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.

Allan Fowler | UX/UI | Excellence in Research Award

Published on by Innovation Technologist

Dr. Allan Fowler | UX/UI | Excellence in Research Award

Associate Professor at University of Auckland, New Zealand

Dr. Allan Fowler is a distinguished academic specializing in game design, educational technologies, augmented and virtual reality, and human-computer interaction, with a strong focus on inclusive design for neurodiverse populations. He currently holds academic appointments in New Zealand and the United States, and has gained international recognition for his research, teaching, and service to the academic and gaming communities. His multidisciplinary work bridges technology, education, and social inclusion, making him a leading voice in the domain of games for learning and digital interaction.

Publication Profile 

Scopus

Educational Background 🎓

  • PhD in Computer Science
    Auckland University of Technology, New Zealand (2010–2014)

Professional Experience 💼

  • Associate Professor, Columbia University (2022–present)

  • Associate Professor, University of California (2020–present)

  • Senior Lecturer, Design Programme, Faculty of Creative Arts and Industries, University of Auckland (2020–present)

Additional Professional Roles:

  • Editor/Associate Editor for:

    • Springer-Nature Humanities & Social Sciences

    • Journal of Applied Computing and Information Technology

    • International Journal of Game-Based Learning

  • Program Committee Member:

    • ACM ITiCSE, SIGCSE

    • Foundations of Digital Games (FDG)

    • iLRN and Game Jam Conferences

  • Board Member: Digital Games Research Association (DiGRA)

  • Judge: NZ Game Awards, Independent Games Festival (IGF)

Research Interests 🔬

  • Game Design and Game Jams

  • Games for Learning and Education Technology

  • Human-Computer Interaction (HCI)

  • Augmented and Virtual Reality (AR/VR)

  • Digital Inclusion and Neurodiversity in Technology Use

  • Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs) in Game Development

Awards and Honors🏆✨

  • Best Paper Award, ICGJ 2021

  • Presidential Diversity Award – Outstanding Contribution

  • Excellence in Research Award

  • CITRENZ Awards:

    • Collaborative Research

    • Excellence in Educational Innovation

Research Grants (Selected):

  • 2022: InternetNZ Digital Inclusion Grant – STEAM Powered Futures

  • 2021: University of Auckland PBRF Grant – Inner PEACE Project

  • 2017: NSF INCLUDES – SEAPD-STEM, Senior Investigator/Co-PI

Conclusion🌟

Dr. Allan Fowler is a pioneering scholar and educator at the intersection of digital technology, education, and inclusive design. With academic appointments across multiple countries and a portfolio of research that includes games for social good, educational innovation, and interactive technologies, he is making significant contributions to both academia and the global game development community. His leadership in game-based learning and commitment to diversity and inclusion continue to shape future directions in digital education and human-computer interaction.

Publications 📚

  1. 📄 Luxton-Reilly, A., Tempero, E., Arachchilage, N., Chang, A., Denny, P., Fowler, A., et al. (2023)
    Automated Assessment: Experiences From the Trenches.
    📍 25th Australasian Computing Education Conference (ACE)
    🔗 doi:10.1145/3576123.3576124

  2. 📄 Tu, Y.-C., Terragni, V., Tempero, E., Shakil, A., Meads, A., Giacaman, N., Blincoe, K., & Fowler, A. (2022)
    GitHub in the Classroom: Lessons Learnt.
    📍 Australasian Computing Education Conference
    🔗 doi:10.1145/3511861.3511879

  3. 🎮 Lai, G., Kultima, A., Khosmood, F., Pirker, J., Fowler, A., Vecchi, I., et al. (2021)
    Two Decades of Game Jams.
    📍 6th International Conference on Game Jams, Hackathons, and Game Creation Events (ICGJ)
    🔗 doi:10.1145/3472688.3472689

  4. 👦 Fowler, A. (2019)
    Jamming with Children.
    📍 14th International Conference on the Foundations of Digital Games (FDG)
    🔗 doi:10.1145/3337722.3341842

  5. 📖 Fowler, A., & Khosmood, F. (2022)
    Game Jams – History, Technology, and Organisation.
    🏢 Springer Nature
    🔗 doi:10.1007/978-3-031-15187-3

  6. 📖 Kultima, A., Fowler, A., & Khosmood, F. (2023)
    There Is No One Way to Jam.
    📍 In: Game Jams – History, Technology, and Organisation
    🔗 doi:10.1007/978-3-031-15187-3_2

