Vijayalakshmi Pandurangan | Material Science | Women Researcher Award

Dr. Vijayalakshmi Pandurangan | Material Science | Women Researcher Award

Assistant Professor | Vijay Arts and Science | India

Dr. Vijayalakshmi Pandurangan, Assistant Professor at Vijay Arts and Science College, India, is an emerging researcher in nanomaterials and photocatalytic chemistry with a growing body of impactful publications. Her research primarily focuses on the synthesis and application of nanocomposites for energy storage, photocatalytic degradation of organic pollutants, CO₂ reduction, and electrochemical water splitting. She has authored and co-authored over ten peer-reviewed journal papers in reputed international journals such as Ionics, Journal of Materials Research, ChemistrySelect, Microchemical Journal, Electrochimica Acta, and Langmuir. Her studies on multi-component nanocomposites (such as V₂O₅/g-C₃N₄/ZnO and TiO₂/g-C₃N₄/CuFe₂O₄ systems) have demonstrated enhanced photocatalytic activity under visible light, contributing to sustainable environmental remediation strategies. Dr. Vijayalakshmi Pandurangan’s research also extends to nanostructured electrode materials for supercapacitors and electrochemical sensors, with results published in high-impact journals (Impact Factor range: 0.9–13.1). Her collaborative works span interdisciplinary areas including environmental nanotechnology, materials chemistry, and biomedical nanoscaffolds. She has participated in several international and national conferences, presenting her findings on advanced photocatalytic systems and hybrid nanomaterials. Dr. Vijayalakshmi Pandurangan received the Visionary Research Scientist Award (2025) from the UNS Research Council for her contributions to nanoscience. Her research experience includes joint projects with CSIR-NEERI and a funded international research internship (NSTC, Taiwan). With 9 citations, 10 Scopus-indexed documents, and an h-index of 2, she continues to expand her academic footprint through innovative R&D in functional nanomaterials, renewable energy, and environmental sustainability, marking her as a promising scholar in applied nanotechnology.

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

Featured Publications

1. Sivalingam, A. M., Sureshkumar, D. D., & Pandurangan, V. (2025). Cerebellar pathology in forensic and clinical neuroscience. Ageing Research Reviews, 106, 102697. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.arr.2025.102697

2. Anisree, S., Shanmugavelan, P., Vijayalakshmi, P., Kishore, R., & Srivastava, N. (2024). Synthesis, characterization and anticancer screening of novel phenylbenzylidene thiosemicarbazone derivatives. Phosphorus, Sulfur, and Silicon and the Related Elements, 199(4), 267–276. https://doi.org/10.1080/10426507.2024.2330935

3. Vijayalakshmi, P., Shanmugavelan, P., & Mareeswaran, P. M. (2024). Enhanced photocatalytic activity of V₂O₅/g-C₃N₄/ZnO nanocomposite for efficient degradation of amoxicillin, chlorpyrifos and methylene blue. Ionics, 30(12), 8741–8769. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11581-024-05782-0

4. Vijayalakshmi, P., Shanmugavelan, P., Anisree, S., & Mareeswaran, P. M. (2024). Enhanced visible-light Z-scheme photocatalytic degradation of amoxicillin, chlorpyrifos, and methylene blue by Bi₂O₃/g-C₃N₄/ZnO nanocomposite. Journal of Materials Research, 39(22), 3103–3125. https://doi.org/10.1557/s43578-024-01445-y

5. Vinothini, S., Yu, C.-L., Ramasamy, R., Surya, R., Solomon, R. V., Rajadurai, S., Pandurangan, V., Sakthinathan, S., Chen, C.-L., & Chiu, T.-W. (2025). Self-combustion glycine nitrate process prepared CuAlO₂ nanopowder catalyst applied into the carbendazim electrochemical assessment and computational prediction. Langmuir, 41(40), 27360–27380. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.langmuir.5c03513

Prof. Dr. Javad Foroughi | Smart materials | Best Researcher Award

Prof. Dr. Javad Foroughi | Smart materials | Best Researcher Award

Prof. Dr. Javad Foroughi , University of New South Wales, Australia

Dr. Javad Foroughi 🧠 is a globally recognized expert in smart materials, serving as a Visiting Professor at the University of Essen 🇩🇪 and a Senior Research Fellow at UNSW 🇦🇺. He is a DECRA Fellow 🎓 of the Australian Research Council and renowned for pioneering torsional carbon nanotube artificial muscles 🧵, featured in Science (2011). With a PhD in Material Engineering from the University of Wollongong 🇦🇺, Dr. Foroughi’s innovative work spans artificial muscles, wearable tech 👕, and soft robotics 🤖. He has led multidisciplinary collaborations in biomedical innovation 🏥 and secured over $7M in competitive research grants 💰.

