Mi Tian- Technological Networks- Best Researcher Award

Mi Tian- Technological Networks- Best Researcher Award

Dr. Mi Tian holds the position of Senior Lecturer and Director of Postgraduate Research in the
Department of Engineering at the University of Exeter, where her focus lies on hydrogen energy,
specifically in the field of solid-state hydrogen storage and transportation. Since her affiliation with the
UoE in 2020, Dr. Tian has been instrumental in securing upwards of £2.7 million in research funding,
with nearly £1 million attributed to her direct initiatives as PI and an additional £1.7 million as Co-I.
Her academic contributions encompass 36 publications in reputable journals, an H-index of 20, two
patents, and a notable contribution to a sector-relevant book. Her recognition in the Top 50 Women in
Engineering in 2020 and subsequent honour as one of the EPSRC Women in Engineering Ambassadors
in 2023 not only underscore her personal achievements but also reflect her commitment to promoting
equality, diversity, and inclusion within the engineering field.

🌐 Professional Profile

Educations📚📚📚

She holds a Ph.D. in Hydrogen Storage from the University of East Anglia, UK, building upon her prior academic achievements. Her journey began with a BEng in Environmental Engineering from Beijing University of Technology, China, where she laid the groundwork for her passion for environmental sciences. Subsequently, she pursued an MSc by Research in Environmental Sciences at the University of East Anglia, further honing her expertise in this field. With each degree, she delved deeper into her fascination with environmental issues, culminating in her doctoral research focused on hydrogen storage, a crucial aspect of renewable energy technology. Through her academic endeavors, she has become a dedicated scholar contributing to the advancement of sustainable solutions for the future.

Awards

She has garnered notable recognition for her contributions to engineering and sustainability, earning accolades such as being named one of the Top 50 Women in Engineering for Sustainability in 2020. Her commitment to advancing the role of women in engineering was further underscored by her appointment as an EPSRC Women in Engineering Ambassador, a position she has held since 2023. Additionally, her expertise and dedication to her field have led to her induction as a Fellow of the Institute of Materials, Minerals, and Mining (IOM3) in 2022, a prestigious honor reflecting her standing among her peers. Through her advocacy, leadership, and scholarly achievements, she continues to inspire and drive positive change in the realms of engineering and environmental sustainability.

 

Academic experience

She brings a wealth of professional experience to her current role as Senior Lecturer and Director of PGRs at the University of Exeter, UK, where she has been serving since 2022. Prior to her current position, she served as a Lecturer at the same institution from 2020 to 2022, where she demonstrated her commitment to academic excellence and student development. Before joining the University of Exeter, she contributed to groundbreaking research as a Research Associate at the University of Bath, UK, from 2017 to 2020. Throughout her career, she has been dedicated to pushing the boundaries of knowledge in her field, fostering the growth of the next generation of researchers, and making impactful contributions to academia and beyond.

Achievements

• Established the Hydrogen Storage Lab at the University of Exeter with 5 PGRs, 2 PDRAs and 1
Research Fellow.
• Secured over £2.7 million in research funding as PI and Co-I from prestigious bodies.
• Published 36 research papers in renowned journals and holds two patents in her field.
• Recognized as one of the Top 50 Women in Engineering
• Honoured as one of EPSRC Women in Engineering Ambassadors.

📝🔬Publications📝

Ahmed Haroun – Self powered sensors – Best Researcher Award

Ahmed Haroun – Self powered sensors – Best Researcher Award

Dr. Ahmed Haroun distinguished academic and researcher in the field  Self Powered Sensors. His impactful research extends beyond the confines of academia, as evidenced by his tenure as a Senior Research Fellow at the National University of Singapore. Here, he contributed significantly to the development of meso-scale offshore wave energy harvesters and delved into the realm of triboelectric nanogenerators for self-powering ocean wireless sensor networks. Additionally, his prior role as a Research Fellow at NUS involved pioneering work on dielectric elastomers for electromechanical energy conversion, showcasing his versatility and expertise in interdisciplinary research.

