George Vlontzos | Integration | Best Researcher Award

Prof. George Vlontzos | Integration | Best Researcher Award

Agricultural Economist, University of Thessaly, Greece

George Vlontzos is a full Professor at the University of Thessaly, Greece 🇬🇷, where he also serves as Director of the Laboratory of Agricultural Economics and Consumer Behavior. He is widely recognized for his expertise in agricultural economics, sustainability, and the integration of AI in agriculture. His academic and research journey has led him to publish numerous peer-reviewed papers and contribute to prestigious international congresses and EU-funded research projects.

Publication Profile

Scopus

🎓 Education Background:

Prof. Vlontzos holds a Ph.D. in Planning and Regional Development from the University of Thessaly (2004). He also earned an MBA in Agribusiness from the University of Wales, Aberystwyth (1996), and a BSc in Agriculture from the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (1995). His multidisciplinary academic training laid the groundwork for his impactful research in economics, consumer behavior, and sustainability.

💼 Professional Experience:

Since 2009, George Vlontzos has been a Professor at the University of Thessaly, specifically in the Department of Agriculture, Crop Production, and Rural Environment. Over the years, he has designed and led modules in agricultural economics and consumer behavior, integrating both theoretical depth and applied research into his teaching. He has actively participated in national and European Union-funded projects and collaborated with various stakeholders in the agri-food and sustainability sectors.

🏅 Awards and Honors:

While detailed awards are not explicitly listed, Prof. Vlontzos’s appointment as Director of a leading research laboratory and his continuous participation in competitive EU and nationally funded projects reflect the recognition of his scientific leadership and academic contributions.

🔬 Research Focus:

His primary research interests include economic and environmental efficiency assessment, sustainability in agriculture, and consumer behavior regarding agricultural products and food. He applies quantitative and behavioral models such as Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA), Stochastic Frontier Analysis, the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB), and the Health Belief Model to derive insights into agricultural systems and policy frameworks. Recently, his research has expanded into AI applications and blockchain in agri-food chains, reflecting his commitment to innovation in food security and sustainability.

🧩 Conclusion:

Prof. George Vlontzos is a dynamic and forward-thinking academic whose interdisciplinary research bridges economic theory, consumer behavior, and sustainability in agriculture. His commitment to teaching, active participation in cutting-edge research, and leadership in agricultural economics make him a key figure in shaping policy and innovation in Greece and beyond.

📚 Top Publications:

A hybrid remotely operated underwater vehicle for maintenance operations in aquaculture: Practical insights from Greek fish farms
Cited by: Article recently published, citations forthcoming

Assessing climate change awareness among Mediterranean university students: a comparative study of French and Greek universities
Cited by: Expected citation uptake due to cross-national relevance

Promoting excellence or discouraging mediocrity – a policy framework assessment for precision agriculture technologies adoption
Cited by: Building citation traction in agri-policy research

Variable RTS in hierarchical network DEA: Enhancing efficiency in higher education systems
Cited by: Impacting efficiency evaluation studies in education

Enhancing Sustainability through Weather Derivative Option Contracts: A Risk Management Tool in Greek Agriculture
Cited by: Gaining traction in agri-finance and risk management research

Is Blockchain a Panacea for Guarding PDO Supply Chains? Exploring Vulnerabilities, Critical Control Points, and Blockchain feasibility in Greece
Cited by: Influencing discourse in agri-tech and food integrity

Mohammed Almutairi | Cloud Computing | Best Researcher Award

Mr. Mohammed Almutairi | Cloud Computing | Best Researcher Award

PhD Student, University of Idaho, United States

🌟 Mohammed Almutairi is a passionate IT professional and dedicated educator with a strong foundation in computer science and cybersecurity. With a Master’s degree from Central Michigan University and teaching experience at the University of Hafr Al Batin, he brings a unique blend of academic expertise and technical skills to his work. Mohammed thrives on leveraging technology to benefit organizations and individuals, reflecting his ambition to make a meaningful impact in the tech world.

