Thomas Heston | Health Professions | Best Research Article Award

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Thomas Heston | Health Professions | Best Research Article Award

Washington State University | United States

Dr. Thomas F. Heston, MD, is a distinguished physician, researcher, and academician with over 1,500 citations and an h-index of 22, reflecting his significant contributions to medical science and emerging technologies. He currently serves as Clinical Associate Professor in the Department of Medical Education and Clinical Sciences at Washington State University, Spokane, and as Clinical Assistant Professor of Family Medicine at the University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle. Dr. Heston holds multiple advanced qualifications, including a Doctor of Medicine from Saint Louis University School of Medicine, a Fellowship in Nuclear Medicine from Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, and an MS in Cryptocurrency and Blockchain Technology from the University of Nicosia, Cyprus—highlighting his interdisciplinary expertise bridging medicine and digital innovation. His academic journey also includes residencies at the University of Washington and Oregon Health and Science University, an internship at Duke University, and undergraduate degrees in Mathematics and Music from the University of the State of New York and the University of Washington, respectively. Board-certified in Artificial Intelligence in Medicine, Family Medicine, Nuclear Cardiology, and Nuclear Medicine, Dr. Heston’s work spans nuclear imaging, clinical education, artificial intelligence, and healthcare innovation. His research integrates data-driven medical diagnostics with emerging technologies, advancing precision medicine and ethical AI in healthcare. Through his teaching, publications, and clinical expertise, Dr. Heston continues to inspire innovation and evidence-based excellence in modern medical practice.

Profile: Google Scholar | Orcid

Featured Publications

Heston, T. F., & Khun, C. (2023). Prompt engineering in medical education. International Medical Education, 2(3), 198–205.

Heston, T. F., & Lewis, L. M. (1992). Gender bias in the evaluation and management of acute nontraumatic chest pain. Family Practice Research Journal, 12(4), 383–389.

Goldsmith, S. J., Parsons, W., Guiberteau, M. J., Stern, L. H., Lanzkowsky, L., & Heston, T. F., et al. (2010). SNM practice guideline for breast scintigraphy with breast-specific γ-cameras 1.0. Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology, 38(4), 219–224.

Heston, T. F. (2017). A case study in blockchain health care innovation. International Journal of Current Research, 9(11), 60587–60588.

Heston, T. F. (2023). Safety of large language models in addressing depression. Cureus, 15(12), e50729.

Heston, T. F. (2011). Standardizing predictive values in diagnostic imaging research. Journal of Magnetic Resonance Imaging, 33(2), 505–505.

Heston, T. F., & Sigg, D. M. (2005). Quantifying transient ischemic dilation using gated SPECT. Journal of Nuclear Medicine, 46(12), 1990–1996.

Heston, T. F., & Wahl, R. L. (2010). Molecular imaging in thyroid cancer. Cancer Imaging, 10(1), 1.

Mekides Gardi | Agricultural and Biological Sciences | Best Researcher Award

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Mekides Gardi | Agricultural and Biological Sciences | Best Researcher Award

Cimmyt | Ethiopia

Dr. Mekides Woldegiorgis Gardi, an Ethiopian system agronomist and crop modeler, is currently serving as a Postdoctoral Researcher at the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), based at the ILRI campus in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. She holds a Ph.D. in Agricultural Sciences from the University of Hohenheim, Germany, where her research focused on the impacts of climate change and variability on barley (Hordeum vulgare L.). With over a decade of research and project coordination experience, Dr. Gardi has developed strong expertise in crop simulation modeling using DSSAT and APSIM, climate change impact assessment, and climate-resilient agriculture. Her professional journey includes research roles at the Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT, ICARDA, and DAB Development Research and Training, where she contributed to field data collection, climate-crop interaction studies, and multi-country agricultural projects. At CIMMYT, she leads modeling efforts to evaluate climate change effects on maize and wheat, supports digital agriculture initiatives, and develops adaptation strategies to strengthen climate-resilient breeding and food security systems in Africa. Dr. Gardi is highly skilled in data management, scientific writing, and interdisciplinary collaboration, with a focus on developing sustainable, data-driven agricultural solutions. Her work integrates advanced modeling with on-ground agricultural development to guide policy and improve farming resilience under changing climatic conditions.

