José Fernando Maya-Vetencourt – Network Science- Top Researcher Award

José Fernando Maya-Vetencourt – Network Science- Top Researcher Award

Assoc Prof Dr. José Fernando Maya-Vetencourt distinguished academic and researcher in the field Network science.

🌐 Professional Profile

Educations📚📚📚

Dr. José Fernando Maya-Vetencourt obtained his Bachelor’s degree in Biology from the University of the Andes in Merida. He then pursued a Master’s degree in Biochemistry and Cellular Biology at the Ecole Normale Supérieure in Paris, where he contributed to an international research project. He earned his PhD in Neurobiology at the Scuola Normale Superiore of Pisa under the mentorship of Lamberto Maffei and continued there as a Postdoctoral fellow. His postdoctoral work extended to the NEST laboratory.

Research Interests

Dr. Maya-Vetencourt’s research interests encompass:

  1. Neuronal Interfaces: Developing devices to substitute damaged tissues in the nervous system.
  2. Optogenetics and Neuronal Plasticity: Investigating mechanisms underlying sensory perception and behavior.
  3. Retinal Circuitries: Studying physiological and pathological conditions in the retina.

Publications and Academic Contributions

Dr. Maya-Vetencourt has published 34 scientific manuscripts in esteemed peer-reviewed journals, with 29 indexed in PubMed, including Science, Nature Neuroscience, and Nature Nanotechnology. He has edited one neuroscience book, authored four book chapters, and co-invented four patents. His work has garnered over 3400 citations, an H-index of 22 on Google Scholar, and an average impact factor per manuscript of 13.06.

Teaching and Mentorship

He has supervised over 35 Master’s thesis students in Neuroscience and Biotechnology. Dr. Maya-Vetencourt is a member of the Italian Society of Neuroscience (SINS), the American Society of Neuroscience (SfN), and the Italian Physiological Society (SIF). He serves as an associate review editor for “Frontiers in Molecular Neuroscience” and “Frontiers in Cellular Neuroscience”.

Awards and Recognitions

In 2017, Dr. Maya-Vetencourt received two prestigious “Young Investigator” awards: one from the Italian Physiological Society in Pavia and another from the Federation of European Physiological Societies in Vienna.

Pioneering Research

Dr. Maya-Vetencourt pioneered approaches to reactivate juvenile-like plasticity in the adult visual system (Nat Neurosc 2007; Science 2008). He explored chromatin susceptibility mechanisms for reinstating plasticity in the adult brain (Eur J Neurosci 2011). At IIT, he set up an electrophysiology lab to apply photovoltaic interfaces in rodent models of retinitis pigmentosa, leading to the development of a fully organic prosthetic device for subretinal implantation in RCS rats (Nat Mat 2017). This research demonstrated significant recovery of light sensitivity and visual acuity, accompanied by increased metabolic activity in the visual cortex.

Current Projects

Dr. Maya-Vetencourt is currently working on adapting surgical implant procedures for pig models to evaluate biocompatibility and visual function recovery (Front Bioeng Biotech 2020). He is also developing innovative “liquid” retinal prostheses to address age-related macular degeneration (Nat Nanotech 2020a, 2020b).

Future Directions

Dr. Maya-Vetencourt continues to advance the field of neuroscience by developing novel, biocompatible, and cost-effective solutions for neurodegenerative diseases, aiming to improve therapeutic outcomes for patients with degenerative blindness.

 

 

📝🔬Publications📝🔬

  • 1. Edoardo Porzano, Benedetta Borghi, José Fernando Maya-Vetencourt. 2024.
    Environmental enrichment as an innovative therapeutic approach to treat neurodegenerative
    blindness (in preparation)
    2. Edoardo Porzano, Dominga Lapi, Benedetta Borghi, Silvia Marracci, Melecchi Alberto,
    Giovanni Casini, José Fernando Maya-Vetencourt. 2024. Enriched environment
    enhances visual responses of the inner retina in early-stage retinitis pigmentosa (in
    preparation)
    3. Dmytro Shmal, Giulia Mantero, Thomas Floss, Fabio Benfenati, José Fernando MayaVetencourt. 2024. Restoring vision in adult amblyopia by enhancing plasticity through
    deletion of the transcriptional repressor REST. iScience 27(4): 109507. IF 5.8
    4. Ilaria Piano, Arianna Votta, Patrizia Colucci, Francesca Corsi, Sara Vitolo, Chiara Cerri, Dario
    Puppi, Michele Lai, José Fernando Maya-Vetencourt, Massimiliano Leigheb, Chiara
    Gabellini, Elisabetta Ferraro. 2023. Anti-inflammatory reprogramming of microglia cells by
    metabolic modulators to counteract neurodegeneration: a new role for Ranolazine. Scientific
    Reports 13: 20138. IF 5.13
    5. Simona Francia, Stefano Di Marco, Mattia Lorenzo DiFrancesco, Davide Ferrari, Dmytro
    Shmal, Alessio Cavalli, Grazia Pertile, Marcella Attanasio, José Fernando MayaVetencourt, Giovanni Manfredi, Guglielmo Lanzani, Fabio Benfenati, Elisabetta Colombo.
    2023. P3HT-Graphene device for the restoration of visual properties in a model of retinitis
    pigmentosa. Advanced Materials Technologies 8: 2201467. IF 8.86
    6. Domenico Ventrella*, José Fernando Maya-Vetencourt*, Alberto Elmi, Francesca Barone,
    Camilla Aniballi, Luisa Vera Muscatello, Maurizio Mete, Grazia Pertile, Fabio Benfenati, Maria
    Laura Bacci. 2022. The p-ERG spatial acuity in the biomedical pig under physiological
    conditions. Scientific Reports 12: 15479. IF 5.13
    7. Simona Francia, Dmytro Shmal, Stefano Di Marco, Greta Chiaravalli, José Fernando MayaVetencourt, Giulia Mantero, Caterina Michetti, Sara Cupini, Giovanni Manfredi, Mattia
    Lorenzo DiFrancesco, Anna Rocchi, Sara Perotto, Marcella Attanasio, Riccardo Sacco, Silvia
    Bisti, Maurizio Mete, Grazia Pertile, Guglielmo Lanzani, Elisabetta Colombo, Fabio Benfenati.
    2022. Light induced charge generation in polymeric nanoparticles restores vision in
    advanced-stage retinitis pigmentosa rats. Nature Communications 13: 3677. IF 17.69
    8. Miguel Skirzewski, Stéphane Molotchnikoff, Luis F Hernandez, José Fernando MayaVetencourt. 2022. Multisensory integration: is medial prefrontal cortex signaling relevant for
    the treatment of higher-order visual dysfunctions? Frontiers in Molecular Neuroscience
    14: 806376. IF 5.63
    9. Stefano di Marco, Mattia Di Francesco, Elisabetta Colombo, Giovanni Manfredi, José
    Fernando Maya- Vetencourt, Guglielmo Lanzani, Fabio Benfenati. 2020. Modulation of
    neuronal firing: what role can nanotechnology play? Nanomedicine 8: 579141. IF 4.7
    10. José Fernando Maya-Vetencourt, Stefano Di Marco, Maurizio Mete, Mattia Di Paolo,
    Francesca Barone, Domenico Ventrella, Giovanni Manfredi, Silvia Bisti, Guglielmo Lanzani,
    Grazia Pertile, Maria Laura Bacci, Fabio Benfenati. 2020. Biocompatibility of a polymeric
    subretinal prosthesis in the domestic pig. Frontiers in Bioengineering and
    Biotechnology 8: 1188. IF 6.06
    11. José Fernando Maya-Vetencourt, Giovanni Manfredi, Maurizio Mete, Elisabetta Colombo,
    Mattia Bramini, Mattia DiFrancesco, Dmytro Shmal, Cyril Eleftheriou, Francesca Di Maria,
    Vanessa Cossu, Laura Emionite, Flavia Ticconi, Cecilia Marini, Gianmario Sambuceti, Grazia
    Pertile, Guglielmo Lanzani, Fabio Benfenati. 2020. Subretinal semiconducting polymer
    nanoparticles fully rescue vision in a rat model of retinal dystrophy. Nature
    Nanotechnology 15: 698. IF 40.5
    12. DiFrancesco Mattia, Elisabetta Colombo, Ermanno Papaleo, José Fernando MayaVetencourt, Giovanni Manfredi, Guglielmo Lanzani, Fabio Benfenati. 2020. A hybrid P3HTGraphene interface for efficient photostimulation of neurons. Carbon 162: 308. IF 11.3
    13. Francesca Barone, Luisa Vera Muscatello, Domenico Ventrella, Alberto Elmi, Noemi
    Romagnoli, Luciana Mandrioli, José Fernando Maya-Vetencourt, Cristiano Bombardi,
    Maurizio Mete, Giuseppe Sarli, Fabio Benfenati, Grazia Pertile, Maria Laura Bacci. 2020. The
    porcine iodoacetic acid model of retinal degeneration: morpho-functional characterization of
    the visual system. Experimental Eye Research 193 107979. IF 3.77
    14. Mattia DiFrancesco, Francesco Lodola, Elisabetta Colombo, Luca Maragliano, Giuseppe M.
    Paternò, Mattia Bramini, Simone Cimò, Letizia Collela, Daniele Fazzi, José Fernando MayaVetencourt, Chiara Bertarelli, Guglielmo Lanzani, Fabio Benfenati. 2020. Neuronal firing
    modulation by a membrane-targeted photoswitch. Nature Nanotechnology 15(4): 296. IF
    40.5
    15. Stéphane Molotchnikoff, Vishal Bharmauria, Nayan Chanauria, Lyes Bachatene, José
    Fernando Maya- Vetencourt. 2019. The function of connectomes in encoding sensory
    stimuli. Progress in Neurobiology 101659. IF 14.16
    16. Luisa Vera Muscatello, Francesca Barone, Domenico Ventrella, Alberto Elmi, Luciana
    Mandrioli, Noemi Romagnoli, José Fernando Maya-Vetencourt, Cristiano Bombardi,
    Maurizio Mete, Giuseppe Sarli, Fabio Benfenati, Grazia Pertile, Maria Laura Bacci. 2019.
    Retinal features in iodoacetic-treated biomedical pigs as a model for photoreceptor disorders.
    Journal of Comparative Pathology 166: 103. IF N.A.
    17. Francesca Barone, Eleonora Nannoni, Alberto Elmi, Domenico Ventrella, Marika Vitali,
    Giovanna Martelli, José Fernando Maya-Vetencourt, Fabio Benfenati, Maria Laura Bacci.
    2018. Behavioral assessment of vision in pigs. Journal of the American Association for
    Laboratory Animal Science 57(4): 350. IF 1.34

