Belen Diaz Diaz | Human-Computer Interaction | Research Excellence Award

Published on by Innovation Technologist

Ms. Belen Diaz Diaz | Human-Computer Interaction | Research Excellence Award

Associate Professor at University of Cantabria | Spain

Belen Diaz Diaz is a leading scholar in corporate finance, financial markets, sustainability, and technological innovation, recognized for her strong academic influence and interdisciplinary research contributions. She has developed a robust publication record with 28 Scopus-indexed documents, supported by 207 citations across 203 citing documents and an h-index of 5, reflecting the growing international impact of her work. Her research spans corporate governance, sustainable finance, long-term care economics, and emerging technologies in training environments, including pioneering empirical studies demonstrating the effectiveness of virtual reality in enhancing commercial performance in the financial sector. As Principal Investigator in numerous research and consultancy initiatives, she has advanced high-value projects addressing financial education, ESG integration, strategic corporate training, economic impact assessment, and public-policy analysis, generating evidence that informs both academic discourse and real-world decision-making. Her scholarly output includes more than sixty publications and extensive editorial contributions to major academic volumes published by leading international presses, consolidating her leadership within global sustainability and governance networks. She also plays a central role in advancing strategic academic programs, fostering international collaborations, and steering multidisciplinary research teams focused on responsible management and sustainable economic development. Through her sustained scholarly productivity, thought leadership, and innovative application of technology in finance and training, she has established a strong global academic footprint that continues to influence research, industry practice, and policy frameworks across diverse sectors.

Profiles: Scopus | Orcid | Google Scholar | LinkedIn | ResearchGate

Featured Publications

García-Ramos, R., & Díaz, B. D. (2021). Board of directors structure and firm financial performance: A qualitative comparative analysis. Long Range Planning, 54(6), 102017.

Díaz, K. B., Azofra, S. S., & Gutiérrez, C. L. (2009). Are M&A premiums too high? Analysis of a quadratic relationship between premiums and returns. Quarterly Journal of Finance and Accounting, 5–21.

García-Ramos, R., Díaz-Díaz, B., & García-Olalla, M. (2017). Independent directors, large shareholders and firm performance: The generational stage of family businesses and the socioemotional wealth approach. Review of Managerial Science, 11(1), 119–156.

López, A. P., & Díaz, B. D. (2016). Fisioterapia en incontinencia urinaria de embarazo y posparto: Una revisión sistemática. Clínica e Investigación en Ginecología y Obstetricia, 43(3), 122–131.

Díaz, B. D., & Azofra, S. S. (2009). Determinants of premiums paid in European banking mergers and acquisitions. International Journal of Banking, Accounting and Finance, 1(4), 358–380.

Iris BenDavid-Hadar | Education | Research Excellence Award

Published on by Innovation Technologist

Prof. Iris BenDavid-Hadar | Education | Research Excellence Award

Bar Ilan University | Israel

Prof. Iris BenDavid-Hadar is an internationally recognized scholar in the fields of economics of education, education finance policy, and educational equity, whose research has significantly advanced understanding of how resource allocation shapes educational opportunity, justice, and outcomes within diverse societies. Her scholarship integrates economic theory, public policy analysis, and comparative education to examine inequalities in schooling systems, with particular attention to needs-based funding models, achievement gaps, and the balance between equity and efficiency in education governance. She has produced an extensive body of peer-reviewed books, journal articles, and book chapters that are widely cited and influential in debates on school finance reform, social justice in education, and higher education policy, including work on student mobility, internationalization, refugees’ access to education, early childhood education policy, and financial literacy. Her contributions often bridge research and policymaking, offering analytically rigorous yet policy-relevant insights that inform national and international decision-makers. In addition to her scholarly output, she has held senior academic leadership roles, contributing to faculty development, evaluation, institutional compliance, and program-level strategic planning, while mentoring doctoral and master’s researchers and collaborating within international research networks. Through editorial leadership, interdisciplinary collaboration, and sustained engagement with comparative and international perspectives, her work continues to shape contemporary discussions on fairness, equality, and justice in education systems, emphasizing evidence-based policy solutions aimed at reducing disparities and improving educational outcomes for marginalized and diverse populations.