🌐 Professional Profiles

Educations📚📚📚

He holds a distinguished academic background in mechanical engineering, culminating in a Ph.D. from the University of Tokyo, where he maintained a flawless GPA of 4.0/4.0. His doctoral research delved into the intricacies of electromagnetic vibration energy harvesting, specifically focusing on combined free/impact motion for efficient operation at low frequencies. Prior to this, he earned a Master of Science degree with honors from Cairo University, showcasing his prowess in modeling and simulating multibody mechanical systems with clearance joints. His educational journey also includes an intensive non-degree course in practical technology for robots and mechatronics from Japan’s KITA institute, where he acquired a diverse skill set encompassing sensor technology, motion control, PLC, and more. As an undergraduate at Cairo University, he distinguished himself as the top-ranked student in his department, graduating with honors and spearheading projects such as the design and manufacturing of a 2D CNC plasma cutting machine.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

He boasts an extensive professional journey marked by significant contributions to academia and cutting-edge research. Currently serving as a Senior Research Fellow at the Sant’Anna School of Advanced Studies within the Biorobotics Institute/Soft Mechatronics Lab, he spearheads the development of soft robotic end-effectors for delicate produce harvesting, focusing particularly on the SoftGrip project. His role involves the intricate task of crafting soft and semi-soft robotic wrists tailored for automated mushroom outrooting.

Simultaneously, as an Assistant Professor at Cairo University, he excels in both teaching and research endeavors. He diligently imparts knowledge in various domains of mechanical design and production engineering, shaping the minds of future engineers. His teaching responsibilities encompass a wide array of subjects, including Mechanical Vibrations, Basic Robot Technologies, and Engineering Measurements. Moreover, he actively supervises undergraduate and master’s students, guiding them through innovative research projects that tackle pressing engineering challenges, such as low-frequency energy harvesting and motion energy harvesting for wireless sensors.

 

During his earlier years at Cairo University, he served as a Demonstrator and Assistant Lecturer, playing a pivotal role in teaching fundamental courses while also actively engaging in research activities. His dedication to both education and research underscores his commitment to advancing the field of mechanical engineering and robotics, making him a highly respected figure in academia and beyond.

RESEARCH FUNDING

The JSPS-STDF research grant: This is a collaborative research grant between Cairo University and
University of Tokyo funded by JSPS (Japan), and STDF (Egypt) to do research on “developing an
offshore wave energy harvesting system for self-powering of ocean sensor networks”. (I had to withdraw
the application of this grant in order to apply for no-pay leave from Cairo University and Join Sant’Anna
School in Italy)

RESEARCH INTERESTS

Motion/vibration energy harvesting; Active and passive vibration control; Self-powered motion sensing;
Sensors and actuators; Nonlinear dynamics; Soft robotics; Mechatronics and automation

Awards

Throughout his illustrious academic and professional journey, he has garnered numerous accolades and awards, underscoring his exceptional talent and dedication to his field. Notably, he earned a prestigious MEXT scholarship for his Ph.D. studies in Mechanical Engineering, endorsed by the esteemed University of Tokyo. His outstanding achievements were further recognized with inclusion in the 30th Pearl Anniversary edition of Who’s Who in the World in 2013, a testament to his remarkable contributions to academia. Among his notable accolades is the Engineer Ibrahim Fawzy Award for the best master’s thesis in System Dynamics and Control, bestowed upon him by Cairo University in 2012.

His pursuit of excellence extends beyond academia, as evidenced by his receipt of the Engineer Reda Hamza and Engineer Mohamed Ibrahim Awards from Cairo University in 2009. Additionally, he has been honored with the Distinguished Student Award by Schlumberger on multiple occasions, highlighting his exceptional academic performance and leadership qualities. His remarkable academic achievements have been consistently recognized with scholarships for academic distinction throughout his undergraduate years at Cairo University, culminating in the receipt of distinguished silver and golden medals from the Faculty of Engineering.