Profile: Google Scholar

Featured Publications

  • Gardi, M. W., Memic, E., Zewdu, E., & Graeff‐Hönninger, S. (2022). Simulating the effect of climate change on barley yield in Ethiopia with the DSSAT‐CERES‐Barley model. Agronomy Journal, 114(2), 1128–1145.

  • Gardi, M. W., Haussmann, B. I. G., Malik, W. A., & Högy, P. (2022). Effects of elevated atmospheric CO₂ and its interaction with temperature and nitrogen on yield of barley (Hordeum vulgare L.): A meta-analysis. Plant and Soil, 475(1), 535–550.

  • Wamatu, J., Alkhtib, A., & Woldegiorgis, M. G. (2019). Leveraging traditional crops for food and feed: A case of hulless barley (Hordeum vulgare) landraces in Ethiopia. Journal of Experimental Biology and Agricultural Sciences, 7(1), 42–50.

  • Gardi, M. W., Malik, W. A., & Haussmann, B. I. G. (2021). Impacts of carbon dioxide enrichment on landrace and released Ethiopian barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) cultivars. Plants, 10(12), 2691.

  • Gardi, M. W., Zewdu, E., & Sida, T. S. (2021). Modeling sorghum yield response to climate change in the semi-arid environment of Ethiopia. Journal of Agriculture and Food Research, Article 102143.

 

Nimra Usman | Econometrics and Finance | Best Researcher Award

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Nimra Usman | Econometrics and Finance | Best Researcher Award

Bahauddin Zakariya University Multan | Pakistan

Nimra Usman is a Pakistani economist with a strong blend of academic and professional experience in economics, data analysis, and policy advisory. She holds an M.Phil in Economics from the School of Economics at Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan, where she graduated with distinction, earning with her thesis focusing on “Economic Freedom, Logistics Performance, International Grant & Burden of Debt: Case of Developing Countries.” She also holds an M.Sc in Economics from the same institution. Nimra has contributed to the field through both teaching and consultancy; she served as a Lecturer in Economics at the Institute of Southern Punjab and Nishat Higher Secondary School, where she taught courses including Microeconomics, Macroeconomics, and Development Economics, while also mentoring students and developing curriculum materials. Professionally, she has held leadership and advisory roles, including serving as Chief Operating Officer at Digi Vyze, where she managed operations, team coordination, and strategic execution to enhance growth and efficiency. Most recently, she was a Consultant with the World Bank Group’s Young Economist Immersion Program in Islamabad, where she contributed analytical work for the Pakistan Development Update, supported macro-fiscal meetings, prepared presentations, and aided in report outreach, demonstrating her expertise in fiscal policy and economic analysis. Nimra combines rigorous academic training with practical experience in economic research, policy insights, and organizational leadership, reflecting a commitment to advancing economic understanding and contributing to development-oriented initiatives in Pakistan and beyond.

Profile: Orcid | Scopus

Featured Publications

Javed, A., & Usman, N. (2025). Skill-biased labour market effects of environmental policy and green energy transition in Italy. Energy Policy.

Usman, N., Chaudhry, M. O., & Javed, A. (2025). Navigating debt burden: An analysis of economic freedom, logistics performance and foreign aid using method of moments quantile regression. GCU Economic Journal, 1–41.

