Maria Myrto Dardavila | Chemical Engineering | Research Excellence Award

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Dr. Maria Myrto Dardavila | Chemical Engineering | Research Excellence Award

National Technical University of Athens | Greece

Dr. Maria Myrto Dardavila is a distinguished chemical engineer whose research significantly advances electrodeposition, nanomaterials, green extractions, and deep eutectic solvents. With 11 Scopus-indexed publications, 177 citations, and an h-index of 4, her work demonstrates strong international impact in materials science, surface engineering, and sustainable chemical processes. Her research portfolio includes influential studies on the extraction of bioactive compounds from Ulva lactuca and Chlorella vulgaris, magnetic harvesting optimization, and the development of environmentally sustainable extraction platforms using deep eutectic solvents. She has contributed substantially to the design, electrodeposition behavior, and performance of Ni/ZrO₂ and Ni/TiO₂–ZrO₂ composite coatings, examining pulse-plating parameters, microstructural evolution, mechanical characteristics, and functional surface properties relevant to industrial applications. Her work expands into thermochemical energy-storage materials and the thermodynamic modeling of phenolic compound solubilities in DES systems, showcasing strong multidisciplinary integration across chemical thermodynamics, materials engineering, and bio-based technologies. Her research contributions are further strengthened through participation in major EU-funded R&D initiatives, where she has supported the delivery of high-quality scientific outputs, zero-rejection deliverables, and science-driven project milestones. She has made notable contributions to more than 15 competitive research proposals, enhancing collaborative innovation across academia and industry. Dr. Maria Myrto Dardavila’s research reflects a strong combination of advanced experimental expertise, scientific leadership, and commitment to sustainable material development, positioning her as a key contributor to modern chemical engineering and applied materials science.

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

Featured Publications

1. Pappou, S., Dardavila, M. M., Savvidou, M. G., Louli, V., Magoulas, K., & Voutsas, E. (2022). Extraction of bioactive compounds from Ulva lactuca. Applied Sciences, 12(4), 2117.

2. Savvidou, M. G., Dardavila, M. M., Georgiopoulou, I., Louli, V., Stamatis, H., & colleagues. (2021). Optimization of microalga Chlorella vulgaris magnetic harvesting. Nanomaterials, 11(6), 1614.

3. Dardavila, M. M., Pappou, S., Savvidou, M. G., Louli, V., Katapodis, P., Stamatis, H., & colleagues. (2023). Extraction of bioactive compounds from C. vulgaris biomass using deep eutectic solvents. Molecules, 28(1), 415.

4. Dardavila, M. M., Hamilakis, S., Loizos, Z., & Kollia, C. (2015). Ni/ZrO₂ composite electrodeposition in the presence of coumarin: Textural modifications and properties. Journal of Applied Electrochemistry, 45(5), 503–514.

5. Dardavila, M. M., Sofianos, M. V., Rodriguez, B. J., Bekarevich, R., Tzanis, A., & colleagues. (2025). A comprehensive investigation of the effect of pulse plating parameters on the electrodeposition of Ni/ZrO₂ composite coatings. Results in Surfaces and Interfaces, 18, 100421.

Ameneh Amani | Chemistry and Materials Science | Women Researcher Award

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Dr. Ameneh Amani | Chemistry and Materials Science | Women Researcher Award

Bu-Ali Sina University | Iran

Dr. Ameneh Amani, an accomplished Iranian analytical chemist at Bu-Ali Sina University, Hamadan, Iran, specializes in electrochemistry, electrosynthesis, and electroanalysis, with a strong emphasis on green electrochemical methods, ionic liquids, and electrochemical oxidation mechanisms. Her research explores the electrosynthesis of organic compounds, electropolymerization, and electrochemical characterization of medicinal plant extracts for assessing antioxidant and biological activity. Dr. Ameneh Amani has authored and co-authored 36 peer-reviewed journal articles indexed in Scopus, accumulating 453 citations across 345 citing documents, and maintaining an h-index of 12. Her publications appear in prestigious journals such as Electrochimica Acta, Journal of Organic Chemistry, Journal of Electroanalytical Chemistry, Scientific Reports, New Journal of Chemistry, Tetrahedron, and Journal of the Iranian Chemical Society. Her notable works include pioneering research on phosphonium-based ionic liquids in chemical processes, symmetric and highly conjugated benzofuran synthesis, and thermodynamic and kinetic investigations of aminophenol oxidation. Through these studies, she has advanced innovative, sustainable, and mechanism-driven electrochemical methodologies. Dr. Ameneh Amani’s contributions extend beyond research publications. She has presented extensively at national and international chemistry conferences, including the Iranian Seminars of Analytical Chemistry, Physical Chemistry Congresses, and Biennial Electrochemistry Conferences, earning recognition for her insights into electrochemical oxidation mechanisms and herb–drug interaction studies.

