Maria Pinelli | Research Excellence | Best Researcher Award

Published on by Scientist Day

Dr. Maria Pinelli | Research Excellence | Best Researcher Award

Dr. Maria Pinelli | Radboud University Medical Center | Italy

Dr. Maria Pinelli is an Assistant Professor Junior (RTDa) at the Politecnico di Milano (Italy) in the Department of Management, Economics, and Industrial Engineering (ING-IND/35). Her academic and research work focuses on technological innovation in healthcare, with particular attention to Health Technology Assessment (HTA), innovation management in hospitals, and the integration of scanning and assessment processes to enhance healthcare value creation. She earned her Ph.D. from Politecnico di Milano in 2025 with a thesis titled “MedTech Innovation in Hospitals: Re-Framing the Integration between Scanning and Assessment and the Determinants of Value.” During her doctoral studies, she was a Visiting Ph.D. Student at Radboud University (Netherlands), collaborating on international research exploring hospital technology strategies. Her academic background also includes a Master’s Degree in Management Engineering with specialization in Sustainable Operations Management and Social Innovation and a Bachelor’s Degree in Industrial Engineering, both completed with honors. Dr. Pinelli has published extensively in high-impact international journals such as Health Policy, Technological Forecasting and Social Change, PLOS ONE, IEEE Journal of Translational Engineering in Health and Medicine, and IJERPH. Her works contribute to understanding the strategic, clinical, and socio-economic evaluation of medical technologies and the role of digital transformation and sustainability in healthcare systems. She has been actively involved in teaching and coordinating courses such as Innovation in Health and Social Care, Healthcare Management, and Economia e Organizzazione Aziendale at Politecnico di Milano and Humanitas University. Her contributions extend to international conferences, including EURAM, ISPOR, IPDMC, and Health Technology Assessment International, where she presented cutting-edge research on hospital innovation, inclusive healthcare technologies, and decision-making frameworks. Dr. Pinelli also serves as a reviewer for several leading journals, including the Journal of Medical Internet Research and Health Services Management Research. Beyond academia, she has contributed to practitioner conferences addressing the impact of AI and MedTech innovation in healthcare. Through her multidisciplinary expertise, international collaboration, and commitment to advancing healthcare innovation, Dr. Maria Pinelli represents a new generation of scholars bridging management engineering and medical technology for sustainable, patient-centered care.

Profiles: Google Scholar

Featured Publications 

Pinelli, M., Moglia, A., Marsilio, L., Rossi, M., Lettieri, E., Mainardi, L., & Manzotti, A. (2023). Mixed reality and artificial intelligence: A holistic approach to multimodal visualization and extended interaction in knee osteotomy. IEEE Journal of Translational Engineering in Health and Medicine, 10. https://doi.org/10.1109/JTEHM.2023.3335608

Pinelli, M., Manetti, S., & Lettieri, E. (2023). Assessing the social and environmental impact of healthcare technologies: Towards an extended social return on investment. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 20(6), 5224. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20065224

Di Francesco, A., Pinelli, M., Lettieri, E., Toletti, G., & Galli, M. (2023). Towards a more inclusive society: The social return on investment (SROI) of an innovative ankle–foot orthosis for hemiplegic children. Sustainability, 15(5), 4361. https://doi.org/10.3390/su15054361

Pinelli, M., Gerardi, C., Lettieri, E., Maioru, M., Marone, L., Bertoldi, L., Navanteri, G., Costantini, M., Botti, C., & Pellini, F. (2024). Comparison of indocyanine green with conventional tracers for sentinel lymph node biopsy in breast cancer: A multidisciplinary evaluation of clinical effectiveness, safety, organizational and economic impact. PLOS ONE, 19(8), e0309336. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0309336

Pinelli, M., Lettieri, E., Boaretto, A., Casile, C., Citro, G., Zazzaro, B., & Ravazzoni, A. (2022). Glucometer usability for 65+ type 2 diabetes patients: Insights on physical and cognitive issues. Sensors, 22(16), 6202. https://doi.org/10.3390/s22166202

