Lan Wu | Emerging Research Trends | Best Researcher Award

Dr. Lan Wu | Emerging Research Trends | Best Researcher Award

Dr. Lan Wu | Emerging Research Trends –  University of Technology Sydney (UTS) | Australia

Dr. Lan Wu is a highly accomplished Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the University of New South Wales (UNSW), with a dynamic profile in environmental biotechnology, wastewater treatment, and industrial collaboration. Since 2025, she has contributed to both academia and industry through her concurrent roles as a guest lecturer at UNSW, an emissions and decarbonisation analyst at GHG Analytics Pty Ltd, and an active collaborator with prominent companies such as The Kanoo Group and TasWater. Her multifaceted contributions are centered around optimizing emissions reporting strategies and innovating energy-efficient environmental systems, bridging academic research and industrial impact.

Professional Profile

SCOPUS

ORCID

Education

Dr. Wu’s educational journey reflects academic excellence and international reach. She earned her Ph.D. in Environmental Engineering from the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) in 2023. Prior to this, she completed her Master’s degree in Environmental Engineering in 2018 and a Bachelor’s degree in the same field in 2014 from the Ocean University of China. Her academic formation laid a robust foundation for a research-intensive and innovation-driven career in environmental sustainability and resource recovery.

Experience

Her professional experience spans research, teaching, and industrial consultancy. Between 2023 and 2025, Dr. Wu served as a postdoctoral researcher at UTS, where she co-supervised Ph.D. students and forged vital industry-academic partnerships. Concurrently, she has been involved in teaching across various capacities since 2019, delivering core environmental engineering subjects such as Renewable Energy Technologies, Sanitation Engineering, and Capstone Projects. In 2025, she took on new roles at UNSW and GHG Analytics, focusing on emissions management and low-carbon solutions for leading organizations. Her expertise is also actively shared through public seminars and international collaborations, marking her as a nexus of scientific research and practical application.

Research Interest

Dr. Wu’s research revolves around transformative environmental technologies and processes. Her interests include wastewater and sludge management, anaerobic digestion, biowaste-to-energy conversion, micro/nanoplastics toxicology, environmental material innovation, and bioprocess modeling. She is particularly engaged in developing integrated systems that convert organic waste into valuable biofuels, as evidenced by her leadership in major collaborative projects and pitch competitions. Additionally, she contributes to policy-relevant topics like emissions reduction and sustainable wastewater practices.

Awards and Recognition

Recognized both nationally and internationally, Dr. Wu has received multiple prestigious awards. These include being a finalist in the 2024 CISRO On Acceleration Program and the UTS Research Translation Competition, both placing her in the top 5% of participants. She has also earned accolades such as the UTS Post Thesis Award (2023), the HDR Students Excellence Award (Top 2%, 2022), and the WiEIT Award (Top 5%, 2022). Her earlier achievements include competitive Chinese national scholarships, such as the Roberto Rocca Education Program Scholarship and the China Scholarship Council Award for Ph.D. study abroad. These honors collectively reflect her academic excellence, research leadership, and social contribution.

Publication

Liu, X., Wei, W., Chen, Z., Wu, L., Duan, H., Zheng, M., Wang, D., & Ni, B.J. (2025). “The threats of micro- and nanoplastics to aquatic ecosystems and water health” in Nature Water (Cited by 12).
Qian, J., Bai, S., Wu, L., Geng, M., Chen, G., & Jiang, F. (2025). “Energy recovery from corn straw-based biochar@MIL-88A(Fe)-mediated anaerobic digestion of waste activated sludge under norfloxacin: metabolism and antibiotic resistance gene fates” in Journal of Environmental Sciences (Cited by 3).
Xu, W., Wu, L., Geng, M., Zhou, J., Bai, S., Nguyen, D.V., Ma, R., Wu, D., & Qian, J. (2025). “Biochar@MIL-88A(Fe) accelerates direct interspecies electron transfer and hydrogen transfer in waste activated sludge anaerobic digestion: Exploring electron transfer and biomolecular mechanisms” in Environmental Research (Cited by 5).
Wang, Y., Wu, S.-L., Wei, W., Wu, L., Huang, S., Dai, X., & Ni, B.J. (2025). “pH-dependent medium-chain fatty acid synthesis in waste activated sludge fermentation: Metabolic pathway regulation” in Journal of Environmental Management (Cited by 8).
Wang, C., Wei, W., Wu, L., Liu, X., Duan, H., Chen, Z., Hou, Y.-N., Chen, X., & Ni, B.J. (2024). “Electron Donor-Driven Microalgae Upgrading into High-Value Fatty Acids via a Microbial Platform” in ACS ES&T Engineering (Cited by 10).
Wu, L., Wei, W., Ni, B.J. (2023). “Microplastics inhibition in waste-to-energy conversion: understanding biochemical barriers” in Bioresource Technology (Cited by 22).
Wu, L., Wei, W. (2019). “Syngas fermentation for biofuel production from organic waste streams” in Renewable Energy (Cited by 19).

