GULDANA MAKASHEVA | Engineering and Technology | Research Hypothesis Excellence Award

Leading Research Scientist at LLP KazHydroMed, Kazakhstan

Mrs. Guldana Makasheva is a seasoned metallurgical researcher and Senior Research Scientist at LLP KazHydroMed, Kazakhstan. With over a decade of hands-on and theoretical experience across various roles in metallurgy, her expertise lies in flotation, hydrometallurgy, and the beneficiation of complex ores and industrial tailings. She is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Metallurgy at Satbayev University and holds advanced degrees in Metallurgy and Organic Chemistry. Her career spans from laboratory chemist to lead engineer, demonstrating her adaptability and growth. Makasheva has authored numerous scientific publications in both national and international journals and has contributed to high-impact projects aimed at developing eco-friendly and efficient mineral processing technologies. Her research, marked by technical precision and practical relevance, has addressed pressing industrial challenges in Kazakhstan’s mining sector. With a strong foundation in hypothesis-driven experimentation, she exemplifies the principles celebrated by the Research Hypothesis Excellence Award.

Education

Mrs. Makasheva holds a Master’s degree in Technical Sciences with a specialization in Metallurgy and Mineral Processing from Satbayev University, one of Kazakhstan’s premier technical institutions. Her academic foundation began with a Bachelor’s in Chemistry of Organic Substances from Karaganda State University named after E.A. Buketov, where she gained solid grounding in analytical and synthetic chemistry. Continuing her academic journey, she is currently pursuing her Ph.D. in Metallurgy at Satbayev University (2023–present), focusing on advanced beneficiation techniques and processing of complex ore materials. Her academic background is complemented by specialized certifications, including a Certified PC User qualification and Accounting & 1C certification, highlighting her commitment to interdisciplinary skills. Her education has consistently supported her progression as a research leader in metallurgical science, emphasizing innovation, practical application, and publication in high-impact forums. 🎓📘🧪

Experience

Mrs. Guldana Makasheva’s professional trajectory reflects deep engagement with Kazakhstan’s metallurgical sector. Since 2021, she has served as a Senior Research Scientist at LLP KazHydroMed, where she designed cutting-edge research programs and executed pilot-scale tests in slag and ore processing. Earlier, as Lead Process Engineer at JSC “Zhairem GOK” (2020–2021), she worked on mineral flow diagrams and thickening technologies. At JSC “Varvarinskoye” (2011–2020), she ascended from Laboratory Chemist to Metallurgical Process Engineer, gaining end-to-end operational experience—from ore crushing to desorption and AAS/XRF analysis. Her earliest role was at the Institute of Organic Synthesis and Coal Chemistry, where she synthesized catalysts and conducted chromatographic studies. Each position honed her skills in technical reporting, pilot experiments, and project leadership, building a solid foundation for her present-day research excellence.

Awards and Honors

While specific national or international awards are not listed, Mrs. Guldana Makasheva’s consistent leadership in funded scientific projects and co-authorship of peer-reviewed publications signifies her recognition within the scientific community. Her appointment as Lead Investigator across multiple major projects—such as beneficiation of legacy tailings and development of flotation technologies—indicates institutional trust and high-level peer acknowledgment. She has also been a frequent contributor to SCOPUS-indexed and national journals, suggesting editorial confidence in her scientific rigor. As a Senior Research Scientist, she has been a key figure in government and industrial research initiatives, often coordinating multidisciplinary teams to address Kazakhstan’s critical metallurgical challenges. Her accolades are implicit in her elevation to senior scientific ranks and her pivotal roles in transformative projects. Her ongoing Ph.D. candidacy further reflects academic recognition and career progression.

Research Focus

Mrs. Makasheva’s research spans flotation chemistry, hydrometallurgical processing, ore beneficiation, and tailings revalorization. Her core investigations involve innovative techniques for processing refractory oxidized ores and polymetallic tailings, with special emphasis on flotation using hydroxamate-based collectors and gravity-flotation technologies. She has actively contributed to pilot testing for slag processing from metallurgical plants and has optimized concentrate thickening strategies. Her projects are critical to sustainable resource management, addressing legacy waste streams from major mining hubs like Balkhash and Zhezkazgan. Guldana also explores the oxidative-reductive potential in ore enrichment and thermochemical methods for improving flotation performance. Her current Ph.D. research likely intersects with these themes, pushing boundaries in extractive metallurgy. With a clear focus on bridging lab research with field applications, her work is both environmentally and economically transformative.

Zhongqiang ZHANG | Engineering and Technology | Best Researcher Award

Mr Zhongqiang ZHANG, Jiangsu University, China

Prof. Zhongqiang Zhang is a leading academic in mechanical engineering, currently serving as Professor and Associate Dean at Jiangsu University, China. With a career rooted in advanced fluid dynamics, nanoengineering, and smart materials, he has consistently contributed groundbreaking research recognized both nationally and internationally 🌏🔬. His global exposure includes visiting scholar roles at prestigious institutions like UC Berkeley and Mississippi State University, enhancing his research vision and collaborations. He is renowned for his pioneering work in nanofluidics, surface wettability, graphene membranes, and bioinspired designs 🌡️🧪. Prof. Zhang’s projects, funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China, span from intelligent liquid manipulation to smart environmental robots. A prolific author, he has numerous Q1 publications in high-impact journals 📚🌟. With prestigious awards such as the ICCES Outstanding Young Researcher Award, his achievements reflect both innovation and leadership, making him a strong candidate for the Best Researcher Award 🏆💡.