Professional Profile:

Scopus

Orcid

Summary of Suitability for Best Researcher Award

Dr. Javad Foroughi is a world-class researcher at the forefront of smart materials, wearable technologies, and biomedical devices. With a research career spanning over two decades and institutions in Australia, Germany, the U.S., South Korea, and Iran, he has made outstanding contributions to polymer science, soft robotics, and artificial muscles. As a senior research fellow and leader at UNSW and IHMRI, his work has translated advanced material innovations into clinical and industrial applications. His achievements, including high-impact publications, multiple prestigious awards, and successful supervision of PhD candidates, make him a leading authority in his field and an ideal recipient for a Best Researcher Award.

🔹 Education & Experience

📘 Education:

  • 🎓 PhD in Material Engineering, University of Wollongong (2006–2009)

  • 🎓 BSc & MSc in Polymer Materials Science, Isfahan University of Technology, Iran (1991–1997)

💼 Employment/Experience:

  • 👨‍🏫 Visiting Professor, University of Essen, Germany (2020–Present)

  • 🧪 Senior Research Fellow, UNSW (2021–Present)

  • 🏥 Lead, Diagnostics & Therapeutics Program, IHMRI

  • 🧵 Senior Research Fellow, Intelligent Polymer Research Institute, UOW (2016–2020)

  • 🔬 ARC DECRA Fellow, ARC Centre of Excellence for Electromaterials Science (2013–2016)

  • 🌏 Visiting Fellow, Hanyang University (South Korea), University of Texas at Dallas (USA)

  • 👨‍🔬 Postdoctoral Fellow and Research Associate, UOW (2009–2011)

🔹 Professional Development

Dr. Foroughi’s professional journey reflects a deep commitment to innovation and interdisciplinary research 🌐. His collaborative leadership spans top institutions across Germany, Australia, South Korea, and the U.S. 🤝. He has supervised 15 PhD candidates 🎓 and mentored researchers in cutting-edge projects involving artificial muscles, biomedical devices 🦾, and smart textiles 👚. Through roles at UNSW, UOW, and IHMRI, he has played a central role in translating lab-scale innovations into real-world applications 💡. His research leadership has contributed to health monitoring systems, drug delivery devices 💊, and soft robotics, earning him a reputation as a pioneer in smart materials 🚀.

🔹 Research Focus 

Dr. Foroughi’s research focuses on smart materials with applications in soft robotics 🤖, artificial muscles 🧵, and wearable technology 👕. He explores advanced functional materials like carbon nanotubes and hydrogels to engineer responsive systems for biomedical devices 🏥, drug delivery 💊, and ventricular assist devices ❤️. His interdisciplinary work integrates polymer science 🧪, nanotechnology 🔬, and mechatronic engineering ⚙️, fostering innovation in next-gen electronics and healthcare. His collaborative efforts across academia and industry have produced high-impact publications 📚 and breakthrough technologies that are redefining possibilities in health monitoring and smart textile applications 📈.

🔹 Awards & Honors 

🏆 Major Awards & Recognitions:

  • 🥇 ARC DECRA Fellowship (2013–2016)

  • 🧠 Emerging Research Fellow, IHMRI

  • 📘 Top Cited Paper, Advanced Materials Technologies (2020–2021)

  • ✍️ Editor’s Choice Article, MDPI Fibers (2019)

  • 🌟 Best of Advanced Materials Technologies (2020)

  • 🧵 IEEE Award for “Smart Fabrics and Networked Clothing” (2017)

  • 🧬 Asia Nanotech Camp Fellowship (2009, Taiwan)

  • 🥇 Winner, UOW Pitch Competition – Nerve Reconstruction (2014)

  • 🥇 Gold Award, R&D 100 – Artificial Muscles from Fishing Line (2015)

  • 🏅 Commercialisation Training Scheme Scholar, UOW

  • 🎓 Australian Research Scholarship for Advanced Materials (2008)