Profiles: Scopus | Google Scholar | ORCID | ResearchGate

Featured Publications

  1. Khazalpour, S., Yarie, M., Kianpour, E., Amani, A., Asadabadi, S., Seyf, J. Y., et al. (2020). Applications of phosphonium-based ionic liquids in chemical processes. Journal of the Iranian Chemical Society, 17(8), 1775–1917. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13738-020-01874-3

  2. Nematollahi, D., Amani, A., & Tammari, E. (2007). Electrosynthesis of symmetric and highly conjugated benzofuran via a unique ECECCC electrochemical mechanism: Evidence for predominance of electrochemical oxidation versus chemical oxidation. The Journal of Organic Chemistry, 72(10), 3646–3651. https://doi.org/10.1021/jo070161r

  3. Beiginejad, H., Amani, A., Nematollahi, D., & Khazalpour, S. (2015). Thermodynamic study of the electrochemical oxidation of some aminophenol derivatives: Experimental and theoretical investigation. Electrochimica Acta, 154, 235–243. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.electacta.2014.12.014

  4. Sabounchei, S. J., Shahriary, P., Salehzadeh, S., Gholiee, Y., Nematollahi, D., et al. (2015). Pd(II) and Pd(IV) complexes with 5-methyl-5-(4-pyridyl) hydantoin: Synthesis, physicochemical, theoretical, and pharmacological investigation. Spectrochimica Acta Part A: Molecular and Biomolecular Spectroscopy, 135, 1088–1096. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.saa.2014.07.048

  5. Nematollahi, D., & Amani, A. (2011). Electrochemical synthesis of the new substituted phenylpiperazines. Journal of Electroanalytical Chemistry, 651(1), 72–79. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jelechem.2010.11.029

 

Mohamed Noufal | Chemical Engineering | Best Researcher Award

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Prof. Mohamed Noufal | Chemical Engineering | Best Researcher Award

Hampton University | United States

Prof. Mohamed Noufal, Ph.D., is a distinguished chemical engineer and academic leader, serving as Chair of the Department of Chemical Engineering and Director of the Quantum Materials Laboratory at Hampton University, Virginia, USA. He earned his Ph.D. in Environmental Sciences and Engineering from The University of Texas at El Paso (2022), an M.Sc. in Chemistry from Ain Shams University, Egypt (2016), and a B.Sc. in Chemistry from Mansoura University, Egypt (2012). With over eight years of experience in research, teaching, and program development, Prof. Mohamed Noufal has established an internationally recognized portfolio in advanced electrocatalysis, semiconductor interfaces, 2D materials, green hydrogen technologies, and AI-assisted materials discovery. His professional journey includes faculty associate roles at Purdue Fort Wayne’s First Molecule Center, visiting professorships at the University of Pennsylvania and University of Virginia, and leadership of interdisciplinary initiatives in fullerenes and van der Waals heterostructures. He has secured competitive funding from NSF, NASA, DOE, and other agencies, and has mentored numerous graduate and undergraduate researchers advancing in academic and professional roles. Prof. Mohamed Noufal’s recent publications include “Raman fingerprints of spin-phonon coupling and magnetic transition in an organic molecule intercalated Cr₂Ge₂Te₆”, “Unraveling the Cooperative Activity of Hydrophilicity, Conductivity, and Interfacial Active Sites in Alginate‐CNT‐CuO Self‐Standing Electrodes”, and “Cylindrical C96 Fullertubes: A Highly Active Metal‐Free O₂‐Reduction Electrocatalyst”, collectively cited 19 times across 7 Scopus-indexed documents with an h-index of 3. Recognized for his innovation in nanomaterials synthesis, biosensor development, and sustainable energy technologies, Prof. Mohamed Noufal has significantly advanced research, education, and interdisciplinary collaboration in chemical engineering.