Profiles: Scopus | Orcid | Google Scholar

Featured Publications

Meoded, R., & BenDavid-Hadar, I. (2025). Fiscal decentralization of education: A social network analysis of values underlying local decision-making processes. International Journal of Educational Development, 103, 103444.

Meoded, R., & BenDavid-Hadar, I. (2025). Education policy in culturally diverse countries: The case of ultra-Orthodox schools in Israel. Research Papers in Education.

Malki-Levy, S., Altman, C., Shnitzer-Meirovich, S., & Ben-David Hadar, I. (2025). Impact of bilingual intervention on Arabic–Hebrew speaking children: Investigation of the dynamics between SES and bilingualism. International Journal of Bilingual Education and Bilingualism.

Gilead, T., & BenDavid-Hadar, I. (2025). Educational justice and formula funding: A complex adaptive systems perspective. Educational Philosophy and Theory.

Betser-Nahum, Y., & BenDavid-Hadar, I. (2025). The municipalities efficiency in Israel: The case of the provision of educational services. International Journal of Educational Development, 103, 103370.

Marco Sassoon | Medical Anthropology | Excellence in Research Award

Published on by Innovation Technologist

Mr. Marco Sassoon | Medical Anthropology | Excellence in Research Award

University of Cologne | Germany

Mr. Marco Sassoon is a scholar whose work integrates psychology, medical anthropology, and critical global mental health, with a strong focus on the psychosocial consequences of contemporary migration regimes. His academic and professional trajectory is characterized by an interdisciplinary approach that bridges clinical insight with ethnographic depth, enabling nuanced analyses of how structural forces shape mental health experiences. His research centers on the impacts of restrictive migration governance on individuals, families, and communities in contexts of departure, with particular attention to forced return, prolonged uncertainty, and social marginalization. Through immersive fieldwork and close collaboration with local civil-society organizations, his work foregrounds lived experiences, illness narratives, and community-based resilience strategies, while critically examining how mental health knowledge and care practices are produced and negotiated in plural medical landscapes. In parallel with his research activity, he contributes to socially engaged therapeutic practices and activist-oriented health services inspired by critical and decolonial perspectives. His scholarly output includes peer-reviewed publications in internationally recognized journals and a forthcoming book addressing psychotherapy as a vehicle for social change, reflecting his commitment to linking theory, practice, and social transformation. He has developed collaborative networks with academic institutions and grassroots organizations, promoting ethical, reciprocal, and locally grounded research partnerships. Overall, his contributions address significant gaps in understanding the mental health dimensions of migration control policies, highlighting the embodiment of structural inequalities and offering innovative perspectives that advance debates in medical anthropology, migration studies, and global mental health, while supporting community empowerment and engaged research practices.

Profile: Orcid

Featured Publication

Sassoon, M. (2025). Death before dishonor: Dealing with psychosocial distress in the aftermath of forced-return migration in Dakar. Medical Anthropology.

 

Leena Uppal | Infertility | Excellence in Research Award

Published on by Innovation Technologist

Ms. Leena Uppal | Infertility | Excellence in Research Award

Mamta Health Institute for Mother and Child | India

Ms. Leena Uppal is a public health researcher and programme leader whose work integrates gender, social justice, and evidence-based innovation to strengthen health systems for vulnerable populations. Her professional experience reflects sustained leadership in designing, implementing, and evaluating multi-sectoral research programmes focused on adolescent health, HIV prevention and treatment, sexual and reproductive health and rights, reproductive justice, and gender-responsive development. She has contributed significantly to community-centered and digital health interventions that improve access to prevention, testing, treatment, and counselling services among adolescents, key populations, and marginalized communities. Her research practice emphasizes participatory methods, capacity building of civil society and community-based organizations, and the translation of evidence into policy-relevant tools and recommendations. A notable aspect of her work is the use of mobile and digital platforms to enhance health literacy, peer education, and self-learning, particularly among young people and underserved groups across diverse sociocultural settings. Her scholarship on infertility and childlessness addresses an under-recognized public health concern and has informed the development of practical screening approaches to support early identification, referral, and equitable care. She has collaborated with national and international institutions to advance knowledge generation, programme innovation, and implementation science, contributing to peer-reviewed publications, policy analyses, and applied research outputs. Overall, her professional profile reflects a strong alignment between research excellence and real-world impact, with a continued focus on advancing health equity, strengthening community engagement, and embedding research findings into sustainable programmes and public health practice.

