Prof. Dr. Beatriz Defez | Sensors | Research Excellence Award

Prof. Dr. Beatriz Defez | Sensors | Research Excellence Award

Professor | Valencia Polytechnic University | Spain

Beatriz Defez García is an accomplished scholar whose work bridges engineering graphics, materials science, acoustic behavior, assistive technologies, and advanced computational modeling. Her research notably spans finite-element analysis of ceramic materials, acoustic characterization of engineered structures, fluid–solid interactions, and the development of innovative navigation systems to support individuals with visual impairments. She has made influential contributions to the fields of human–machine interaction, sensory guidance technologies, telemedicine, and computer-assisted image segmentation, particularly in dermatological applications. Her scholarship encompasses collaborative, interdisciplinary projects addressing societal and industrial needs through engineering innovation. With a strong record of productivity, she has authored 30 Scopus-indexed documents and accumulated 188 citations in Scopus, reflecting an h-index of 7, while her Google Scholar profile reports 486 citations, an h-index of 11, and an i10-index of 11, demonstrating the sustained visibility and relevance of her research. Her most widely cited studies include pioneering prototypes for real-time assistive navigation, analytical and experimental investigations of bubble and drop oscillations, and advanced techniques for usability evaluation in digital learning environments. Across her publications, Defez García integrates computational methods, experimental validation, and user-centered design principles to advance engineering solutions that improve material performance, enhance accessibility, and support health-related digital transformation. Her recent work also highlights growing contributions in telemedicine, sustainable digitalization, and biomedical image processing, reinforcing her role as a multidisciplinary researcher shaping both technological innovation and applied scientific practice.

Publication Profile

Scopus | ORCID | Google Scholar

Featured Publications

Dunai, L., Fajarnes, G. P., Praderas, V. S., Defez Garcia, B., & Lengua, I. (2010). Real-time assistance prototype—A new navigation aid for blind people. IECON Annual Conference on IEEE Industrial Electronics Society, 1–6.

Milne, A. J. B., Defez, B., Cabrerizo-Vílchez, M., & Amirfazli, A. (2014). Understanding (sessile/constrained) bubble and drop oscillations. Advances in Colloid and Interface Science, 203, 22–36.

Dunai, L., Peris-Fajarnés, G., Lluna, E., & Defez, B. (2013). Sensory navigation device for blind people. The Journal of Navigation, 66(3), 349–362.

Fraile-Garcia, E., Ferreiro-Cabello, J., Defez, B., & Peris-Fajanes, G. (2016). Acoustic behavior of hollow blocks and bricks made of concrete doped with waste-tire rubber. Materials, 9(12), 962.

Maria, M. S., Silvia, A. N., Beatriz, D. G., Andrew, D., & Guillermo, P. F. (2022). Health care in rural areas: Proposal of a new telemedicine program assisted from the reference health centers, for sustainable digitization and its contribution to carbon reduction. Heliyon, 8(7).

Mr. Ikram Ullah | Biological Sciences | Research Excellence Award

Mr. Ikram Ullah | Biological Sciences | Research Excellence Award

Northwest A&F University | China

Mr. Ikram Ullah is an emerging life science researcher specializing in plant genomics, molecular biology, and stress physiology, with a particular focus on horticultural crops. His research centers on genome-wide identification, characterization, and functional analysis of key gene and transcription factor families that regulate plant growth, defense pathways, and stress responses. He has contributed significantly to understanding bHLH, CRK, YABBY, callose enzyme, and Tubby-Like Protein gene families, providing new insights into their structural diversity, expression dynamics, and regulatory roles under biotic and abiotic stresses. His work extends to plant–pathogen interactions, root microbiota, cold stress management, heat stress mitigation, and hormonal modulation in economically important crops such as rose, cucumber, wheat, pepper, Brassica species, and tuberose. He is skilled in advanced molecular techniques, gene expression profiling, microbial metagenomics, and bioinformatics tools that support integrative genomic analyses. His research contributions are reflected in his citation metrics, with notable visibility across global indexing platforms. According to Scopus, his work has received around 1,900 citations from approximately 1,606 documents with an h-index of 23. His broader academic footprint on Google Scholar further highlights his growing impact within plant sciences and biotechnology. Mr. Ullah’s research continues to advance molecular breeding, stress-resilience strategies, and genomic understanding essential for sustainable horticulture and crop improvement.

