Andrés Robalino-López | Energy and Sustainability | Best Researcher Award

Andrés Robalino-López | Energy and Sustainability | Best Researcher Award

Prof. Dr Andrés Robalino-López, Escuela Politécnica Nacional, Ecuador

Prof. Dr. Andrés Robalino-López is a distinguished academic and researcher at Escuela Politécnica Nacional (EPN), Ecuador, with an extensive background in environmental technologies, innovation, and complex systems. With a PhD earned cum laude from Universidad de Huelva, Spain, he combines academic rigor with practical leadership in research, innovation ecosystems, and entrepreneurship. As a key figure in Ecuador’s academic landscape, he serves as Deputy Dean, program coordinator, and research director. Internationally recognized through affiliations with MIT’s REAP program and the Academy of Sciences of Ecuador, his interdisciplinary contributions span environmental modeling, innovation management, and sustainable development. His research has informed policy, supported national and international projects worth over $500K, and been published in high-impact journals. His commitment to systemic transformation through science, education, and public policy underscores his eligibility for the Best Researcher Award.

Publication Profile

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Education

Dr. Robalino-López earned his PhD in Environmental Technologies (cum laude) from Universidad de Huelva, Spain (2014), focusing on carbon emissions and sustainable development using system dynamics. He also holds Master’s degrees in Control Engineering (2012) and Environmental Technologies (2011) from the same university. He completed an MBA in Innovation (2022) from Universidad Técnica Particular de Loja, Ecuador. His engineering foundation was laid at Escuela Politécnica Nacional (2008), where he graduated cum laude in ICT. He has undertaken postgraduate studies in Energy and Environment at Glasgow Caledonian University, UK (2010) and served as a visiting researcher at Università Politecnica delle Marche, Italy (2013). His academic training is rounded out by executive programs at MIT, Berkeley, Taiwan, Brazil, and other global institutions, reflecting a strong and continuous commitment to interdisciplinary and global education.

Experience

Prof. Robalino has over a decade of academic and research leadership at Escuela Politécnica Nacional, serving as Full Professor, Deputy Dean, and Program Coordinator for multiple postgraduate and research initiatives. Internationally, he has represented Ecuador in MIT’s REAP program since 2017, leading entrepreneurship and innovation acceleration. His role as Horizon Europe – NCP for EIT and various positions such as Department Chair, Innovation Transfer Coordinator, and External Auditor (CES) underscores his systemic impact. His hands-on engagement in over a dozen research projects and development initiatives—totaling more than $500K in funding—spans renewable energy, sustainability, and technological innovation. He is also a sought-after lecturer, teaching in postgraduate and PhD programs, with additional experience in collaborative research in Spain and Italy. His leadership blends academic depth with policy-level engagement and international collaboration.

Awards and Honors

Prof. Robalino’s contributions have been widely recognized. He was awarded Best Researcher by CEDIA in 2023, following a nomination in 2022. In 2020, he was inducted into the Academy of Sciences of Ecuador, and in 2019, he received commendation from MIT-REAP for contributions to innovation ecosystems in Quito. At a national level, EPN awarded him the Research Production Award (2015). He is a recipient of numerous prestigious fellowships, including the SENESCYT Dissertation Fellowship (2011–2014), Fundación Carolina, AUIP, and Erasmus, supporting studies in Spain, the UK, and Italy. Additionally, he has secured research grants for international residencies and led funded projects across multiple organizations. These accolades highlight not only his academic excellence but also his real-world impact in sustainable development, innovation management, and capacity building in Ecuador and beyond.

Research Focus

Dr. Robalino’s research lies at the intersection of environmental systems, complex system dynamics, innovation ecosystems, and technology management. His doctoral work pioneered carbon emission modeling and environmental sustainability forecasting in Ecuador using system dynamics and decomposition analysis. He has expanded this approach to entrepreneurship ecosystems, policy scenario evaluation, and sustainability indicators. His recent projects focus on organizational innovation, carbon neutrality strategies, and macroeconomic-environmental modeling. He emphasizes the use of interdisciplinary frameworks to inform national energy and sustainability policies, as seen in collaborations with CEDIA, CONQUITO, and MIT-REAP. His work often combines quantitative modeling, foresight methodologies, and system thinking to guide public and private sector strategies. By integrating research with policy, Dr. Robalino creates actionable insights for sustainable and innovation-driven development across Latin America.

Publication Top Notes

  • Studying the relationship between economic growth, CO2 emissions, and the EKC in Venezuela (1980–2025)
    Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews (2015), 215 citations
    Groundbreaking analysis on the Environmental Kuznets Curve, combining system dynamics and econometrics.

