Carlos Martins | Engineering | Research Excellence Award

Dr. Carlos Martins | Engineering | Research Excellence Award

 SerQ – Centro de Inovação e Competências da Floresta | Portugal

Dr. Carlos Eduardo de Jesus Martins is an Invited Assistant Professor at the University of Coimbra (Faculty of Sciences and Technology) and a Researcher at SerQ – Centro de Inovação e Competências da Floresta, with expertise in civil engineering and materials engineering focused on timber and wood-based products. He completed his Integrated Master in Civil Engineering in 2010 and earned a PhD in Civil Engineering (Structures) in 2019 at the University of Coimbra, with distinction. His academic and professional experience spans teaching in higher education, postdoctoral research, and leadership roles in national and international R&D projects, including serving as Principal Investigator. Dr. Martins’ research centers on timber structures, engineered wood products, timber–concrete composite systems, mechanical characterization of wood, non-destructive testing, numerical modelling, durability, life-cycle analysis, circular economy, and sustainable forest-based construction solutions. He has authored 31 peer-reviewed documents, accumulating 402 citations, with an h-index of 13, reflecting consistent scientific impact in the field. He has contributed to book sections, organized scientific events, supervised MSc dissertations, and collaborated extensively with multidisciplinary research teams. His work supports innovation in sustainable construction, structural performance, and the valorization of forest resources, contributing to resilient, low-carbon built environments.

Citation Metrics (Scopus)

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Citations
402

Documents
31

h-index
13

Citations

Documents

h-index

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Featured Publications

Using non-destructive testing to predict the mechanical properties of glued laminated poplar

Structures and Buildings, 2018
Carlos Martins
Experimental evidence for effective flexural-only stiffnesses to account for nonlinear flexural-slip behaviour of timber-concrete composite sections

Construction and Building Materials, 2017
Sebastian, W.M.; Bell, O.G.A.; Martins, C.; Dias, A.M.P.G.
DOI: 10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2017.04.082
Non-destructive methodologies for assessment of the mechanical properties of new utility poles

BioResources, 2017
Martins, C.E.J.; Dias, A.M.P.G.; Marques, A.F.S.; Dias, A.M.A.
DOI: 10.15376/biores.12.2.2269-2283
Environmentally friendly high performance timber-concrete panel

Construction and Building Materials, 2016
Martins, C.; Dias, A.M.P.G.; Costa, R.; Santos, P.
DOI: 10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2015.07.194
Glulam made by Poplar: delamination and shear strength tests

International Scientific Conference on Hardwood Processing, 2017
Carlos Martins

Seema Irshad | Psychology | Women Researcher Award

Dr. Seema Irshad | Psychology | Women Researcher Award

King Faisal University | Saudi Arabia

Dr. Seema Irshad is an Assistant Professor of Psychology with more than a decade of experience in higher education, research, and clinical practice. She earned her PhD in Psychology from Aligarh Muslim University, developing a strong academic foundation in psychological theory, research methodology, and applied practice. Her academic career has been primarily associated with a leading public university in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, where she has contributed extensively to undergraduate and graduate teaching, curriculum design, and academic coordination. Her teaching expertise spans abnormal psychology, cognitive processes, work motivation, and applied psychology, with a strong emphasis on student-centered and technology-enhanced learning. In parallel, she has been actively engaged in research through national and international collaborations, including earlier work as a research assistant and junior project fellow on large-scale public health and educational research projects. Her research interests focus on mental health, psychosocial interventions, psychometric assessment, systematic reviews, and the emerging role of artificial intelligence in psychological practice. She has published more than 20 scholarly papers and has presented research at numerous academic conferences. Her contributions include successful involvement in competitive research grants and sustained mentorship of students and early-career researchers. Overall, her work reflects a strong commitment to advancing psychological science, improving mental health outcomes, and fostering academic excellence through teaching, research, and mentorship.

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Featured Publications

Melanie Neeb | Regression Analysis | Best Researcher Award

Dr. Melanie Neeb | Regression Analysis | Best Researcher Award

Regierungspräsidium Giessen | Germany

Dr. Melanie Neeb is an accomplished academic, policy advisor, and project manager whose career bridges the fields of business administration, human resource management, and public administration. She has built an outstanding reputation as both a researcher and practitioner, with contributions that extend across academia, government, and organizational development. Her expertise lies in designing and implementing effective human resource strategies, managing complex governmental projects, and contributing to academic knowledge on leadership and employee benefits. Through her diverse roles, she has demonstrated strong leadership, innovative thinking, and a commitment to addressing pressing societal and organizational challenges.