Profile: Scopus | Staff Page

Featured Publications

Samanta, S., Iturriaga, H., Mai, T. T., Biacchi, A. J., Islam, R., Hight Walker, A. R., & Noufal, M. (2023). Raman fingerprints of spin-phonon coupling and magnetic transition in an organic molecule intercalated Cr₂Ge₂Te₆. arXiv preprint arXiv:2312.01270.

Noufal, M., et al. (2023). Unraveling the cooperative activity of hydrophilicity, conductivity, and interfacial active sites in alginate‐CNT‐CuO self‐standing electrodes with benchmark-close activity for alkaline water splitting. Advanced Sustainable Systems, 7(12), 2300283.

Bhunia, S., Peña-Duarte, A., Li, H., Li, H., Noufal, M., Saha, P., Addicoat, M. A., Sasaki, K., Strom, T. A., Yacamán, M. J., & Cabrera, C. R. (2023). [2,1,3]-Benzothiadiazole-spaced Co-porphyrin-based covalent organic frameworks for O₂ reduction. ACS Nano, 17(4), 3492–3505.

Noufal, M., et al. (2022). Cylindrical C₉₆ fullertubes: A highly active metal‐free O₂‐reduction electrocatalyst. Angewandte Chemie International Edition, 61(21), e202116727.

Puente Santiago, A. R., Noufal, M., Moreno-Vicente, A., Ahsan, M. A., Cerón, M. R., Yao, Y.-R., Sreenivasan, S. T., Rodriguez-Fortea, A., Poblet, J. M., & Echegoyen, L. (2021). A new class of molecular electrocatalysts for hydrogen evolution: Catalytic activity of M₃N@C₂ₙ (2n = 68, 78, and 80) fullerenes. Journal of the American Chemical Society, 143(16), 6037–6042.

Noufal, M., et al. (2021). Co–Cu bimetallic metal-organic framework catalyst outperforms the Pt/C benchmark for oxygen reduction. Journal of the American Chemical Society, 143(10), 4064–4073.

Noufal, M., et al. (2022). Metal-organic framework in fuel cell technology: Fundamentals and application. In Electrochemical applications of metal-organic frameworks (pp. 135–189). Elsevier.

Xueen Fang | Chemical Engineering | Best Researcher Award

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Prof. Dr. Xueen Fang | Chemical Engineering | Best Researcher Award

Fudan University | China

Dr. Xueen Fang is a distinguished male professor at Fudan University and a doctoral supervisor. He is a jointly appointed professor under the Ministry of Education’s prestigious “Changjiang Scholars” program and recognized as a young top-notch talent under the national “Ten Thousand Talents Program.” Since joining Fudan University in 2014, Fang has been deeply involved in teaching, research, and fostering industry-academia collaborations, specializing in micro-nano clinical chemistry. His pioneering work in rapid nucleic acid testing has made significant contributions to public health and national security.

Professional profile👤

Scopus

ORCID

Strengths for the Awards✨

  1. Outstanding Academic and Professional Credentials
    Fang Xuen holds a Ph.D. in Chemical Biology from a prestigious university (Fudan University) and serves as a professor and doctoral supervisor. His joint appointment as a “Changjiang Scholar” and recognition as a top talent under the national “Ten Thousand Talents Program” highlight his academic excellence and national prominence.

  2. Pioneering Research Contributions
    He was among the earliest researchers globally to apply microfluidic confinement systems to point-of-care testing (POCT) molecular diagnostics. His leadership in developing rapid, on-site nucleic acid testing systems has direct and critical public health impact, especially in combating pandemics and zoonotic diseases.

