Raquel Gaspar | Financial Data Analysis | Best Researcher Award

Prof. Raquel Gaspar | Financial Data Analysis | Best Researcher Award

ISEG, Universidade de Lisboa | Portugal

Prof. Raquel M. Gaspar is an Associate Professor of Finance with Habilitation at ISEG – Universidade de Lisboa, where she coordinates the Scientific Area of Finance and the Master in Finance program. She earned her PhD in Finance from the Stockholm School of Economics in 2006, focusing on credit risk and forward price models under the supervision of Prof. Tomas Björk, following an MSc in Mathematics Applied to Economics and Management from ISEG. Her research interests include mathematical and computational finance, credit risk modeling, asset pricing, stochastic processes, portfolio management, and risk analysis. Prof. Gaspar has extensive teaching experience at ISEG and internationally, including Stockholm Business School and Universidad Complutense de Madrid. She has supervised multiple PhD and MSc theses in finance and actuarial science, with an emphasis on quantitative methods and applied finance. Her scientific contributions are reflected in 329 citations, an h-index of 10, and 13 i10-index publications, according to Google Scholar. She has authored several pedagogical materials and textbooks and participates actively in research projects under CEMAPRE/REM. Recognized for her pedagogical innovation and leadership, Prof. Gaspar continues to contribute to the development of financial education and quantitative finance research in Portugal and abroad.

Profiles : Scopus | Orcid

Featured Publications

Gaspar, R. M., & Silva, P. M. (2023). Investors’ perspective on portfolio insurance: Expected utility vs prospect theories. Portuguese Economic Journal.

França, R., & Gaspar, R. M. (2023). On the bias of the unbiased expectation theory. Mathematics.

Gaspar, R. M., & Khapko, M. (2023, October). In memoriam: Tomas Björk (1947–2021), on his career and beyond. Finance and Stochastics.

Almeida, J., & Gaspar, R. M. (2023, July 25). Portfolio performance of European target prices. Journal of Risk and Financial Management.

Céu, M. S., & Gaspar, R. M. (2022, December 21). Vegetative cycle and bankruptcy predictors of agricultural firms. Agricultural Economics (Zemědělská ekonomika), 0139-570X / 1805-9295.

Arun Gupta |  Fluid Mechanics | Best Researcher Award

Dr. Arun Gupta |  Fluid Mechanics | Best Researcher Award

University Institute of Engineering And Technology | India

Dr. Arun Kumar Gupta is an accomplished academician and researcher in the field of Chemical Engineering with over twenty-three years of teaching and research experience. He is currently serving as an Associate Professor at the University Institute of Engineering and Technology, Chhatrapati Shahu Ji Maharaj University, Kanpur. Dr. Gupta holds a B.Tech in Chemical Engineering from UIET, CSJMU, an M.Tech, and a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from IIT Kanpur. His research interests encompass process modeling and simulation, sustainable chemical processes, environmental engineering, smart farming systems, and the application of IoT and machine learning in chemical engineering. With 27 publications, 14 edited chapters, 3 books, and 1 completed project under the CV Raman Scheme, he has made significant scholarly contributions. He has organized and participated in numerous workshops, conferences, and faculty development programs and has been recognized with several honors, including the “Excellence in Academics Award” at the INDO–THAI International Excellence Awards 2024 and a Gold Medal in the NPTEL ASPEN course. Dr. Gupta’s innovative work has also led to two patents in smart irrigation and sustainable reactor design. Dedicated to advancing engineering education and research, he continues to inspire students and contribute to technological innovation.

Profiles : Orcid Google Scholar

Featured Publications

Chandra, A.K., Khan, W., Gupta, A.K., Patel, P.B., & Niranjan, R.S. (2025). “E‐Waste: A Leading Hazardous Waste.” In Global Waste Management (pp. 29–61).

Lal, A., Gupta, A.K., Kumar, A., & Indu, N.K.Y. (2010). “Manufacture and study of physico-chemical properties of Karanja bio-diesel.” In Proceedings on Renewable Energy and Sustainable Biofuels (Vol. 4).

Gupta, G.D., & Arun Kumar, G. (2022). “Enhancement in activity and reusability of dry Amberlyst-15 catalyst by thermal treatment for production of biodiesel from Karanja oil.” In Asian Journal of Chemistry, 35(1), 62–68.