Publication Profile

Scopus | ORCID

Featured Publications

Ullah, I., Yuan, W., Uzair, M., Li, S., Rehman, O., Nanda, S., & Wu, H. (2022). Genome-wide identification and expression analysis of the RcYABBYs reveals their potential functions in rose under Botrytis cinerea infection. Horticulturae, 8, 989.

Ullah, I., Ponsalven, A., Abbas, A., Hussain, S., & Nanda, S. (2022). Molecular characterization of bHLH transcription factor family in rose under Botrytis cinerea infection.

Ullah, I., et al. (2025). Molecular mechanisms and genomic strategies for enhancing stress resilience in pepper crop. Scientia Horticulturae, 352, 114403.

Tang, Y., Wu, J., Zhao, M., Guo, Y., Ullah, I., & Wu, H. (2020). Complete genome sequence of begonia flower breaking virus, a novel member of the genus Potyvirus. Archives of Virology, 165, 1915–1918.

Nanda, S., Rout, P., Ullah, I., Swapna, R., Velagala, V. R., Ritesh, K., & Wu, H. (2023). Genome-wide identification and molecular characterization of CRK gene family in cucumber under cold stress and sclerotium rolfsii infection. BMC Genomics, 24, 219.

Dr. Shuihuan Guo | Agriculture Technology | Research Excellence Award

Dr. Shuihuan Guo | Agriculture Technology | Research Excellence Award

Henan Agricultural University | China

Dr. Shuihuan Guo is a food science researcher specializing in fruit and vegetable storage, postharvest physiology, and the molecular biology of horticultural crops, with a strong focus on grapes. His work explores the mechanisms underlying stress responses, anthocyanin biosynthesis, quality formation, and the regulation of plant metabolic pathways that influence fruit development and postharvest quality. He has contributed significantly to understanding how environmental cues, hormonal signaling pathways, and gene regulatory networks shape the biochemical and physiological traits of grape berries under both natural and controlled conditions. His research particularly emphasizes drought stress, abscisic acid (ABA) signaling, melatonin biosynthesis, and microRNA-mediated regulatory mechanisms related to berry coloration, metabolite accumulation, and stress tolerance in different grape genotypes. Through integrating advanced molecular techniques with applied cultivation strategies, he aims to enhance fruit quality, improve resilience to abiotic stress, and support sustainable viticulture practices. His scientific contributions are recognized through measurable academic impact, including Scopus metrics of 219 citations, 15 documents, and an h-index of 8, supported by growing citation activity across Google Scholar as well. His publications appear in high-impact journals in horticulture, food chemistry, and plant molecular biology, reflecting his collaborative work and his commitment to advancing postharvest and viticultural science. Overall, his research bridges fundamental molecular insights with practical applications to support high-quality production and efficient cultivation of grapes and other horticultural crops.

Publication Profile

Scopus

Featured Publications 

Guo, S., Zhang, M., Feng, M., et al. (2024). miR156b-targeted VvSBP8/13 functions downstream of the ABA signal to regulate anthocyanin biosynthesis in grapevine fruit under drought. Horticulture Research, 11, 293.

Guo, S., Xu, T., Shi, T., et al. (2020). Cluster bagging promotes melatonin biosynthesis in the berry skins of Vitis vinifera cv. Cabernet Sauvignon and Carignan during development and ripening. Food Chemistry, 305, 125502.

Guo, S., Xu, T., Ju, Y., et al. (2023). MicroRNAs behave differently to drought stress in drought-tolerant and drought-sensitive grape genotypes. Environmental and Experimental Botany, 207, 105233–105248.