  • 🥈 Finalist, Trailblazer Award, UOW (2008)

  • 🥇 First Rank, BSc in Polymers Department, Isfahan University

Publication Top Notes:

  • Title: Advanced Energy Harvesters and Energy Storage for Powering Wearable and Implantable Medical Devices
    Citations: 21

  • Title: Highly stretchable nanocomposite piezofibers: a step forward into practical applications in biomedical devices
    Citations: 3

  • Title: Contactless vital sign monitoring systems: a comprehensive survey of remote health sensing for heart rate and respiration in internet of things and sleep applications
    Citations: 1

  • Title: Manufacturing Ulvan Biopolymer for Wound Dressings
    Citations: 3

  • Title: Ab initio calculations of structural, electronic, optical, and magnetic properties of delafossite SMoO₂ (S = Na, K, Rb, Cs) for spintronics
    Citations: 1

Prof. Dr. Wenxing Zhang | Material | Best Researcher Award

Prof. Dr. Wenxing Zhang | Material | Best Researcher Award

Prof. Dr. Wenxing Zhang, Hanshan Normal University, China

Zhang Wenxing, PhD 🧑‍🔬, is a Full Professor specializing in material simulation and design. A 2009 graduate from the Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences (Physics) 🎓, and IEMN (CNRS), France (Materials Science) 🇫🇷, he has advanced the fields of nanomaterials and device simulations. Dr. Zhang has authored over 60 SCI papers 📄, holds six patents in China 📜, and published a monograph 📘. He has completed four funded research projects 🔬 and received prestigious awards, including the First Prize for Scientific and Technological Progress in Beijing 🏆 and Shanxi’s Award for Excellent Scientific Papers 🌟.

Professional Profile:

Scopus

Suitability for the Best Researcher Award

Dr. Zhang Wenxing is an outstanding candidate for the Best Researcher Award due to his pioneering work in nanomaterials and device simulations. His exceptional academic and professional achievements underscore his contributions to the advancement of materials science and nanotechnology. Below is a summary of his suitability

Education & Experience:

  • 🎓 2009: PhD in Physics, Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, China
  • 🇫🇷 2009: PhD in Materials Science, IEMN (CNRS), France
  • 🧑‍🏫 Full Professor conducting research in material simulation and nanomaterial design.

Professional Development:

Dr. Zhang Wenxing has made remarkable contributions in the simulation and design of nanomaterials and devices 🌐. His research has been published in top-tier journals in materials science, physics, and chemistry 📚. With over 60 SCI-indexed papers 📑, six patents in China 📜, and one monograph 📘, he stands as a leading expert in his field. Dr. Zhang has led and completed two National Natural Science Foundation of China projects 🇨🇳 and two Guangdong Provincial projects 🌏. His innovations in nanomaterial design continue to push the boundaries of modern technology 🚀.

Research Focus:

Dr. Zhang’s research centers on simulation and design of nanomaterials and devices 🧬. His work bridges physics, materials science, and chemistry 🔗, offering groundbreaking insights into nanomaterial behavior and application. Using computational techniques, he develops innovative solutions for advanced technologies 💻. His focus includes modeling new material properties 🧪 and optimizing nano-devices for improved performance ⚙️. By integrating simulation with experimental design 🔬, Dr. Zhang’s research contributes significantly to the advancement of nanotechnology 🌟, supporting applications in energy, electronics, and material sciences ⚡.

Awards & Honors:

  • 🏆 First Prize for Scientific and Technological Progress, Beijing
  • 🌟 Award for Excellent Scientific Papers, Shanxi Province
  • 📜 Holder of six authorized patents, China
  • 📘 Published one monograph on materials science and simulation
  • 📚 Authored over 60 SCI papers in top journals worldwide

Publication Top Notes:

  • Title: Pd and Pd-B modified g-CN monolayer as innovative sensor and scavenger for CO, NO2, C2H2, and C2H4: A DFT study
    Citations: 3
  • Title: Harnessing a simple ratiometric fluorescent probe for albumin recognition and beyond
    Citations: 1
  • Title: Multi-Band Emission of Pr3+-Doped Ca3Al2O6 and the Effects of Charge Compensator Ions on Luminescence Properties
    Citations: 1
  • Title: Pd, Ag decorated MoSi2N4 monolayer: A potential material for reusable CO and NO gas-sensitive material with high sensitivity
    Citations: 1
  • Title: Boosting the Self-Trapped Exciton Emission in Cs4SnBr6 Zero-Dimensional Perovskite via Rapid Heat Treatment
    Citations: 9

