Reda Louziri | Behavioral Economics Research | Research Excellence Award

Dr. Reda Louziri | Behavioral Economics Research | Research Excellence Award

Ministère de l’Économie et des Finances du Maroc | Morocco

Dr. Reda Louziri is a distinguished finance and management scholar with a Doctorate in Economics and Management from the Faculty of Legal, Economic and Social Sciences – Souissi, Mohammed V University, Rabat, awarded with “Très Honorable” and recognized as one of the top three finalists for the Best Thesis in Finance by the Moroccan Association of Control, Accounting and Audit (AMCCA). She also holds a Master in Finance and Management from Cranfield School of Management, UK, and a Master Grande École from ESC Rouen, France, with a specialization in corporate finance. Professionally, she has extensive experience as an Inspector of Finance and Head of Brigade at the General Finance Inspectorate (IGF) within the Moroccan Ministry of Economy and Finance, overseeing audits of public institutions, ministerial departments, and international development projects. She also has experience in credit risk analysis at BMCI – BNP Paribas and consulting at Mazars Maroc. Dr. Louziri has published two scholarly documents, including one Scopus-indexed article, cited 11 times with an h-index of 1. Her research focuses on corporate finance, dividend policy, capital structure, corporate governance, and financial performance. She has received awards for research excellence and has contributed to academic teaching in finance. Dr. Louziri’s work bridges theoretical research and practical application in public and corporate finance.

Profiles : Scopus  | Orcid

Featured Publications

Louziri, R., & Oubal, K. (2025). Characteristics of the Chairman of the Board of Directors and Their Impact on Dividend Payments in the Moroccan Stock Exchange. Journal of Risk and Financial Management, 18(2), 70. https://doi.org/10.3390/jrfm18020070

Louziri, R., & Oubal, K. (2023). Does the level of free cash-flow impact dividend payments? The case of the Casablanca Stock Exchange. Revue Internationale des Sciences de Gestion.

Louziri, R., & Oubal, K. (2022). Dividend policy determinants: Literature review and research model proposal. International Journal of Accounting, Finance, Auditing, Management and Economics. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.7378354

Louziri, R., & Oubal, K. (2022). Board of directors and ownership structure impact on dividend policy: The case of the Moroccan stock market. African Scientific Journal. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.7356197

Louziri, R., & Oubal, K. (2022). Determinants of Dividend Policy: The Case of the Casablanca Stock Exchange. Journal of Risk and Financial Management, 15(12), 548. https://doi.org/10.3390/jrfm15120548

Xinyu Liu | Regression Analysis | Young Innovator Award

Dr. Xinyu Liu | Regression Analysis | Young Innovator Award

Peking University | China

Dr. Xinyu Liu is a postdoctoral researcher specializing in Microeconomics, Development Economics, and Finance, with a particular focus on e-commerce, consumption behavior, entrepreneurship, housing demolition, and cross-shareholding in China. Dr. Liu earned a Ph.D. in Management (Agricultural Economics and Management) from Peking University, with a dissertation examining the impact of e-commerce on rural residents’ sales and consumption, and a B.E. in Economics from Southwestern University of Finance and Economics. Currently, Dr. Liu is a postdoctoral fellow at the China International Capital Corporation (CICC) Global Institute and Fudan University, exploring cross-shareholding and firm innovation under the guidance of senior economists. Dr. Liu also served as a short-term consultant at the World Bank, analyzing fertility preferences. With five publications, including in Economic Development and Cultural Change, Cities, and PNAS Nexus, Dr. Liu’s work has been cited 30 times across 30 documents, achieving an h-index of 2. Recognized for academic excellence, Dr. Liu has received multiple awards, including the Peking University Second-Class Scholarship and Best Paper Awards at international conferences. Current research explores digital transformation in agriculture, rural e-commerce expansion, and the economic consequences of housing demolition. Dr. Liu’s research contributes to sustainable and inclusive economic development in China and beyond.

