Olatunde Olatunji | Research Excellence | Research Excellence Award

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Prof. Olatunde Olatunji | Research Excellence | Research Excellence Award

Prof. Olatunde Olatunji | University of KwaZulu-Natal | South Africa 

Olatunde Stephen Olatunji is an accomplished analytical and environmental chemist with extensive academic, research, and industry experience spanning environmental monitoring, forensic chemistry, and advanced materials for pollution control. He is an Associate Professor in the School of Chemistry and Physics at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, where he has also served in key academic leadership roles, including Academic Leader for Research. His career reflects a strong balance between high-impact research, postgraduate supervision, curriculum development, and applied environmental problem-solving. His expertise lies in analytical method development and validation, trace and ultra-trace detection of environmental contaminants, and the assessment of chemical risks to human and ecosystem health. He has made significant contributions to the study of emerging contaminants such as pharmaceuticals, microplastics, PFAS, endocrine-disrupting compounds, and other contaminants of emerging concern across water, soil, air, food, and biological matrices. His work integrates chromatography, mass spectrometry, atomic spectroscopy, electrochemical sensing, and chemometric approaches to deliver robust, policy-relevant environmental data. A major focus of his research is the design and functionalization of carbon-based and hybrid nanomaterials for electrochemical sensing and photocatalytic remediation. These green nanotechnology-driven solutions target the detection, degradation, and removal of persistent and recalcitrant organic pollutants, contributing to sustainable water treatment and environmental protection strategies. His research also addresses pollutant fate, transport, bioavailability, toxicity, and ecological risk assessment. He has supervised a large number of undergraduate and postgraduate students, including master’s and doctoral candidates, many of whom have successfully completed their degrees and progressed into academic and professional careers. He is an active examiner of postgraduate theses across multiple universities and a member of several professional scientific bodies at national and international levels. Through extensive collaborations, high-quality peer-reviewed publications, and interdisciplinary engagement, he continues to advance analytical and environmental chemistry research with clear societal and environmental impact.

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Faezeh Parastesh | Research Excellence | Research Excellence Award

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Dr. Faezeh Parastesh | Research Excellence | Research Excellence Award

University of Manitoba | Canada

Faezeh Parastesh is a soil scientist with strong expertise in greenhouse gas emissions, soil nutrient management, and climate-smart agricultural systems. She is currently pursuing doctoral research in soil science at the University of Manitoba, focusing on nitrous oxide emissions from cropping systems with varying degrees of perennialization, aligned with global net-zero goals. Her academic background integrates advanced training in soil ecology, quantitative and non-traditional research methods, machine learning applications in agriculture, and climate-smart soil management. She holds a master’s degree in soil science from the University of Manitoba, where her research examined relationships between soil nitrous oxide concentrations and surface fluxes under diverse farming practices. She also earned a master’s degree in soil biology and biotechnology from the University of Tehran, specializing in vermicompost enrichment using phosphate-solubilizing bacteria to enhance phosphorus availability and crop uptake in calcareous soils. Her undergraduate training in soil science included research on wind erosion prediction systems, providing a solid foundation in soil conservation and land management. Faezeh has published in high-impact, peer-reviewed journals on topics including microbial consortia, plant defense mechanisms, phosphorus bioavailability, and sustainable soil management. She has also contributed to ongoing research on drought stress mitigation using biochar and plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria. Her work has been presented at national and regional scientific conferences, reflecting active engagement with the soil science research community. Professionally, she has extensive experience as a laboratory technician, graduate teaching assistant, and research intern. Her work spans field and laboratory sampling, soil and plant analysis, mentoring students, teaching soil and water management, and developing greenhouse gas prediction protocols for municipal applications. She is proficient in R, SAS, Python, and statistical modeling tools, and is skilled in experimental design, soil mapping, and land capability assessment. Recognized through multiple scholarships and awards, she is also actively involved in academic service, peer review, and outreach with farmers and researchers, demonstrating strong leadership and commitment to sustainable agriculture.

