z. Nie, K. Jung, and Z. Deng, et al. 2019. "Monitoring the state-of-charge of a vanadium redox flow battery with the acoustic attenuation coefficient: an in operando noninvasive method." Small Methods 3, no. 12:1900494. PNNL-SA-141602. doi:10.1002/smtd.201900494