  7. 📘 Fowler, A. (2019)
    Beginning iOS AR Game Development: Developing Augmented Reality Apps with Unity and C#.
    🏢 Apress, Berkeley, CA
    Chapters include:

    • 🔍 Hit Testing and Lighting

    • 🌐 Adding Plane Detection and Point Clouds

    • 🎮 Making AR Games

  1. 🗞️ Fowler, A. (2021)
    Explaining China’s Games Ban.
    📍 Newsroom (Ideasroom)
    🔗 Read article

  2. 💊 Baghaei, N., Fowler, A., & Maddison, R. (2020)
    Supporting Disease Prevention and Lifestyle Changes Through Gaming.
    📄 Games for Health Journal, 9(6), 387–388
    🔗 doi:10.1089/g4h.2020.0161

  3. 🎮 Fowler, A., & Pirker, J. (2021)
    Tokenfication – The Potential of Non-Fungible Tokens (NFT) for Game Development.
    📍 Extended Abstracts of CHI PLAY 2021
    🔗 doi:10.1145/3450337.3483501

 

 

 

 

Mohsen Mohammadi | Immersive Human-Building Interactions | Best Researcher Award

Published on by Innovation Technologist

Dr. Mohsen Mohammadi | Immersive Human-Building Interactions | Best Researcher Award

Graduate Researcher at New Jersey Institute of Technology, United States

Dr. Mohsen Mohammadi is a Senior Structural and GeoStructural Engineer at Schnabel Engineering in Jersey City, NJ, with a Ph.D. in Civil and Environmental Engineering from the New Jersey Institute of Technology, where he achieved a 4.0 GPA. His dissertation focused on developing intelligent sensor fusion IoT-enabled devices for smart city applications in facility management. With extensive experience in structural design, project management, and geotechnical engineering, Dr. Mohammadi has led the design of over 200 buildings and played a key role in significant projects, including the tallest building in Iraq, the E1 Tower. His research interests encompass smart construction technologies, water quality assessment, and innovative flood mitigation strategies.

Publication Profile : 

Scopus

 

🎓 Educational Background :

  • Ph.D. in Civil and Environmental Engineering
    New Jersey Institute of Technology, Newark, NJ, USA
    Expected: May 2024
    Dissertation: Developing Intelligent Sensor Fusion IoT-enabled Devices and Virtualization Systems for Facility Management Applications in Smart Cities
    GPA: 4.0/4.0
    Advisor: Professor Rayan H. Assaad (rayan.hassane.assaad@njit.edu)
  • Master of Science (M.S.) in Structural Engineering
    Islamic Azad University, Mahabad, Iran
    February 2012
    Thesis: Structural Behavior of Hybrid Fiber-Reinforced Polymer-Autoclave Aerated Concrete Panel
    GPA: 3.7/4.0
    Advisor: Professor Arastou Armaghani (aarmaghani@yahoo.com)
  • Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Civil Engineering
    Shahid Rajaee Teacher Training University, Tehran, Iran
    August 2008
    Concentration: Architectural Engineering, Construction Management

💼 Professional Experience :

  • Senior Structural and GeoStructural Engineer
    Schnabel Engineering, Jersey City, NJ, USA
    June 2024 – Present

    • Lead geostructural engineering projects from inception to completion.
    • Conduct intricate design and analysis for foundations, retaining walls, and tunnels.
    • Provide technical oversight to junior engineers and ensure regulatory compliance.
    • Engage with clients for project updates and satisfaction.
    • Plan and oversee geotechnical site investigations and prepare detailed technical reports.
  • Graduate Research Assistant
    New Jersey Institute of Technology, Smart Construction and Intelligent Infrastructure Systems (SCIIS) Lab, Newark, NJ
    August 2022 – May 2024
  • Senior Structural Engineer
    Construction Civil Engineers of Iran, Kurdistan, Iran
    November 2011 – July 2022

    • Led the design for over 200 buildings, ensuring adherence to safety and regulatory standards.
    • Conducted structural analysis using ETABS, SAFE, and SAP 2000 software.
    • Managed projects from conception to completion, focusing on timelines and budget constraints.
  • Senior Structural Designer
    Kirmanj Construction Co., Erbil, Iraq
    March 2019 – August 2021

    • Spearheaded the structural design for The Zaniary Tower, a landmark skyscraper.
  • Construction Management Engineer
    CAN Holding Co., Kurdistan, Iran
    February 2013 – November 2016
  • Construction Management Engineer
    Kurdistan Municipality, Kurdistan, Iran
    March 2011 – October 2013

📚 Research Interests : 