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Caoming Fan | Research Excellence | Research Excellence Award

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Dr. Caoming Fan | Research Excellence | Research Excellence Award

Tsinghua University | China

Caoming Fan is a postdoctoral researcher in the Department of Electronic Engineering at Tsinghua University, working in the PNT Laboratory under the supervision of Prof. Zheng Yao. He holds a doctoral degree in Circuits and Systems from the School of Microelectronics, Shandong University, and has received comprehensive academic training spanning electronic engineering, microelectronics, and geodesy. His interdisciplinary background enables him to bridge theoretical signal processing with practical high-precision positioning applications. Dr. Fan’s research focuses on GNSS and pseudolite-based precise positioning technologies, with particular emphasis on ambiguity resolution, real-time kinematic and PPP/PPP-RTK methods, and error modeling. He has made notable contributions to ground-based and pseudolite-augmented GNSS systems, addressing challenges in indoor and complex environments where conventional satellite navigation performance is limited. His work also extends to GNSS and pseudolite receiver design, baseband signal processing, and multi-sensor fusion, supporting robust, high-accuracy navigation solutions. He has published multiple peer-reviewed articles in leading international journals, including Journal of Geodesy and GPS Solutions, covering topics such as pseudolite system augmentation, ground-based PPP-RTK frameworks, calibration techniques for indoor positioning, and phase correction modeling. His early research also contributed to understanding satellite attitude effects on phase wind-up in precise point positioning, reflecting a strong foundation in both theoretical modeling and applied geodesy. Dr. Fan’s academic excellence and research innovation have been recognized through several prestigious awards at national conferences in satellite navigation and location-based services, as well as competitive innovation and entrepreneurship platforms. He has also received a highly competitive national doctoral scholarship. With strong expertise in high-precision navigation, signal processing, and system integration, Dr. Fan continues to advance next-generation positioning, navigation, and timing technologies, contributing to both academic research and practical GNSS/pseudolite applications in challenging environments.

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Lu Hongbin | Research Excellence | Research Excellence Award

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Dr. Lu Hongbin | Research Excellence | Research Excellence Award

State Key Laboratory of Coal Conversion | China

Hongbin Lu is an accomplished environmental engineer specializing in water environment治理, ecological restoration, and pollution control technologies. He holds a doctoral degree in Environmental Engineering jointly awarded by Beijing Normal University and the Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences. He currently serves as an Assistant Researcher at the National Key Laboratory of Coal Clean and Efficient Utilization, Institute of Coal Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, and acts as a Guest Expert at the Innovation Center for Ecological Protection and Restoration in the Middle Yellow River under the Ministry of Natural Resources. Dr. Lu has established a strong research profile with a substantial body of peer-reviewed publications in high-impact international environmental journals. A significant portion of his work appears as first or corresponding author, reflecting his leadership in scientific innovation and research design. His publications include SCI-indexed articles and a featured cover paper, highlighting the visibility and impact of his research within the global environmental science community. In addition to academic publishing, Dr. Lu demonstrates exceptional innovation capacity through extensive intellectual property achievements. He holds numerous authorized patents, including multiple invention patents, and is the first inventor on several additional invention patent applications. His research outputs have been translated into practical guidance, most notably through his key contribution to nationally adopted technical guidelines on water quality purification using constructed wetlands. These guidelines have been widely implemented, supporting ecological restoration and water quality improvement across diverse regions. Dr. Lu is actively engaged in academic service and leadership. He serves as a Guest Editor for an international journal and regularly reviews manuscripts for well-regarded environmental science publications. He also plays an important role in advancing disciplinary development by contributing to major national academic conferences as a scientific committee member and session chair or organizer. Furthermore, he has led and significantly contributed to multiple competitive research projects supported by national and provincial funding agencies, reinforcing his reputation as a leading young scholar with strong scientific, technological, and societal impact.