  • System dynamics modeling for renewable energy and CO2 emissions: A case study of Ecuador
    Energy for Sustainable Development (2014), 175 citations
    Pioneering use of system dynamics to simulate energy policy impacts on emissions.

  • System dynamics modelling and the environmental Kuznets curve in Ecuador (1980–2025)
    Energy Policy (2014), 104 citations
    Introduced scenario-based carbon forecasting in Ecuadorian policy research.

  • CO2 emissions convergence among 10 South American countries. A study of Kaya components
    Carbon Management (2016), 65 citations
    Comparative study highlighting regional energy-environment dynamics.

  • Regional cooperation in environmental protection via e-government
    Environment. Technologies. Resources (2017), 20 citations
    Explores digital governance for sustainable development in Andean nations.

Amal Zaher | Environmental Science | Best Researcher Award

Amal Zaher | Environmental Science | Best Researcher Award

Assoc. Prof. Dr Amal Zaher, Beni-suef University, Egypt

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Amal Zaher Shehata is an accomplished academic and researcher in Environmental and Chemical Engineering, affiliated with the Faculty of Postgraduate Studies for Advanced Sciences (PSAS), Beni-Suef University, Egypt. With a strong foundation in chemical engineering, she has led transformative research on wastewater treatment, nanomaterials, and environmental sustainability. Dr. Zaher has authored numerous impactful publications in high-ranking journals, particularly focusing on advanced oxidation processes, layered double hydroxides, and photocatalysis. She has supervised 16 postgraduate theses (14 M.Sc. and 2 Ph.D.), contributed to funded national and international research projects, and actively participates in quality assurance and curriculum development. In addition to her academic duties, she serves as Director of the Training Committee at PSAS and is a reviewer for respected journals such as RSC and Fuel. Her research contributions and dedication to environmental advancement make her a distinguished candidate for the Best Researcher Award.

Publication Profile

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Education

Dr. Amal Zaher holds a B.Sc. Honors (2000), M.Sc. (2006), and Ph.D. (2012) in Chemical Engineering from the Faculty of Engineering, Minia University, Egypt. Her master’s thesis focused on “A New Technology for Treatment of Oil-Polluted Wastewater,” while her doctoral research, titled “Advanced Process for Oily Water Treatment: Statistical Optimization,” advanced the field of environmental process engineering through data-driven techniques. Her academic journey reflects deep expertise in water and wastewater treatment, catalysis, and nanotechnology. She has since expanded her specialization to include interdisciplinary applications in environmental science, particularly within industrial and sustainable development contexts. Her strong academic background underpins her effective teaching, supervision, and pioneering research efforts at Beni-Suef University.

Experience

Dr. Zaher began her career as a freelance engineer (2000–2002) and later served as a safety and occupational health specialist (2002–2016) at the Ministry of Manpower and Immigration, Minia, Egypt. In academia, she served as Assistant Professor (2013–2022) and was promoted to Associate Professor in 2022 at the Environmental Science and Industrial Development Department, PSAS Faculty, Beni-Suef University. She also directed the faculty’s Training Unit (2016–2018) and currently leads the Training Committee. Dr. Zaher has taught various undergraduate and postgraduate courses, including Biogas Technology, Environmental Management Systems, Green Chemistry, and Clean Water Technology. Her leadership extends to academic program development, quality assurance, and supervision of graduate students. With over two decades of diverse professional experience, she effectively bridges the gap between engineering practice and academic innovation.

Awards and Honors

Dr. Amal Zaher has received recognition as a dedicated researcher and academic leader. Her H-index of 10 and 355+ citations (as of May 2025, Scopus ID: 8922238500) reflect her research influence in environmental nanotechnology and water treatment. She is a peer reviewer for internationally acclaimed journals, including RSC and Fuel, and has contributed to global conferences and symposia, both as an attendee and organizer. Notably, she has coordinated institutional programs on occupational safety and environmental sustainability, reinforcing her impact in academic development. She is also an active member of the Arab Federation for Specialized Women and the Institute for Engineering Research and Publication. Her participation in funded research projects, including international collaborations with institutions in the USA, highlights her global research footprint and scholarly contributions deserving of the Best Researcher Award.