Gupta, A.K., & Deo, G. (2018). “A single-step process to convert Karanja oil to fatty acid methyl esters using Amberlyst-15 as a catalyst.” In Chemical and Biochemical Engineering Quarterly, 32(1), 1–10.

Chiu, K., Gupta, A., Afxentiou, T., Ashraf, A., Kanani, R., Rajaguru, K., Bhatt, N., et al. (2025). “Impact of multiprofessional radiotherapy peer review on multidisciplinary team meeting staging in head and neck cancer.” In Clinical Oncology, 38, Article 103696.

Gupta, A.K. (2023). “Various methods for enhancement in heterogeneous catalyzed biodiesel production reaction rate.” In Journal of the Indian Chemical Society, 100(100970), 4.

Hui Zhang |  Biosensing and Bioimaging | Best Researcher Award

Dr. Hui Zhang |  Biosensing and Bioimaging | Best Researcher Award

Nanjing Forestry University | China

Dr Hui Zhang holds a Bachelor in Mechanical Manufacturing & Automation from Southeast University (2004-2008), a Master in Mechanical Design & Theory from Jiangnan University (2009-2012), and a Doctorate in Mechatronic Engineering from Southeast University (2013-2018) with a joint PhD period at the National University of Singapore (2014-2016). He is currently Assistant Professor (Lecturer) at Nanjing Forestry University (from December 2024), following his previous role as Assistant Researcher at Southeast University (May 2018-Nov 2024). His research centres on mechatronic engineering, with a strong emphasis on dielectric elastomer actuators, tunable lenses, soft electroactive materials, additive manufacturing of functional structures, and AI-augmented sensing and diagnostics. He has published extensively in SCI journals on topics including biomimetic human-eye adaptive lenses, 3D printed dielectric elastomers, tunable imaging systems, and machine-learning enabled defect detection. His current h-index is 11 with 45 papers and 418 citations. He has also contributed to monographs and conference proceedings in advanced manufacturing and smart devices. His work has been recognised for innovation in soft robotics and functional materials, and he continues to push the frontier of coupling mechanical design, materials science and intelligent systems in mechatronics.

Profile : Scopus

Featured Publications

Zhang, H.*, Zhu, J., Wen, H., Xia, Z., and Zhang, Z. (2023). “Biomimetic human eyes in adaptive lenses with conductive gels” in Journal of the Mechanical Behavior of Biomedical Materials, 139:105689. This work presents adaptive biomimetic lenses using conductive gels for vision systems inspired by the human eye, emphasizing improved optical tuning performance.

Zhang, H., Wen, H., Zhu, J., Xia, Z., and Zhang, Z.* (2023). “3D printing dielectric elastomers for advanced functional structures: A mini-review” in Journal of Applied Polymer Science, e55015. This review highlights emerging advances in 3D-printed dielectric elastomers with potential for flexible electronics and smart soft devices.

Zhang, H., Xia, Z., Zhang, Z., and Zhu, J. (2022). “Miniature and tunable high voltage-driven soft electroactive biconvex lenses for optical visual identification” in Journal of Micromechanics and Microengineering, 32(6):064004. The study develops compact electroactive soft lenses enabling tunable optical focusing for miniature imaging and identification applications.

Zhang, H.*, Dai, M., Xia, Z., and Zhang, Z. (2021). “Computational analyses for tunable solid lenses coupling polyacrylamide hydrogel electrodes” in Bulletin of Materials Science, 44(2):78. A computational approach is introduced to analyze hydrogel-based tunable solid lenses that enhance precision in optical deformation control.

Zhang, H.*, Li, Z., Xie, Y., Xia, Z., and Zhang, Z. (2021). “Focus-tunable imaging analyses of the liquid lens based on dielectric elastomer actuator” in Bulletin of Materials Science, 44(2):148. This research demonstrates a liquid-based dielectric elastomer lens with adjustable focusing capability to support compact imaging technologies.

