Sarat Mohapatra | Engineering | Innovative Research Award

Dr. Sarat Mohapatra | Engineering | Innovative Research Award

Centre for Marine Technology and Ocean Engineering (CENTEC), Instituto Superior Técnico, University of Lisbon | Portugal

Dr. Sarat Mohapatra is an accomplished marine researcher whose work bridges theoretical modeling, computational simulation, and experimental validation in the fields of hydroelasticity, ocean hydrodynamics, offshore aquaculture systems, and floating platform dynamics. His research primarily addresses complex fluid–structure interactions and the development of hydroelastic models for flexible and porous marine structures under combined wave and current conditions. With over 70 international publications in leading journals such as Ocean Engineering, Applied Ocean Research, Journal of Fluids and Structures, Physics of Fluids, and Journal of Marine Science and Engineering, his work has received significant global recognition, reflected in an h-index of 21 and more than 1,160 citations. Dr. Sarat Mohapatra has been a key contributor to several European and Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT)-funded projects, focusing on hydrodynamic and hydroelastic analysis of large floating structures and wave energy systems. His recent studies include the development of analytical, numerical, and CFD-based models to predict wave-current interactions and improve the design of sustainable marine systems. In addition to his strong publication record, he has served as a journal reviewer, editorial contributor, and co-supervisor for doctoral and postgraduate research, promoting innovation and collaboration within marine technology. Through his pioneering contributions, Dr. Sarat Mohapatra continues to advance the understanding of ocean engineering phenomena, supporting innovations in marine renewable energy, offshore structure design, and environmentally resilient aquaculture technologies that contribute to the sustainable utilization of ocean resources.

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

Featured Publications

  • Mohapatra, S. C., Amouzadrad, P., & Guedes Soares, C. (2025). Recent developments in the nonlinear hydroelastic modeling of sea ice interaction with marine structures. Journal of Marine Science and Engineering, 13(8), Article 1410. https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse13081410

  • Mohapatra, S. C., & Guedes Soares, C. (2025). Oblique wave analysis under current conditions on a floating flexible membrane. Physics of Fluids, 37(7), Article 072101. https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0278003

  • Mohapatra, S. C., Guedes Soares, C., & Meylan, M. H. (2025). Three-dimensional and oblique wave-current interaction with a floating elastic plate based on an analytical approach. Symmetry, 17(6), Article 831. https://doi.org/10.3390/sym17060831

  • Amouzadrad, P., Mohapatra, S. C., & Guedes Soares, C. (2025). Review on sensitivity and uncertainty analysis of hydrodynamic and hydroelastic responses of floating offshore structures. Journal of Marine Science and Engineering, 13(6), Article 1015. https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse13061015

  • Mohapatra, S. C., & Guedes Soares, C. (2025). Wave–current interaction with a deformable bottom in a three-dimensional channel. Physics of Fluids, 37(5), Article 052104. https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0267255

Nadiia Kopiika | Engineering | Best Paper Award

Dr. Nadiia Kopiika | Engineering | Best Paper Award

University College London | United Kingdom

Dr. Nadiia Kopiika is a distinguished civil and structural engineering researcher whose work unites innovation, sustainability, and resilience in the reconstruction of critical infrastructure. She is affiliated with University College London, London, United Kingdom, and serves as a BA/CARA Research Fellow at the University of Birmingham (UK) and Teaching Assistant at Lviv Polytechnic National University (Ukraine). Dr. Nadiia Kopiika has made exceptional contributions to developing advanced methodologies for damage assessment, probabilistic modelling, and structural rehabilitation of reinforced concrete structures. Her publication, “Probabilistic Assessment of RC Beams with Corroded Thermally Strengthened Reinforcement” (Structures, 2025), presents a comprehensive probabilistic framework for evaluating the reliability and residual capacity of corroded reinforcement systems, providing crucial insights for sustainable and data-driven restoration. According to Scopus, she has authored 34 indexed publications, accumulated 416 citations across 219 citing documents, and holds an h-index of 15, reflecting her growing impact in the global engineering community. Her work seamlessly combines analytical precision with practical applications in infrastructure resilience and recovery. Dr. Kopiika is also actively engaged in collaborative initiatives such as bridgeUkraine.org and MetaInfrastructure.org, advancing digital diagnostics, AI integration, and circular design for post-disaster reconstruction. Her achievements have been recognised through prestigious honours, including the Award of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine for Young Scientists (2024) and the BA/CARA Research Fellowship (2023–2026). Through her interdisciplinary research and commitment to sustainable engineering, Dr. Nadiia Kopiika continues to advance innovative frameworks for resilient, future-ready infrastructure systems worldwide.