Profiles: Scopus | Orcid | Google Scholar

Featured Publications

Garg, P. R., Uppal, L., Mehra, S., & Mehra, D. (2020). Mobile health app for self-learning on HIV prevention knowledge and services among a young Indonesian key population: A cohort study. JMIR mHealth and uHealth, 8(9), e17646.

Garg, P. R., Uppal, L., Kurian, K., Heng, T., Akhtar, F., & Mehra, S. (2023). Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) awareness, willingness to use, and preferred places for access among Cambodian female entertainment workers: A cross-sectional study. AIDS and Behavior, 27(5), 1409–1417.

Garg, P. R., Uppal, L., & Mehra, S. (2024). Family planning and young and low parity couples: Learnings from rural India. In Sexual and reproductive health. IntechOpen.

Uppal, U. G. L. (2024). Reducing age of consent for HIV testing for minors (16–18 years) without mandatory parental consent (in special situations) in India. Indian Journal of Youth and Adolescent Health, 11(1), 20–24.

Uppal, L., & Bhardwaj, N. (n.d.). A community-based approach to identifying reproductive health challenges: The case of Rajasthan.

Shadrack Mwakalinga | Educational Justice | Outstanding Contribution Award

Published on by Innovation Technologist

Dr. Shadrack Mwakalinga | Educational Justice | Outstanding Contribution Award

Lecturer at Catholic University of Mbeya | Tanzania

Dr. Shadrack Ernest Mwakalinga is an education scholar whose research focuses on educational justice, teacher professionalism, curriculum implementation, science and mathematics education, and the sociocultural dynamics that influence students’ learning experiences. His scholarly contributions examine issues such as equity in education, free education policy outcomes, gender disparities in science participation, assessment practices, motivation in teaching and learning, and the evolving role of artificial intelligence in classrooms. He also investigates challenges in educational leadership, including teacher misconduct, corruption, and ethical considerations in pedagogy. His multidisciplinary approach extends to studies on alternative education pathways, lifestyle factors affecting academic performance, and barriers to schooling within Tanzanian communities. Dr. Mwakalinga has published widely in international peer-reviewed journals and has contributed empirical insights that inform educational policy, curriculum innovation, and school improvement efforts. He is recognized for advancing discourse on learner-centered approaches, professional growth among educators, and the creation of inclusive and holistic learning environments. His research impact is reflected in 34 citations, with an h-index of 4 (all since 2020), underscoring the growing relevance of his work within the global education research community.

Profile: Google Scholar

Featured Publications

Mwakalinga, S. (2024). The use of artificial intelligence in teaching and learning: Opportunities and challenges. Students vs lecturers perception. International Journal for Multidisciplinary Research.

Mwakalinga, S., & Leandry, L. (2021). Application of assessment and evaluation in learning: Theories and realities. International Journal of Education and Research, 9(10), 65–72.

Mwakalinga, S. E. (2024). The role of alternative education to students’ holistic learning: A case of Tanzanian schools in Morogoro. British Journal of Multidisciplinary and Advanced Studies, 5(6), 25–39.

Kissima, A., Lema, G. S., & Mwakalinga, S. (2024). Analysing mathematics performance in Tanzanian primary schools through the lens of candidate items response analysis reports. Journal of Education and Practice.

Mwakalinga, S. (2022). Teaching science practicals in Tanzanian secondary schools. International Journal of Social Science and Human Research.