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Arezoo Taghizadeh-Toosi | Research Excellence | Research Excellence Award

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Dr. Arezoo Taghizadeh-Toosi | Research Excellence | Research Excellence Award

Danish Technological Institute | Denmark

Arezoo Taghizadeh-Toosi is an accomplished soil scientist with extensive international experience in agricultural and environmental research. Her work focuses on understanding and managing soil carbon and nitrogen dynamics in both mineral and organic soils, with particular emphasis on sustainable agricultural systems. She has developed strong expertise in mitigating gaseous emissions from soils, including ammonia volatilization and greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide, contributing significantly to climate-smart agriculture initiatives. Her research portfolio includes advanced investigations into the role of biochar in soils, combining experimental measurements with process-based and statistical modelling approaches. She is particularly skilled in applying and developing models for soil carbon turnover and nutrient cycling, supporting evidence-based decision-making in land management and environmental policy. In addition, her work addresses complex interactions between soil iron, sulfur, carbon, and nitrogen cycles, as well as phosphorus accumulation and spatial distribution in intensively managed agricultural landscapes. Arezoo has held senior and research scientist positions across leading research institutions in Europe, Oceania, and Asia, reflecting a strong global research profile and interdisciplinary collaboration. She has contributed to both academic and applied research environments, bridging fundamental soil science with practical solutions for agriculture, digitalization, and environmental sustainability. Her experience also includes academic teaching and international visiting appointments, demonstrating her commitment to knowledge exchange and capacity building. She is an active contributor to the scientific community, serving as an expert reviewer for international funding bodies and participating in grant review panels. Her professional service extends to conference leadership and certified research-based consultancy for the public sector. With a strong publication record, high citation impact, and recognized expertise, Arezoo Taghizadeh-Toosi is a leading figure in soil biogeochemistry and sustainable land-use research.

 

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Taoufik Alsaadi | Research Excellence | Best Researcher Award

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Prof. Taoufik Alsaadi | Research Excellence | Best Researcher Award

American Center for Psychiatry & Neurology | United Arab Emirates

Dr. Taoufik Alsaadi, MD, FAAN, is an internationally recognized neurologist and epileptologist with extensive expertise in epilepsy, electroencephalography, and medical education. He currently serves as Chairman of the Neurology Department and Chief Medical Officer at the American Center for Psychiatry & Neurology (ACPN) in Abu Dhabi, where he plays a pivotal role in advancing clinical excellence, academic development, and patient-centered neurological care. Born in Damascus, Syria, Dr. Alsaadi received his medical education at Damascus University before pursuing advanced postgraduate training in neurology, epilepsy, and clinical neurophysiology across leading academic institutions in the United States. He completed comprehensive residency and fellowship training, including advanced subspecialty training in epilepsy and electrophysiology at premier centers, establishing a strong foundation in both clinical practice and academic neurology. Dr. Alsaadi is board-certified in neurology, clinical neurophysiology, and epilepsy, and holds multiple international medical licenses. His clinical interests focus on complex epilepsy management, EEG interpretation, and the integration of evidence-based practices into neurological care. He is widely respected for his contributions to improving the quality of life of patients with epilepsy and for his compassionate, patient-focused approach. An accomplished educator, Dr. Alsaadi has held academic appointments at prominent universities and has been deeply involved in undergraduate, graduate, and postgraduate medical education. He has directed residency and fellowship programs, led CME and GME initiatives, and mentored numerous physicians and fellows who now practice globally. Dr. Alsaadi’s leadership extends to international professional organizations, where he has served in senior roles within epilepsy and neurology societies, contributing to education, policy, guideline development, and disease classification initiatives. He is also actively engaged in editorial and peer-review activities for leading neurological journals.

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Diana Dorobantu | Research Excellence | Research Excellence Award

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Assoc. Prof. Dr. Diana Dorobantu | Research Excellence | Research Excellence Award

