Ivis Garcia | Research Excellence | Best Researcher Award

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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

Hector Galindo-Silva | Research Excellence | Best Researcher Award

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Assoc. Prof. Dr. Hector Galindo-Silva | Research Excellence | Best Researcher Award

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Hector Galindo-Silva | Pontificia Universidad Javeriana | Colombia

Dr. Héctor Galindo-Silva is a distinguished scholar in economics whose research bridges political economy, institutional development, and conflict analysis. He completed his doctoral studies in Economics at Université de Montréal, followed by a postdoctoral fellowship at Universitat Pompeu Fabra’s Institute of Political Economy and Governance (IPEG). His academic journey reflects a deep interdisciplinary foundation, combining expertise in economics, philosophy, and the social sciences. Currently serving as an Associate Professor of Economics at Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, he has previously taught at Université de Montréal and held teaching appointments in both economics and philosophy. His teaching portfolio includes courses on political economy, microeconomics, conflict economics, and the economic analysis of social interactions. Dr. Galindo-Silva’s research explores the intersection of political institutions, conflict dynamics, religion, and economic outcomes. His publications have appeared in leading international journals such as the Journal of Public Economics, Economics & Politics, European Journal of Political Economy, Journal of Comparative Economics, Journal of Population Economics, and Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization. His recent work addresses themes such as ideological ambiguity, religious competition, education and gender norm transformation, and the political impact of climate change. In addition to his scholarly output, he has contributed to major research collaborations using big data and network theory, and his studies often integrate empirical and theoretical approaches to understand social and political processes. He serves as Associate Editor of Humanities and Social Sciences Communications and regularly reviews for high-impact journals in economics and political science. Throughout his career, Dr. Galindo-Silva has presented his research at numerous international conferences and academic institutions across Europe and the Americas, earning recognition for his analytical depth and interdisciplinary engagement in contemporary political economy.

Profile: Google Scholar

Featured Publications 

Galindo, H., Restrepo, J., & Sánchez, F. (2009). Conflicto y pobreza en Colombia: Un enfoque institucionalista. In Guerra y violencias en Colombia: Herramientas e interpretaciones (pp. 315–351). Universidad Javeriana.

Galindo-Silva, H. (2015). New parties and policy outcomes: Evidence from Colombian local governments. Journal of Public Economics, 126, 86–103. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpubeco.2015.04.004

Galindo-Silva, H., Some, N. H., & Tchuente, G. (2018). Fuzzy difference-in-discontinuities: Identification theory and application to the Affordable Care Act. arXiv preprint arXiv:1812.06537.

Galindo-Silva, H. (2021). Political openness and armed conflict: Evidence from local councils in Colombia. European Journal of Political Economy, 67, 101984. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejpoleco.2020.101984

Galindo-Silva, H., & Tchuente, G. (2023). Armed conflict and early human capital accumulation: Evidence from Cameroon’s Anglophone conflict. arXiv preprint arXiv:2306.13070.

Mikhail Samchukov | Research Excellence | Best Researcher Award

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Dr. Mikhail Samchukov | Research Excellence | Best Researcher Award

Dr. Mikhail Samchukov | Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children | Argentina

Dr. Mikhail L. Samchukov is an internationally renowned orthopedic surgeon recognized for his pioneering work in limb lengthening, deformity correction, and reconstructive surgery. A senior consultant and researcher with decades of experience, he has played a transformative role in advancing Ilizarov techniques, distraction osteogenesis, and the development of modern external fixation systems. Dr. Samchukov’s distinguished career bridges clinical innovation and biomedical engineering, focusing on precision alignment correction, bone regeneration, and patient-specific orthopedic solutions. He has authored and co-authored numerous peer-reviewed articles, book chapters, and monographs, and his research has influenced surgical practices and medical device development globally. As a recognized expert and mentor, Dr. Samchukov has led numerous clinical education programs, trained surgeons worldwide, and contributed to the integration of digital technologies into orthopedic modeling and treatment planning. His collaborations span premier medical institutions across North America, Europe, and Asia, strengthening the global network of orthopedic innovation. A frequent invited speaker at leading international congresses and symposiums, he continues to shape the future of reconstructive orthopedics through research leadership, mentorship, and clinical excellence. His career reflects a lifelong dedication to improving patient outcomes through science-driven surgical advancement.

Profile: Orcid

Featured Publications

Golshteyn, G., Oji, E., & Samchukov, M. (2025). Clinical guidelines for the application of tibial cortex transverse transport for diabetic foot ulcers. Foot & Ankle Surgery: Techniques, Reports & Cases, 100535. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fastrc.2025.100535

Feraru, L. M., & Samchukov, M. (2025). Limb salvage with transverse tibial bone transport in a high-risk patient with a chronic Achilles tendon ulcer: A case report. Foot & Ankle Surgery: Techniques, Reports & Cases, 100575. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fastrc.2025.100575

Stone, R., Samchukov, M., & Hutchison, B. (2025). Transverse tibial bone transport for treatment of calcaneal osteomyelitis: A case report. Foot & Ankle Surgery: Techniques, Reports & Cases, 100537. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fastrc.2025.100537

Bafor, A., Iobst, C., Samchukov, M., Cherkashin, A., Singh, S., Aguilar, L., & Glatt, V. (2023, December 20). Reverse dynamization accelerates regenerate bone formation and remodeling in a goat distraction osteogenesis model. Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery. https://doi.org/10.2106/JBJS.22.01342

Glatt, V., Samchukov, M., Cherkashin, A., & Iobst, C. (2021, February 3). Reverse dynamization accelerates bone healing in a large-animal osteotomy model. Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery. https://doi.org/10.2106/JBJS.20.00380

Ernat, J. J., Wimberly, L., Samchukov, M. L., Cherkaskin, A. M., & Birch, J. G. (2019). Staged reconstruction for type IV tibial deficiency (distal tibiofibular diastasis). JBJS Case Connector. https://doi.org/10.2106/JBJS.CC.19.00088

Wallace, S. B., Cherkashin, A., Samchukov, M., Wimberly, R. L., & Riccio, A. I. (2019, July 3). Real-time monitoring with a controlled advancement drill may decrease plunge depth. Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery. https://doi.org/10.2106/JBJS.19.00111