Sezen Demirhan | Migration | Research Excellence Award

Published on by Innovation Technologist

Dr. Sezen Demirhan | Migration | Research Excellence Award

National and Kapodistrian University of Athens | Greece

Sezen Demirhan is a scholar whose work lies at the intersection of medical ethics, gender studies, and the social study of health, with a particular emphasis on the lived experiences, moral complexities, and structural inequalities embedded in organ transplantation. Her research critically examines how care, responsibility, vulnerability, and embodiment are shaped by gendered expectations, sociocultural norms, and healthcare infrastructures, foregrounding the voices and experiences of those often marginalised in medical decision-making. Drawing on qualitative and ethnographic methods and informed by intersectionality theory, she explores themes such as living organ donation, xenotransplantation, biopolitics, and the emotional and ethical labour of care. Her work also engages with media representations, migration, precarisation, and the psychosocial implications of donor–recipient relationships, offering nuanced analyses of how systemic inequities manifest across medical, familial, and institutional contexts. Through contributions to interdisciplinary debates in bioethics, philosophy, sociology, and gender studies, she advances more inclusive and justice-oriented approaches to health and agency. Demirhan’s scholarship includes peer-reviewed articles, monographs, book chapters, and numerous conference presentations, as well as invited talks in international forums on transplantation ethics and gendered health disparities. She is actively involved in collaborative research networks addressing ethical, legal, and psychosocial aspects of organ transplantation and contributes to emerging discussions on gender-sensitive healthcare policy, donor autonomy, long-term outcomes for women donors, and the broader sociopolitical forces shaping medical decision-making.

Profile: Orcid

Featured Publications

Demirhan, S. (2025). Migration, precarisation and telework: An autoethnography of a family from Turkey to Greece. The History of the Family.

Demirhan, S. (2025). Negotiating autonomy: Lived experiences of female living organ donors in Turkey. Conatus.

Demirhan, S. (2025). Organ naklinde toplumsal cinsiyetin rolü: Eşitsizliği anlamak. fe dergi: Feminist Eleştiri.

Demirhan, S. (2019). The history of cabin attendants hanging up in the air and gendered construction of the profession. Akdeniz Kadın Çalışmaları ve Toplumsal Cinsiyet Dergisi, ISSN 2636-7998.

 

Melkamu Abere Erku | Ecology | Best Research Article Award

Published on by Innovation Technologist

Mr. Melkamu Abere Erku | Ecology | Best Research Article Award

Ethiopian Forestry Development Bahir Dar Center | Ethiopia

Mr. Melkamu Abere Erku is a dedicated forest researcher with extensive expertise in forest ecology, biodiversity, and sustainable forest resource management. His work spans a wide range of topics, including tree species composition, forest structure, growth performance, biomass assessment, and the utilization of non-timber forest products such as gum, resin, and wild fruits. He has conducted in-depth studies on African baobab (Adansonia digitata), exploring its population status, phenological characteristics, germination responses, and traditional uses among different ethnic groups, as well as research on highland and lowland bamboo species in Ethiopia. Melkamu applies advanced field survey techniques and statistical analyses using software such as SPSS, SAS, and R to derive insights from ecological and forest management data. His research contributes to understanding species-site suitability, forest regeneration, climate change mitigation, and sustainable utilization practices. He has a strong record of scientific publications in international journals and actively disseminates his findings through conferences and workshops. Beyond research, Melkamu is passionate about knowledge sharing, conservation education, and community engagement, including volunteering to support children in need. With skills in project management, data analysis, and forest inventory, he combines scientific rigor with practical strategies for forest conservation and climate-resilient resource management.

Profile: Orcid

Featured Publications

Tesema, H. A., Abere, M., & Yimer, H. (2025). Identification and utilization of underutilized gum‐ and resin‐bearing tree species in two districts of Somali Region, Ethiopia. International Journal of Forestry Research.

Mengistu, M. A., Abere, M., Gasheye, D., Asfaw, M. J., & Ayana, D. A. (2025). Germination response and seedling growth performance of Adansonia digitata L. tree seeds under innocuous pre-treatment techniques for efficient seedling production. Rhizosphere.