ISFA | Université Lyon 1 | France

Diana Dorobantu is an Associate Professor (Maître de Conférences) at Université Lyon 1, affiliated with the Laboratoire de Sciences Actuarielles et Financières and the Institut de Science Financière et d’Assurances (ISFA). Her academic profile reflects a strong interdisciplinary foundation spanning applied mathematics, finance, actuarial science, and risk modeling, supported by advanced training in both mathematical theory and economic applications. Her research expertise lies at the intersection of stochastic processes and applied probability, with a particular emphasis on stochastic control, optimal stopping, and the study of hitting times and passage time distributions. She has made significant contributions to mathematical finance and insurance mathematics, especially in areas related to default risk modeling, contagion effects, life insurance valuation, climate risk, and actuarial applications of Ornstein–Uhlenbeck processes. Her work is recognized for combining rigorous theoretical developments with practical relevance to financial and insurance risk management. Professor Dorobantu has authored and co-authored numerous peer-reviewed publications in leading international journals, including Stochastics, Bernoulli, Quantitative Finance, Journal of Applied Probability, Stochastic Models, and Methodology and Computing in Applied Probability. Her research addresses both analytical and statistical challenges, such as first-passage time densities, suprema-based inference, renewal-reward processes, and parameter estimation for stochastic models. She has also contributed to applied studies in climate risk and agricultural insurance, demonstrating the societal relevance of her work. In addition to her research activities, she is deeply engaged in doctoral supervision, having guided multiple PhD candidates on topics related to stochastic processes, actuarial science, and climate-related risk modeling. Her administrative leadership includes directing graduate-level programs in financial risk engineering and coordinating international actuarial training initiatives. Through her combined roles as researcher, supervisor, and academic leader, Diana Dorobantu has played a key role in advancing actuarial science education and research with strong international visibility.

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Featured Publications

An Extension of Davis and Lo’s Contagion Model

A. Cousin, D. Dorobantu, D. Rullière · Quantitative Finance · Cited by 23
Optimal Strategies in a Risky Debt Context

D. Dorobantu, M. Elvira Mancino, M. Pontier · Stochastics · Cited by 9
Joint Law of an Ornstein–Uhlenbeck Process and Its Supremum

C. Blanchet-Scalliet, D. Dorobantu, L. Gay · Journal of Applied Probability · Cited by 8
A Model-Point Approach to Indifference Pricing of Life Insurance Portfolios with Dependent Lives

C. Blanchet-Scalliet, D. Dorobantu, Y. Salhi · Methodology and Computing in Applied Probability · Cited by 8

Eric Howard | Research Excellence | Research Excellence Award

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Dr. Eric Howard | Research Excellence | Research Excellence Award

Dr. Eric Howard | Macquarie University | Australia

Dr. Eric Howard is an accomplished academic leader, researcher, and innovator with nearly three decades of combined experience across computational physics, astronomy, quantum computing, data science, and cybersecurity. He has made influential contributions through teaching, curriculum design, research supervision, and interdisciplinary program development across multiple higher-education sectors. His academic leadership includes directing programs and advancing pedagogical frameworks for undergraduate, postgraduate, and MBA-level studies. Dr. Howard’s research portfolio reflects significant advancements in emerging technologies. His completed and ongoing projects span quantum machine learning for fraud detection, hybrid quantum-classical neural networks for intrusion detection, quantum Bayesian inference models, variational simulations of molecular ground states, holographic beam shaping with AI optimization, and quantum graph neural networks for complex systems. He has published more than sixty peer-reviewed papers in respected SCI and Scopus-indexed journals, covering quantum information science, artificial intelligence, cosmology, cryptography, and computational physics. He also contributes to global scholarship as an editor for international journals in physics and theoretical mathematics, while serving as a peer reviewer for prominent scientific publishers and organizations. In addition, Dr. Howard maintains strong collaborative ties with national research institutes, quantum technology networks, and centers of excellence, advancing high-impact interdisciplinary projects. In industry, Dr. Howard has demonstrated entrepreneurial leadership as CEO of companies specializing in AI-powered cybersecurity and data-driven digital automation. His consultancy experience includes developing secure e-learning ecosystems, threat intelligence platforms, cloud security frameworks, and advanced analytics solutions for enterprise and academic clients. Dr. Howard’s key contributions include pioneering quantum-enhanced cybersecurity models, designing AI-driven threat intelligence frameworks, and leading competitive grant-funded projects in quantum sensing, VQE simulations, and digital security. His sustained commitment to innovation, mentorship, and research excellence underscores his significant impact on scientific, technological, and educational advancement.