Gleb Sychugov |  Healthcare Data Analysis | Best Researcher Award

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Gleb Sychugov |  Healthcare Data Analysis | Best Researcher Award

Southern Urals Federal Research and Clinical Center for Medical Biophysics | Russia

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Gleb Sychugov is a distinguished pathologist and medical researcher with a Ph.D. in Medicine and the highest qualification category in pathology. He serves as Deputy Chief Physician at the Chelyabinsk Regional Pathological Anatomy Bureau, Associate Professor at South Ural State Medical University, and Senior Research Fellow at the Southern Urals Federal Research and Clinical Center for Medical Biophysics (SUFRCC MB). With over 190 scientific publications, including 25 in Scopus-indexed journals and 4 patents, Dr. Sychugov has made pioneering contributions to radiation pathology, pulmonary pathology, reproductive system pathology, oncology, and dermatopathology. His research innovations include patented diagnostic algorithms for cervical intraepithelial neoplasia and mucinous ovarian carcinoma, as well as computational models for predicting dermal changes in anti-aging therapy. As Chief Pathologist of the Chelyabinsk Region and the Ural Federal District, he has led multiple regional and federal initiatives in pathology standardization. He actively collaborates in international epidemiological programs and serves on the Presidium of the Russian Society of Pathologists. With Scopus h-index 25, Web of Science h-index 4, and more than 55 citations, Dr. Sychugov continues to advance diagnostic pathology through evidence-based research, mentorship, and innovation, embodying excellence in translational medical science.

Profiles : Orcid | Scopus

Featured Publications

Gogoleva, D. V., & Sychugov, G. V. (2023). Immunohistochemistry of bone marrow extracellular matrix in Ph-negative myeloproliferative diseases. Ural Medical Journal.

Shamanova, A. Yu., Rostovtsev, D. M., Privalov, A. V., Yarina, L. V., Aristarkhova, K. S., Sychugov, G. V., Vasil’kova, I. V., Artem’eva, A. S., Saevets, V. V., & Alymov, E. A. (2023). Undifferentiated pancreatic carcinoma with osteoclast-like giant cells. Russian Journal of Archive of Pathology.

Sychugov, G. V., Kazachkov, E. L., Osovets, S. V., Grigoryeva, E. S., Sychugov, A. G., & Azizova, T. V. (2022). Leukemia inhibitory factor and cellular renewal in various types of pulmonary fibrosis in plutonium production workers. Biology Bulletin.

Zhuntova, G. V., Azizova, T. V., Bannikova, M. V., & Sychugov, G. V. (2022). Characteristics of malignant neoplasms of the hepatobiliary system in the cohort of occupationally-exposed workers. Ural Medical Journal.

Gogoleva, D., & Sychugov, G. (2021). Matrix metalloproteinases and their inhibitors in JAK2-mutated myeloproliferative neoplasms. Virchows Archiv. WOSUID: WOS:000692384500404

Simon Adu | Nuclear Security and Nonproliferation | Best Researcher Award

Dr. Simon Adu | Nuclear Security and Nonproliferation | Best Researcher Award

Texas A&M university | United States

Dr. Simon Adu is a distinguished researcher in Radiation Protection and Health Physics with over 16 years of professional experience. He holds a PhD (2016) and MPhil (2008) in Radiation Protection/Health Physics from the University of Ghana, and a BSc in Physics from the University of Cape Coast. He has held senior roles as Senior Research Scientist at the Ghana Atomic Energy Commission, Senior Regulatory Officer heading the Department of Nuclear Security at Ghana’s Nuclear Regulatory Authority, and Senior Lecturer at the University of Ghana. His work encompasses radiation safety in medical, industrial, mining and research reactor settings; calibration; regulatory inspections; nuclear security; non-proliferation; and education at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. He has supervised PhD and MSc students, reviewed theses externally in several African universities, participated in numerous IAEA-coordinated research projects, and has been awarded prestigious fellowships including the Stanton Fellowship, the IAEA PhD Sandwich Award, and Argonne National Laboratory fellowship. His research interests include nuclear safety, reactor core conversion (HEU to LEU), radiation dosimetry, nuclear security and safeguards. He is also an IAEA nuclear security expert participating in missions across Africa. Dr. Adu’s contributions have significantly advanced regulatory frameworks, improved safety culture, and strengthened capacity building in radiation protection and nuclear security across the region.