Liwei Deng- Autonomous Driving- Best Researcher Award

Liwei Deng- Autonomous Driving-Best Researcher Award

Prof. Liwei Deng distinguished academic and researcher in the field Autonomous Driving. 

🌐 Professional Profile

Educations📚📚📚

He holds a Ph.D. in Control Science and Engineering from the Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, China, which he earned in 2014. His dissertation focused on “Control Theory and Its Applications of Fractional Order Sliding Mode” under the supervision of Professor Shenmin Song. Prior to this, he completed a Master of Science in Control Theory and Control Engineering at Harbin University of Science and Technology in 2010, where his thesis was titled “Pressure Data Acquisition and Control System Based on ARM,” supervised by Professor Junshan Gao. He began his academic journey with a Bachelor of Engineering in Automation from Jiamusi University, Jiamusi, China, graduating in 2007.

 Experience:

He began his academic career as a Lecturer in the School of Automation at Harbin University of Science and Technology, serving from October 2014 to August 2018. Following this, he was promoted to Associate Professor within the same school, a role he held from August 2018 to August 2023. In September 2023, he was further promoted to the position of Professor at the School of Automation. Additionally, since May 2023, he has been serving as a Doctoral Supervisor in the School of Computer Science and Technology at Harbin University of Science and Technology.

Projects 

He has been actively involved in various research projects over the years. From 2021 to 2024, he led the Key R&D Program Guidance Projects of Heilongjiang Province (Grant No. GZ20210065), focusing on the development of intelligent winding equipment for hydrogen cylinders based on robots. As the Principal Investigator for the National Science Foundation for Young Scientists of China (Grant No. 61806060) from 2019 to 2021, he researched diabetic retinal image analysis algorithms using fractional order differential and deep learning. During the same period, he also served as Principal Investigator for a project funded by the Natural Science Foundation of Heilongjiang Province, China, which focused on the key technology of defect detection of wind turbine blades based on images taken by unmanned aerial vehicles. From 2017 to 2020, he was the Principal Investigator for the Harbin Program of Science and Technology (Grant No. 2017RAQXJ006), which aimed to develop key technologies for the automatic production line for rubber bridge bearing members. Additionally, he played significant roles in several other projects, including being a Principal Participant in the National Natural Science Foundation of China project (Grant No. 61174037) on distributed motion autonomous coordination control of on-orbit multi-spacecraft expectation mode (2011-2015), a Participant in the State Key Program of National Natural Science of China (Grant No. 61333003) on coordination control technology for networked satellite clusters (2012-2016), and a Principal Participant in a project funded by the Natural Science Foundation of Heilongjiang Province, China (Grant No. F030101) on the dynamic morphology of hyperchaotic attractors (2013-2016).