Profile: Orcid | Google Scholar

Featured Publications

Howard, E. (2025). Data imputation with deep learning: AI techniques for handling missing or noisy data. Eksplorium. https://doi.org/10.52783/eksplorium.65

Howard, E. (2025). End-to-end visibility in global supply chains: Blockchain and AI integration [Dataset]. figshare. https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.28528676

Howard, E. (2025). Leveraging computer vision and data science for enhanced operational efficiency in smart enterprises. Tangence. https://doi.org/10.52783/tangence.6

Ramshankar, P., Howard, E., Srinivasan, V., Prabu, D., Dhanraj, J. A., Kumar, M. J., & Rajendiran, M. (2025). Nanoscale characterization and imaging techniques for material analysis. AIP Conference Proceedings. https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0277578

Howard, E. (2025). Optimization of heat transfer in mechanical systems using AI in neural networks. Tangence. https://doi.org/10.52783/tangence.3

Howard, E. (2025). Real-time image-based data processing and its applications in managerial decision-making and risk analysis. Eksplorium. https://doi.org/10.52783/eksplorium.181

Uchenna Kingsley Okeke | Research Excellence | Best Researcher Award

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Dr. Uchenna Kingsley Okeke | Research Excellence | Best Researcher Award

Dr. Uchenna Kingsley Okeke | University of Johannesburg | South Africa

A dedicated researcher and educator, this academic professional has established a strong interdisciplinary footprint in Physics Education, STEM/STEAM pedagogy, and curriculum innovation. Their work spans instructional strategy design, educational assessment, and the integration of indigenous knowledge systems into science education, with a particular emphasis on decolonizing STEM pedagogy and advancing gender-responsive teaching aligned with Sustainable Development Goal 4. With teaching and research experience across university and secondary school settings, they have contributed significantly to the development of physics education through innovative instructional approaches, classroom engagement research, and psychomotor domain advancement within STEAM frameworks. Their scholarly achievements include numerous peer-reviewed publications, book chapters, and conference proceedings covering topics such as cognitively guided instruction, contextualized physics pedagogy, assessment practices, student mental health, and gender-related barriers in STEM. Their research also explores comparative instructional models, students’ learning difficulties, cognitive development, and the role of science education in fostering social dimensions of scientific understanding. In addition to publishing in respected international journals, they serve as a peer reviewer for several academic outlets, demonstrating commitment to scholarly quality and academic leadership. The candidate’s professional experience includes university-level instruction, curriculum development, supervision of teaching practicums, and management of school-wide academic programmes. They possess expertise in quantitative and qualitative research methods, especially SPSS statistical analysis and thematic interpretation of qualitative data. Their contributions extend to professional development initiatives for educators and community-based engagement focused on social and environmental issues. They have presented research at international conferences and participated in capacity-building programmes and workshops dedicated to gender equity, African studies, and early-career research development. Their academic competencies span instructional design, assessment development, cross-cultural collaboration, and evidence-based teaching practices. As an active member of relevant professional bodies, they continue to contribute to the growth of science education through research, leadership, and transformative educational practice.

Profiles: Scopus | Orcid | LinkedIn| Research Gate

Featured Publications

Okeke, U. K., & Ramaila, S. (2025). Decolonizing secondary school science education through contextualized instruction: An exploration of the nature of science, adaptive expertise, instructional implications and pedagogical frameworks for knowledge integration. Social Sciences & Humanities Open, 11, 101614. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssaho.2025.101614

Okeke, U. K., & Ramaila, S. (2025). Reimagining the psychomotor domain: Pedagogical implications of STEAM education. Education Sciences, 15(11), 1497. https://doi.org/10.3390/educsci15111497

Okeke, U. K. (2025). Instructional design considerations: Cognitive development and physics comprehension in secondary education. International Journal of Studies in Psychology, 5(2), 1–4.

Okeke, U. K., & Ramaila, S. (2025, June 28). Teachers’ TPACK: Evaluating the strengths and weaknesses of online assessment in K-12 science instruction. In Education and New Developments (END) 2025 Conference Proceedings (pp. 171–174).

Okeke, U. K., & Ramaila, S. (2025, June 28). The emergence of STEAM and its pedagogical implications: A re-evaluation of the psychomotor domain. In Education and New Developments (END) 2025 Conference Proceedings (pp. 151–155).

Adeduyigbe, A. M., Ukoh, E. E., & Okeke, U. K. (2025). Influence of gender on secondary school physics students’ learning difficulties in electricity. Physics Education, 60, 025017. https://doi.org/10.1088/1361-6552/adab5d