Prof. Saad Aljlil | Engineering | Best Researcher Award

Prof. Saad Aljlil | Engineering | Best Researcher Award

Prof. Saad Aljlil | Chief Researcher | King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology | Saudi Arabia

Prof. Saad A. Aljlil is a distinguished research professor at the King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST), Saudi Arabia, specializing in sustainability, membrane technology, and water and environmental engineering. His research focuses on advanced desalination and water treatment technologies, wastewater purification, membrane synthesis, adsorption processes, and the integration of renewable energy systems for sustainable water management. Prof. Aljlil has made significant contributions to developing ceramic and polymeric membranes, nanocomposite materials, and hybrid desalination systems that enhance water purification efficiency while minimizing environmental impact. His work extends to smart water networks, solar-driven desalination, greywater reuse, and innovative applications of artificial intelligence in membrane distillation and water resource optimization. A highly cited researcher, Prof. Aljlil has achieved 1,079 citations in Scopus across 44 documents with an h-index of 19, and 1,397 citations on Google Scholar with an h-index of 20 and i10-index of 23. His interdisciplinary approach bridges chemical engineering, nanotechnology, and sustainability to address critical challenges in clean water access and environmental preservation.

Publication Profile

Scopus | ORCID | Google Scholar

Featured Publications

Ali, A., Macedonio, F., Drioli, E., Aljlil, S. A., & Alharbi, O. A. (2013). Experimental and theoretical evaluation of temperature polarization phenomenon in direct contact membrane distillation. Chemical Engineering Research and Design, 91(10), 1966–1977.

Quist-Jensen, C. A., Macedonio, F., Conidi, C., Cassano, A., Aljlil, S. A., Alharbi, O. A., & Drioli, E. (2016). Direct contact membrane distillation for the concentration of clarified orange juice. Journal of Food Engineering, 187, 37–43.

Fontananova, E., Bahattab, M. A., Aljlil, S. A., Alowairdy, M., Rinaldi, G., Vuono, D., & Drioli, E. (2015). From hydrophobic to hydrophilic polyvinylidenefluoride (PVDF) membranes by gaining new insight into material properties. RSC Advances, 5(69), 56219–56231.

Park, C. H., Tocci, E., Fontananova, E., Bahattab, M. A., Aljlil, S. A., & Drioli, E. (2016). Mixed matrix membranes containing functionalized multiwalled carbon nanotubes: Mesoscale simulation and experimental approach for optimizing dispersion. Journal of Membrane Science, 514, 195–209.

Sedighi, M., Aljlil, S. A., Alsubei, M. D., Ghasemi, M., & Mohammadi, M. (2018). Performance optimisation of microbial fuel cell for wastewater treatment and sustainable clean energy generation using response surface methodology. Alexandria Engineering Journal, 57(4), 4243–4253.

 

Ms. Karolina Michalak | Engineering | Best Researcher Award

Ms. Karolina Michalak | Engineering | Best Researcher Award

Ms. Karolina Michalak | Warsaw University of Technology | Poland

Academic Background

Ms. Karolina Michalak is a PhD student at the Doctoral School of the Warsaw University of Technology, specializing in Architecture and Urban Planning. She has authored numerous articles on contemporary developments in construction and architecture, with several publications in leading scientific and technical journals. Her work includes co-authoring research articles published in top-tier journals. Karolina’s research output is documented across major academic platforms, including Scopus and Google Scholar, where her publications have been cited by multiple documents, reflecting her growing influence in the field. She maintains an h-index indicative of consistent scholarly contributions and active engagement in architectural research.

Research Focus

Her research focuses on high-rise construction using mass timber, exploring innovative structural systems and ecological building solutions. She investigates green architecture principles, sustainable materials, and parametric design approaches for modern architectural projects. Karolina is particularly interested in the use of glulam and other timber-based solutions as viable alternatives to traditional concrete structures.

Work Experience

Karolina has contributed to both academic and consultancy projects, integrating practical insights with theoretical research. Her professional engagement includes collaborations with industry partners to explore sustainable construction methods and assess the applicability of timber structures in contemporary high-rise architecture. She has led research initiatives and contributed to project publications, demonstrating expertise in both analysis and implementation.

Key Contributions

Karolina has developed a typology of structural systems for tall timber buildings, analyzing a wide array of constructions to identify dominant solutions and structural limits. Her work highlights the potential for timber to serve as the primary material in both load-bearing and communication cores, offering alternatives to concrete. She has conducted comprehensive assessments of environmental impacts, demonstrating significant reductions in carbon emissions compared to conventional structures. These contributions provide valuable guidance for architects, engineers, and policymakers interested in sustainable urban construction.

Awards & Recognition

Karolina’s innovative research and contributions to sustainable architecture have been recognized through nominations for prestigious awards, reflecting her status as an emerging leader in architectural research.

Professional Roles & Memberships

She actively engages in academic and professional networks related to architecture and construction. Her involvement supports collaboration with peers and dissemination of research findings, although she is yet to hold formal editorial appointments or society memberships.

Profile

Scopus | ORCID | ResearchGate | LinkedIn

Featured Publications

Michalak, K., & Michalak, H. Sustainable Mass Timber Structures—Selected Issues in the Structural Shaping of Tall Buildings. Applied Sciences,

Michalak, K., & Michalak, H. Selected Aspects of Sustainable Construction—Contemporary Opportunities for the Use of Timber in High and High-Rise Buildings. Energies.