Publication Profile

Google Scholar

Education

Mr. Zhongqiang Zhang 🎓 is a dedicated scholar in the field of engineering mechanics with a strong academic foundation in mechanical engineering. He began his academic journey at the School of Mechanical Engineering, Shandong University of Technology 🏫 in Zibo, PR China, where he earned his Bachelor of Science degree between September 2000 and June 2004. Demonstrating a passion for research and innovation, he continued his education by pursuing a Ph.D. at the Department of Engineering Mechanics, Dalian University of Technology (DUT) 🧠🔧 in Dalian, PR China. From September 2004 to December 2010, under the supervision of Professor Hong-Wu Zhang 👨‍🏫, he developed advanced knowledge and skills in engineering mechanics. His academic path reflects a strong commitment to excellence in mechanical sciences and a drive for contributing to technological advancement. Mr. Zhang’s educational background laid a solid foundation for his future research and professional achievements in engineering. 🚀📘

Experience

Mr. Zhongqiang Zhang is a distinguished professor and Associate Dean at the School of Mechanical Engineering, Jiangsu University, PR China (🇨🇳), serving since July 2020. With a solid academic foundation and deep expertise, he previously held the position of Associate Professor at the same institution from December 2010 to June 2020. His international academic engagements include a prestigious stint as a Visiting Scholar at the Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, University of California-Berkeley (🇺🇸), from October 2018 to January 2020, under the supervision of Shao-Fan Li 🌉. Earlier in his career, he expanded his research exposure as a Visiting Ph.D. student at the Center for Advanced Vehicular Systems (CAVS), Mississippi State University (🇺🇸), from May 2008 to January 2009 🚗🔬. Mr. Zhang’s academic journey reflects a strong commitment to innovation, global collaboration, and mechanical engineering excellence 🌍📘🔧.

Honors and Awards

Mr. Zhongqiang Zhang has earned numerous accolades throughout his distinguished academic and research career. In 2023, he received the prestigious ICCES Outstanding Young Researcher Award 🏅, recognizing his significant contributions to the field. He was also honored with the First Prize of Science and Technology of Jiangsu Province in 2020 🧪🏆. His dedication to education was acknowledged in 2016 when he was named an Outstanding Young Backbone Teacher under the Jiangsu Blue and Blue Project 📘👨‍🏫. In 2015, he secured the Third Prize in the Jiangsu Provincial Science and Technology Award 🥉🔬. As a rising scholar, he was recognized as a Young Academic Leader of Jiangsu University in 2013 🎓🌟. His scholarly excellence was evident early on, with his doctoral dissertation being awarded Outstanding Doctoral Dissertation by both Liaoning Province and Dalian University of Technology in 2012 📜🎖️. In 2009, he won the 6th China Youth Science and Technology Innovation Award, showcasing his early potential and innovation.

Research Projects

Mr. Zhongqiang Zhang has led and contributed to multiple cutting-edge research projects funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China 🇨🇳. As Project Leader, he spearheaded a 2023–2026 project focused on the continuous capturing and cross-scale collection of fuel bubbles driven by structure-wetting coupling gradients (RMB 550,000) 🔬💧. From 2019–2022, he explored self-driven droplet behaviors on graphene-covered gradient textured substrates (RMB 630,000) 🌡️⚛️. Earlier, he investigated electro-mechanical coupling in fluid nano-devices based on low-dimensional carbon materials (2015–2018, RMB 800,000) 🔋📉. His 2012–2014 study examined boundary slip in nanochannels influenced by temperature-velocity coupling gradients (RMB 260,000) 🧪🌡️. Additionally, he plays a key role (R2) in a major project (2023–2025) developing an energy self-supply, rigid-flexible coupling robot for intelligent water environment sensing, funded at RMB 3,000,000 🤖🌊. His research reflects deep expertise in nanofluidics, material science, and robotics, addressing vital scientific and environmental challenges.

Research Focus

Dr. Zhongqiang Zhang’s research focuses on nanofluidics, smart materials, and advanced surface engineering, with a strong emphasis on liquid transport, separation, and water harvesting technologies. His work leverages graphene membranes, conical micro-arrays, and textured surfaces to achieve breakthroughs in desalination, fluid dynamics, and droplet manipulation 🌊🧪. He explores slip boundary conditions, programmable surfaces, and self-driving liquid motion, often through molecular dynamics simulations and experimental validations ⚙️💡. His publications in top-tier journals like Science Advances, Chemical Engineering Journal, and ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces highlight innovations that overcome classic trade-offs like permeability-selectivity limits 🚿🔬. Dr. Zhang also contributes to the development of smart haptic electronic skins and temperature-responsive materials for microfluidics and environmental applications 🤖🌡️. Overall, his interdisciplinary approach connects physics, materials science, and engineering to pioneer next-gen nanotechnologies for efficient water management and soft robotics 💧.