Furthermore, his commitment to practical learning and international collaboration is evident through his participation in prestigious programs such as the practical course study scholarship in Practical Technology for Robots and Mechatronics, organized by KITA and funded by JICA in Japan. Additionally, he completed a practical traineeship for foreign students of technical sciences in Poland, demonstrating his global perspective and eagerness to expand his horizons. Collectively, these accolades and experiences underscore his status as a distinguished scholar and engineer, poised to make significant contributions to his field and beyond.

📝🔬Publications📝🔬

Hemamalini Rawindran – Life Cycle Analysis Award – Best Researcher Award

Hemamalini Rawindran – Life Cycle Analysis Award – Best Researcher Award

Dr. Hemamalini Rawindran distinguished academic and researcher in the field Life Cycle Analysis. As a Research Officer at Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS in 2023, she was primarily engaged in a project funded by Yayasan UTP focused on analyzing the nutritional values of protein-rich microalgae-palm kernel expeller bio-composite feeds. Additionally, she conducted Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) studies pertaining to membrane utilization for remediating microalgal wastewater and the upcycling of microplastics in marine environments.

Transitioning to her role as a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at Universiti Teknologi Malaysia from September 2023 to the present, she has been actively involved in a HiCoE project grant. Her responsibilities include the development of a solid matrix polymer inclusion membrane, where she is tasked with creating a mathematical model to evaluate electrodriven ion flux into the membrane. Moreover, she conducts sustainable metric analyses on the polymer inclusion membrane and assesses ion migration using a dual casting solution approach. In addition to her research duties, she is also involved in reviewing technical papers and converting findings into coherent paragraphs for publication.

 

🌐 Professional Profiles

Educations📚📚📚

She holds a PhD in Science by Research (Grade A) from Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS, completed between 2020 and 2023, which was funded by the prestigious HiCoE grant focusing on the thermochemical conversion of biomass. During her doctoral studies, she notably contributed to the development of a novel attached microalgal system and spent three months on a Fellowship under AMTEC at UTM. She demonstrated remarkable productivity by authoring 7 papers and co-authoring 20 papers. Additionally, she supervised 7 Final Year Project (FYP) students, resulting in 3 Q1 and 1 Q2 publications. Furthermore, she actively participated in educational activities, conducting laboratory sessions and tutorials for undergraduate (UG) students. She also provided assistance to UG students in virtual reality and augmented reality STEM-based classes, showcasing her commitment to fostering learning environments. Her academic excellence was recognized with the High Achiever Award and Graduate on Time (GOT) award.

Prior to her doctoral studies, she completed her Master’s in Science by Research (Grade B) at Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS from 2016 to 2019. This program, funded by a PETRONAS Research grant, focused on the elimination of surfactants in produced water from Enhanced Oil Recovery. During this time, she authored 2 papers and gained valuable experience through conducting laboratory and tutorial sessions for foundation students. She also spent one year on attachment at AMTEC, UTM, focusing on membrane development.

Her academic journey began with a Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry and Biology from Tunku Abdul Rahman College / Campbell University, USA, which she completed from 2011 to 2014. Her Final Year Project (FYP) explored the effect of carbonated beverages on human tooth density, and she graduated with Second Upper Class honors.

Research Colloborations

She has actively engaged in various collaborations with prestigious institutions such as the University of Tasmania (UTas), Australia, Petronas Research Sdn Bhd, Aston University, UK, and AMTEC at UTM. Notably, her collaborative efforts have led to significant contributions in several areas.

One of her notable achievements includes the development of a polymer inclusion membrane using a dual-solution casting approach, aimed at enhancing membrane technology. Additionally, she conducted a comprehensive review on the environmental sustainability aspects, focusing on the greenness of polymer inclusion membranes.