Gasheye, D., Abere, M., Ayal, M., Yilma, Z., Getahun, A., Getnet, A., & Worku, T. (2025). Population structure, phenological characteristics, and fruit yield potential of Ximenia americana in Quara district, Alitash National Park, West Gondar Zone of Ethiopia. Discover Plants.

Worku, T., Abere, M., Guday, S., Getie, S., Teshager, Z., Agidie, A., & Eshete, A. (2025). Growth performance and biomass of selected indigenous tree species in the permanent nursery, Addis Zemen, Northwest Ethiopia. International Journal of Forestry Research.

Abere, M., Yilma, Z., Tsegie, T., Eshete, A., & Alemu, A. (2023). Population structure and phenological attributes of Adansonia digitata L. (baobab) in northwestern lowland area of Ethiopia. Heliyon.

 

Mengjie Cui | Peanut Genetic | Best Researcher Award

Published on by Innovation Technologist

Dr. Mengjie Cui | Peanut Genetic | Best Researcher Award

Assistant Researcher at Henan Academy of Agricultural Sciences | China

Dr. Mengjie Cui is an accomplished researcher specializing in genetic breeding and genomics of aflatoxin resistance in peanuts. Her work focuses on identifying high-resistance peanut germplasms, mapping quantitative trait loci (QTLs), and developing molecular markers to enable the breeding of high-yield, high-quality, and aflatoxin-resistant varieties. She has successfully established a precise method for identifying aflatoxin resistance in single peanut kernels, leading to the screening of multiple germplasms with dual resistance to infection and toxin production. Utilizing genome-wide association studies (GWAS) and transcriptomic analyses, Mengjie has identified key resistance-related genes and developed molecular markers linked to these traits, enabling early-generation selection in breeding programs. Her research has advanced understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying peanut resistance to Aspergillus flavus, including the functional characterization of critical gene families such as PITP, PR10, and phenylalanine ammonia-lyase. She has contributed extensively to the scientific literature with publications in high-impact journals, presenting insights into gene expression networks, transcription factors, and regulatory pathways associated with resistance. Mengjie Cui’s innovative approaches and contributions have significantly impacted peanut breeding, providing practical tools and foundational knowledge for developing resilient, safe, and high-quality peanut varieties.

Profile: Orcid

Featured Publications

Zhao, Q., Cui, M., Guo, T., Shi, L., Qi, F., Sun, Z., Du, P., Liu, H., Zhang, Y., Zheng, Z., et al. (2024). Genome-wide characterization and expression analysis of the cultivated peanut AhPR10 gene family mediating resistance to Aspergillus flavus L. Journal of Integrative Agriculture.

Cui, M. (2024, February 28). Plant pathogenesis-related protein PR10 and its research progress in peanut.

Chai, P., Cui, M., Zhao, Q., Chen, L., Guo, J., Wu, C., Du, P., Liu, H., Xu, J., et al. (2024). Genome-wide characterization of the phenylalanine ammonia-lyase gene family and their potential roles in response to Aspergillus flavus L. infection in cultivated peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.). Genes, 15(3), 265.

Cui, M., Han, S., Wang, D., Haider, M. S., Guo, J., Zhao, Q., Du, P., Sun, Z., Qi, F., Zheng, Z., et al. (2022). Gene co-expression network analysis of the comparative transcriptome identifies hub genes associated with resistance to Aspergillus flavus L. in cultivated peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.). Frontiers in Plant Science, 13, 899177.

Cui, M. (2021, December 1). Progress in physiological and biochemical mechanisms of peanut kernels resisting Aspergillus flavus infection.