Professional Profile

Scopus

Education

Dr. Neeb pursued her higher education at Justus Liebig University Giessen, where she earned both her Master’s and Doctoral degrees in Business Administration. Her doctoral research on employee benefits pooling, graded magna cum laude, offered an innovative approach to optimizing employee benefits for large organizations and has been recognized as a significant contribution to the field. Prior to this, she earned her Master’s degree in Business Administration with distinction, completing one of the best diplomas of her graduating semester. Her academic training established a strong foundation in strategic management, organizational behavior, and financial decision-making, all of which continue to shape her career and research focus.

Experience

Dr. Neeb currently serves as Head of Department and Project Manager at the Giessen Regional Council of the Hessian Ministry of the Interior, where she manages large-scale projects focused on refugee reception and integration. In this role, she oversees crisis management initiatives and implements innovative tools such as payment card systems for refugees, ensuring efficient and transparent processes. Leading a team of 18 employees, she coordinates with both governmental and non-governmental actors, showcasing her ability to balance strategic oversight with operational execution. Her career also reflects significant contributions to academia. As a lecturer at the Technical University of Central Hesse and previously at Justus Liebig University Giessen, she has taught courses in business administration, economics, finance, and project management, fostering the next generation of business professionals. Beyond academia and government service, she has also worked as a freelance consultant, providing specialized solutions in the insurance sector, further underlining her versatility across domains.

Research Interests

Dr. Neeb’s research interests lie at the intersection of human resource management, employee benefits, and organizational behavior. She has consistently explored how organizations can optimize benefits programs to enhance employee engagement and organizational efficiency while controlling costs. Her studies also examine the impact of flexible working models, demographic changes, and leadership effectiveness, particularly in the context of an aging population and a shortage of skilled labor. She is especially interested in the long-term sustainability of organizations, focusing on how innovative HR strategies and leadership approaches can help companies remain competitive in rapidly evolving environments. Her work blends theoretical insights with practical applications, making her research highly relevant for both scholars and practitioners.

Awards and Achievements

Dr. Neeb’s academic and professional journey is marked by numerous achievements that highlight both scholarly excellence and practical impact. Her doctoral dissertation on employee benefits pooling was later published as a monograph, offering groundbreaking insights into pooling strategies for multinational organizations. Her publications in respected journals such as PERSONALquarterly and contributions to the insurance sciences reflect her ability to address diverse aspects of management, from leadership effectiveness to compensation strategies. She has been recognized for her innovative approaches to human resource management, particularly in areas such as work-life balance, part-time models, and leadership in times of demographic change. Beyond academia, her role in policy implementation and crisis management has had a significant societal impact, especially in the integration and support of refugees. These achievements illustrate her ability to combine scholarly research with real-world problem-solving at both organizational and governmental levels.

Publications

Neeb, M. (2009). Employee Benefits Pooling. Logos Verlag.

Neeb, M., Riedel, O. (2004). “Zur Anwendung des Bühlmann/Straub-Verfahrens in der Außendienstentlohnung.” Zeitschrift für die gesamte Versicherungswissenschaft, 3, 405–439.

Neeb, M., Bacouel-Jentjens, S. (2017). “Alter, Arbeitserfahrung und effektive Führung.” PERSONALquarterly, 3, 36–41.

Neeb, M., Wehner, M. (2014). “Part-time – A Sensible Model for the Future?” PERSONALquarterly, 4, 22–27.

(2025), Transformational and transactional leadership: A job tenure perspective

Conclusion

Dr. Melanie Neeb exemplifies a professional whose career successfully unites academic research, teaching, and practical leadership in government and business contexts. With expertise spanning human resource management, employee benefits, leadership strategies, and public administration, she has made significant contributions to both scholarly discourse and public policy. Her ability to manage complex projects, guide organizational change, and mentor future professionals underscores her influence as a leader in her field. Driven by a passion for sustainability, equity, and innovation in the workplace, Dr. Neeb continues to play a vital role in shaping the future of human resource practices and organizational management. Her career reflects a rare blend of scholarly excellence, practical leadership, and social responsibility, making her a respected figure in academia, public service, and beyond.