Guo, S., Yang, B., Wang, X., et al. (2021). ABA signaling plays a key role in regulated deficit irrigation-driven anthocyanins accumulation in ‘Cabernet Sauvignon’ grape berries. Environmental and Experimental Botany, 181, 104290.

Dr. Yan Gao | Mems Sensors | Research Excellence Award

Dr. Yan Gao | Mems Sensors | Research Excellence Award

Professor | Sun Yat-sen University | China

Dr. Yan Gao is a distinguished researcher in geotechnical engineering whose work advances fundamental understanding of the micromechanical behavior of geomaterials, particularly aging, creep, particle breakage, and structuration effects in sand. His research integrates advanced numerical simulations using the Discrete Element Method with innovative laboratory characterization techniques, including wave-based measurements, tactile pressure sensors, and MEMS-enabled Smart Soil Particles (SSP). Through these approaches, he uncovers the micro–macro mechanisms governing deformation, stiffness evolution, and kinematic responses in granular soils under various loading conditions. His investigations also extend to the development and application of GeoMEMS technologies for monitoring geologic hazards and improving early warning systems for urban rail transit. Additionally, he contributes to sustainable geotechnical engineering through research on novel and eco-friendly building materials. Dr. Gao’s scientific contributions have resulted in significant academic visibility, reflected in 158 Scopus citations, 144 citing documents, 42 publications, and an h-index of 8 on Scopus, with complementary recognition on Google Scholar. His work provides crucial insights for infrastructure safety, coastal and marine geotechnics, foundation engineering in calcareous sands, and next-generation smart sensing technologies in geomechanics.

Publication Profile

Scopus

Featured Publications

Gao, Y., Shi, T. G., Yuan, Q., Shi, X., & Sun, K. T. (2024). Particle gradation effects on creep characteristics and the underlying mechanism in calcareous sand. Construction and Building Materials, 424, 135952.

Gao, Y., Shi, T. G., Yuan, Q., & Sun, K. T. (2024). The creep characteristics and related evolution of particle morphology for calcareous sand. Powder Technology, 431, 119077.

Gao, Y., Shi, X., Yuan, Q., Sun, L., & Sun, K. T. (2024). Particle breakage and uneven settlement characteristics of calcareous sand foundation. Journal of Building Engineering, 100, 111662.

Gao, Y., Chen, Q., Yuan, Q., & Wang, Y. H. (2023). The kinematics and micro mechanism of creep in sand based on DEM simulations. Computers and Geotechnics, 153, 105082.

Gao, Y., & Wang, Y. H. (2016). Experimental characterization of deformation, stiffness, and contact force distributions of sand during secondary compression and rebound. Canadian Geotechnical Journal, 53(5), 889–898.

Prof. Dr. Gary Wong | Computer Science Education | Research Excellence Award

Prof. Dr. Gary Wong | Computer Science Education | Research Excellence Award

Faculty of Education | The University of Hong Kong | Hong Kong

Prof. Dr. Gary Ka Wai Wong is a leading scholar in computational thinking, computer science education, and artificial intelligence (AI)–enhanced learning, widely recognized for his interdisciplinary contributions to digital literacy, immersive learning environments, and K–12 STEM innovation. His research explores how constructionist pedagogies, data-driven precision learning, and extended reality experiences foster cognitive development, problem-solving, and twenty-first century competencies in learners. He has played a pivotal role in shaping international frameworks for digital literacy and AI education, including large-scale studies that examine teachers’ technological adoption, students’ computational thinking development, and school-level implementation of coding and STEM initiatives. His body of work reflects strong methodological diversity, spanning design-based research, meta-analysis, psychometric assessment, and mixed-methods evaluations of learning technologies. His scholarly influence is demonstrated by substantial global citations: Scopus records over 1,218 citations across 1,071 citing documents with an h-index of 18, while Google Scholar reports more than 3,111 citations with an h-index of 24 and 48 i10-index publications. His contributions extend to immersive virtual reality in science learning, digital competence assessment, and early-age unplugged and plugged computational thinking activities. His research continues to inform international policy, curriculum innovations, and empirical understandings of how AI, coding, and digital tools can be meaningfully integrated into education to cultivate future-ready learners.