  • Quantifying Reliability of Shared Economy Systems
    August 2022 – February 2023
    Developed metrics to assess reliability and pricing models for shared economy systems.
  • Modeling Flooding Events Effects
    November 2022 – August 2023
    Analyzed direct and indirect impacts of flooding on transportation infrastructure.
  • Benefit-Cost Analysis for Flood Mitigation Projects
    January 2023 – May 2023
    Conducted analysis to prioritize flood mitigation projects.
  • Intelligent Cloud-Based IoT System for Water Quality Assessment
    February 2023 – July 2023
    Developed IoT-based devices for real-time water quality monitoring.
  • IoT System for Leak Detection
    March 2023 – November 2023
    Created devices for accurate leak detection in smart city applications.
  • Enhancing Human-Technology Interaction using IoT and VR
    June 2023 – December 2023
    Developed a virtual environment for facility management using Unity and IoT sensors.
  • Enhancing Human-Technology Interaction using IoT and AR
    August 2023 – February 2024
    Integrated AR applications for real-time thermal comfort monitoring in smart buildings.

Honors & Awards :

  • 2024: National Science Foundation (NSF) I-Corp Award for an innovative IoT-based workforce health monitoring device.
  • 2022-2024: Gary Thomas Assistantships Fellowship, New Jersey Institute of Technology.
  • 2024: Graduate Student Research and Presentation Travel Award from the Graduate Student Association (GSA), NJIT.
  • 2024: Civil and Environmental Engineering Outstanding Graduate Student Award, NJIT.
  • 2004-2008: Full fellowship for bachelor studies at Shahid Rajaee Teacher Training University.

📝 Publication Top Notes :

  1. Mohammadi, M., Poudel, O., & Assaad, R. H. (2024). An Intelligent IoT-enabled Multimodal Sensing Device as a Wearable Health Monitoring System for Comprehensive Physiological Symptoms Tracking. Elsevier Journal of Measurement. (Under Review), Impact Factor: 5.2.
  2. Mohammadi, M., Assaf, G., & Assaad, R. H. (2024). Real-time Visualization of Thermal Comfort and Interaction with HVAC Systems by Integrating Immersive Virtual Reality Technologies and IoT-Enabled Intelligent Sensors for Indoor Facilities. Emerald Smart and Sustainable Built Environment. (Under Review), Impact Factor: 3.6.
  3. Mohammadi, M., Poudel, O., Assaf, G., & Assaad, R. H. (2024). An Intelligent Acoustic-based IoT-enabled Water Monitoring Sensing System for Automated Real-Time Water Leak Detection, Localization, and Pinpointing. Elsevier Journal of Expert Systems with Applications. (Under Review), Impact Factor: 7.5.
  4. Mohammadi, M., Assaf, G., Assaad, R. H., & Chang, A. J. (2024). An Intelligent Cloud-Based IoT-Enabled Multimodal Edge Sensing Device for Automated, Real-Time, Comprehensive, and Standardized Water Quality Monitoring and Assessment Process Using Multisensor Data Fusion Technologies. ASCE Journal of Computing in Civil Engineering. Impact Factor: 6.9.
  5. Mohammadi, M., Assaf, G., & Assaad, R. H. (2024). Real-time Spatial Mapping and Visualization of Thermal Comfort and HVAC Control by Integrating Immersive AR Technologies and IoT-Enabled Wireless Sensor Networks. Elsevier Journal of Building Engineering. Impact Factor: 6.4.
  6. Assaad, R. H., Mohammadi, M., & Assaf, G. (2024). Determining Critical Cascading Effects of Flooding Events on Transportation Infrastructure Using Data Mining Algorithms. Journal of Infrastructure Systems, 30(3), 04024006. Impact Factor: 3.3.
  7. Assaad, R. H., Mohammadi, M., & Chang, A. (2023). An IoT-Enabled Sensing Device to Quantify the Reliability of Shared Economy Systems Using Intelligent Sensor Fusion Building Technologies. Buildings, 13(9), 2182. Impact Factor: 3.8.
  8. Sahour, S., Khanbeyki, M., Gholami, V., Sahour, H., Karimi, H., & Mohammadi, M. (2023). Particle swarm and grey wolf optimization: enhancing groundwater quality models through artificial neural networks. Stochastic Environmental Research and Risk Assessment, 1-15. Impact Factor: 4.2.
  9. Mohammadi, M., & Armaghani, A. (2014). Structural behavior of hybrid fiber–reinforced polymer-Autoclave Aerated concrete panels. Impact Factor: 0.9804.