Lakmali Weerasena – Ecological Conservation Award – Best Researcher Award

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Lakmali Weerasena – Ecological Conservation Award – Best Researcher Award

Dr. Lakmali Weerasena distinguished academic and researcher in the field Ecological Conservation. She specializes in scientific computing with a particular focus on analyzing complex optimization problems and designing efficient algorithms using graph data structures for modeling and data analysis, both theoretically and in practical applications. Her research interests span various domains including engineering, conservation biology, and management science, where she explores emerging models. Drawing from classical optimization techniques, statistical concepts, and modern methodologies such as machine learning, she seeks to address multifaceted challenges. Her contributions extend beyond theoretical investigations to applied research, as evidenced by her publications across diverse areas in applied mathematics, operations research, and statistics in esteemed scientific journals. Furthermore, she actively engages with the academic community by organizing conference sessions and presenting her research as both an invited and contributing speaker, demonstrating her commitment to advancing knowledge and fostering collaboration in her field.

🌐 Professional Profiles

Educations📚📚📚

Lakmali Weerasena holds a Ph.D. in Operations Research from Clemson University, where she completed her dissertation on “Approximation in Multiobjective Optimization with Applications,” under the guidance of Professor Margaret Wiecek. Prior to her doctoral studies, she earned a Master of Science in Mathematical Sciences from Clemson University, focusing on optimization models for designing spatially compact ecological reserve systems, supervised by Professor Emeritus Douglas Shier. Lakmali’s academic journey began at the University of Peradeniya in Sri Lanka, where she obtained her Bachelor of Science (Honors) in Mathematics. Additionally, she pursued non-degree graduate studies at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, delving into Introduction to Machine Learning offered by the Department of Computer Science in the College of Engineering during the spring of 2023. With her diverse educational background spanning across mathematics, optimization, and machine learning, Lakmali Weerasena exhibits a multidisciplinary approach to her academic pursuits.

 Work experiences

 

She has built a distinguished career in academia, currently serving as the UC Foundation Associate Professor of Mathematics at the University of Tennessee – Chattanooga since August 2022. Prior to this role, she held positions as Assistant Professor of Mathematics at the same institution from August 2016 to August 2022, and as Assistant Professor of Mathematics (Limited Term) at Albany State University from August 2015 to May 2016. Earlier in her career, she served as a Lecturer at Kennesaw State University from August 2014 to May 2015 and as a Visiting Lecturer. Her academic journey began at Clemson University, where she served as a Graduate Teacher of Record from August 2007 to December 2013 while completing her Ph.D. in Operations Research. These experiences have provided her with a comprehensive understanding of mathematics education and research, allowing her to excel in her current role as an esteemed faculty member.

Teaching Experience

In her tenure at the University of Tennessee-Chattanooga, TN, USA, since August 2016, she has demonstrated her versatility and expertise in teaching across a wide range of courses in the Department of Mathematics. Her teaching portfolio encompasses both undergraduate and graduate levels, covering topics such as computational and applied mathematics, probability and statistics, mathematical statistics, operations research (both linear and nonlinear), applied statistics, mathematical programming, introductory statistics, discrete mathematics for computer science, elementary linear algebra, calculus, and precalculus. Additionally, she supervises graduate-level courses focused on doctoral research, graduate research, and thesis preparation. Through her dedication and proficiency in teaching diverse mathematical subjects, she plays a pivotal role in fostering students’ understanding and appreciation for mathematics at both introductory and advanced levels.