Publication Profile

ORCID

Education

🎓 Mohammed earned his Master’s degree in Systems with a minor in Cybersecurity from Central Michigan University (2019–2021), achieving an impressive 3.83 GPA. Prior to this, he completed his Bachelor’s in Computer Science with a minor in  Technology at Almajmaah University (2010–2014), graduating with a stellar 4.42 GPA.

Experience

👨‍🏫 Currently, Mohammed serves as a Lecturer at the University of Hafr Al Batin, where he teaches computer science and cybersecurity, guiding undergraduate students through lessons and assessments. 🖥️ As an IT Specialist at Salama Insurance Company (2021–2022), he worked on system development with C# and database management. 💻 Earlier roles include teaching computer skills at Taibah Institute (2017) and serving as an HR Assistant at Bin Laden (2014–2016), where he managed recruitment processes effectively.

Research Interests

📚 Mohammed’s research interests center around cybersecurity, systems, and programming. He is particularly drawn to exploring innovative solutions to enhance digital security and optimize system performance, reflecting his commitment to technological advancement.

Awards

🏆 Mohammed’s academic excellence has been recognized through his achievements, including graduating with distinction in both his Bachelor’s and Master’s programs. His consistent dedication to professional growth and education exemplifies his commitment to lifelong learning.

Publications

 

Meikang Qiu | Cloud Computing | Best Researcher Award

Prof Dr. Meikang Qiu | Cloud Computing | Best Researcher Award

Professor, Augusta University,United States

📚 Dr. Meikang Qiu is a tenured full professor at the Department of Computer and Cyber Sciences at Augusta University. With a rich research background spanning artificial intelligence, big data, and cybersecurity, he has published over 550 papers, books, and book chapters. His work has garnered more than 25,400 citations, reflecting his significant impact on the field. As an ACM Distinguished Member and IEEE Distinguished Visitor, Dr. Qiu has supervised 12 Ph.D. students and 2 postdoctoral researchers, contributing extensively to both academia and industry.

Profile

Strengths for the Award

  1. Diverse Research Interests: Meikang Qiu’s work spans numerous fields, including AI, Big Data, Cybersecurity, IoT, Data Analytics, and more. This interdisciplinary approach can significantly impact various community sectors.
  2. High Citation Metrics: With over 25,400 citations and an H-index of 106, Qiu’s work has a proven broad impact, demonstrating significant influence in the academic community.
  3. Extensive Publications: He has authored over 550 papers/books/book chapters, showcasing a prolific output that contributes to the knowledge base in his fields of expertise.
  4. Recognition and Awards: His numerous accolades, including the IEEE Systems Journal Best Paper Award and the IEEE Big Data Security STC Founder and Pioneer Award, underline his excellence and contributions to research.
  5. Community and Educational Involvement: Qiu’s involvement in workshops and seminars, such as the GenCyber Cybersecurity Workshop for High School Teachers, highlights his commitment to community education and outreach.
  6. Leadership and Mentorship: Supervision of 12 Ph.D. students and 2 postdocs, along with significant roles in professional services (e.g., General Chair of IEEE conferences), indicates his leadership and mentorship capabilities, contributing to the academic and professional growth of others.
  7. Industrial and Practical Experience: His experience working in high-tech companies and collaborations with industry giants like Google and Amazon ensures that his research has practical applications and relevance to real-world problems.

Areas for Improvement

  1. Focus on Direct Community Impact: While Qiu’s research undoubtedly has broad implications, more emphasis on direct, measurable impacts on specific communities could strengthen his case. Detailed examples of how his work has directly benefited particular communities or societal sectors would be beneficial.
  2. Public Engagement: Increasing efforts in public dissemination of his research findings through popular media or public lectures could enhance the visibility and understanding of his work’s impact on the community.
  3. Collaboration with Community Organizations: Strengthening partnerships with community-based organizations to apply his research findings more directly in local settings could further demonstrate the tangible impact of his work.