Research Focus

Dr. Zaher’s research centers on sustainable environmental technologies, with a focus on advanced water and wastewater treatment methods. Her core expertise includes photocatalysis, electrocatalysis, nanomaterials (e.g., LDH, MOFs), and adsorption techniques for removing pharmaceuticals, dyes, and heavy metals. She applies experimental and computational techniques to optimize processes for treating oily wastewater and enhancing solar desalination systems. Dr. Zaher also explores the reuse and recycling of nanomaterials in water purification, with attention to green synthesis approaches. Her interdisciplinary work integrates chemical engineering, environmental science, and material chemistry to create scalable, eco-friendly solutions to water pollution. Ongoing collaborations and publications on nanostructures and electrochemical sensing technologies further underscore her commitment to environmental innovation and sustainable development.

Publication Top Notes

  1. 2006Using Advanced Oxidation Process for Oily Water Clean-Up, National Conference, Las Vegas, USA.

  2. 2012Optimization of a Simulated Photo-Fenton Process, 9th International Conference on Modeling Simulation and Visualization Methods.

  3. Influences of tungsten incorporation… toward urea elimination, International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 45(15), 8082-8093.

  4. Zn/Fe LDH as a clay-like adsorbent for oxytetracycline removal, Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 27(11), 12256-12269.

  5. Photocatalytic Degradation of Phenol Wastewater, Egyptian Journal of Chemistry, 63(11), 4439-4445.

  6. Tungsten incorporation in nickel doped carbon nanofibers…, Fuel, 280, 118654.

  7. La-doped Zn-Fe LDH for tetracycline adsorption, Journal of Molecular Liquids, 322, 114546.

  8. LDH Nanocubes Synthesized with Zeolite Templates, Nanomaterials, 11(12), 3315.

  9. Zn–Fe LDH nanostructures for dye removal, Scientific Reports, 11(1).

  10. Photocatalytic degradation with ZnO nanoparticles, Journal of International Society for Science and Engineering.

  11. Recycling of Zn–Al LDH after levofloxacin adsorption, RSC Advances, 10(46), 27633-27651.

  12. Enhanced Solar Desalination Units, Conference Proceedings.

  13. Book Chapter (2024)Nanomaterials for Electrochemical Sensing of Heavy Metals, Springer.

  14. Book Chapter (2025)Nanofibres for Medical Applications, Elsevier.

Conclusion

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Amal Zaher exemplifies excellence in environmental engineering research and education. Her substantial contributions to water treatment technologies, advanced nanomaterials, and green chemistry underscore her standing as a thought leader and innovator. With a proven track record of impactful publications, active supervision, and international collaboration, she is an outstanding nominee for the Best Researcher Award. Her work not only addresses pressing environmental challenges but also promotes sustainable solutions that benefit both science and society.

Gang Hu | Ecology and Conservation | Best Researcher Award

Gang Hu | Ecology and Conservation | Best Researcher Award

Dr Gang Hu Nanning, Normal University, China

Based on the information provided, Dr. Gang Hu appears to be a strong candidate for the Best Researcher Award.

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Academic and Professional Background

Dr. Gang Hu is a Master’s Supervisor at Nanning Normal University and an adjunct at Guangxi University. Specializing in vegetation ecology and plant geography, Dr. Hu has served on the editorial boards of prestigious journals like Soil Science and Environment and Subtropical Plant Science. With leadership in ten projects funded by national and regional foundations and a second-class Guangxi Science and Technology Progress Award, Dr. Hu has published 140 papers, including 40 indexed in the SCI database, and contributed to five books, demonstrating a profound impact in his field.

Research and Innovations

Dr. Hu has made significant strides in research, leading nine projects under the National Natural Science Foundation of China and five with the Guangxi Natural Science Foundation. His work has garnered over 1,010 citations, reflecting an H-index of 18, a measure of his research impact. In addition to academic projects, Dr. Hu has collaborated on ten consultancy or industry-sponsored projects and has published four patents currently in process. His scholarly output includes forty papers indexed in SCI and five published books, showcasing his extensive contributions to scientific literature.

Contributions to Science

One of Dr. Hu’s key contributions is the establishment of a vegetation transect across different climatic zones in China’s karst regions. This study, involving long-term monitoring of plant and soil microbial diversity and environmental factors, provides critical insights into the phytogeographical patterns and processes in karst ecosystems. His findings offer a scientific foundation for ecological restoration and forest management, underlining his contributions to the understanding and conservation of biodiversity in subtropical regions.

Conclusion

Given his extensive research contributions, leadership in high-impact projects, and recognized publications, Dr. Gang Hu is highly suitable for the Best Researcher Award. His work in vegetation ecology and plant geography not only advances scientific knowledge but also provides practical solutions for environmental management and restoration.