Conferences

Invited Presentations
1. Breadth First Search Algorithm to Identify Connected Reserve Systems, ASB Special Session
on Women in Biology Inspired by Women in Biology, March 2024, Association of Southeastern
Biologists
2. A Sequential Approach to the Design of Compact and Connected Reserve Systems, Research
Colloquium in the Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Science, University of Peradeniya,
Sri Lanka, January 2024.
3. An integrated approach to the design of compact and connected reserve systems, AWM Special
Session on Exploring the Intersection of Mathematics and Ecology: Research Applications and
Findings, September 2023, AWM Research Symposium.
4. Spatially explicit mathematical model for invasive species management, AMS Special Session
on New Developments in Operations Research and Management Sciences I, October 2022, 2022
Fall Southeastern Sectional Meeting.
5. Advancing local search approximations for multiobjective combinatorial optimization problems,
Department of Mathematics Colloquium, October 2021, UTC, TN, US
6. An approximation approach for the generalized multiobjective set cover problem, Multi-Criteria
Decision Making (MCDM) section, INFORMS (Institute for Operations Research and the
Management Sciences) Conference, October 2021, California.
7. An approximation algorithm for the generalized multiobjective set cover problem, Approximation
Approaches for Multiobjective Optimization in stream Multiobjective Optimization session
under Multiobjective Optimization, 31st European Conference on Operational Research Conference,
July 2021, Athens, Greece (supported by UTC SimCenter grant).
8. Design of an algorithm with multiple-cost efficient rules for the generalized multiobjective set
cover problem, SimCenter and Department of Mathematics Colloquium, April 2021, UTC, TN,
USA.
9. Generalized set cover problem with conflict objective functions: algorithm and applications in
ecological conservation., Multi-Criteria Decision Making (MCDM) section, INFORMS (Institute
for Operations Research and the Management Sciences) Conference, October 2019, Seattle, USA
(supported by UTC grant).
10. Combinatorial optimization for ecological conservation, the 43rd Annual Meeting of the SIAM
Atlantic Section, September 2019, The University of Tennessee at Knoxville, TN (supported by
UTC grant).
11. Approximation method for optimum design of a fin, The University of Tennessee at Knoxville,
Knoxville, TN, February 14, 2019 (supported by Department of Mathematics, The University
of Tennessee at Knoxville).
12. Multiobjective design of a fin in a steady-state regime, Multi-Criteria Decision Making (MCDM)
section, INFORMS (Institute for Operations Research and the Management Sciences) Conference,
November 2018, Arizona, USA (supported by UTC grant).

Awards

She has mentored several students who have received prestigious awards and recognition for their academic achievements. Chathuri Aththanayaka participated in and presented a poster at the AWM Research Symposium, supported by the Division of Mathematical Sciences at the National Science Foundation (NSF DMS 2113506) in 2023. Christopher Tompkins received the NCUR Support Award from UTC in the same year. Delwyn Sam and Jonathan Stegmann were both honored with the Honor College Student Award from UTC in 2021 and 2018, respectively, highlighting their exceptional academic performance and contributions. Dell Zimmerman was granted the Scholarship, Engagement, the Arts, Research, Creativity, & Humanities (SEARCH) grant at UTC in 2018, where Dr. Soubantika Palchoudhury led the project. Additionally, Nichols Graham received the Undergraduate Research Award from Albany State University in 2016, recognizing his outstanding research endeavors under her guidance. These accolades underscore her dedication to mentoring and nurturing talented students, fostering their growth and success in academia.

📝🔬Publications📝🔬

1. Weerasena L., Aththanayaka C., Bandara D., Advances in the decision-making of set covering
models under uncertainty, Annals of Operations Research (forthcoming, 2024):
(Publisher: Springer-Verlag, Berlin, Germany).
2. Fadul M., Reising D., Weerasena L., Loveless T.D., Sartipi M., Tyler J., Improving RF-DNA
Fingerprinting Performance In An Indoor Multipath Environment Using Semi-Supervised Learning,
IEEE Transactions on Information Forensics and Security (2024): 1-16
(Publisher: IEEE).
3. Fadul M., Reising D., Weerasena L., An Investigation into the Impacts of Deep Learning-based
Re-sampling on Specific Emitter Identification Performance, The Journal of Engineering (2023):
1:11 (Publisher: Wiley, New Jersey, US).
4. Weerasena L., Shier D., Tonkyn D., McFeaters M., Collins C., Sequential approach to reserve
design with compactness and contiguity considerations, Ecological Modelling (2023): 478:10281
(Publisher: Elsevier, Amsterdam, Netherlands). CrossRef Google Scholar
5. Weerasena, L., Ebiefung, A., Skjellum, A., Design of a heuristic algorithm for the generalized
multi-objective set covering problem, Computational Optimization and Applications (2022): 82:717-
751
(Publisher: Springer-Verlag, Berlin, Germany) CrossRef Google Scholar
6. Weerasena, L., Hunt, N., Bandara, D., McKnight, M., Spatially Explicit Multi-objective Mathematical
Model for Invasive Species Management, Biological Invasions (2022): 24:1839–1862
(Publisher: Springer-Verlag, Berlin, Germany) CrossRef Google Scholar
7. Belinskiy, B., Hinton, D., Weerasena, L., Khan, M., On the Sturm–Liouville problem describing
an ocean waveguide covered by pack ice, Applicable Analysis (2021): 1-23
(Publisher: Taylor and Francis, London, United Kingdom) CrossRef Google Scholar
8. Weerasena, L., Advancing local search approximations for multiobjective combinatorial optimization
problems Journal of Combinatorial Optimization (2021): 1-24.
(Publisher: Springer-Verlag, Berlin, Germany) CrossRef Google Scholar
9. Weerasena, L., Belinskiy, B. P., Hiestand, J. W., Optimal effectiveness and efficiency of a fin in
steady-state: multiobjective approach Optimization and Engineering (2020): 1157-1180.
(Publisher: Springer-Verlag, Berlin, Germany) CrossRef Google Scholar
10. Weerasena, L. Algorithm for Generalized multiobjective set covering problem with an application
in ecological conservation, Int. J. of Mathematical Modelling and Numerical Optimisation (2020):
Volume 10 No.2, 167 – 186.
(Publisher: Inderscience, Geneva, Switzerland) CrossRef Google Scholar
11. Belinskiy, B. P., Hiestand, J. W., Weerasena, L., Optimal design of a fin in a steady-state regime.
Applied Mathematical Modeling (2020): Volume 77, Part 2, 1188-1200.
(Publisher: Elsevier, Amsterdam, Netherlands) CrossRef Google Scholar
12. Gunasekera, S., Weerasena, L., Saram, A., Ajumobi, O., Exact inference for the Youden index to
discriminate individuals using two-parameter exponentially distributed pooled samples, Biostatistics
& Epidemiology (2019): 38-61.
(Publisher: Taylor and Francis, London, United Kingdom) CrossRef Google Scholar
13. Weerasena L., Wiecek M.M., A tolerance function for the multiobjective set covering problem.
Optimization Letters (2018): 1–19.
(Publisher: Springer-Verlag, Berlin, Germany) CrossRef Google Scholar
14. Palchoudhury S., Jungjohann K.,Weerasena L., Arabshahi A., Gharge U., Albattah A., Miller
J., Patel K., Holler R., Enhanced legume root growth with pre-soaking in α Fe2O3 nanoparticle
fertilizer. Royal Society of Chemistry Advances (2018): 24075–24083.
(Publisher: The Royal Society of Chemistry, London, United Kingdom) CrossRef Google Scholar
15. Vanderpooten D., Weerasena L., Wiecek M.M., Covers and approximations in multiobjective
optimization. Journal of Global Optimization (2017): 67(3) 601–619.
(Publisher: Springer-Verlag, Berlin, Germany) CrossRef Google Scholar