📝🔬Publications📝🔬

    • Deng, L., Zou, Y., Yang, X. et al. L2NLF: a novel linear-to-nonlinear framework for multi-modal medical image registration[J]. Biomed. Eng. Lett.(2024).(WOS:001139763600001)
    • Deng, L., Lan, Q., Zhi, Q. et al. Deep learning-based 3D brain multimodal medical image registration[J]. Med Biol EngComput .2024,62: 505–(WOS:001098686900001)
    • Biao Zhang, Sheng Wang, Liwei Deng, et al.Ship motion attitude prediction model based on IWOA-TCN-Attention[J].Ocean Engineering,2023,272:113911
    • Liwei Deng, Henan Sun, Jing Wang, et al.A Novel Unsupervised MRI Synthetic CT Image Generation Framework with Registration Network[J].CMC-Computers, Materials & Continua,2023,77(2):2271–(WOS:0011269599000 24)
    • Liwei Deng, Zhen Liu,Jiandong Wang et al.ATT-YOLOv5-Ghost: Water surface object detection in complex scenes[J].Journal of Real-Time Image Processing,2023,20:97.(WOS:001050358900001)
    • LiweiDeng,ShanshanLiu,WeiShi,et al.Defect Detection and Classification of Offshore Wind Turbine Rotor Blades[J].Nondestructive Testing and Evaluation,2023.(WOS:001025791800001)
    • Yuheng Yin, Yangang Guo, Liwei Deng, et al.Improved Pspnet-Based Water Shoreline Detection in Complex Inland River Scenarios[J]. Complex & Intelligent Systems, 2022,9(1): 233-245.(WOS:000816995100001)
    • Liwei Deng, Yue Wang, Qi Lan,etal.Remote sensing image building change detection based on efficient-UNet++[J].Journal of Applied Remote Sensing,2023,17(3):034501.(WOS:00177860300006)
    • Liwei Deng, He Cao,QingboDong,etal.Semi-Supervised Lane Detection for Continuous Traffic Scenes[J].Traffic Injury Prevention.2023,24(6):452-457.(WOS:001008469300001)
    • Liwei Deng, Yanchao Zou, SijuanHuang,et al. Deformable 3D Medical Image Registration with ConvolutionalNeural Network and Transformer[J].Journal of Instrumentation.2023,(18):P04029(WOS:000986658100 001)
    • Rui Zhang, Cong Xie, Liwei Deng. A Fine-Grained Object Detection Model for Aerial Images Based on Yolov5 Deep Neural Network[J]. Chinese Journal of Electronics, 2023, 32(1): 51-63.(WOS:000932261100001)
    • Liwei Deng, Yufei Ji, Sijuan Huang, et al.Synthetic CT generation from CBCT using Double-Chain-CycleGAN[J].Computers in Biology and Medicine.2023,106889.(WOS:001006917800001)
    • Liwei Deng, JiandongWang, Zhen Liu. Cascaded Network Based on EfficientNet and Transformer for Deepfake Video Detection[J].Neural Processing Letters.2023.(WOS:000961765200002)
    • Liwei Deng, QiangZhi, Sijuan Huang, et al. A Deformable Patch-based Transformer for 3D Medical Image Registration[J].International Journal of Computer Assisted Radiology and Surgery.2023.(WOS:000990481800001)
    • Liwei Deng, Yuanzhi Zhang, Xin Yang, et al. Meta-learning Multi-scale Radiology Medical Image Superresolution[J].CMC-Computers, Materials & Continua.2023,75(2) :2671-2684.(WOS:000980836000018)
    • Liwei Deng, Yuanzhi Zhang, Jing Wang, et al. Improving Performance of Medical Image Alignment through Super-resolution[J].Biomedical Engineering Letters.2023.(WOS:000934806000001)
    • LiweiDeng ,Mingxing Zhang , JingWang, et al.Improving Cone-Beam Ct Quality Using a Cycle-Residual Connection with a Dilated Convolution-Consistent Generative Adversarial Network[J]. Physics in Medicine & Biology, 2022,67(14): 145010.(WOS:000822102200001)
    • Liwei Deng, Jie Hu, Jing Wang, et al.Synthetic CT Generation Based on CBCT Using Respath-cycleGAN[J]. Medical Physics, 2022,49(8): 5317-5329.(WOS:000792418600001)
    • Zhe Yan, Shuchun Chu, Liwei Deng. Visual SLAM Based on Instance Segmentation in Dynamic Scenes[J]. Measurement Science and Technology.2021,32(9):095113.(WOS:000662668300001)

    Conference Papers

    • Liwei Deng*, Yuanzhi Zhang, Xiaofei Wang. High-definition Processing of Remote Sensing Images Based on CUT-CycleGAN[C], The 40th Chinese Control Conference, CCC 2021.( EI:20214311045982).
    • Liwei Deng*, YueWang, Jing Han. Optical Disc Location Based on Similarity toImproved Harris Algorithm[C], The 40th Chinese Control Conference, CCC 2021.( EI:20214311046402).
    • Liwei Deng*, Hongfei Suo, Haonan Ren. Research on Tension Control System of Winding Machine Based on Fuzzy PID Algorithm[C], The 40th Chinese Control Conference, CCC 2021.( EI:20214311045650).
    • Yuheng Yin, Yangang Guo, Liwei Deng*. Research on Image Processing Application of Improved Adaptive Filter Based on LPSO Algorithm[C], The 40th Chinese Control Conference, CCC 2021.( EI:20214311045948).
    • Yanshu Jiang, Mingqi Jia, Biao Zhang, Liwei Deng. Malicious Domain Name Detection Model Based on CNN-GRU-Attention[C], The 33rd Chinese Control and Decision Conference, CCDC 2021.
    • Liwei Deng, Xiaofei Wang.A New Fracture Image Segmentation Method Based on MSA-k Clustering Algorithm[C], The 39th Chinese Control Conference, CCC 2020.( EI:20203909242340).
    • Liwei Deng,Jie Hu,Jingjing Qi. Super-Resolution Reconstruction of Finger Vein Image Based on Regression Tree Model[C],The 32nd Chinese Control and Decision Conference, CCDC 2020.( EI:20204009254996).

Adugna Abera – Biological Networks – Best Researcher Award

Adugna Abera – Biological Networks – Best Researcher Award

Mr. Adugna Abera distinguished academic and researcher in the field Biological Networks. He has held several key positions in public health research and coordination. From August 2021 to July 2022, he served as the National COVID-19 Epidemiological Surveillance and Laboratory Coordinator at the Ethiopian Public Health Institute (EPHI) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Concurrently, since 2019, he has been pursuing his Ph.D. at Addis Ababa University, College of Natural and Computational Sciences, in the Department of Cellular, Microbial, and Molecular Technology, focusing on the Applied Genetics stream.

🌐 Professional Profiles

Educations📚📚📚

He completed his educational journey at Addis Ababa University, where he first earned a Bachelor of Science in Medical Laboratory Technology in July 2005. He then continued his studies at the same university and obtained a Master of Science in Medical Microbiology in June 2009. Currently, he is pursuing his Ph.D. in Applied Genetics at Addis Ababa University, having started in September 2019 and expected to complete his doctorate in the near future.

Research Experience

He has extensive experience in research laboratory techniques, particularly in the study of Visceral Leishmaniasis and related assays. His expertise includes conducting FACS-based whole blood assays such as reactive oxygen burst assays, phagocytosis assays, and leukocytes surface activation markers assays. Additionally, he is skilled in whole blood stimulation for ELISA-based cytokine/chemokine assays and the isolation and subtyping of human monocyte-derived macrophages. He has also cultivated and handled both wild strain and gene reporter Leishmania parasites. His proficiency extends to a wide range of molecular techniques, including DNA extraction from various clinical samples, conventional PCR, loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP), Sanger capillary electrophoresis sequencing, whole genome sequencing using both Illumina and Oxford Nanopore platforms, PET-PCR, nested and quantitative PCR (qPCR), PCR-RFLP, and real-time PCR.

Experience

Prior to his role in COVID-19 coordination, he was the team leader of the Malaria and NTDs research team at EPHI from September 2017 until 2020 and continues to work as a researcher in the same team to date. Additionally, from 2017 to 2019, he coordinated the Malaria Elimination Baseline Assessment in elimination-targeted districts in Ethiopia. His earlier career included working as a Research Assistant on the Malaria and Neglected Tropical Diseases research team at the Armauer Hansen Research Institute in Addis Ababa from March 2010 to April 2016. He also served as an instructor at Bethel Medical College in Addis Ababa from September 2009 to January 2010.

Award

He has been recognized with several prestigious awards and fellowships. In November 2023, he received a fellowship to participate in a hands-on Genomics and Bioinformatics training workshop at Stellenbosch University, which took place from the 13th to the 24th. Earlier, he was selected for the Structured Operational Research and Training Initiative (SORT IT), which was supported by WHO/TDR and held at the University of Gonder from September 24 to October 6, 2018. These opportunities have enhanced his skills and expanded his expertise in his field.