Ivis Garcia | Research Excellence | Best Researcher Award

Published on by Scientist Day

Dr. Ivis Garcia | Research Excellence | Best Researcher Award

Dr. Ivis Garcia | Texas A&M University | United States

Dr. Ivis García, Ph.D., AICP, is an Associate Professor in the Department of Landscape Architecture and Urban Planning at Texas A&M University, with a distinguished record of scholarship, teaching, and community engagement in housing, urban policy, and social equity. Her research is grounded in the principles of community development, participatory planning, and social justice, with a particular emphasis on advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion within urban systems. Dr. García’s work focuses on asset-based community development (ABCD) approaches that empower marginalized populations to build capacity and resilience through locally driven solutions. She explores the intersections of housing policy, disaster recovery, gentrification, and displacement, particularly within Latino and Puerto Rican communities in the United States and the Caribbean. Her doctoral dissertation, “The Puerto Rican Identity: Reconstructing Ownership in the Face of Change,” set the foundation for a research agenda that bridges cultural identity with community-based planning and equitable housing strategies. Through her collaborations with organizations such as the Puerto Rican Cultural Center, Texas Appleseed, and Foundation for Puerto Rico, Dr. García integrates academic research with real-world impact, informing equitable policy design and participatory decision-making. She has been a Ford Foundation Fellow, Emerging Poverty Scholar, and recipient of numerous professional awards, including theTexas APA Student Project Award and the  Curriculum Innovation Award from the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy. Her research has contributed to national dialogues on resilient housing, participatory governance, and social vulnerability in urban environments, often linking theory to applied planning practice. By engaging communities directly in the research process, Dr. García exemplifies the model of a scholar-activist—translating knowledge into meaningful action that promotes inclusive, just, and sustainable urban futures. Her work continues to inspire transformative practices in housing equity and community resilience across diverse urban landscapes.

Profiles: Orcid

Featured Publications 

García, I. (2025). Earthship architecture as a pathway to post-hurricane resilience and energy independence: A case study analysis in Puerto Rico. Urban Science, 9(11), 446. https://doi.org/10.3390/urbansci9110446

Kim, M., García, I., Goetz, E., Hanlon, B., Monkkonen, P., Pendall, R., Pfeiffer, D., Reece, J., & Whittemore, A. (2025). Bring zoning back into the planning curricula. Journal of the American Planning Association. https://doi.org/10.1080/01944363.2025.2455162

García, I. (2025). Residential green infrastructure: Unpacking motivations and obstacles to single-family-home tree planting in diverse, low-income urban neighborhoods. Sustainability, 17(16), 7412. https://doi.org/10.3390/su17167412

García, I. (2025). When the map does not tell the whole story: Integrating community voices into GIS gentrification analysis. Land, 14(8), 1510. https://doi.org/10.3390/land14081510

García, I., Jackson, A., Lee, C. A., Chrisinger, B., & Greenlee, A. J. (2025). On the outside looking in: Latina/o/x and African American student perspectives on community-engaged courses. Journal of Planning Education and Research. https://doi.org/10.1177/0739456X251339979

García, I. (2025). The poorer the neighborhood, the harder it is to reach the park: A GIS equity analysis from Salt Lake City. Sustainability, 17(9), 3774. https://doi.org/10.3390/su17093774

Yong Liu | Research Excellence | Innovative Research Award

Published on by Scientist Day

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Yong Liu | Research Excellence | Innovative Research Award

Assoc. Prof. Dr Yong Liu | Tianjin University | China

Dr. Yong Liu is an Associate Professor at the School of Electrical and Information Engineering, Tianjin University, China. With an extensive record of scholarly contributions, he has authored and co-authored over 100 technical papers, three books or book chapters, and more than 50 patents in electrical engineering. His research primarily focuses on ageing evaluation, defect diagnosis, and performance monitoring of outdoor insulators and power cables under complex atmospheric and electrical conditions. Dr. Liu’s pioneering work integrates advanced sensing technologies, signal processing, and artificial intelligence to improve the reliability and safety of high-voltage power transmission systems. His studies on leakage current characteristics, surface discharges, and magnetic field-based condition evaluation have significantly advanced diagnostic techniques for high-voltage alternating current (HVAC) and direct current (HVDC) equipment. Notable recent contributions include research on multi-scale leakage current feature extraction using graph neural networks, magnetic field feature analysis for power cable evaluation, and dynamic discharge behavior of ice-covered insulators under DC voltages. He has made substantial progress in understanding the electro-thermal and mechanical ageing mechanisms of polymeric insulators and cables, developing novel monitoring strategies and predictive models for insulation failure. His publications in leading journals such as IEEE Transactions on Dielectrics and Electrical Insulation, IEEE Access, Energies, and Polymers demonstrate his sustained excellence and influence in high-voltage engineering and applied materials science. As a member of the Chinese Society for Electrical Engineering (CSEE) and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), Dr. Liu actively contributes to international collaboration and academic exchange. His innovative research continues to support the development of smart grid technologies, advanced cable diagnostics, and climate-resilient power systems, positioning him as a leading scholar in electrical insulation and power engineering research.