Publication Profile

Scopus | ORCID | Google Scholar

Featured Publications 

Wong, G. K. W., Ma, X., Dillenbourg, P., & Huan, J. (2020). Broadening artificial intelligence education in K–12: Where to start? ACM Inroads, 11(1), 20–29.

Saxena, A., Lo, C. K., Hew, K. F., & Wong, G. K. W. (2020). Designing unplugged and plugged activities to cultivate computational thinking: An exploratory study in early childhood education. The Asia-Pacific Education Researcher, 29(1), 55–66.

Wong, G. K. W., & Cheung, H. Y. (2020). Exploring children’s perceptions of developing twenty-first century skills through computational thinking and programming. Interactive Learning Environments, 28(4), 438–450.

Law, N. W. Y., Woo, D. J., De la Torre, J., & Wong, K. W. G. (2018). A global framework of reference on digital literacy skills for indicator 4.4.2. UNESCO Institute for Statistics.

Lui, A. L. C., Not, C., & Wong, G. K. W. (2023). Theory-based learning design with immersive virtual reality in science education: A systematic review. Journal of Science Education and Technology, 32(3), 390–432.

Mr. Xingwang Bian | Traveling Wave Tube | Research Excellence Award

Mr. Xingwang Bian | Traveling Wave Tube | Research Excellence Award

Senior Engineer | Beijing Vacuum Electronics Research Institute | China

Mr. Xingwang Bian is a China-based researcher whose work significantly advances the field of vacuum electronics, high-frequency device engineering, and terahertz (THz) communication technologies. His research focuses on the design, optimization, and experimental characterization of G-band traveling wave tubes (TWTs), slow-wave structures, and high-power millimeter-wave sources that support next-generation radar, wireless communication, and sensing systems. Bian has contributed to innovations in modified folded waveguide configurations, wide-band continuous-wave amplifiers, pulsed-wave THz devices, and hybrid photonic–electronic architectures that enable communication beyond 300 GHz. His publications demonstrate strong expertise in device modeling, electromagnetic design, vacuum electronic component fabrication, and system-level performance enhancement. With 17 research documents indexed and 155 citations in Scopus, along with citations registered across 118 scholarly works, Bian has established a growing academic footprint. His h-index in Scopus is 4, reflecting impactful early-career contributions in a highly specialized domain. His citation metrics in Google Scholar also highlight the visibility and technical relevance of his work within the global vacuum electronics and THz technology communities. Through collaborative projects, experimental demonstrations, and high-frequency device innovations, Bian’s research continues to support emerging breakthroughs in ultra-high-speed wireless communication and advanced radar systems. His contributions underscore the importance of compact, efficient, and high-power THz sources that can shape the future landscape of communication engineering and microwave electronics.

Publication Profile

Scopus | ORCID

Featured Publications 

Bian, X., Pan, P., Du, X., Feng, Y., Li, Y., Song, B., & Feng, J. (2025). Design and experiment of modified folded waveguide slow wave structure for 60-W G-band traveling wave tube. IEEE Microwave and Wireless Technology Letters.

Bian, X., Pan, P., Xian, S., Yang, D., Zhang, L., Cai, J., & Feng, J. (2025). A G-band pulsed wave traveling wave tube for THz radar. Preprints.

Zhu, M., Cai, Y., Zhang, L., Zhang, J., Hua, B., Ma, K., Ding, J., Bian, X., et al. (2025). Surpassing kilometer-scale terahertz wireless communication beyond 300 GHz enabled by hybrid photonic–electronic synergy. Research Square.

Bian, X., Pan, P., Du, X., Song, B., Zhang, L., Cai, J., & Feng, J. (2024). Demonstration of a high-efficiency and wide-band 30-W G-band continuous wave traveling wave tube. IEEE Electron Device Letters.

Feng, Y., Bian, X., Song, B., Li, Y., Pan, P., & Feng, J. (2022). A G-band broadband continuous wave traveling wave tube for wireless communications. Micromachines.