📝🔬Publications📝🔬
  1. G/meskel W., Desta K., Diriba R., Belachew M., Evans M., Cantarelli V., Urrego M, Sisay A., Gebreegziabxier A., Abera A. SARS-CoV-2 variant typing using real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction–based assays in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. IJID Regions. 2024; 11(2024): 100363. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijregi.2024.100363.
  2. Gebregziabher SM., Yalew AW., Sime H., Abera A. Molecular detection of waterborne pathogens in infants’ drinking water and theirrelationship with water quality determinants in eastern Ethiopia: loop-mediatedisothermal amplification (LAMP)-based study. Journal of Water & Health. 2024; 22(1): 1. doi: 10.2166/wh.2023.201.
  3. Abera, A., Mamecha, T., Abose, E., Bokicho, B., Ashole, A., Bishaw, T., Mariyo, A., Bogale, B., Terefe, H., Tadesse, H., Belachew, M., Difabachew, H., Eukubay, A., Kinde, S., Ali, A., Regasa, F., Seife, F., Kebede, Z., Wossen, M., Tollera, G., … Tasew, G. Reemergence of Human African Trypanosomiasis Caused by Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense, Ethiopia. Emerging infectious diseases. 2024; 30(1): 125–128. https://doi.org/10.3201/eid3001.231319.
  4. Zeleke MT, Gelaye KA, Abera A, Teshome MB, Guma GT, Abate BT, et al. (2023) Diagnostic performance of PfHRP2/pLDH malaria rapid diagnostic tests in elimination setting, northwest Ethiopia. PLOS Glob Public Health 3(7): e0001879. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pgph.0001879.
  5. Tameru K, Tsegaye B, Shikur M, Ergete W, Tasew G, Abera A, and Wolday D. Case Report: Disseminated Strongloidesstercoralis Presenting as an Ulcerated Gastric Mass in an HIV-1-Infected Patient. Am. J. Trop. Med. Hyg., 106(6), 2022, pp. 1675–1677. doi:10.4269/ajtmh.21-0791.
  6. Sisay A, Abera A, Dufera B, Endrias T, Tasew G, Tesfaye A, et al. (2022) Diagnostic accuracy of three commercially available one step RT-PCR assays for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 in resource-limited settings. PLoS ONE 17(1): https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0262178.
  7. Belachew, M., Wolde, M., Nega, D. Gidey B, Negash L, Assefa A, Tasew G, Woyessa A, Abera A.Evaluating performance of multiplex real time PCR for the diagnosis of malaria at elimination targeted low transmission settings of Ethiopia. Malar J 21, 9 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12936-021-04029-x.
  8. Nega, Abera A, Gidey B et al. Baseline malaria prevalence at the targeted pre-elimination districts in Ethiopia. BMC Public Health (2021) 21:1996. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-021-12036-5.
  9. Abera A, Belay H, Zewude A et al. Establishment of COVID-19 testing laboratory in resource-limited settings: challenges and prospects reported from Ethiopia. Global Health Action. 2020; 13(1841963):1-7.
  10. Gidey B, Nega D, Abera Aet al. Mentorship on malaria microscopy diagnostic service in Ethiopia: baseline competency of microscopists and performance of health facilities. Malaria Journal. 2021; 20(1).
  11. Tasew G, Gadisa E, Abera A et al. Whole blood-based in vitro culture reveals diminished secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines in visceral leishmaniasis. Cytokine. 2020; 155246. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cyto.2020.155246.
  12. Abib Berhanu, Adugna Abera, Desalegn Nega, SindewMekasha, Surafel Fentaw, Abebe Assefa, Gashaw Gebrewolde, Yonas Wuletaw, Ashenafi Assefa, Sisay Dugassa, Habte Tekie1 and Geremew Tasew. Isolation and identification of microflora from the midgut and salivary glands of Anopheles species in malaria endemic areas of Ethiopia. BMC Microbiology. 2019; 19:85.

Mehmet Fatih YUCE – Networks Science Award – Best Researcher Award

Mehmet Fatih YUCE – Networks Science Award – Best Researcher Award

Mr. Mehmet Faith YUCE distinguished academic and researcher in the field Network science, V2X Misbehavior Detection. During his tenure as a Consultant (Senior Software Engineer) at PIWorks, Inc., he provided valuable consultation for ongoing projects, assisted in the development of new projects, and offered technical guidance to the management team. Notably, he contributed to the development of RachRootSequencer, a utility designed to provide “RACH Root Sequences” to LTE (4G) networks, incorporating elements of Genetic Algorithms to enhance its functionality. Through his diverse experiences and contributions, he has established himself as a skilled and versatile software engineer adept at tackling complex challenges across various projects and domains.

🌐 Professional Profiles

Educations📚📚📚

He pursued his academic journey with great dedication and passion. Starting with a Bachelor of Science in Software Engineering from Dokuz Eylul University, he laid a strong foundation in the field. Building upon this, he further honed his skills and knowledge through a Master of Science in Computer Software Engineering at Istanbul Aydın University. His commitment to academic excellence led him to pursue a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) at Istanbul Üniversitesi’s Institute of Science and Technology. Throughout his education, he demonstrated a keen interest in software engineering and computer science, preparing himself for a promising career in academia or industry.

Work experience

He has accumulated extensive experience and expertise in software engineering over the span of more than seventeen years. Currently serving as the SW Team Lead at ULAK HABERLEŞME A.Ş. since May 2022, he specializes in SDN(NG), rust, wireguard, and the Linux kernel. His commitment to open-source development is evident through his continuous contributions, showcased on GitHub and GitLab.

Prior to his current role, he held various positions, including Software Architect at NETAŞ, where he worked extensively on business intelligence, Java, Python, C/C++, Docker, Vagrant, Kubernetes, Machine Learning, Deep Learning, 4G/5G, C#, and Software Defined Networks (SDN). Before that, as a Senior Software Development Engineer at LOGO Cyber Security and Network Technologies, he focused on Java, Python, FreeBSD, Hotspot, Firewall, UTM, TDD, Test Driven Development, TCP/IP, Internet Protocol Suite, and Maven.

His career also includes roles such as Sr. Software Engineer at Intertech Bilgi İşlem ve Pazarlama Tic. A.Ş., where he specialized in Spring, Spring Boot, Camel, React, microservices, optimization, Git, and Gradle. Additionally, he served as a Sr. Software Engineer at Organon Analytics, contributing to projects involving Predictive Analytics, Hadoop, SPARK, ETL, Scala, Java, .NET, REST, Apache Kafka, and Design Patterns.

Earlier in his career, he worked as a Sr. Software Engineer at LA Software Group, where he developed RouteArt, a new framework for vehicle routing problems using Heuristic Bubble Algorithm. He also contributed his skills to LOGO Business Solutions as a Sr. Software Engineer, focusing on FreeBSD, Network Security, Selenium, Vaadin, GWT, AspectJ, and Java. Through these diverse roles, he has demonstrated his proficiency across a wide range of technologies and domains, establishing himself as a seasoned professional in the field of software engineering.

He possesses a wealth of experience in software engineering, demonstrated through his involvement in various projects across different domains. One notable project involves subscriber-based reconciliation, where he developed a system to identify and reconcile discrepancies between nodes, generating approximately 40 reports. Additionally, he implemented a service-based reconciliation system, producing around 14 reports highlighting discrepancies in subscribers’ services provided by the operator.