Profile : Scopus

Featured Publications

Wang, X., Ren, Y., Yamauchi, F., Huang, J., & [Author]. (2025). “The power of the anti-corruption campaign: Evidence from cigarette and alcohol consumptions in China.” Economic Development and Cultural Change, 73(2), 941–977.

He, Z., Shi, X., Sun, X., & [Author]. (2024). “Housing demolition and entrepreneurship: Evidence from China.” Cities, 152, 105201.

Wang, X., Min, S., Jin, S., Huang, J., & [Author]. (2025). “The influence of improved wheat and maize varieties on infant mortality in China.” PNAS Nexus, 4(2), pgaf048.

Huang, J., Su, L., Huang, Q., & [Author]. (2022). “Facilitating inclusive ICT application and e-commerce development in rural China.” Agricultural Economics, 53(6), 938–952.

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.

Zbigniew Pędzich | Best Researcher Award | statistical methods

Zbigniew Pędzich | Best Researcher Award - Award Winner 2023

Prof Zbigniew Pędzich : statistical methods

Congratulations to Prof. Zbigniew Pędzich for receiving the prestigious Best Researcher Award at the International Research Data Analysis Excellence Awards! Prof. Pędzich's exceptional work in statistical methods has not only earned him this esteemed recognition but also highlights his commitment to advancing research and data analysis in the international academic community. His innovative contributions have undoubtedly left a lasting impact on the field, showcasing excellence in research data analysis. Well-deserved accolades for a distinguished researcher!

Professional Profiles:

Early Academic Pursuits:

Zbigniew Pędzich was born in Krakow in 1963 and began his academic journey at the AGH University of Science and Technology. He pursued studies at the Faculty of Electronic, Automatic and Electrotechnic from 1982 to 1985. Subsequently, he continued his education at the Faculty of Materials Science and Ceramics, earning his M.Sc. in 1989.

Professional Endeavors:

Since 1995, Pędzich has been an integral part of AGH University, initially as an assistant and later as an assistant professor. His commitment to advancing knowledge in his field led him to achieve a Ph.D. in 1996, focusing on "Particulate composites in the system: tetragonal zirconia polycrystals – tungsten carbide," which earned him distinction. Over the years, he steadily progressed in his academic career, culminating in the title of Titular Professor in March 2020.

Contributions and Research Focus:

Zbigniew Pędzich has made significant contributions to the field of materials science and ceramics. His research has primarily centered on ceramic matrix composites for structural applications, refractories, and ceramifiable composites with polymer matrices. His Ph.D. thesis reflects his early dedication to advancing knowledge in the synthesis and properties of particulate composites.

Throughout his academic career, Pędzich has authored more than 200 publications, with 120 indexed on the Journal Citation Reports (JCR) list. Additionally, he holds over 20 patents related to the manufacturing and properties of structural ceramic materials and composites.

Accolades and Recognition:

Pędzich's outstanding contributions to the field have earned him numerous accolades and recognition. In 2013, he was honored as an ECerS Fellow by the European Ceramic Society (ECerS), highlighting his exemplary contributions to the ceramic community. In 2016, the Polish Ministry for Science and Higher Education awarded him the Medal of the National Commission for Education.

His dedication to the advancement of ceramics is further underscored by his role as the President of the Polish Ceramic Society since 2009. Additionally, he serves as a Polish Officer in the Council of the International Ceramic Federation (ICF) and is a member of the Permanent Executive Committee of the European Ceramic Society (ECerS) Council.

Impact and Influence:

Zbigniew Pędzich's influence extends beyond national borders, as evidenced by his involvement in international ceramic organizations. His leadership roles in ECerS and ICF demonstrate his commitment to fostering collaboration and advancing the field globally.

Legacy and Future Contributions:

As an Academician of the World Academy of Ceramic since 2023, Pędzich's legacy is firmly established in the global ceramics community. Looking ahead, his role as the Head of the Scientific Discipline of Chemical Engineering and the Department of Ceramics and Refractory Materials at AGH University positions him to continue shaping the future of materials science and ceramics. His ongoing research endeavors and leadership roles suggest a sustained commitment to advancing knowledge and fostering innovation in the field.