Kwang Baek Kim | Computer Science | Best Researcher Award

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Kwang Baek Kim | Computer Science | Best Researcher Award

Silla University | South Korea

Dr. Kwang Baek Kim, South Korea, is a distinguished computer scientist and academic leader, currently serving as Professor in the Department of Computer Engineering at Silla University, South Korea. He earned his M.S. and Ph.D. in Computer Science from Pusan National University, and has been a dedicated faculty member at Silla University, where he has contributed significantly to research, education, and academic administration. His professional journey includes notable leadership roles such as Director for Planning at The Korean Institute of Intelligent Systems (KIIS) and President of The Korea Institute of Information and Communication Engineering (KIICE). With a strong focus on intelligent systems, fuzzy logic, artificial intelligence, and computational vision, Dr. Kim has actively advanced scholarly communication through his editorial engagements, serving as Associate Editor for the International Journal of Fuzzy Logic and Intelligent Systems, the Journal of Intelligence and Information Systems, and previously for The Open Artificial Intelligence Journal (USA). He has also been Guest Editor for the International Journal of Computational Vision and Robotics and the International Journal of Information and Communication Technology, as well as Lead Guest Editor for Computational Intelligence and Neuroscience (SCIE). he has been the Editor-in-Chief of the International Journal of Computer and Information. Dr. Kim’s extensive academic service, research contributions, and leadership have established him as a respected figure in computer science, particularly in the areas of artificial intelligence, fuzzy systems, and intelligent information processing. Married and residing in South Korea, he continues to inspire future generations of computer engineers and contribute actively to the global scientific community.

Profile: Google Scholar

Featured Publications

  • Kim, K.-B., Kim, S., & Kim, G.-H. (2006). Vector quantizer of medical image using wavelet transform and enhanced SOM algorithm. Neural Computing & Applications, 15, 245–251.

  • Kim, K.-B., & Kim, S. (2008). A passport recognition and face verification using enhanced fuzzy ART based RBF network and PCA algorithm. Neurocomputing, 71(16–18), 3202–3210.

  • Kim, K.-B., Kim, C. W., & Kim, G. H. (2008). Area extraction of the liver and hepatocellular carcinoma in CT scans. Journal of Digital Imaging, 21, 89–103.

  • Kim, K. B., Song, D. H., & Park, H. J. (2016). Automatic extraction of appendix from ultrasonography with self-organizing map and shape-brightness pattern learning. BioMed Research International, 2016, Article 6172480.

  • Kim, K. B., Song, Y.-S., Park, H. J., Song, D. H., & Choi, B. K. (2018). A fuzzy C-means quantization based automatic extraction of rotator cuff tendon tears from ultrasound images. Journal of Intelligent & Fuzzy Systems, 35(1), 149–158.

 

Chamani Reza | Agricultural and Biological Sciences | Best Researcher Award

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Chamani Reza | Agricultural and Biological Sciences | Best Researcher Award

University of Birjand | Iran

Dr. Reza Chamani is a postdoctoral researcher in Watershed Management Sciences and Engineering at Tarbiat Modares University (TMU), Tehran, Iran, where he contributes to advancing sustainable watershed health and land degradation neutrality approaches. He earned his Ph.D. in Watershed Management from TMU with a dissertation focusing on the effects of hydrologic service changes resulting from watershed management measures on watershed health, under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Mehdi Vafakhah and Prof. Dr. Sayed Hamidreza Sadeghi. His postdoctoral research further expands this expertise by developing a watershed health-based action plan for Iran’s second-order priority watersheds, applying innovative frameworks aligned with global sustainability goals. Dr. Chamani also holds a Master’s degree in Watershed Management from Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, where he studied land use management adaptation to climate change in collaboration with the University of Jena, Germany, and a Bachelor’s degree in Pasture and Watershed Management from Zabol University, where he evaluated the effects of watershed structures on water resources. Professionally, he has served as a watershed expert with the Department of Natural Resources and Watershed Management in Birjand and South Khorasan Province, where he contributed to the design, planning, and implementation of watershed projects, including dam site studies and structural evaluations. As a member of the Iran Watershed Association and the World Association for Soil and Water Conservation (WASWC), he actively engages with the global scientific community. His academic and professional career reflects a strong commitment to integrating research, policy, and practical management strategies for sustainable natural resource use.

Profile: Google Scholar

Featured Publications

  • Chamani, R., Vafakhah, M., & Sadeghi, S. H. (2023). Changes in reliability–resilience–vulnerability-based watershed health under climate change scenarios in the Efin Watershed, Iran. Natural Hazards, 116(2), 2457–2476.