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

Featured Publications

  • Blikharskyy, Y., Kopiika, N., Khmil, R., Selejdak, J., & Blikharskyy, Z. (2022). Review of development and application of digital image correlation method for study of stress–strain state of RC structures. Applied Sciences, 12(19), 10157. [Cited by 56]
    https://doi.org/10.3390/app121910157

  • Kopiika, N., Karavias, A., Krassakis, P., Ye, Z., Ninic, J., Shakhovska, N., … (2025). Rapid post-disaster infrastructure damage characterisation using remote sensing and deep learning technologies: A tiered approach. Automation in Construction, 170, 105955. [Cited by 27]
    https://doi.org/10.1016/j.autcon.2025.105955

  • Blikharskyy, Y., Vashkevych, R., Kopiika, N., Bobalo, T., & Blikharskyy, Z. (2021). Calculation residual strength of reinforced concrete beams with damages, which occurred during loading. IOP Conference Series: Materials Science and Engineering, 1021(1), 012012. [Cited by 32]
    https://doi.org/10.1088/1757-899X/1021/1/012012

  • Blikharskyy, Y., Selejdak, J., & Kopiika, N. (2021). Corrosion fatigue damages of rebars under loading in time. Materials, 14(12), 3416. [Cited by 31]
    https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14123416

  • Blikharskyy, Y., Selejdak, J., Kopiika, N., & Vashkevych, R. (2021). Study of concrete under combined action of aggressive environment and long-term loading. Materials, 14(21), 6612. [Cited by 30]
    https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14216612

Mohamed Noufal | Chemical Engineering | Best Researcher Award

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.

Weimin Huang | Engineering | Best Researcher Award

Assist. Prof. Dr. Weimin Huang | Engineering | Best Researcher Award

Shandong University of Science and Technology | China

Dr. Weimin Huang, Academic Associate Professor at the College of Mechanical and Electronic Engineering, Shandong University of Science and Technology, is a leading expert in mechanical manufacturing and automation, with a focus on high-speed cutting technology, friction and fatigue wear mechanisms, and advanced agricultural machinery design. He earned his Ph.D. in Mechanical Manufacturing and Automation from Shandong University, establishing a strong foundation for his research and academic contributions. Dr. Weimin Huang has successfully led over 10 major research projects, including funding from the National Natural Science Foundation of China, and the Natural Science Foundation of Shandong Province, and has directed more than 20 industry-sponsored consultancy projects, effectively translating scientific insights into practical engineering solutions. His pioneering work on surface texture preparation via ball-end milling has significantly enhanced wear resistance and tribological performance of mechanical components, while his studies on sliding fatigue wear mechanisms have improved the durability and efficiency of industrial and agricultural equipment. He has published 37 Scopus-indexed journal articles, with 311 citations and an H-index of 11. Through his sustained research, innovation, and applied engineering contributions, Dr. Weimin Huang has established himself as a prominent scholar and a driving force in advancing mechanical manufacturing technologies.

Profile: Scopus

Featured Publications

1. Wang, G., Li, H., Wang, Z., & Jiang, D. (2025, May). Research on surface integrity and corrosion performance in high-speed ball-end milling of NiTi shape memory alloys.

2. Yang, J., Gong, C., Li, A., & Wang, P. (2025, March). Research on NiTi shape memory alloy electrolyte based on optimization of corrosion performance.

3. Huang, W., Huang, Y., Li, A., & Wang, G. (2024, November). Generation mechanism and anti-friction effect evaluation of continuous micro-groove texture machined by ball-end milling process.

4. Gao, L., Zhou, X., Huang, W., & Xia, H. (2024, February). Generation method and antifriction performance evaluation of discrete micro-pit surface texture based on high speed ball-end milling process.

5. Wang, G., Gong, C., Yang, J., & Wang, P. (2024, February). Electrochemical reaction mechanism of milled surface of NiTi shape memory alloy.

6. Gao, L., Wang, J., Huo, H., & Wang, Z. (2024, February). Residual height of surface topography in milling nickel-titanium shape memory alloy using a small-diameter cutter.

Tian Zhang | Engineering | Best Researcher Award

Dr. Tian Zhang | Engineering | Best Researcher Award

Xi’an University of Architecture and Technology | China

Dr. Zhang Tian, a Master’s student in Structural Engineering at Xi’an University of Architecture and Technology, has built an impressive academic and research profile distinguished by consistent excellence, leadership, and early scholarly impact. He completed his undergraduate studies at Huanghuai University, where he was recognized as a “Three Good Student” for four consecutive years, awarded multiple academic scholarships, and graduated as an Outstanding Graduate. His achievements also include winning the third prize in the Challenge Cup of the School of Civil Engineering and being honored as an Outstanding Communist Youth League Member, distinctions that reflect his ability to combine academic rigor with innovation and service. At the graduate level, he has continued to excel, receiving an academic scholarship in 2022–2023 while advancing research in seismic-resistant structures, sustainable construction materials, and structural design optimization, areas vital to the development of safe and environmentally responsible infrastructure. Despite being in the early stage of his research career, Dr. Zhang Tian has already made notable scholarly contributions, with 6 publications indexed in Scopus, accumulating 69 citations from 68 documents, and achieving an h-index of 5. These metrics demonstrate that his work is not only visible but also valued within the global academic community. Combining strong academic performance, proven research productivity, and a clear vision for advancing structural engineering, Dr. Zhang Tian exemplifies the qualities of an emerging scholar whose contributions are poised to strengthen the safety, resilience, and sustainability of modern construction.