Armando Duarte | Environmental Data Analysis | Best Researcher Award

Prof Dr. Armando Duarte | Environmental Data Analysis | Best Researcher Award

University of Aveiro | Portugal

Author Profile

Orcid

Scopus

Early Academic Pursuits 🎓

Prof. Dr. Armando Duarte began his academic journey with a focus on both Public Health Engineering and Chemistry. He was awarded a Ph.D. in Public Health Engineering at the University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne in 1981. Later, he pursued an Aggregation in Chemistry at the University of Aveiro in 1989, demonstrating his dedication to deepening his expertise across diverse scientific fields. His early studies laid a strong foundation for a highly successful academic career.

Professional Endeavors 🌍

With over 35 years of internationally recognized experience, Prof. Duarte has made significant strides in Analytical Chemistry, Qualimetrics, and Analytical Quality Assurance. His work has largely focused on generating experimental data that supports crucial decisions concerning food safety, environmental protection, health, and sustainable development. His contributions span several sectors, and he has collaborated with professionals across various industries, always pushing the boundaries of scientific inquiry.

Contributions and Research Focus On  Environmental Data Analysis 🔬

Prof. Duarte’s research is especially notable for its focus on understanding the distribution, availability, and fate of chemical compounds in various environmental compartments. His work in the characterization of natural organic matter and its interaction with environmental contaminants has been groundbreaking. By examining how these compounds behave in ecosystems, his research has informed policies and practices aimed at better environmental management and public health safety.

Impact and Influence 🌟

Prof. Duarte’s influence extends far beyond his own research. With over 580 peer-reviewed publications, including 10 books and 30 book chapters, he has shaped the global scientific landscape. His work has earned him recognition in the Highly Cited Researchers index from 2021 to 2023, cementing his place among the top 1% of scientists worldwide based on citation counts. His h-index has reached impressive figures—ranging from 80 on SCOPUS to 95 on Google Scholar, reflecting the broad impact his research has had on his field.

Academic Cites 📚

Prof. Duarte has garnered significant academic recognition, as evidenced by his citation counts. His work is frequently cited by researchers across the world, a testament to the quality and relevance of his contributions. As of March 2024, his total citations range from 27,644 on SCOPUS to 38,882 on Google Scholar, solidifying his standing as a leading figure in environmental sciences and analytical chemistry.

Technical Skills 🧪

Prof. Duarte possesses extensive technical expertise in Analytical Chemistry, Qualimetrics, and Environmental Chemistry. His proficiency in experimental design and data interpretation has been central to his ability to carry out meaningful research that informs public health and environmental policies. His technical acumen has enabled him to successfully coordinate and lead more than 20 environmental research projects.

Teaching Experience 👩‍🏫

As a mentor and educator, Prof. Duarte has supervised over 30 Ph.D. and M.Sc. students. His passion for teaching and commitment to developing the next generation of researchers is evident in the many students who have gone on to have successful careers of their own. His influence as a teacher extends through the many collaborative efforts with students and colleagues alike.

Legacy and Future Contributions 🔮

Prof. Duarte’s legacy is defined by his dedication to research that enhances public health and environmental sustainability. His work has contributed significantly to understanding the behavior of environmental contaminants and supporting sustainable practices. Moving forward, Prof. Duarte is expected to continue influencing scientific research, providing invaluable insights that help address the pressing challenges of environmental protection, health, and sustainable development. His ongoing involvement in research projects promises to further strengthen his legacy in the scientific community.