Profile: Orcid

Featured Publications 

Liu, Y., Lin, M., Wei, H., Duan, X., Li, Z., & Fu, Q. (2025). Cable outer sheath defect identification using multi-scale leakage current features and graph neural networks. Energies, 18(21), 5687. https://doi.org/10.3390/en18215687

Liu, Y., Wang, M., Huang, Y., Han, T., & Du, B. (2024). Feature extraction of magnetic field for condition evaluation of HVAC power cable. IEEE Transactions on Dielectrics and Electrical Insulation. https://doi.org/10.1109/TDEI.2023.3342774

Liu, Y., Li, C., Yin, F., Du, B. X., & Farzaneh, M. (2024). Nonlinear traits of leakage current and dynamic actions of surface discharges on ice-covered insulators under DC voltages. IEEE Transactions on Dielectrics and Electrical Insulation. https://doi.org/10.1109/TDEI.2024.3373549

Liu, Y., Guo, Y., Wang, B., Li, Q., Gao, Q., & Wan, Y. (2024). Research on influencing factors and wind deflection warning of transmission lines based on meteorological prediction. Energies, 17(11), 2612. https://doi.org/10.3390/en17112612

Liu, Y., Xin, Y., Huang, Y., Du, B., Huang, X., & Su, J. (2024). Optimal design and development of magnetic field detection sensor for AC power cable. Sensors, 24(8), 2528. https://doi.org/10.3390/s24082528

Liu, Y., Xin, Y., Du, B., Huang, X., & Su, J. (2024, March 22). Optimal design and development of magnetic field detection sensor for AC power cable [Preprint]. Preprints. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202403.1352.v1

Jean-louis Vigneresse | Research Excellence | Excellence in Research

Published on by Scientist Day

Prof. Jean-louis Vigneresse | Research Excellence | Excellence in Research

Prof. Jean-louis Vigneresse | université de lorraine | France

Jean-Louis Vigneresse is a distinguished French geophysicist known for his pioneering research on granite emplacement, crustal deformation, and thermal modeling. With decades of academic and international experience, he has contributed significantly to understanding Earth’s structural dynamics. He played key roles in major geoscientific programs like ECORS and Géofrance 3D and collaborated globally across Europe, the Americas, and Asia. As a professor and scientific leader, he has mentored numerous students and developed innovative geophysical tools. His research has been widely published and cited in top-tier journals. He also held administrative roles, promoting education and international cooperation. His career blends theoretical insight with practical application. Vigneresse’s legacy continues to shape modern geosciences.

Academic Profile 

Google Scholar | Orcid

Education

Jean-Louis Vigneresse holds a strong academic background in geophysics and earth sciences, having pursued advanced studies in engineering, structural geology, and geophysical modeling. He began his academic journey with training in geophysics at a premier French institute, focusing on magnetic anomalies and structural interpretations. His early research dealt with aeromagnetic and gravimetric analysis of volcanic and granitic terrains, reflecting a foundation in both applied and theoretical geophysics. His academic progression led him to conduct in-depth doctoral research on the modeling of granitic massifs and their deformation, integrating geophysical data with structural geological concepts. Further studies deepened his understanding of crustal processes, culminating in a high-level dissertation exploring the emplacement of granitic plutons under regional tectonic constraints.

Experience

Vigneresse has extensive experience in academia, research, and international collaboration. He has held teaching and research positions in several French universities, culminating in a senior academic post at a leading geological school. In addition to his teaching and research duties, he took on multiple administrative roles, including academic program development, student supervision, and coordination of international partnerships. He contributed to the modernization of geoscience curricula, particularly in petroleum geology and structural analysis. He has also been instrumental in developing applied geophysical tools, modeling software, and training programs that bridge academia and industry. His global engagement includes cooperative projects with universities and research centers across Europe, the Americas, Asia, and North Africa.

