Dr. Behnaz Sohani | Robotics | Best Researcher Award

Assistant professor, Loughborough University, United Kingdom

Dr. Behnaz Sohani is an accomplished academic and researcher in Robotics and Biomedical Engineering, specializing in object and scene recognition, assistive robotics, rehabilitation systems, and healthcare robotics. She currently serves as a Co-Director of the Biorobotics and Healthcare/Medical Technologies (BMTec) Laboratory and as a Lecturer in Robotics at the University of Lincoln. With over 16 years of experience in education, research, and administration, Dr. Sohani is passionate about advancing technology and improving healthcare through innovative robotics solutions. 🚀🤖📚

Profile

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  Strengths for the Award

  1. Community-Oriented Research: Dr. Behnaz Sohani’s work in robotics and biomedical engineering has a clear impact on community health and well-being. Her research focuses on developing assistive and healthcare robotics, which directly benefits individuals with medical conditions and those needing rehabilitation. The development of medical imaging devices and intelligent robots aligns well with the award’s focus on community impact.
  2. Innovative Contributions: Dr. Sohani has been involved in groundbreaking projects, such as designing imaging devices for early detection of brain strokes and cancers. Her use of AI and advanced technologies in healthcare demonstrates innovation that addresses significant community health challenges.
  3. Leadership and Collaboration: As the Co-Director of the Biorobotics and Healthcare/Medical Technologies Laboratory, she has shown strong leadership in driving impactful research projects. Her ability to collaborate with both academic and industrial partners, including medical professionals, enhances the relevance and application of her research.
  4. Educational Impact: Dr. Sohani’s role as a lecturer and mentor at the University of Lincoln contributes to shaping the next generation of engineers and researchers. Her teaching covers a broad spectrum of robotics and biomedical engineering topics, ensuring that her knowledge and passion are shared with students who can continue to drive community-oriented innovations.
  5. Grants and Recognition: Securing significant grants, such as those from the Royal Society and European Regional Development Fund, underscores her ability to attract funding for projects with high community impact. Her successful grant applications reflect recognition and validation from the research community and funding bodies.

  Areas for Improvement

  1. Broader Community Engagement: While Dr. Sohani’s work is impactful within academic and healthcare circles, increasing outreach to broader community stakeholders could enhance the visibility and accessibility of her innovations. Engaging more directly with community organizations or public health initiatives could amplify her research’s community impact.
  2. Communication of Impact: Dr. Sohani’s CV highlights numerous achievements and research outputs but could benefit from more explicit examples of how her work has directly improved or benefited community members. Providing case studies or testimonials could better illustrate the tangible benefits of her research.
  3. Public Awareness: Increasing public awareness about the practical applications of her research could further strengthen the case for the award. This could involve more public engagement activities, such as workshops, seminars, or media outreach, to showcase how her technologies are being used in real-world scenarios.

      

     Education

     Dr. Sohani earned her PhD in Robotics and Biomedical Engineering from London South Bank University (2017-2021). Her doctoral research focused on medical imaging for diagnostic applications, particularly in detecting brain abnormalities using microwave imaging. 🧠🎓

     Experience

     Dr. Sohani has held various academic and research positions. Since January 2021, she has been a Lecturer in Robotics and Biomedical Engineering and the Lead and Director of the BMTec Laboratory at the University of Lincoln. Her roles include generating research income, publishing research outputs, and delivering high-quality teaching programs. Previously, she served as a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at London South Bank University, where she designed medical devices augmented by AI. 📊🧪👩‍🏫

     Research Interests

     Dr. Sohani’s research interests encompass robotics and biomedical engineering, with a focus on assistive robotics, healthcare robotics, path planning, real-time control, computer vision, signal processing, and AI technologies. She is dedicated to advancing the early detection and management of medical conditions and addressing critical healthcare challenges through innovative robotic solutions. 🤖🩺🔍

     Awards

     Dr. Sohani has received several prestigious awards and grants, including successful grant applications to the Royal Society (£70K), being the principal investigator on three research projects funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), and her PhD funding from the European Union’s Horizon research & innovation program under the Marie Sklodowska-Curie Grant Agreement. 🏆🎓💼

      Publications

     1. “Revolutionizing Demand Response Management: Empowering Consumers through Power Aggregator and Right of Flexibility.” Energies 17.6: 1419, (2024). Cited by 3 articles
     2. Aliyu, M. et al. “An artificial neural network model for the prediction of entrained droplet fraction in annular gas-liquid two-phase flow in vertical pipes.” International Journal of Multiphase Flow 164 (2023): 104452. Cited by 2 articles
     3. Nnadi, S. et al. “Development, Experimental, and Numerical Characterisation of Novel Flexible Strain Sensors for Soft Robotics Applications”, Robotics, 13(7), 103, (2024). Cited by 5 articles
     4. Webber, M., et al. “A techno-economic review of direct air capture of moisture processes: sustainable versus energy-intensive methods.” International Journal of Environmental Science and Technology: 1-35, (2024). Cited by 7 article
     5. Sohani, B. et al. “Developing a Comprehensive Model for the Prevention of Tension Neck Syndrome: A Focus on Musculoskeletal Disorder Prevention Strategies.” Advanced Robotics and Automation (WRC SARA), Beijing, China, pp. 541-548. IEEE, (2023). Cited by 4 articles