Moreover, she demonstrated her commitment to sustainability by repurposing spent coffee grounds for cultivating attached microalgae, as highlighted in Aston University’s bulletin. This innovative approach garnered attention for its eco-friendly application.

Her research findings have been published in high-impact journals, including a notable publication in a Q1 journal with an Impact Factor (IF) of 15.9 (RSER) in 2017-2018, focusing on the development of PVDF-TiO2 membrane for treating oil and gas surfactant-rich wastewater. Additionally, her work during a three-month fellowship in 2021 resulted in publications in two journals: one with a Q2 IF of 2.6 (Molecular Biotechnology) and another with a Q1 IF of 8.9 (Environmental Research), focusing on the development of a PET membrane from waste drinking bottles for treating microalgal harvested wastewater.

Furthermore, she successfully completed a mini-project funded by Petronas Research Sdn Bhd (PRSB), where she developed a membrane validation method for Petronas surfactants using HPLC. This endeavor resulted in the development of a membrane capable of treating surfactant-rich produced water with an impressive 98% rejection rate, as published in a Q1 journal with an IF of 11.1 (JCP).

Throughout her collaborations and individual projects, she has consistently demonstrated her expertise and dedication to advancing sustainable membrane technologies and addressing environmental challenges in various industrial sectors.

📝🔬Publications📝🔬

Zehra Ural Bayrak – Technological Networks – Best Researcher Award

 Zehra Ural Bayrak – Technological Networks

Prof Dr. Zehra Ural Bayrak  distinguished academic and researcher in the field  Technological Network.  Her academic achievements, she has enriched her expertise through various scholarly endeavors. As a Research Scholar at the University of Michigan, MI, USA, she contributed to advancements in her field from November 2010 to October 2011. Furthermore, she broadened her horizons through an Erasmus Teaching Staff Mobility program at the University of Applied Science in Zwickau, Germany, in November 2018. These experiences have not only bolstered her knowledge but also enhanced her ability to collaborate internationally and contribute to the global academic community.

🌐 Professional Profiles

Educations📚📚📚

She holds a Ph.D. in Electrical-Electronics Engineering from Firat University, earned between 2007 and 2014. Prior to that, she completed her Master of Science degree in the same field at Dicle University from 2004 to 2007. Her academic journey commenced with a Bachelor of Science in Electrical-Electronics Engineering at Firat University, where she graduated in 2004.

International conference

She has actively participated and presented her research findings at numerous international conferences and symposiums, showcasing her expertise and contributions to the field of electrical engineering, particularly focusing on fuel cell systems and renewable energy technologies.

Throughout her academic career, she has made significant contributions to various aspects of PEM (Proton Exchange Membrane) fuel cells, including dynamic simulation, mathematical modeling, design, and application areas. Her research endeavors have been recognized at prestigious events such as the II. International Hydrogen Energy Congress&Exhibition in Istanbul, the 10th International Conference on Clean Energy in Famagusta, N. Cyprus, and the ICRERA conferences held in Madrid, Spain, and Milwaukee, USA.

Additionally, she has explored the integration of fuel cells with other renewable energy sources, such as photovoltaic cells and micro-hydro power plants, demonstrating her commitment to advancing sustainable energy solutions. Her work extends beyond theoretical studies, as evidenced by her involvement in simulation and experimental studies, as well as the design of power management systems for residential solar-hydrogen power plants.

Furthermore, she has applied her expertise to innovate in the realm of hybrid power systems for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), presenting her designs and performance analyses at international symposiums such as the International Symposium on Sustainable Aviation in Istanbul.

Her research also delves into optimization techniques, such as chaos embedded particle swarm optimization, for parameter estimation in PEM fuel cell models, highlighting her proficiency in applying advanced methodologies to enhance system efficiency.

Overall, her extensive participation in international conferences and symposiums underscores her dedication to advancing the field of renewable energy and fuel cell technology through rigorous research, innovative designs, and collaborative efforts within the global academic community.

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