Profile : Google Scholar

Featured Publications

Doudoo, C. O., Gyekye, P. K., Emi-Reynolds, G., Adu, S., Kpeglo, D. O., Tagoe, S. N. A., & others (2023). “Dose and secondary cancer-risk estimation of patients undergoing high dose rate intracavitary gynaecological brachytherapy.” Journal of Medical Imaging and Radiation Sciences, 54 (2), 335–342.

Hasford, F., Owusu-Banahene, J., Otoo, F., Adu, S., Sosu, E. K., Amoako, J. K., & others (2012). “Assessment of annual whole-body occupational radiation exposure in education, research and industrial sectors in Ghana (2000–09).” Radiation Protection Dosimetry, 150 (3), 350–358.

Arwui, C. C., Deatanyah, P., Wotorchi-Gordon, S., Ankaah, J., Emi-Reynolds, G., Adu, S., & others (2011). “Assessment of the effectiveness of collimation of Cs–137 panoramic beam on TLD calibration using a constructed lead block collimator and an ICRU slab phantom at SSDL in Ghana.” International Journal of Science and Technology, 1 (4), 169–173.

Ndum, Z. N., Tao, J., Liu, Y., Ford, J., Vlassov, V., Morton, N., Grissom, J., Adu, S., & others (2024). “A digital twin-based simulator for small modular and microreactors.” Proceedings of the 2024 Winter Simulation Conference (WSC), 2963–2974.

Adu, S., Horvatovic, I., D’Auria, F., Nyarko, B. B. J., Geoffrey, E. R., & Menzel, F. (2015). “Analysis of channel blockage of MNSR reactor using the system thermal-hydraulic code RELAP5/MOD3.3.” Proceedings of the 24th International Conference on Nuclear Energy for New Europe, Ljubljana, Slovenia.

Birikorang, S. A., Dahunsi, S., Adu, S., Nketia, C. A., & Blay, A. (2025). “Assessing nuclear energy and radiological risks: a case study of radionuclide dispersion from potential nuclear power plant accidents in Ghana.” Radiation Protection Dosimetry, 201 (5), 333–350.

Uche Ndidi | Data Visualization | Best Researcher Award

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Uche Ndidi | Data Visualization | Best Researcher Award

Ahmadu Bello University | Nigeria

Dr. Uche Samuel Ndidi is an Associate Professor in the Department of Biochemistry at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria, with over 15 years of academic experience. He earned a BSc in Applied Biochemistry from Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Nigeria (2004), an MSc in Biochemistry from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria (2009), and completed his PhD in Biotechnology in Health and Investigative Medicine at the Instituto Gonçalo Moniz-Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ), Brazil (2013), and is currently pursuing postdoctoral research in Human Pathology at FIOCRUZ (2024). His research focuses on medical biochemistry, with emphasis on sickle cell disease, type 2 diabetes mellitus, trypanosomiasis, and neglected tropical diseases, employing advanced techniques such as PCR, ELISA, HPLC, and flow cytometry. He has authored over 23 publications, with numerous citations, and has supervised both undergraduate and postgraduate students. Dr. Ndidi serves as the Postgraduate Coordinator in the Department of Biochemistry at ABU and as the Student Internship Officer of the African Centre of Excellence in Neglected Tropical Diseases and Forensic Biotechnology (ACENTDFB), and is a member of the Nigerian Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and the Science Association of Nigeria. His work has been recognized with the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (FIOCRUZ) Scholarship and the Brazil National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq) Scholarship. Dr. Ndidi’s extensive research and leadership have advanced the understanding and management of key biochemical and medical conditions, particularly in African populations.

Profiles : Orcid ScopusGoogle Scholar

Featured Publications

Ndidi, U.S.; Ogwuche O.I.; Jonathan, E.U.; Iroha, O.K. (2025). “Drug repurposing in cancer research: a bibliometric analysis.” Discover Oncology.

Ndidi, U.S.; Adanho, C.S.A.; Santiago, R.P.; Yahouédéhou, S.C.M.A.; Santana, S.S.; Mafili, V.V.; Pitanga, T.N.; Fonseca, C.A.; Ferreira, J.R.D.; Adorno, E.V. et al. (2019). “Effect of N(Epsilon)-(carboxymethyl)lysine on laboratory parameters and its association with βS haplotype in children with sickle cell anemia.” Disease Markers.