Profile: Scopus

Featured Publications

Xu, Y., Xu, Z.-D., Hu, H., Guo, Y.-Q., Huang, X.-H., Zhang, Z.-W., Zhang, T., & Xu, C. (2025). Experiment, simulation, and theoretical investigation of a new type of interlayer connections enhanced viscoelastic damper. International Journal of Structural Stability and Dynamics, 25(5), Article 2550045.

Jingting Liu | Engineering | Best Researcher Award

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Jingting Liu | Engineering | Best Researcher Award

Shandong University | China

Dr. Jingting Liu is an Associate Professor in the Process Equipment and Control Engineering Department at Shandong University. She holds a Ph.D. in Chemical Process Machinery from Zhejiang University and a B.S. in Process Equipment and Control Engineering from China University of Petroleum. Her work focuses on fluid dynamics, vibration, and acoustics, with a particular interest in bubble dynamics.

Professional profile👤

Scopus

Strengths for the Awards✨

  • Research Excellence: Jingting Liu has led multiple research projects, notably funded by prestigious institutions like the National Natural Science Foundation of China and various provincial foundations, highlighting her capacity to secure competitive funding.

  • Publication Record: She has published extensively in high-impact journals, including the Chemical Engineering Journal and Physics of Fluids, showcasing the significance and quality of her research.

  • Innovative Contributions: Her focus on bubble dynamics and acoustics has practical applications in fluid machinery and noise reduction, demonstrating innovation and relevance to real-world challenges.

  • Interdisciplinary Impact: Her work integrates fluid dynamics, vibration, and acoustics, broadening the impact across multiple fields.

  • Leadership and Mentorship: As an associate professor, she not only contributes to research but also teaches and mentors students, nurturing the next generation of researchers.

  • Editorial Roles: Serving as a guest editor reflects her recognition and trust within the scientific community.

Education 🎓

  • Ph.D. in Chemical Process Machinery, Zhejiang University
  • B.S. in Process Equipment and Control Engineering, China University of Petroleum

Experience 💼

Jingting Liu has been serving as an Associate Professor at Shandong University, where she teaches courses in fluid mechanics and fluid machinery. She has led multiple research projects, delving into underwater bubble dynamics and acoustic phenomena. Her contributions extend to both academia and industry, where she provides solutions to reduce noise in fluid machinery.

Research Interests On Engineering🔬

Her primary research interests include fluid machinery, vibration and acoustics, bubble dynamics, and bubble acoustics. She explores the intricate mechanisms behind bubble formation and acoustic emissions, aiming to improve fluid machinery performance and noise reduction.

Awards 🏆

  • Best Researcher Award (Nomination)

Publications 📖

  • Title: Dynamics of bubbles detached from non-circular orifices: Confinement effect of orifice boundary
    Authors: Jingting Liu*, Haoyang Qi, Yongxing Song, Songying Chen, Dazhuan Wu
    Year: 2024

  • Title: Experimental study on asymmetric bubbles rising in water: Morphology and acoustic signature
    Authors: Jingting Liu*, Shanhao Cong, Yongxing Song, Dazhuan Wu, Songying Chen
    Year: 2022

  • Title: Flow structure and acoustics of underwater imperfectly expanded supersonic gas jets
    Authors: Jingting Liu*, Shanhao Cong, Yongxing Song, Songying Chen, Dazhuan Wu
    Year: 2022

  • Title: Numerical simulations and experimental validation on passive acoustic emissions during bubble formation
    Authors: Jingting Liu, Wu Wang, Ning Chu, Dazhuan Wu, Weiwei Xu
    Year: 2018
    Citations: DOI: 10.1016/j.apacoust.2017.09.005

  • Title: Numerical simulations of bubble formation and acoustic characteristics from a submerged orifice: The effects of nozzle wall configurations
    Authors: Jingting Liu, Ning Chu, Shijie Qin, Dazhuan Wu
    Year: 2017
    Citations: DOI: 10.1016/j.cherd.2017.05.002

  • Title: Acoustic analysis on jet-bubble formation based on 3D numerical simulations
    Authors: Liu Jingting, Chu Ning, Qin Shijie, Wu Dazhuan
    Year: 2016
    Citations: INTER-NOISE 2016 – 45th International Congress and Exposition on Noise Control Engineering

  • Title: Acoustic emission measurement of submerged jet-bubble: Laboratory and computational fluid dynamics (CFD)
    Authors: Liu Jingting, Qin Shijie, Ning Chu, Wu Dazhuan
    Year: 2016

  • Title: Three-dimensional numerical simulation of air exhausted from submerged nozzles
    Authors: Liu Jingting, Qin Shijie, Miao Tiancheng, et al.
    Year: 2015

Conclusion 🔝

Jingting Liu has significantly contributed to understanding fluid dynamics and acoustics, with a special focus on bubble dynamics and noise reduction in fluid machinery. Her research not only advances academic knowledge but also provides practical solutions for industrial applications. She continues to inspire the next generation of engineers through her teaching and groundbreaking research.