Furthermore, he contributed to the development of NATter, a project aimed at sniffing the mobile network operator’s firewall for “NAT”ting logs and storing them for a specified period. This project was based on a Workflow ETL system, utilizing HBase as the backend for data storage and employing MapReduce, written in Java, for data manipulation. He also played a key role in developing the web interface using GWT to present the results of NATter.

In addition to these projects, he participated in the creation of the GGSN Redirection Site, a web platform allowing mobile operator customers to refill their balance. This site, built using Tomcat, JSP, and MySQL, was designed to accommodate more than 10 million hits while maintaining minimal resource usage. Another noteworthy contribution includes the development of QuickPay, a web portal facilitating payments via credit card, debit card, or vouchers. QuickPay was developed using Tomcat, GWT, and MySQL, showcasing his proficiency in Java-based technologies and web development frameworks.

 

 

📝🔬Publications📝🔬

Ali Vaezi- Network Science Awards- Best Researcher Award

Ali Vaezi- Network Science Award – Best Researcher Award

Mr. Ali Vaezi distinguished academic and researcher in the field  Network Science. He is an experienced data analyst at Parva Co. in Tehran, Iran, where he has been driving operational excellence and optimizing supply chains for automotive parts suppliers since October 2019. His responsibilities include utilizing data analysis, implementing process improvements, and fostering cross-functional collaboration. Notably, he has developed data models and dashboards to deliver valuable insights to leadership, leading to a 10% reduction in inventory management costs.

In addition to his professional role, he has served as a teaching assistant at Science & Research University from 2020 to 2023, supporting courses such as Computer Programming, Operational Research 2, Quality and Productivity Management, Decision-Making Analysis, and Systems Analysis. In this capacity, he provided individual tutoring to over 250 students and assisted professors with exam preparation, grading, and facilitating review sessions.

Furthermore, he is an active volunteer member of the Iran Project Management Association since April 2023. In this role, he contributes to the advancement of project management practices through professional development, training, research, and knowledge sharing. He actively participates in association programs aimed at promoting certification, events, and seminars within the field.

🌐 Professional Profiles

Educations📚📚📚

He pursued his Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering at Islamic Azad University, Science & Research Branch in Tehran, Iran, from September 2019 to July 2023. During his undergraduate studies, he demonstrated strong academic performance, maintaining a GPA ranging from 3.69/4 to 3.75/4 in his last two years. His coursework included a variety of essential subjects such as Operational Research (1,2), Computer Programming, Probability Theory and its Application, Engineering Statistics, Production Planning, and Principles of Simulation.

Prior to his university education, he completed his Pre-University Diploma in Mathematics and Physics at Allameh Tabatabaei High School in Tehran, Iran, from September 2018 to May 2019. He achieved an outstanding GPA of 18.91/20 during this period, laying a solid foundation for his academic journey in industrial engineering.

Research interests

His research interests encompass a diverse range of topics within the realm of data analytics, machine learning, statistical modeling, operations research, and data science integration. He is particularly drawn to scalable technologies and real-time processing in data analytics, seeking innovative solutions to handle large volumes of data efficiently. Within machine learning, his focus lies in classification, regression, clustering, and deep learning techniques, aiming to uncover patterns and insights from complex datasets.

In statistical modeling for optimization, he is intrigued by predictive modeling, time series analysis, and Bayesian methods, utilizing statistical techniques to enhance decision-making processes. Additionally, he explores the integration of operations research and data science, leveraging mixed-integer linear programming (MILP), metaheuristics, and addressing optimization challenges in real-world applications.

Moreover, he is passionate about interactive data visualization, emphasizing the creation of engaging visuals for effective data communication and decision support. Through his research pursuits, he endeavors to contribute to advancements in these interdisciplinary fields, bridging theory with practical applications to address contemporary challenges.

Honors and Awards:

Received top marks (grade point average above 17) for six semesters during bachelor’s degree at Azad
University
– Recognized as an exceptional student (Elite Student status) based on high academic performance
ranked in the top 5% of the program
– Secured first place in the idea competition held at Science & Research University, competing against
20 teams.

📝🔬Publications📝🔬

Fardin Noori – Topological Networks – Graph Analytics Pioneer Award

Mr. Fardin Noori distinguished academic and researcher in the field  Topological Networks.  He has accumulated valuable teaching experiences, primarily within the realm of Electrical Engineering in the Oil, Gas, and Energy Industries. From August 2020 to February 2023, he played a pivotal role in instructing newly graduated trainees through an intensive course at Tarh O Palayesh Engineering Company in Tehran, Iran. In this capacity, he imparted essential knowledge and practical skills relevant to the industry, contributing to the professional development of aspiring engineers. Additionally, in February 2020, he facilitated a course focused on Solar Cells and Modules Production at the same institution. Through these teaching engagements, he has demonstrated his commitment to knowledge dissemination and nurturing the next generation of industry professionals.

🌐 Professional Profiles

Educations📚📚📚

He pursued his education with a focus on Electrical Engineering, specializing in Power Systems. This journey commenced with his Bachelor of Science degree at the Electrical Engineering Department of Shahid Rajaee University in Tehran, Iran, where he achieved a commendable GPA of 15.82/20 over the duration of four years, from September 2010 to September 2014. Building upon this foundation, he furthered his academic pursuits by attaining a Master of Science degree in Electrical Engineering – Power Systems from Shahid Beheshti University, also located in Tehran, Iran. During this advanced program, spanning from September 2015 to February 2018, he demonstrated his commitment to excellence with a GPA of 14.63/20. His dedication to his field was evident even during his earlier academic years, as reflected in his impressive GPA of 19.27/20 during his High School and Pre-University Diploma studies from September 2006 to September 2010, with a focus on Mathematics and Physics. Throughout his educational journey, he exhibited a strong aptitude for his chosen field, laying a solid foundation for his future endeavors in Electrical Engineering.

Research Interest

His research interests encompass a diverse array of topics within the realm of Electrical Engineering. With a keen focus on advancing the field, he is particularly drawn to exploring the intricacies of Microgrid and Smart Grid technologies, recognizing their potential to revolutionize energy distribution systems. Delving into the complexities of the Electricity Market, he seeks to unravel the dynamics shaping its evolution and impact on energy accessibility and affordability. His commitment to sustainability is evident in his pursuit of understanding Renewable Energy Integration strategies, aiming to optimize their utilization and minimize reliance on traditional energy sources. Additionally, he is intrigued by the challenges posed by Uncertainty Modeling, endeavoring to develop robust frameworks to address unpredictabilities in energy systems. Furthermore, his interests extend to Energy Management Systems, where he explores innovative approaches to enhance efficiency and reliability in energy consumption. Finally, he is captivated by the possibilities presented by Energy Storage Systems, recognizing their pivotal role in facilitating the transition towards a more resilient and sustainable energy landscape. Through his research pursuits, he aspires to contribute meaningfully to the advancement of these critical areas within Electrical Engineering.

🏆🏆HONORS AND AWARDS🏆🏆

He has consistently demonstrated exceptional academic prowess and performance, earning recognition at various levels of education. Notably, in 2015, he achieved an outstanding rank of 187th in the National-Wide University Entrance Exam for Master’s Degree in Electrical Engineering, showcasing his aptitude and dedication to his field of study. His academic excellence was further underscored in 2010 when he distinguished himself within the top 2 percent nationwide in the Mathematics and Physics University Entrance Exam for Bachelor’s Degree. This remarkable achievement, surpassing over 320,000 participants, reflects his exemplary command of the subject matter and his ability to excel in competitive academic environments. Moreover, throughout his high school and pre-university years from 2006 to 2010, he consistently ranked among the top students, earning recognition for his academic achievements and dedication to learning. His consistent track record of academic excellence speaks volumes about his commitment to intellectual growth and his innate talent in the field of mathematics and physics.