  • Chamani, R., Vafakhah, M., Tavosi, M., & Zare, S. (2022). Assessment of the effect of climate change on the health status of Atrak watershed in Northeastern of Iran. Arabian Journal of Geosciences, 15(24), 1745.

  • Chamani, R., Sadeghi, S. H., Zare, S., Shekohideh, H., Mumzaei, A., Amini, H., … & Zarei, R. (2023). Flood‐oriented watershed health and ecological security conceptual modeling using PSR approach for the Sharghonj Watershed, South Khorasan Province, Iran. Natural Resource Modeling, 36(3), e12385.

  • Sadeghi, S. H. R., Chamani, R., … & Moosavi, V. (2023). Watershed health and ecological security zoning throughout Iran. Science of the Total Environment, 899, 165790.

  • Sadeghi, S. H., Chamani, R., Kalehhouei, M., & Haji, K. (2024). Health variability based on SPI and estimating median and mean health indices in watersheds and townships of Kermanshah Province, Iran. Environment, Development and Sustainability, 1–21.

Aldona Kluczek | Energy | Best Researcher Award

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Aldona Kluczek | Energy | Best Researcher Award

Warsaw University of Technology | Poland

Dr. Aldona Kluczek is an Associate Professor at the Warsaw University of Technology with academic and research experience in energy efficiency, Industry technologies, and sustainability practices. She earned her M.Sc. in Mechanics and Machine Design and her Ph.D. in Technical Sciences from the Warsaw University of Technology, followed by a habilitation in Technical Sciences from the Cracow University of Technology with her monograph Contemporary Trends in Energy Sustainability for Manufacturing SMEs: Overview, Perspectives, and Assessment Approaches. She also holds an Executive MBA from the Warsaw University of Technology and completed several postgraduate programs in quality, environment, industrial safety, and business process analysis. Dr. Kluczek has an extensive teaching portfolio, having delivered courses at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels in quality engineering, project and technology management, and operations research, and has supervised theses and dissertations, including BA, MA, and Ph.D. projects. She currently serves as Head of the Division of Management and Quality at the Institute of Production Systems Organization and is a member of the Sustain research group. Her research has resulted in more than peer-reviewed publications, and she authored a widely recognized monograph as part of her habilitation. Internationally, she gained experience as a Visiting Assistant Research Scientist at the University of Michigan, where she conducted industrial energy audits for the U.S. Department of Energy. Her work integrates technical innovation with sustainable industrial practices, reflecting her commitment to advancing energy sustainability and Industry in manufacturing systems.

Profile: Google Scholar

Featured Publications

Buczacki, A., Gładysz, B., Kluczek, A., Krystosiak, K., Ejsmont, K., Maleńczyk, I., Guerra, R. H., Palmer, P., & van Erp, T. (2025). The role of sustainability competences for IT systems engineers: Insights from a multiple case study. Lecture Notes in Computer Science.

Gładysz, B., Krystosiak, K., Buczacki, A., Quadrini, W., Ejsmont, K., Kluczek, A., Park, J., & Fumagalli, L. (2024). Sustainability and Industry 4.0 in the packaging and printing industry: A diagnostic survey in Poland. Engineering Management in Production and Services, 16(1), 51–67.

Woźniak, A., Kluczek, A., & Nycz, P. D. (2024). Approach for identifying the impact of local wind and spatial conditions on wind turbine blade geometry. International Journal of Energy Research, 2024, 1–13.

Woźniak, A., Kluczek, A., Ślusarczyk, B., Żegleń, P., & Górka, M. (2024). The impact of local wind and spatial conditions on geometry blade of wind turbine. Energy Science & Engineering, 1–14.

Gładysz, B., Wiśniewski, M., Kluczek, A., Młodzianowski, P., & Szymanek, A. (2023). Tracking sustainable Industry 4.0 for listed companies. Przegląd Organizacji, 2023(3), 124–138.