Sina Kamali Tabrizi – Heritage conservation – Best Researcher Award

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Sina Kamali Tabrizi – Heritage conservation – Best Researcher Award

Dr. Sina Kamali Tabrizi distinguished academic and researcher in the field Heritage conservation. During the period from 2018 to 2021, he served as the CEO of two distinct companies. Firstly, he led Home Virtual Insight, a knowledge-based company specializing in the 360-degree documentation of historical and tourist places. Additionally, from 2019 to 2021, he concurrently held the position of CEO at 360 Wall, a company focused on the design, renovation, and sale of buildings.

🌐 Professional Profiles

Educations📚📚📚

He pursued a comprehensive academic journey, beginning with his Bachelor of Architecture degree from Islamic Azad University, which he completed from 2010 to 2014, achieving a GPA of 3.2 out of 4. Subsequently, he furthered his education by obtaining a Master of Architecture degree from the same university, graduating with a GPA of 3.4 out of 4 in the period from 2014 to 2016. His academic pursuits culminated in a Ph.D. of Architecture from Shahid Rajaee Teacher Training University, completed between 2017 and 2022, with a notable GPA of 3.8 out of 4. His doctoral thesis focused on the Principles of Value Revitalization of Religious-Educational Buildings of Qajar Era in Tehran. Currently, he is enrolled in a Master of Construction Management program at Nottingham Trent University, with his studies ongoing since 2023.

Academic Projects

He has contributed to significant academic projects, including a national research endeavor conducted from 2020 to 2022 for the Ministry of Cultural Heritage and Tourism of Iran. In this project, he played a pivotal role in designing an online system aimed at integrating interpretive, geometric, and virtual reality documents for the Ministry’s use. The outcome of this effort can be accessed through the website https://vrheritage.ir.

Additionally, between 2018 and 2019, he engaged in a research project for Shahid Rajaee Teacher Training University. Here, he was instrumental in creating a 360-degree virtual tour to showcase the facilities of the university’s laboratories. This project was aimed at enhancing the accessibility and understanding of the university’s resources and can be explored at https://www.sru.ac.ir/labtour.