WORK EXPERIENCE 

He brings a wealth of practical experience to his professional portfolio, having held various roles within the engineering domain. Commencing his career journey as a Power System Engineering Intern at Sheikh Baha’i High Voltage Substation in Tehran, Iran, he laid the groundwork for his future endeavors. His career trajectory led him to assume roles of increasing responsibility and expertise at Tarh O Palayesh Engineering Company in Tehran, Iran. Here, he demonstrated his leadership abilities as a Project Manager, overseeing the Asalouyeh Operational Base Solar Power Plant Project from December 2021 to June 2023. Prior to this, he served as a Project Section Leader of Overhead Transmission Line Discipline, managing tasks related to integrated environment studies and engineering design for the Sohrab Oil Field Development Project.

His tenure also saw him contribute as a Renewable Engineer, conducting feasibility studies for renewable energy utilization in the Andisheh New Town Project. Additionally, he held the position of Deputy Head of Electrical Discipline, showcasing his strategic acumen and organizational skills. His role as an Electrical Engineer and Designer involved spearheading critical projects such as the South Pars Gas Company Refineries Safety Systems Upgrading Project and the Kish Gas Field Development Project. Throughout his career, he has exhibited a strong commitment to excellence, innovation, and sustainability, contributing significantly to the advancement of the engineering industry in Iran.

 

📚📚📚

 

 

 

 

Syarifuddin – Network Science – Best Researcher Award

Mr.  Syarifuddin distinguished academic and researcher in the field Network science.He has been actively engaged in research and academic roles at Hasanuddin University, Indonesia. Since 2022, he has served as a Junior Researcher at the Laboratory of Materials and Energy Physics, where he contributes to various research projects. Additionally, he has been part of the Publication Management Center since 2022, where he collaborates with teams to oversee publication-related activities. Prior to these roles, from 2020 to 2022, he gained experience as a Research Assistant at the Laboratory of Materials and Energy Physics, further solidifying his expertise in the field.

🌐 Professional Profiles

Educations📚📚📚

Since 2018, he has been pursuing his undergraduate studies at Hasanuddin University, focusing on Materials Physics within the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences. Currently, he is a graduate student at the same university, specializing in Biocomposite Nanomaterials under the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, a path he embarked on in 2023.

He was the recipient of the Bidikmisi scholarship, an Indonesian government education assistance program, from 2018 to 2021 while studying at Hasanuddin University. This scholarship provided him with financial support to pursue his undergraduate studies, highlighting his academic achievements and dedication to his education

WORK EXPERIENCE 🧬🔗

He possesses a diverse range of scientific expertise spanning various areas. His scientific interests revolve around Nonlinear Material Structure and Dynamics, encompassing bifurcation analysis, nonlinear waves, and nanomaterial dynamics in biocomposites. Additionally, he excels in Synthesis and Characterization, adept in synthesis methods and material characterization techniques. Furthermore, he demonstrates proficiency in exploring Technology Applications such as environmentally friendly materials, nanomaterial-based drug delivery platforms, and nanoscale electronic devices. His skills extend to Research Trend Analysis and research network mapping, facilitating visualization of research networks and trends. With language proficiency in both Indonesian (native) and English (intermediate), he effectively communicates his findings. In terms of technical expertise, he is well-versed in PC Operation System with Microsoft Windows, programming languages including MatLab and Rstudio, and various office suites/publishing tools like Microsoft Office and LaTeX. Moreover, he exhibits proficiency in graphics software such as Tableau, Citespace, VosViewer, CorelDraw, Origin Pro, ImageJ, and HighScore.

 

 

 

Fatma Sule Bilgic- Graph abstract – Graph Analytics Research Excellence Award

Dr.  Fatma Sule Bilgic  distinguished academic and researcher in the field Graph Abstract. She has taken on various administrative roles, serving as the Quality and Accreditation Department Commission Representative and as a member of the Zero Waste Commission. Proficient in English with good reading comprehension, moderate speaking, and writing skills, she scored 60 in the KPDS/ÜDS exam. In terms of her academic achievements, she holds a Master’s thesis on the examination of the effect of the mother’s nutritional status on the content of breast milk’s macronutrients, supervised by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Gülçin Bozkurt and Prof. Dr. Asuman Çoban. Her doctoral thesis, supervised by Prof. Dr. Gülçin Bozkurt, focuses on the impact of web-based infant care education based on Meleis’ Transition Theory on maternal self-confidence and newborn health. With a Google Scholar citation count of 63 and an h-index of 3, and a Web of Science citation count of 25 and an h-index of 2, her research has made a notable impact. She has also contributed to national journals with publications such as an article evaluating the emotional and mental impact of midwifery students’ experiences in the delivery room, and another discussing the dimension of male contraception in reproductive health.

 

🌐 Professional Profiles

Educations📚📚📚

The individual completed their education journey, culminating in a Doctorate from Istanbul University-Cerrahpaşa Graduate School of Education, Department of Midwifery, in 2023, following a Master’s degree in Midwifery from the same institution in 2020, and a Bachelor’s degree in Midwifery from Haliç University in 2014. Prior to their academic pursuits, they attended Bakırköy 70th Year Health Vocational High School for their secondary education, graduating in 2006. Their professional experience includes roles as a Lecturer at Haliç University Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Midwifery, starting in 2020, and as a Research Assistant at Haliç University School of Health Sciences, Department of Midwifery, from 2014 to 2020. Before their academic career, they worked as a Nurse-Midwife at Haseki Training and Research Hospital Neonatal Intensive Care Unit from 2011 to 2014, and as a Nurse at Dağkapı Children’s Diseases Hospital Neonatal Intensive Care Unit from 2010 to 2011.

 

Research 

She, along with her colleagues, has been actively involved in conducting various research studies on topics related to reproductive health and sexuality. Some of her recent publications include studies on the impact of COVID-19 on family planning and sexuality, attitudes and beliefs regarding sexuality during pregnancy, breastfeeding success after cesarean delivery, the effect of yoga on sexual function and body image in pregnant women, and nonpharmacological interventions for infantile colic. Additionally, she has contributed to understanding gender perception and dating violence attitudes among women students of health sciences. Her research also extends to investigating the severity and impact of symptoms in women with urinary incontinence. Moreover, she has co-authored a systematic review and meta-analysis on the effect of telehealth on incontinence severity in women. Furthermore, she has contributed a chapter on postpartum contraception in the international book “Postpartum Period,” edited by Yılmaz T. She continues to make significant contributions to the field of reproductive health through her research endeavors.

 Publication📚✨📚✨

 

 

Kareem M. Selem – Network Science and Graph Analytics – Best Researcher Award

Kareem M. Selem – Network Science and Graph Analytics

Dr.   Kareem M. Selem distinguished academic and researcher in the field Network science and Graph Analytics. My academic journey began with undergraduate studies from October 2010 to May 2014, where I pursued a BSc in Hotel Management from the Faculty of Tourism and Hotels at Suez Canal University in Ismailia, Egypt. I successfully obtained a degree with a remarkable 87.17%, earning an Excellent with honors.