📑 Notable Publications 

The impact of fiscal decentralization, green energy, and economic policy uncertainty on sustainable environment: a new perspective from ecological footprint in five OECD countries
    • Authors: S Zahra, RA Badeeb
    • Journal: Environmental Science and Pollution Research
    • Year: 2022
Innovation dynamics in the natural resource curse hypothesis: a new perspective from BRICS countries
    • Authors: RA Badeeb, KR Szulczyk, S Zahra, TC Mukherjee
    • Journal: Resources Policy
    • Year: 2023
Fiscal policy and environment: a long-run multivariate empirical analysis of ecological footprint in Pakistan
    • Authors: S Zahra, D Khan, M Nouman
    • Journal: Environmental Science and Pollution Research
    • Year: 2022
Assessing the asymmetric impact of physical infrastructure and trade openness on ecological footprint: An empirical evidence from Pakistan
    • Authors: S Zahra, D Khan, R Gupta, J Popp, J Oláh
    • Journal: PLOS ONE
    • Year: 2022
A sustainable green–blue revolution in Pakistan: a new perspective from quantile regression analysis
    • Authors: S Zahra, SAR Shah, RA Badeeb
    • Journal: Environment, Development and Sustainability
    • Year: 2023
Do energy diversification and green growth transition help to achieve the target of carbon neutrality? Testing the validity of the EKC hypothesis under the prism of green growth
    • Authors: S Zahra, SN Fatima
    • Journal: Applied Energy
    • Year: 2024
Green growth transition and carbon neutrality nexus: A comparative study on the top carbon emitters
    • Authors: S Zahra, EA Selvanathan, R Gupta, MS Jayasinghe
    • Journal: Journal of Environmental Management
    • Year: 2025

Razieh Fazaeli | Environmental Data Analysis | Women Researcher Award

Mrs. Razieh Fazaeli | Environmental Data Analysis | Women Researcher Award

Mrs. Razieh Fazaeli at university of Waterloo, Canada

Profiles

Scopus Profile

🌳Academic Background 

Razieh Fazaeli is a PhD student in Nanochemistry at the University of Waterloo, with extensive experience in inorganic chemistry and catalysis. She has contributed significantly to the development of novel nanocatalysts and materials for environmental and energy applications, with a strong publication record in leading chemistry journals. Her research focuses on the synthesis, characterization, and application of nanostructured materials in photocatalysis, energy storage, and green chemistry.

🎓 Education

Razieh Fazaeli holds a Master of Science in Inorganic Chemistry from Isfahan University of Technology, Iran (2000), where she conducted research on the synthesis and characterization of Co(III) complexes under the supervision of Prof. Mehdi Amirnasr. She also earned a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from Kashan University, Iran (1998).

💼 Professional Experience

Razieh is currently a PhD student in Chemical Engineering (Nanochemistry) at the University of Waterloo, Canada. Her research focuses on the design and development of advanced nanomaterials for catalytic applications, particularly in environmental remediation and energy storage. She has co-authored numerous publications in high-impact journals, showcasing her expertise in nanocatalysts and photocatalysis.

🔬 Research Interests

Razieh’s research interests include nanochemistry, catalysis, and material science. She specializes in the synthesis of novel nanostructured materials and their application in photocatalysis, energy conversion, and environmental cleanup. Her work is centered on developing sustainable solutions for global challenges, such as water purification and clean energy technologies.

📖 Publication

A comparison increasing the photodegradation power of a Ag/g–C3N4 /CoNi–LDH nanocomposite: Photocatalytic activity toward water treatment

Authors: Fazaeli, R., Aliyan, H., Richeson, D., Li, Y.
Journal: Journal of Environmental Sciences (China)
Year: 2025

Investigation of the synergistic photocatalytic activity of a ternary ZrTiO4/TiO2/Mn3O4 (ZTM) nanocomposite in a typical water treatment process

Authors: Fazaeli, R., Aliyan, H., Nezamzadeh-Ejhieh, A., Richeson, D.
Journal: Surfaces and Interfaces
Year: 2024

Hollow Ag/Mn(btc): As highly efficient catalyst for oxidation of sulfides to sulfoxides

Authors: Aliyan, H., Fazaeli, R., Foroutanfar, Z., Richeson, D., Li, Y.
Journal: Inorganic Chemistry Communications
Year: 2023

Photocatalytic degradation abilities of binary core-shell SiO2@mZrO2/TiO2 nanocomposites: Characterization, kinetic and thermodynamic study of metoclopramide (MCP) eradication for water purification

Authors: Zahraei, M.S.N., Fazaeli, R., Aliyan, H., Richeson, D.
Journal: Materials Research Bulletin
Year: 2023

Hierarchical mesoporous plasmonic Pd-Fe3O4/NiFe-LDH composites: Characterization, and kinetic study of a photodegradation catalyst for aqueous metoclopramide

Authors: Shabib, F., Fazaeli, R., Aliyan, H., Richeson, D.
Journal: Environmental Technology and Innovation
Year: 2022

Photodegradation and mineralization of metronidazole by a novel quadripartite SnO2@TiO2/ZrTiO4/ZrO2 photocatalyst: Comprehensive photocatalyst characterization and kinetic study

Authors: Amouhadi, E., Aliyan, H., Aghaei, H., Fazaeli, R., Richeson, D.
Journal: Materials Science in Semiconductor Processing
Year: 2022