Jihad Souissi | Orthogonal Polynomials | Young Scientist Award

Published on by Innovation Technologist

Prof. Jihad Souissi | Orthogonal Polynomials | Young Scientist Award

Faculty of Sciences at Gabes | Tunisia

Prof. Jihad Souissi is a mathematician specializing in orthogonal polynomials, semi-classical structures, and operator-based characterizations, with particular expertise in Dunkl and q-Dunkl operators. His research advances the analytic and algebraic understanding of classical, semi-classical, and q-orthogonal polynomial families through raising and lowering operators, structure relations, differential and difference equations, and operator transformations. He has authored numerous peer-reviewed publications across high-ranking journals, contributing new theoretical frameworks for polynomial characterization, zero-centroid analysis, Appell and q-Appell structures, coherent pairs, and connections between major orthogonal polynomial sequences such as Laguerre, Jacobi, Hermite, and ultraspherical polynomials. His work also explores applications of operator methods to problems in mathematical physics, including boundary-flux control and Stefan-type free boundary problems. In addition to published research, he has produced several preprints expanding semi-classical theory and Dunkl-based formulations. He has presented his findings at international mathematical conferences and seminars and co-edited a scholarly book on orthogonal polynomials and Dunkl operators. Prof. Souissi also serves as a reviewer for multiple international journals, reflecting his active engagement in the global mathematical research community.

Profiles: Scopus | Orcid | Google Scholar

Featured Publications

Souissi, J. (2025). New findings on zero centroids in semi-classical orthogonal polynomials of class one. Annali dell’Universita di Ferrara. Advance online publication.

Alanezy, K. A., & Souissi, J. (2025). Optimal boundary-flux control of a sharp moving interface in the classical two-phase Stefan problem. Axioms, 14(11), Article 840.

Souissi, J., Alaya, M., & Aloui, B. (2025).Ultraspherical polynomials and Hahn’s theorem with respect to a raising operator. Bulletin of the Belgian Mathematical Society – Simon Stevin.

Srivastava, H. M., Souissi, J., & Aloui, B. (2025). Structure relation of the symmetric q-Dunkl-classical orthogonal q-polynomials. Mathematical Methods in the Applied Sciences.

Alanezy, K. A., & Souissi, J. (2025). A Hahn-type characterization of generalized Hermite polynomials through a Dunkl-based raising operator. Mathematics, 13(21), Article 3371.

Salomon Dominique Edimo Kingue | Engineering | Research Excellence Award

Published on by Innovation Technologist

Mr. Salomon Dominique Edimo Kingue | Engineering | Research Excellence Award

State University of Campinas | Brazil

Mr. Salomon Dominique Edimo Kingue is a reservoir engineer and researcher specializing in enhanced oil recovery (EOR), reservoir simulation, and sustainable subsurface energy strategies. His expertise centers on FAWAG/WAG processes, CO₂ storage modeling, and integrated reservoir–production optimization for complex carbonate systems, particularly within Brazilian pre-salt environments. He is highly skilled in using CMG (IMEX, STARS, GEM, CMOST), Petrel, Python, and advanced analytical tools to investigate flow behavior, improve recovery efficiency, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. His research spans numerical simulation of EOR mechanisms, uncertainty analysis, carbon capture and storage (CCS), fractured-vuggy reservoir upscaling, and evaluation of production potential in hydrocarbon basins. He has co-authored studies on underground LPG storage and reservoir performance prediction, and contributed to interdisciplinary projects involving major industry partners. His work also extends to geological interpretation, multidisciplinary collaboration, and scientific communication through symposiums, poster sessions, and peer-reviewed publications. Salomon combines strong analytical reasoning with leadership, teamwork, and effective communication, reflecting his commitment to innovation-driven reservoir management and the advancement of low-carbon energy solutions.

Profile: Orcid

Featured Publications

Kingue, S. D. E., Akinmuda, O. B., Kuiekem, D., & Djitchouang, G. L. (2025). Assessing the production potential of Niger Delta reservoirs under uncertainty using numerical simulation tools. Petroleum Science and Technology.

Kuiekem, D., Kingue, S. D. E., Boroh, W., Noupa, R. K., Matateyou, J., & Ngounouno, I. (2025). Simulation study of underground LPG storage in a depleted conceptual oil reservoir. Petro Chem Indus Intern, 8(2), 1–14.