Education

From January 2020 to October 2022, I pursued my doctoral studies, obtaining a PhD in Hotel Management from the Faculty of Tourism and Hotels at Suez Canal University in Ismailia, Egypt. My research focused on the intersection of business economics and emerging technology, specifically exploring the impact of creative destruction to achieve sustainable competitive advantage through augmented reality. The dissertation delved into the application of augmented reality in five-star hotels, employing a creative destruction approach to practices. Through an experimental study, I assessed the effectiveness of augmented reality in enhancing the hotel workplace, enabling employees to develop their knowledge and unleash latent talents. I received an excellent degree with a recommendation to publish the thesis at the level of Egyptian and Arab universities.

Prior to my doctoral studies, I completed my Master’s degree from October 2016 to October 2019, earning an MSc in Hotel Management from the same faculty. My master’s thesis, titled “Assessment of occupational health and safety measures for staff in the food and beverage department: Applied to some three-star hotels,” focused on managing human resources in the service sector, particularly the hospitality industry. The research centered on implementing global standards, specifically “ISO 45001-2018,” to ensure strict measures for maintaining the health and safety of employees in the workplace. I received an excellent degree with a recommendation to publish the thesis at the level of Egyptian and Arab universities.

Professional Profiles:

REVIEWER (Journals – ad hoc and regular)
 Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Management – (Q1/SSCI)
 International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management – (Q1/SSCI)
 Tourism Management Perspectives – (Q1/SSCI)
 International Journal of Hospitality Management – (Q1/SSCI)
 Frontiers in Psychology – (Q1/SSCI)
 Heliyon – (Q2/SCIE)
 Tourism and Hospitality Management – (Q3/ESCI)
WORKSHOPS

In December 2023, he actively participated in two valuable workshops organized by the Elsevier Researcher Academy. The first workshop, held on the 1st of December 2023, focused on “How to identify research gaps.” This session likely provided him with insights and strategies to enhance his ability to discern gaps in existing research, a crucial skill for any researcher looking to contribute meaningfully to their field.

Shortly thereafter, on the 11th of December 2023, he engaged in another workshop titled “Funding hacks for researchers.” This session, hosted by Elsevier Researcher Academy, likely equipped him with practical knowledge and strategies to secure funding for his research endeavors, an essential aspect of advancing in the academic and research domains.

Additionally, he attended a workshop on the 16th of October 2023, which centered around the topic of “Using proper manuscript language.” This workshop, also organized by Elsevier Researcher Academy, likely provided him with valuable insights into crafting manuscripts effectively, ensuring that his research findings are communicated in a clear and compelling manner for publication.

These workshops, collectively, reflect his commitment to continuous learning and professional development, showcasing a proactive approach to staying abreast of the latest tools, methodologies, and best practices in the realm of research and academia.

 

AWARDS
On the 18th of November 2023, he participated in a significant event at Suez Canal University in Ismailia, Egypt. The focus of this event was “International Publishing in Humanities and Social Sciences within High Impact Factor Journals.” By attending this event, he likely gained valuable insights into the intricacies of publishing research in international journals with high impact factors. Such knowledge is crucial for researchers in the humanities and social sciences, as it aids in understanding the standards and requirements necessary to contribute to reputable and influential academic publications. This event at Suez Canal University likely served as a platform for enhancing his understanding of the publishing landscape and honing the skills needed to disseminate his research effectively on an international scale.
OTHER ACTIVITIES

Since November 2016, I have been actively engaged in various roles within the Faculty of Tourism and Hotels at Suez Canal University in Egypt. My journey began with my involvement in the Information Technology Unit from November 2017 to February 2022, where I contributed to the technological advancements within the faculty. Subsequently, I transitioned into the role of overseeing Strategic Planning Standards, a position I have held since November 2016.

In May 2021, I extended my influence by becoming a part of the Academic and Educational Programs Standard committee, demonstrating my commitment to enhancing the quality and standards of educational offerings within the faculty. Furthermore, in December 2021, I took on responsibilities within the International Cooperation Unit, emphasizing my dedication to fostering global collaborations and partnerships.

My involvement has continued to evolve, and since November 2023, I have been an active member of the Cultural Relations Committee. This ongoing commitment reflects my dedication to promoting cultural exchange and understanding within the academic community at Suez Canal University. Overall, my multifaceted engagement demonstrates my comprehensive contribution to the Faculty of Tourism and Hotels, aligning with its objectives and fostering its continuous development.

WORKING EXPERIENCE

Since March 2016, he has been actively involved in the academic field, progressing through various roles within the Hotel Management Department at the Faculty of Tourism and Hotels, Suez Canal University in Egypt. Starting as a Demonstrator, he imparted knowledge in areas such as Hotel Cost Accounting, Hotel Marketing Management, Hospitality Industry Principles, and Housekeeping and Décor Management.

His dedication and expertise led to his promotion to Assistant Lecturer from October 2019 to December 2022, during which he expanded his instructional repertoire to include subjects like Hotel Environment Management, Market Research, Management Information Systems, Food and Beverage Quality Control, and Human Resource Development. Continuing his academic journey, he currently serves as a Lecturer from January 2023, covering a diverse range of topics such as Crisis Management in the Hospitality Industry, Social Media Management, Computer Applications in Hotels, Occupational Health and Safety Management, Restaurant Service Arts, Food and Beverages Safety, Banquet and Conference Management, Strategic Planning in the Hospitality Industry, International Cuisines, Principles of Statistics, and Front Office Management.

Concurrently, he has taken on the responsibility of mentoring PhD candidates, focusing on the application of artificial intelligence in Egyptian hotels since December 2022. Additionally, he holds the position of Coordinator for the Scientific Research Standard at the Faculty of Tourism and Hotels, actively contributing to the academic and research excellence of the institution since June 2023.

PUBLICATIONS

 

 

Sajal Halder – Network Science – Best Researcher Award

Sajal Halder – Network Science

Dr. Sajal Halder distinguished academic and researcher in the field Network science. He is currently working as a Research Fellow at Charles Sturt University, Australia. He has completed PhD in Computer Science at RMIT University and he has been appointed as an Assistant Professor (on study leave) at Jagannath University, Bangladesh since August 2017. His research interests are Personalized Itinerary Recommendation Systems, Machine Learning, Data Mining, Periodic Behavior Mining in Large-Scale Graph, Trajectory Behavior Analysis and Real Life Big Data Analysis.

Eduvation

He completed his academic journey with a stellar record, culminating in a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) from the School of Computing Technologies at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT) University in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, with graduation in December 2022. His research focus during his doctoral studies was on the development of itinerary recommendation systems using deep learning methodologies. Under the guidance of A/Prof Jeffrey Chan and Prof. Xiuzhen Zhang, he contributed to the advancement of knowledge in this domain.

Prior to his doctoral pursuits, He earned a Master of Engineering in Computer Engineering from Kyung Hee University in South Korea, graduating with distinction in August 2013. His academic excellence is underscored by an impressive Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 4.23/4.30 (95.25%). His master’s thesis, conducted under the supervision of Prof. Young-Koo Lee, delved into the exploration of supergraph-based periodic behaviors mining in dynamic social networks.

Commencing his academic journey,  he achieved a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science and Engineering from the University of Dhaka, Bangladesh, with graduation in November 2010. Displaying academic prowess, he secured a CGPA of 3.60/4.00, securing the 5th position out of 59 students. His final undergraduate project, conducted under the guidance of Supervisor Ashis Kumar Biswas, focused on the classification of multiple protein sequences through the analysis of irredundant patterns.