Authorship Books

1) Taher Tolou Del, M. S., & Kamali Tabrizi, S. (2021). Structural Performance of Iranian
Architectural Heritage, Academic Revolution Publications. https://fidibo.com/book/114306
2) Taher Tolou Del, M. S., & Kamali Tabrizi, S. (2020). Social Performance of Iranian Architectural
Heritage, Academic Revolution Publications. https://fidibo.com/book/109864
3) Taher Tolou Del, M. S., & Kamali Tabrizi, S. (2020). Public Benefit Performance of Iranian
Architectural Heritage, Academic Revolution Publications. https://fidibo.com/book/110978

Academic Projects

He contributed to two noteworthy academic projects. From 2020 to 2022, he participated in a national research project commissioned by the Ministry of Cultural Heritage and Tourism of Iran. His involvement centered on the design and implementation of an online system intended to seamlessly integrate interpretive, geometric, and virtual reality documents. This initiative aimed to enhance accessibility and engagement with cultural heritage resources and can be accessed at https://vrheritage.ir.

In the period spanning 2018 to 2019, he engaged in a research project for Shahid Rajaee Teacher Training University. The project’s focus was on creating a comprehensive 360-degree virtual tour to showcase the facilities housed within the university’s laboratories. This immersive tour was designed to provide prospective students and other stakeholders with a detailed and interactive glimpse into the university’s educational resources and infrastructure. The virtual tour is available for exploration at https://www.sru.ac.ir/labtour.

Patents

1) Kamali Tabrizi, S., & Taghavi, A. (2008). Designing a mechanism for the security system of
buildings using infrared and smart hub; Registration number in Iran: 51430
2) Kamali Tabrizi, S., & Haghgou, M. (2008). Laser and optical measuring using the formula X = VT;
Registration number in Iran: 52309

Teaching Experiences

He has amassed diverse teaching experiences across various institutions and settings. Currently, he serves as a Teacher Active member in Nottingham, fulfilling roles as both a teacher and exam invigilator since 2023.

His prior teaching engagements include serving as a Lecturer at Shahid Rajaee University, where in 2021, he taught a course titled “Innovative Construction Technologies.” Additionally, in 2020, he lectured on “Construction Systems” at the same institution.

Furthermore, in 2018, he contributed as a Lecturer to the first national conference on natural and cultural heritage documentation. During this event, he led a workshop titled “Application of Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality in the Documentation of Historic Monuments.” Through these teaching endeavors, he has demonstrated his expertise and dedication to educating students in various fields related to construction, technology, and heritage documentation.

Honors and Awards

Throughout his career, he has been the recipient of numerous prestigious honors and awards, underscoring his exceptional contributions and achievements across various domains:

In 2022, he was recognized by Iran’s Education Ministry, receiving the esteemed accolade for “The Top Book of the Year.” Simultaneously, his outstanding research endeavors were acknowledged as he was selected as “The Best Researcher” at the Architectural Engineering Faculty of SRTTU.

Similarly, in 2021, he earned accolades for his research excellence, being named “The Best Researcher” at both Shahid Rajaee Teacher Training University and the National Elite Foundation of Iran. Additionally, he was honored as “The Top Education Talent” by the National Elite Foundation and recognized as “The Top Author” at the Khayyam Science Festival.

His contributions to academia were further highlighted in 2018 when he was selected for having the “Best Article” in the First National Conference on Natural and Cultural Heritage Documentation.

Earlier in his career, in 2009, he was acknowledged as “The Best Researcher” at Payam Noor University, Alborz. Additionally, his innovative capabilities were celebrated in 2008 when he received the third place in the UK Patent Competition (The British Invention Show), demonstrating his prowess in generating novel ideas and solutions.

Other Scientific Activities

He has been actively engaged in various scientific activities, demonstrating his commitment to advancing knowledge and promoting innovative solutions:

In 2020, he participated in organizing the Second National Conference on Environmental Science and Engineering and Sustainable Development. Additionally, he contributed to the inaugural International Conference and the fifth National Conference on Sustainable Architecture and Urban Planning.

In 2019, he was involved in organizing the Second National Conference on Natural and Cultural Heritage Documentation, as well as the Fourth National Conference on Architecture and Sustainable City.

His contributions to entrepreneurship and academia were recognized in 2019 when he was interviewed as a top entrepreneur on Iran Kala, a national television channel. Furthermore, in 2018, he participated in organizing the First Exhibition of the Achievements of the National Conference on Documentation of Natural and Cultural Heritage at Shahid Rajaee Teacher Training University.

In the same year, his efforts were acknowledged when he participated in organizing the university’s research exhibition, where the Architecture Faculty, under his guidance, was ranked as the top faculty.

Earlier engagements include being interviewed as a top researcher by the Alumni newspaper in 2017 and as a top inventor on national television in 2008. Additionally, in 2008, he participated in the esteemed Great Exhibition of Inventions and Innovations of Iran, showcasing his innovative prowess and dedication to advancing scientific knowledge and technological solutions.

📝🔬Publications📝🔬