 

Ms. Arni Gesselle Pornea | Materials | Best Researcher Award

Ms. Arni Gesselle Pornea | Materials | Best Researcher Award

Ms. Arni Gesselle Pornea, Naieel Technology, Philippines

Arni Gesselle Pornea is a skilled senior researcher at Naieel Technology in Daejeon, South Korea. With a Ph.D. in Energy Science and Technology from Myongji University, he specializes in materials design for renewable energy applications, particularly in thermal management and energy conversion. Arni’s research includes the development of phase-changing materials, advanced composites, and energy storage technologies. He has authored multiple publications and holds patents in thermal interface materials and solar energy harvesting. With his diverse expertise, Arni is passionate about improving energy systems and contributing to sustainable energy innovations. 🌍💡🔬

Professional Profile:

Orcid

Summary of Suitability for Best Researcher Award

Arni Gesselle Pornea is a highly qualified candidate for the Best Researcher Award due to his innovative contributions to renewable energy and materials science. His research focuses on the design of advanced materials for energy storage and thermal management, particularly for applications in solar energy and phase-change materials. Arni’s work directly addresses the global need for more sustainable and efficient energy systems, making him a key figure in the field of energy science and technology.

Education & Experience:

  • Ph.D. in Energy Science and Technology, Myongji University, South Korea (2022) 🎓
    • Dissertation: Solar-mediated phase-changing materials for energy storage and conversion.
  • M.S. in Energy Science and Technology, Myongji University, South Korea (2019) 🎓
    • Dissertation: Multifunctional wax-infused porous films with anti-corrosion properties.
  • B.S. in Chemical Engineering, Adamson University, Philippines (2013) 🎓
  • Senior Researcher, Naieel Technology, Daejeon, South Korea (2022–present) 🔬
  • Graduate Research Assistant, Myongji University, South Korea (2017–2022) 🔬
  • Improvement Engineer, Western Digital, Philippines (2015–2017) 🏭
  • Quality Assurance Engineer, Black Water Printing, Philippines (2014–2015) 🖨

Professional Development:

Arni is dedicated to professional growth through various certifications, training, and continuous learning. He has completed Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt certification (2020) for process improvement and Potential Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA) (2016) for risk management. Additionally, Arni received Basic Leadership Training (2015) to enhance his leadership skills. His work is complemented by extensive experience in data analysis using software like MATLAB, COMSOL, and ANSYS, ensuring optimal material performance for energy systems. 📈🔧📚

Research Focus:

Arni’s research focuses on the design and development of advanced materials for renewable energy systems. His work emphasizes the synthesis of high-performance composites, thermal management, and solar energy harvesting. His expertise includes the creation of phase-change materials (PCMs) for efficient solar energy storage and the optimization of thermal conductivity in composite materials for electronics. Arni is passionate about using materials science to improve energy conversion efficiency, focusing on sustainability and innovation in renewable energy technologies. 🌞🔋⚡

Awards & Honors:

  • Research Honor Award, Myongji University, South Korea (2022) 🏅
  • Best Oral Presentation, KSIEC, South Korea (2021) 🏆
  • Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt Certification, Ask Lex PH Academy, Philippines (2020) 📜
  • Potential Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA), Western Digital, Philippines (2016) 🔧
  • Basic Leadership Training, BusinessCoach, Inc., Philippines (2015) 📚

Publication Top Notes:

Protruding Boron Nitride Nanotubes on the Al2O3 Surface Enabled by Tannic Acid-Assisted Modification to Fabricate a Thermal Conductive Epoxy/Al2O3 Composite

Boron Nitride Nanotube-Aligned Electrospun PVDF Nanofiber-Based Composite Films Applicable to Wearable Piezoelectric Sensors

Preparations and Thermal Properties of PDMS-AlN-Al2O3 Composites through the Incorporation of Poly(Catechol-Amine)-Modified Boron Nitride Nanotubes

Core-satellite assembly of phase-changing material microcapsules enabled with broadband light absorption and localized surface plasmonic resonance for effective photothermal energy harvesting

Synthesis of hybrid dual-MOF encapsulated phase-changing material for improved broadband light absorption and photothermal conversion enabling efficient solar energy storage