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.

Mr. Kiya Kefeni Benti | Civil Engineering | Best Researcher Award

Kiya Kefeni Benti | Civil Engineering | Best Researcher Award

PhD Scholar | University of Johannesburg | South Africa

Kiya Kefeni Benti is a distinguished water resources engineer and academic with extensive expertise in hydrology, climate change, and environmental impact assessment. Currently a lecturer and researcher at Adama Science and Technology University, Ethiopia, he leads the Department of Water Resources Engineering and actively contributes to the Water Resources and Irrigation Engineering Center of Excellence. Kiya holds a Ph.D. (ongoing) in Civil Engineering (Water Engineering) from the University of Johannesburg, South Africa, where his research focuses on modeling climate change impacts on hydrological processes and estimating groundwater recharge in the Olifants River Basin for sustainable water resource management. He earned his MSc in Water Resources Engineering (Very Great Distinction) from Adama Science and Technology University, with a thesis on assessing climate change impacts on water availability in the Upper Awash Sub-Basin, Ethiopia, and a BSc in Water Resources and Irrigation Engineering (Distinction) from the same institution. Kiya is a registered professional engineer with APEGA and APEGS, recognized for his strong problem-solving skills, teamwork, and leadership in both research and teaching. His professional training includes advanced hydrologic and spatial analysis, remote sensing for agriculture, WaPOR-based water productivity analysis, and Python-based geospatial modeling. His research interests span hydrology, watershed management, integrated water resources management, hydro-informatics, climate change impact assessment, surface and groundwater modeling, irrigation water demand, and land and water productivity. Kiya has published impactful research, including the 2025 article “Assessing Streamflow Response to Climate Change Under Shared Socioeconomic Pathways in the Olifants River Basin, South Africa”. He has received multiple awards for academic excellence, including gold medal recognition for his MSc performance. His contributions have earned him an h-index reflecting scholarly impact, and he continues to mentor graduate students while advancing sustainable water management practices.

Profile: ORCID | Linked In

Featured Publication

Benti, K. K., Dinka, M. O., Rwanga, S. S., & Aredo, M. R. (2025). Assessing streamflow response to climate change under shared socioeconomic pathways (SSPs) in the Olifants River Basin, South Africa. Hydrology, 12, 244.

 

Quan Yuan | Engineering | Best Researcher Award

Prof. Quan Yuan | Engineering | Best Researcher Award

Professor, School of Vehicle and Mobility, Tsinghua University, China

Dr. Quan Yuan is a distinguished professor at the School of Vehicle and Mobility, Tsinghua University. With a Ph.D. in vehicle engineering earned in 1997, Dr. Yuan has made significant contributions to the fields of intelligent vehicles, human factors engineering, traffic safety, and accident analysis. Over his illustrious career, he has led more than 40 research projects, published over 100 papers, and analyzed over 8,000 traffic crashes in Beijing. His research has provided valuable insights and innovations to improve the safety and functionality of intelligent transportation systems.

Profile

ORCID

🎓 Education:

Dr. Quan Yuan received his Ph.D. in Vehicle Engineering in 1997. He further honed his expertise as a postdoctoral research fellow at Tsinghua University from 2000 to 2003. Additionally, he broadened his academic horizon as a visiting scholar at the University of Washington from 2013 to 2014.

💼 Experience:

Dr. Yuan’s professional journey is marked by his role as a professor at Tsinghua University, where he has been instrumental in advancing research in intelligent vehicles and traffic safety. He has completed over 40 research projects and published more than 100 papers. His editorial appointments include roles such as the editorial director for the Journal of Intelligent & Connected Vehicles and associate editor for Digital Transportation and Information.

🔬 Research Interests:

Dr. Yuan’s research interests are centered on intelligent vehicles, traffic safety, and human factors engineering. His work focuses on combining intelligent vehicle technology with traffic safety to develop testing scenarios that enhance vehicle safety. He has also proposed innovative solutions such as a visual and infrared fusion perception recognition method to improve safety in adverse weather conditions and address traffic safety issues in pastoral areas.

🏆 Awards:

Dr. Quan Yuan has received numerous accolades for his contributions to the field of vehicle engineering and traffic safety. He is a recognized senior member of SAE-China and an esteemed member of IEEE. His work has significantly influenced the development and safety of intelligent transportation systems.

Publications 

Paper on Intelligent Vehicle Technology
Study on Traffic Safety and Accident Analysis
Research on Human Factors Engineering in Vehicle Design
Innovations in Traffic Crash Analysis
Book on Vehicle Engineering and Safety