Okpe, O.; Ndidi, U.S.; Ojowu, J.; Maifada, S.R.; Etim, E.E.; Awen, D.A.; Ovur, C.E. (2019). “GC–MS profiling and antimalarial activity of Khaya grandifoliola on Plasmodium berghei–infected mice.” Journal of Herbs, Spices and Medicinal Plants.

Yahouédéhou, S.C.M.A.; da Guarda, C.C.; Figueiredo, C.V.B.; Santiago, R.P.; Carvalho, S.P.; Fiuza, L.M.; Ndidi, U.S.; Oliveira, R.M.; Carvalho, M.O.S.; Nascimento, V.M.L. et al. (2019). “Hydroxyurea alters hematological, biochemical and inflammatory biomarkers in Brazilian children with SCA: investigating associations with βS haplotype and α-thalassemia.” PLoS ONE.

Yahouédéhou, S.C.M.A.; Adorno, E.V.; da Guarda, C.C.; Ndidi, U.S.; Carvalho, S.P.; Santiago, R.P.; Aleluia, M.M.; de Oliveira, R.M.; Gonçalves, M.S. (2018). “Hydroxyurea in the management of sickle cell disease: pharmacogenomics and enzymatic metabolism.” Pharmacogenomics Journal.

 

Jiapeng Xu | Qualitative Research | Best Researcher Award

Mr. Jiapeng Xu | Qualitative Research | Best Researcher Award

Northwest A&F University | China

Dr. Jiapeng Xu is an accomplished Associate Professor at the College of Economics and Management, Northwest A&F University, specializing in urbanization, industrial economy, and urban-rural sustainable development. He earned his Doctor of Management degree from Huazhong Agricultural University and has established a distinguished career in research, teaching, and policy advisory. With over 11 publications in leading journals such as Environmental Impact Assessment Review, Environment, Development and Sustainability, and Environmental Management, his scholarly impact is reflected in an h-index of 5 and over 203 citations. Dr. Xu has led more than 10 national and provincial-level projects, including those funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China, and completed 23 teaching and research initiatives. His policy reports have been recognized at the highest levels of government—four adopted by the General Office of the State Council and three receiving direct instructions from national leaders. A Consulting Expert for World Bank Projects and a member of several academic committees, he also contributes as Deputy Secretary-General of the Agricultural Economics Virtual Teaching Office under China’s Ministry of Education. His research continues to advance sustainable economic policies and educational innovation in China’s western development region, earning him prestigious honors such as the Shaanxi Provincial Higher Education Teaching Achievement Award.

Profile : Scopus

Featured Publications

Promoting Balanced Ecological-economic Development in Ecologically Vulnerable Regions: Spatio-temporal Variation and Driving Factors, 2025

The impact of urbanization on carbon emissions of rural households: a study based on micro-level measurement, 2024

Edward Douthett | Qualitative Research | Excellence in Research

Dr. Edward Douthett | Qualitative Research | Excellence in Research

George Mason University | United States

Dr. Edward B. Douthett is an accomplished academic and accounting professional serving as an Associate Professor of Accounting at George Mason University’s School of Business. He holds a Ph.D. and M.B.A. in Accounting and Finance from the University of Georgia’s Terry College of Business and a B.S. in Accounting from Pennsylvania State University. Before entering academia, Dr. Douthett gained extensive industry experience at Exxon Chemicals and Exxon Company USA, where he held key roles in financial reporting, analysis, auditing, and management. A Certified Public Accountant (CPA) in Virginia, his teaching expertise spans managerial and cost accounting, financial accounting, and performance evaluation across undergraduate, MBA, and EMBA programs. His academic contributions emphasize cost management, performance measurement, and international business environments. Dr. Douthett’s work bridges theory and practice, integrating real-world corporate insights into academic learning. He has been recognized for his excellence in teaching and leadership, particularly as the Northern Chapter Virginia Society CPA Professor of Public Accounting. Dedicated to fostering ethical decision-making and analytical skills among future accounting professionals, Dr. Douthett continues to inspire innovation in accounting education and practice.