In summary, his educational background reflects a trajectory marked by academic excellence and a commitment to cutting-edge research in the fields of computer science and engineering.

Professional Profiles:

EXPERIENCE

• We developed a metadata-based malicious and benign package detection model for the NPM repository.
• We introduced two sets of features, easy to manipulate (ETM) and difficult to manipulate (DTM),
where manipulating DTM depends on long-term planning and monotonic properties. Then, we verify
our feature selection effectiveness based on four well known machine learning and one deep learning
techniques.
• We also analyse algorithms’ performance using metadata manipulation and recommend better metadata adversarial attack-resistant algorithms.
• Experiment analysis shows that our proposed model reduces 97.56% False Positive and 80.35 % False
Negative number.
• Achievement 1: Sajal Halder et al. ”Malicious Package Detection using Metadata Information”, In
submission (A* Conference).
• Achievement 2: Sajal Halder et al. ”Install Time Malicious Package Detection on NPM Repository”,
In process.
Skills: Feature Engineering, Data Scraping, Open Source Software, Machine Learning Model, Deep Learning,
Python, Report/Article Writing, Data Visualization and Teamw

PhD Researcher, RMIT University Melbourne, Australia.

i. Project Title: Capacity aware Fair POI Recommendation using Users Satisfaction.
Innovation: Design a novel fair POI recommendation model considering POI capacity and users preferences.
Language and Tools: Python, Actor-critic network, GCN, Tensorflow, Neural Network, Graph Allocation and Optimization
Duration: July 2021 to date.
ii. Project Title: Deep reinforcement learning of dynamic POI generation and optimization for itinerary
recommendation
Innovation: Propose and implement deep actor-critic network based itinerary recommendation model
named DRLIR.
Language and Tools: Python, AWS, Actor-critic network, GCN, Tensorflow, Neural Network
Duration: January 2021 to June 2021.
iii. Project Title: POI Recommendation with Queuing Time and User Interest Awareness
Innovation: Improve users interest based multi-tasking based transformer architecture models (TLR U
and TLR-M UI) for best POI recommendation.
Language and Tools: Python, PyCharm, Jupyter, Tensorflow, Keras, Matplotlib, Transformer, Lucid
Chart, Overleaf
Duration: March 2020 to December 2020.
iv. Project Title: Transformer-based Multi-tasking for Queuing Time Aware Next POI Recommendation
Innovation: Design and implement multi-tasking based transformer architecture models (TLR and
TLR-M) for better POI recommendation.
Language and Tools: Python, PyCharm, Jupyter, Tensorflow, Keras, Matplotlib, Transformer, Lucid
Chart, Overleaf
Duration: August 2019 to February 2020.
v. Project Title: Efficient Itinerary Recommendation via Personalized POI Selection and Pruning
Innovation: Develop efficient personalized itinerary recommendation model (EffiTourRec).
Language and Tools: R-studio, Lucid Chart, Overleaf, MatLab.
Duration: August 2018 to July 2019.

Research/Project Member
i Research Group: VLSI Research Group, Department o f Computer Science and Engineering, University of Dhaka, Bangladesh
Supervisor: Professor Dr. Hafiz Md. Hasan Babu
Duration: July 2016 to June 2018.
ii Project Name: Establishment of Basic Campus Network in Jagannath University
Source of Fund: HEQEP, UGC, Government of Bangladesh.
Duration: January 2017 to July 2018.
iii Project Name: Establishment of Basic Campus Network on Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman
Science & Technology University,
Source of Fund: HEQEP, UGC, Government of Bangladesh.
Duration: June 2015 to July 2016

Journal/ Conference Reviewers

• Engineering Applications of Artificial Intelligence (Q1 Ranked Journal, IF: 7.8)
• Information Process and Management (Q1 Ranked Journal, IF: 7.47)
• Applied Soft Computing (Q1 Ranked Journal, IF: 8.7)
• Scientific Reports (Q1 Ranked Journal, IF: 4.6)
• IEEE Transactions on Computational Social Systems (Q1 Ranked Journal, IF: 4.74)
• Transactions on Knowledge Discovery from Data (Q1 Ranked Journal, IF: 4.2)
• IEEE Access (Q1 Ranked Journal, IF 3.367)
• Expert System with Applications, (Q1 Ranked Journal, IF 6.954)
• World Wide Web (Q1 Ranked Journal, IF: 3.00)
• Knowledge and Information Systems (Q1 Ranked Journal, IF: 2.82)
• Neural Processing Letters (IF: 3.1)

SELECTED PUBLICATIONS

1. Sajal Halder, Kwan Hui Lim, Jeffrey Chan, and Xiuzhen Zhang.A Survey on Personalized Itinerary
Recommendation: From Optimisation to Deep Learning. In Applied Soft Computing Journal, 111200,
2023, Q1 Ranked Journal, (Impact Factor – 8.7). Publisher: Elsevier.

2. Sajal Halder, Kwan Hui Lim, Jeffrey Chan, and Xiuzhen Zhang. Capacity-aware fair POI recommendation combining transformer neural networks and resource allocation policy. In Applied Soft
Computing Journal, pages 110720, 2023, Q1 Ranked Journal, (Impact Factor – 8.7). Publisher: Elsevier.

3. Sajal Halder, Kwan Hui Lim, Jeffrey Chan, and Xiuzhen Zhang. POI Recommendation with Queuing
Time and User Interest Awareness. In Data Mining and Knowledge Discovery, 2022, Q1 Ranked
Journal, (Impact Factor – 5.406). Publisher: Springer.

4. Sajal Halder, Kwan Hui Lim, Jeffrey Chan, and Xiuzhen Zhang. Efficient Itinerary Recommendation
via Personalised POI Selection and Pruning. In Knowledge and Information Systems, Volume 64, Pages
963–993, 2022. Q1 Ranked Journal, (Impact Factor – 2.53), Publisher: Springer.

5. Sajal Halder, Kwan Hui Lim, Jeffrey Chan and Xiuzhen Zhang. Transformer-based Multi-task
Learning for Queuing Time Aware Next POI Recommendation. In the 25th Pacific-Asia Conference
on Knowledge Discovery and Data Mining (PAKDD-2021), A Ranked Conference.

6. Sajal Halder, Md. Samiullah and Young-Koo Lee. Supergraph based Periodic Patterns Mining in
Dynamic Social Networks. Expert Systems with Applications-An International Journal. volume 72,
pages 430-442, 2017, Q1 Ranked Journal, (Impact Factor – 6.954). Publisher: Elsevier.
7. MS Rahman, Sajal Halder, MA Uddin, UK Acharjee, An efficient hybrid system for anomaly detection in social networks. In Cybersecurity, Q1 ranked Journal, (Impact Factor – 6.27), 2021, Volume 4,
Pages 1-11, Publisher: Springer.

8. Iram Fatima, Sajal Halder, Muhammad Aamir Saleem, Rabia Batool, Muhammad Fahim, YoungKoo Lee, Sungyoung Lee. Smart CDSS: Integration of Social Media Interaction Engine (SMIE) in
Healthcare for Chronic Disease Patients. Multimedia Tools and Applications, pages 1-21, 2013, Q1
Ranked Journal, (Impact Factor – 2.757), Publisher: Springer.

9. Yongkoo Han, Kisung Park, Donghai Guan, Sajal Halder, and Young-Koo Lee. Topological Similarity
based Feature Selection for Graph Classification. In the Computer Journal, bxt123, 2013, Q2 Ranked
Journal, (Impact Factor – 0.755), Publisher: Oxford University Press.