  3. Significant Research Funding and Project Leadership
    Fang Xuen has successfully secured and led major national research projects funded by top agencies such as the Ministry of Science and Technology and the National Natural Science Foundation, underscoring his capability to manage high-impact, cutting-edge research.

  4. High-Impact Publications and Patents
    With over 60 publications in prestigious international journals, multiple cover stories, and over 1,500 citations, his scientific output is both prolific and influential. Furthermore, he has secured more than 60 invention patents (national and international), including award-winning innovations, demonstrating his prowess in translating research into practical technologies.

  5. Successful Technology Commercialization
    He has led the registration and approval of important diagnostic reagents and automated testing devices, with patented technology generating significant economic value (over 16 million yuan), bridging the gap between academia and industry.

  6. Professional Service and Leadership
    Serving on national committees and editorial/review boards of top journals indicates his respected status in the scientific community. His role in authoring chapters in key monographs also reflects his expertise and leadership in the field.

🎓 Education

Fang Xuen earned his Ph.D. in Chemical Biology from Fudan University in 2012. Following his doctoral studies, he completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology from 2012 to 2013, where he further refined his expertise in cutting-edge chemical and biological research.

💼 Experience

In March 2014, Fang joined the Department of Chemistry at Fudan University through a talent introduction program. He has led major national research projects, including key R&D programs funded by the Ministry of Science and Technology and the National Natural Science Foundation. Fang has served as a reviewer for leading journals and is an inventor on more than 60 national and international patents, including several that have been transformed into commercially valuable technologies.

🔬 Research Interest On Chemical Engineering

Fang’s research primarily focuses on micro-nano clinical chemistry, with a particular emphasis on microfluidic confinement systems for point-of-care testing (POCT) in molecular diagnostics. His work addresses the urgent need for rapid nucleic acid testing technologies to detect emerging pathogens, playing a critical role in combating infectious diseases such as African Swine Fever and COVID-19.

🏆 Awards

Fang Xuen’s innovative contributions have earned him numerous accolades including the Shanghai Youth Science and Technology Innovation and Entrepreneurship Award, the Silver Award at the 48th Geneva Exhibition of Inventions, the Third Prize of the Shanghai Higher Education Students’ Invention and Creation, and multiple awards at the National Challenge Cup Entrepreneurship Competition.

📚 Publications

  • Rapid differential diagnosis of the B.1.617.2 (delta) variant of SARS-CoV-2 using an automated Cas12a–microfluidic system

    • Authors: Pintao Li, Jin Zhang, Qiuyuan Lin, Jilie Kong, Xueen Fang

    • Year: 2021

  • Wearable chem-biosensing devices: from basic research to commercial market

    • Authors: Bin Yang, Xingyu Jiang, Xueen Fang, Jilie Kong

    • Year: 2021

  • Loop-mediated isothermal amplification technique: principle, development and wide application in food safety

    • Authors: Tianzeng Huang, Linzhi Li, Xing Liu, Qi Chen, Xueen Fang, Jilie Kong, Mohamed S. Draz, Hongmei Cao

    • Year: 2020

  • Rapid and simultaneous analysis of twelve virulence factor genes by a microfluidic-CFPA chip for identifying diarrheagenic Escherichia coli

    • Authors: Bin Yang, Yiling Fan, Yang Li, Jun Yan, Xueen Fang, Jilie Kong

    • Year: 2020

  • A hybridization chain reaction coupled with gold nanoparticles for allergen gene detection in peanut, soybean and sesame DNAs

    • Authors: Dan Yuan, Xueen Fang, Yongxin Liu, Jilie Kong, Qin Chen

    • Year: 2019

  • A novel exonuclease-assisted isothermal nucleic acid amplification with ultrahigh specificity mediated by full-length Bst DNA polymerase

    • Authors: Xin Ye, Yang Li, Lijuan Wang, Xueen Fang, Jilie Kong

    • Year: 2018

🔚 Conclusion

Professor Fang Xuen stands at the forefront of micro-nano clinical chemistry, combining academic excellence with impactful innovations that have enhanced pathogen detection and public health responses globally. His commitment to interdisciplinary teaching and talent cultivation continues to inspire the next generation of scientists and engineers at Fudan University and beyond.