Profile : Orcid

Featured Publications

Amoruso, A., Douthett, E., & Duchac, J. (2025). The effect of the legal environment on assurance services: evidence from international registrants in U.S. capital markets. Review of Quantitative Finance and Accounting.

Copley, P., Douthett, E. B., & Zhang, S. (2021). Venture capitalists and assurance services on initial public offerings. Journal of Business Research.

Douthett, E. B., & Copley, P. (2020). The Enrollment Cliff, Mega-Universities, COVID-19, and the Changing Landscape of U.S. Colleges. CPA Journal.

Douthett, E. B. (2020). Do Auditors Protect Shareholders Against Financial Expropriation by Corporate Insiders? The Journal of American Academy of Business.

Douthett, E. B. (2020). Do auditors provide assurance beyond the financial statements? Evidence from the market for new issues. Journal of Theoretical Accounting Research.

Ignacio Aguaded | Educational Data Analysis | Best Researcher Award

Dr. Ignacio Aguaded | Educational Data Analysis | Best Researcher Award

University of Huelva | Spain

Dr. Ignacio Aguaded is a Full Professor at the University of Huelva (Spain) and a leading scholar in Educommunication, Media Literacy, and Educational Technology. He holds a PhD in Psychopedagogy (University of Huelva), a degree in Pedagogy (UNED), a degree in Hispanic Philology (University of Seville), and a Diploma in Teaching (University of Seville). With more than four decades of academic experience, he began as a primary school teacher and progressed through positions in the University of Seville, the Ministry of Education of Andalusia, and the University of Huelva, where he has served since 1993. He is the founding president of Grupo Comunicar and Chief Editor of the high-impact journal Comunicar (indexed JCR-Q1, Scopus Q1), recognized among the top worldwide in cultural studies. His research productivity is remarkable, with over 178 scientific papers, 47 books, and 139 book chapters, accumulating more than 1807 citations and an h-index 23. He has coordinated numerous national, European, and Latin American research projects, supervised 48 PhD theses, and led the Euro-American Alfamed Research Network. Recipient of prestigious awards, including the UNESCO World Prize (2022), Ibero-American Communication Award (2022), and Best Researcher Award (2015), Dr. Aguaded continues to shape global research and practice in media education and literacy.

Profiles : Scopus | Orcid | Google Scholar

Featured Publications

“Decoding the Enigma of a Digital Platform Transfer: Research-Based Design and Complex Thinking”

“DIG-HE Digital Transformation Model in Higher Education: An Implementation Model”

“Spanish universities in the Shanghai ranking in education (2022–2024)”

“Explorando la intersección entre tecnologías IA y alfabetización mediática en personas de edad avanzada”

“Media competence in the early, primary and secondary education curriculum: presence and progression in Latin America”

Viken Kortian | Big Data Analytics | Best Researcher Award

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Viken Kortian | Big Data Analytics | Best Researcher Award

Macquarie University | Australia

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Viken Kortian is an accomplished academic and researcher specializing in operations management, innovation, and entrepreneurship, with extensive expertise in business process management, strategy, and big data analytics. He holds a PhD in Management from Macquarie Graduate School of Management, where his doctoral research focused on organizational agility and firm performance in Australian SMEs. His academic foundation also includes a Master of Arts, an MBA, and a Bachelor of Chemical Engineering with honors. Dr. Kortian has built a distinguished career in higher education, currently serving as Associate Professor at Macquarie University’s School of Engineering, where he played a pivotal role in designing and leading the Master of Engineering Management program, one of the university’s largest postgraduate offerings. He has also contributed to Kaplan Business School, Macquarie Graduate School of Management, and the Australian Graduate School of Management through innovative course development in data analytics, quality management, and business excellence. His research interests span business excellence, operations management, artificial intelligence, and machine learning, with several conference presentations, publications, and a US patent to his credit. Recognized with multiple Vice Chancellor’s Awards for Teaching Excellence and other honors, Dr. Kortian is a dedicated educator, researcher, and thought leader shaping engineering management education in Australia.

Profile : Orcid 

Featured Publication

“Challenges and Issues in Implementing & Operationalising Big Data Analytics Capabilities in a major Australian Railway Organisation: A Case Study”