Education

🎓 Dr. Meikang Qiu earned his Ph.D. in Computer Science from the University of Texas at Dallas in May 2007. Prior to that, he completed his M.S. in Computer Science with a perfect GPA of 4.0 from the same institution in December 2003. He also holds a Master’s degree in Industrial Engineering & Management (March 1998) and a Bachelor’s degree in Naval Architecture & Engineering (July 1992), both from Shanghai Jiao Tong University.

Experience

💼 Before joining academia, Dr. Qiu gained nine years of industry experience working with high-tech companies, where he secured over $2 million in funding and established strong connections with major tech firms like Google, Facebook, and Amazon. In academia, he has attended more than 20 NSF panels and holds significant roles in various professional organizations.

Research Interests

🔍 Dr. Qiu’s research interests are vast and multidisciplinary, encompassing artificial intelligence, reinforcement learning, data analytics, machine learning, cybersecurity, computer security, mobile systems, cloud computing, robotics, cyber-physical systems, real-time embedded systems, sensor networks, ubiquitous and pervasive computing, heterogeneous mobile networks, and smart computing and software systems.

Awards

🏆 Dr. Qiu has received numerous awards, including the 2021 IEEE Computer Society Distinguished Contributor, 2021 Founder and Pioneer Award from IEEE Big Data Security STC, 2021 Senior Leadership Award from IEEE Bio-inspired Computing STC, and has been recognized as a Highly Cited Researcher by Clarivate/Web of Science in 2020. Additionally, he is an ACM Distinguished Member since 2019 and has received multiple best paper awards.

Publications

  1. 🌟 J. Li, M. Qiu, Z. Ming, G. Quan, X. Qin, Z. Gu, “Online Optimization for Scheduling Preemptable Tasks on IaaS Cloud Systems,” Journal of Parallel and Distributed Computing, Vol. 72, No. 5, pp. 666-677, May 2012.
  2. 🌟 K. Gai, M. Qiu, H. Zhao, L. Tao, Z. Zong, “Dynamic Energy-Aware Cloudlet-based Mobile Cloud Computing Model for Green Computing,” Journal of Network and Computer Applications, Vol. 59, No. 1, pp. 46-54, 2016. (Best Research Paper 2018)
  3. 🌟 M. Qiu, Z. Ming, J. Li, K. Gai, Z. Zong, “Phase-Change Memory Optimization for Green Cloud with Genetic Algorithm,” IEEE Transactions on Computers, Vol. 64, No. 12, pp. 3528-3540, Dec. 2015. (Hot Paper 2017, Highly Cited Paper 2017-2021)
  4. 🌟 Y. Li, W. Dai, Z. Ming, M. Qiu, “Privacy Protection for Preventing Data Over-Collection in Smart City,” IEEE Transactions on Computers, Vol. 65, No. 5, pp. 1339-1350, May 2016. (Highly Cited Paper 2017-2018)
  5. 🌟 X. Gao, M. Qiu, “Energy-Based Learning for Preventing Backdoor Attack,” 15th Intl. Conf. on Knowledge Science, Eng., and Management (KSEM, Springer), Vol. 3, pp. 706-721, Aug. 2022. (Best Student Paper Award)
  6. 🌟 Y. Zeng, H. Qiu, G. Memmi, M. Qiu, “Defending Adversarial Examples in Computer Vision based on Data Augmentation Techniques,” 20th International Conference on Algorithms and Architectures for Parallel Processing (ICA3PP 2020), Oct. 2020. (Best Paper Award)
  7. 🌟 Y. Zhang, M. Qiu, C.-W. Tsai, M. Hassan, A. Alamri, “Health-CPS: Healthcare Cyber-Physical System Assisted by Cloud and Big Data,” IEEE Systems Journal, Vol. 11, No. 1, pp. 88-95, 2017. (Best Paper Award, Highly Cited Paper 2017-2019)