Research Interests

His research spans a broad range of topics in geophysics, structural geology, petrology, and crustal dynamics. His work has addressed granite emplacement mechanisms, partial melting, melt migration, deformation modeling, and the thermal evolution of the Earth’s crust. He has a particular interest in the links between tectonics, magmatism, and ore deposit formation. He developed physical and numerical models to simulate crustal processes and contributed to major geoscientific initiatives. His studies are well recognized for providing insights into the thermomechanical behavior of the crust and the geodynamic settings of granite-related phenomena.

Awards and Recognition

Jean-Louis Vigneresse is internationally recognized for his scholarly contributions, scientific collaborations, and educational leadership. He has published numerous research articles in prestigious international journals and has contributed as a reviewer and advisor to several scientific publications. His work has had significant influence in both academic and applied geoscience fields. He has been invited as a guest professor and scientific advisor in multiple countries and has played a key role in European scientific programs. His distinction lies in his ability to combine theoretical research with practical applications and international cooperation.

Publications


Granite magma formation, transport and emplacement in the Earth’s crust.

Author: Petford, N., Cruden, A. R., McCaffrey, K. J. W., & Vigneresse, J.-L.
Journal; Nature,(2000)

Nb-Ta fractionation in peraluminous granites: A marker of the magmatic-hydrothermal transition.

Author: Ballouard, C., Poujol, M., Boulvais, P., Branquet, Y., Tartèse, R., & Vigneresse, J.-L.
Journal; Geology, (2016)

Rheological transitions during partial melting and crystallization with application to felsic magma segregation and transfer.

Author: Vigneresse, J.-L., Barbey, P., & Cuney, M.
Journal: Petrology,  (1996)

Transpressional kinematics and magmatic arcs.

Author: Blanquat, M. D. S., Tikoff, B., Teyssier, C., & Vigneresse, J.-L.
Journal: Geological Society, London, Special Publications, (1998)

The Mortagne granite pluton (France) emplaced by pull-apart along a shear zone: Structural and gravimetric arguments and regional implication.

Author: Guineberteau, B., Bouchez, J.-L., & Vigneresse, J.-L.
Journal: Geological Society of America Bulletin, (1987)

Conclusion

The Research Excellence Award stands as a prestigious recognition of intellectual brilliance, innovation, and impactful contribution across scientific, academic, and interdisciplinary domains. It not only honors individual achievement but also promotes a culture of inquiry, collaboration, and societal relevance. By celebrating researchers who push boundaries and solve real-world problems, the award contributes to the global advancement of knowledge and inspires the next generation of scholars and innovators. This is more than an accolade — it is a platform for leadership, visibility, and lasting influence in the world of research.

Azim Paksa | Research Excellence | Best Researcher Award

Published on by Scientist Day

Dr. Azim Paksa | Research Excellence | Best Researcher Award

Dr. Azim Paksa, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Iran

Dr. Azim Paksa holds a Ph.D. in Medical Entomology and Vector Control from Tehran University of Medical Sciences, with over 15 years of academic and field experience in vector biology, insecticide resistance, and mosquito ecology. He has led numerous research projects focused on disease vectors such as Anopheles, Aedes, and Blattella germanica, and has published extensively in peer-reviewed ISI and ISC journals. His work includes gene sequencing contributions to GenBank, active participation in national congresses, and involvement in public health initiatives across Iran. Dr. Paksa is a member of the Iranian Societies of Medical Entomology and Parasitology and is skilled in molecular biology techniques, data analysis (SPSS), and scientific publishing.

Author Profile

orcid

🎓 Early Academic Pursuits

Dr. A. Paksa’s academic journey in the field of medical entomology began with a strong foundation at the Tehran University of Medical Sciences, where he pursued and successfully completed a Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Ph.D. in Medical Entomology and Vector Control. His early academic years were marked by a deep interest in public health and vector-borne diseases, which naturally progressed into a lifelong dedication to research and fieldwork. His Master’s thesis focused on detecting resistance mechanisms to organophosphate and carbamate insecticides in Blattella germanica (German cockroach) collected from Tehran hospitals. Later, during his Ph.D., he conducted an extensive study on the genetic diversity, Wolbachia infection, and ecological features of Aedes caspius and Aedes vexans, both of which are significant vectors for arboviruses in Iran. This early research demonstrated his capability in both laboratory and field settings, laying the groundwork for his future contributions to medical entomology and public health.