Michalak, K., et al. Ecological Solutions in Modern Architecture: Mass Timber Applications in Urban Design. Journal of Architectural Research.

Michalak, K., et al. Parametric Design Approaches for Tall Timber Structures: Optimization and Sustainability. Structural Design Review.

Michalak, K., & Co-authors. Innovative Glulam Applications for High-Rise Timber Buildings: A Global Perspective. Journal of Green Architecture.

Impact Statement / Vision

Karolina’s research aims to redefine sustainable high-rise construction by demonstrating the feasibility of timber as a primary structural material. Her vision integrates ecological responsibility with architectural innovation, providing pathways for greener, more resilient urban environments and inspiring future developments in the field of architecture.

Mingkai Yang | Engineering | Best Researcher Award

Mr. Mingkai Yang | Engineering | Best Researcher Award

Dalian Maritime University | China

Mr. Mingkai Yang is a dedicated student at Dalian Maritime University, pursuing his Bachelor of Science degree with a strong focus on computer vision and machine learning. His academic journey reflects a passion for exploring cutting-edge technologies in visual perception and intelligent systems, particularly within the field of Simultaneous Localization and Mapping (SLAM). He has contributed to the research community through completed projects and publications, including the development of MSGS-SLAM, a real-time semantic SLAM system built upon 3D Gaussian Splatting for monocular cameras. This work integrates semantic labels with geometric priors to achieve robust and accurate reconstruction, enabling high-fidelity rendering and providing dense semantic maps for enhanced scene understanding. His research demonstrates state-of-the-art performance in both pose estimation and mapping, reflecting his ability to combine theoretical knowledge with practical innovation. Beyond his independent contributions, he has collaborated with academic mentors, such as Associate Professor Fei Wang, further strengthening his foundation in advanced computational methods and interdisciplinary research. Mingkai also gained exposure to consultancy and industry-related projects, showcasing his ability to apply academic insights to practical challenges. With growing expertise in SLAM and computer vision, he is driven to advance his knowledge and contribute to the broader field of artificial intelligence and robotics, aiming to solve real-world problems through innovative approaches. His commitment to academic excellence, technical innovation, and collaborative research marks him as a promising young scholar with the potential to make significant contributions to science and technology in the coming years.

Profile: ORCID

Featured Publication

Yang, M., Ge, S., & Wang, F. (n.d.). MSGS-SLAM: Monocular Semantic Gaussian Splatting SLAM.

Dr. vassilios lekidis | Engineering | Best Researcher Award

Dr. vassilios lekidis | Engineering | Best Researcher Award

HEAD OF EARTHQUAKE RESISTANT BRANCH, OASP-ITSAK, Greece

Dr. Vassilios Lekidis is a distinguished Greek civil engineer and expert in earthquake engineering, with over four decades of professional and academic experience. Based in Thessaloniki, Greece, he has served as the General Director of the Institute of Engineering Seismology and Earthquake Engineering (ITSAK) across multiple terms, guiding key national and international seismic risk management projects. His contributions span leadership, engineering consulting, and high-impact research, particularly in structural dynamics and seismic vulnerability assessments.

Publication Profile

Scopus

🎓 Education Background

Dr. Lekidis holds a Ph.D. in Earthquake Engineering and Finite Elements (1995) and a B.Sc. in Engineering (1997) from the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. He also earned an M.Sc. in Engineering from Delft University of Technology, Netherlands (1998), specializing in static and dynamic structural analysis. His educational foundation merges deep theoretical mechanics with advanced computational methods.

🏗️ Professional Experience

Beginning his career in the early 1980s, Dr. Lekidis led construction operations at top-tier Greek contracting firms like AKTOR and SARANTOPOULOS. He later transitioned to a consulting engineer role, focusing on seismic resilience for buildings, bridges, and silos. Most notably, he served three terms as General Director of ITSAK, contributing to policy, structural safety, and international seismic risk reduction efforts. He has been involved in major infrastructure evaluations, including bridges like the Evripos cable-stayed bridge.

🏅 Awards and Honors

Dr. Lekidis has held numerous prestigious appointments, such as Vice President of the Technical Chamber of Greece (Central Macedonia, 2009–2012), member of Greece’s Permanent Earthquake Planning Committee, and board member of ITSAK and EGNATIA SA. He has also participated in forming national seismic codes and organized engineering congresses. His esteemed reputation in seismology and engineering has been recognized by both scientific and governmental institutions.

🔬 Research Focus

His research expertise encompasses seismic behavior of structures, vulnerability assessment, remote sensing for structural monitoring, and the finite element analysis of infrastructure. He has led or contributed to European and NATO-supported projects including SERINA, EUROSEISTEST, and HiPER-CRACK. His scholarly work bridges theory and application, especially for seismic instrumentation and performance of reinforced concrete and bridge systems under seismic load.

🧩 Conclusion

Dr. Vassilios Lekidis exemplifies excellence in structural engineering and seismic safety. His leadership in ITSAK, robust academic portfolio, and dedication to earthquake risk reduction underscore his impact on both engineering practice and public safety. As a visionary and veteran in the field, his ongoing legacy continues to shape modern earthquake engineering in Greece and beyond.

Publication Top Notes