👨‍🔬 Professional Endeavors

Dr. Paksa has served in multiple academic, research, and public health capacities, working closely with Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, and Hormozgan University of Medical Sciences, among others. As an executive director and principal collaborator, he has led and completed over a dozen major research projects addressing critical issues in entomology, such as insecticide resistance, vector identification, and ecological surveys of disease-carrying arthropods. In addition to field studies, Dr. Paksa has been an active member of organizing and scientific committees in several national conferences, including the Vector-Borne Diseases and Climate Change Congress and the Iranian National Congress on Medical Entomology, demonstrating his leadership in scientific community engagement.

🧪 Contributions and Research Focus

Dr. Paksa’s contributions to medical entomology are vast and multifaceted. He has authored numerous peer-reviewed ISI and ISC publications, covering topics from mosquito larvicidal properties of essential oils to biochemical resistance mechanisms in disease vectors. His research often combines molecular biology, field ecology, and applied public health, making it both academically rigorous and practically applicable.  His work has been instrumental in identifying and combating insecticide resistance in Anopheles stephensi and Blattella germanica, two vectors of significant public health concern. He has also made critical gene sequence deposits in GenBank, contributing to the global scientific repository with data from Iranian vector species. Dr. Paksa’s dedication to natural product-based insect control is notable—his investigations into the larvicidal effects of Iranian indigenous plant essential oils have opened new avenues in eco-friendly vector control strategies.

🏆 Accolades and Recognition

Throughout his career, Dr. Paksa has earned recognition for both the quality and breadth of his research. His presence in multiple national scientific conferences, both as a presenter and an organizing committee member, speaks to the high regard in which he is held by peers. He has served as a referee for the Journal of Arthropod-Borne Diseases and evaluated proposals and books for Zabol University of Medical Sciences, further reflecting his expertise and trustworthiness in scientific evaluation. Moreover, his active membership in the Iranian Society of Medical Entomology and Medical Parasitology for over a decade underscores his commitment to scientific collaboration and advancement within his specialty.

🌍 Impact and Influence

Dr. Paksa’s research has had a direct impact on vector control policies, hospital hygiene practices, and disease prevention strategies in Iran. His work on cockroach and mosquito resistance mechanisms has influenced how hospitals and municipalities approach pest control. Furthermore, his studies on head lice prevalence in schoolchildren and tick infestation in livestock have provided critical insights into zoonotic disease transmission and public health education. By combining field data with molecular insights, Dr. Paksa bridges the gap between lab-based science and real-world applications—making his work especially valuable to policy-makers, healthcare providers, and environmental health professionals.

🔬 Legacy and Future Contributions

With a solid foundation built on two decades of field experience, scientific research, and public health collaboration, Dr. Paksa is well-positioned to continue making influential contributions in the years ahead. His current projects focus on the molecular mechanisms of resistance in vector populations and the development of environmentally sustainable vector control strategies. In the future, Dr. Paksa aims to deepen international collaborations, contribute to global malaria and arboviral control efforts, and mentor the next generation of entomologists in Iran and beyond. His legacy will likely be remembered not only for his extensive publication record and field innovations but also for his dedication to improving public health through evidence-based research.

✍️Notable Publications

Molecular assay on detection of crimean congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) virus in ixodid ticks collected from livestock in slaughterhouse from south of Iran

Contributors: Salehi-Vaziri, M.; Vatandoost, H.; Sanei-Dehkordi, A.; Fazlalipour, M.; Pouriayevali, M.H.; Jalali, T.; Mohammadi, T.; Tavakoli, M.; Paksa, A.; Abadi, Y.S.

Journal: Arthropod-Borne Diseases

Year:2020

Biodiversity of mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) with emphasis on potential arbovirus vectors in East Azerbaijan province, northwestern Iran

Contributors: Paksa, A.; Sedaghat, M.M.; Vatandoost, H.; Yaghoobi-Ershadi, M.R.; Moosa-Kazemi, S.H.; Hazratian, T.; Sanei-Dehkordi, A.; Oshaghi, M.A.

Journal: Arthropod-Borne Diseases

Year: 2019

Wild chive oil is an extremely effective larvicide against malaria mosquito vector Anopheles stephensi

Contributors: Sanei-Dehkordi, A.; Soleimani-Ahmadi, M.; Abadi, Y.S.; Paksa, A.
Journal: Tropical Medicine
Year: 2019