Dragana Tomašević Pilipović | Environmental Science | Best Researcher Award

Dragana Tomašević Pilipović | Environmental Science | Best Researcher Award

Faculty of Sciences, University of Novi Sad | Serbia

Dragana Tomašević Pilipović, a Serbian national born in Croatia, is a Full Professor at the Faculty of Sciences, University of Novi Sad, with over 15 years of distinguished academic and research experience in environmental chemistry. She specializes in sediment remediation, water quality assessment, and the development of green nanomaterials for sustainable pollution management. Throughout her career, she has authored 40 SCI-indexed publications,  and has led multiple national and international research projects as Principal Investigator. Professor Tomašević Pilipović has a strong teaching record, developing innovative curricula and delivering undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral courses in Environmental Protection and Chemistry, consistently earning top student evaluations. She holds a BSc in Chemistry with a focus on quality control and environmental management, an MSc in Chemistry specializing in water metal content analysis, and a PhD in Environmental Protection Science, where her research advanced the application of stabilized nano zero-valent iron and commercial immobilization agents for sediment remediation. Her professional experience includes roles as Associate and Assistant Professor, research assistant, and analytical chemist in accredited laboratories, where she gained expertise in advanced analytical techniques such as AAS, ICP-MS, IC, and TOC. Actively engaged in scientific exchange and professional organizations, she has collaborated with international institutions, serves on multiple scientific boards, and contributes to policy and outreach programs. Her work integrates research excellence, innovative teaching, and impactful science communication to advance environmental protection and sustainable solutions across Europe.

Profile: Scoups | Orcid

Featured Publications

  • Radenović, D., Kerkez, D., Tomašević Pilipović, D., Dubovina, M., Šeljiša, M., Tenodi, S., & Peško, I. (2024). The beneficial reuse of contaminated sediment: Long-term assessment of fly ash and lime-based mixtures. Case Studies in Construction Materials, 20, e02711.

  • Tenodi, S., Krčmar, D., Pejin, Đ., Rađenović Veselić, D., Slijepčević, N., Zrnić Tenodi, K., & Tomašević Pilipović, D. (2025). Application of the FUCOM-SAW model for comprehensive risk assessment of contaminated sediments: A case study of the Great Bačka Canal and Begej River. Journal of Contaminant Hydrology, 274, 104644.

  • Tomašević Pilipović, D., Slijepčević, N., Rađenović Veselić, D., Šešlija, M., Bulatović, V., & Duduković, N. (2025). Utilization of phosphogypsum and sediment in subgrade material for pavement construction. Applied Sciences, 15(347).

  • Tomić, T., Jurca, T., Rađenović Veselić, D., Slijepčević, N., Krčmar, D., Bečelić-Tomin, M., & Tomašević Pilipović, D. (2025). An integrated approach to assessing the quality of sediments in the Great Bačka and Bega canals, Serbia. Environmental Sciences Europe, 37, 25.

  • Tomašević Pilipović, D., Bečelić-Tomin, M., Krčmar, D., Tenodi, S., Kerkez, D., Slijepčević, N., & Šešlija, M. (2025). Methodological framework for sediment management in developing countries: Shifting the paradigm from waste to resource. Water, 17, 618.

Karina Chueng | Earth and Planetary Sciences | Best Researcher Award

Karina Chueng | Earth and Planetary Sciences | Best Researcher Award

Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro | Brazil

Dr. Karina Ferreira Chueng is a Brazilian geoscientist specializing in paleoenvironmental and paleoclimatic reconstruction, with a strong focus on the use of silica biomineralizations, phytoliths, and carbon isotopes to study Quaternary environmental changes. She earned her Doctorate and Master’s degree in Earth and Ocean Sciences from the Federal Fluminense University and her Bachelor’s degree in Geography from the State University of Rio de Janeiro. Dr. Chueng’s research has significantly contributed to understanding the geomorphological and climatic evolution of Brazil’s Serra do Espinhaço mountain range and coastal plains. She has authored several peer-reviewed articles in leading journals such as the Journal of South American Earth Sciences and Revista Brasileira de Geografia Física, and co-authored multiple book chapters on phytolith analysis and paleoenvironmental reconstruction. Her collaborative projects span national and international research groups, including partnerships with the University of Exeter (UK) and UC Berkeley (USA). Dr. Chueng has participated in the POLARQ and NEPALEO research groups, focusing on archaeological palynology and paleobiogeoclimatic studies. Her academic service includes organizing scientific events, reviewing for journals, and mentoring undergraduate and doctoral students. Recognized for her scientific excellence, she received the Doutora Fátima Luz Award and was a finalist for the Professor Margarida Penteado Award for Young Geomorphologists (2018). Fluent in Portuguese, English, and Spanish, Dr. Chueng continues to advance interdisciplinary research linking geology, archaeology, and environmental science.

Profile: Scopus | Orcid

Featured Publications

Machado, D. O. B. F., Chueng, K. F., Coe, H. H. G., Silva, A. C., & Costa, C. R. (2021). Paleoenvironmental reconstruction of the headwaters of the Preto River, Minas Gerais State, Brazil, through siliceous bioindicators. Journal of South American Earth Sciences, 110, 103349.

Salgado, E. T., Mizusaki, A. M. P., Chueng, K. F., Coe, H. H. G., Evaldt, A. C. P., & Bauermann, S. G. (2021). Holocene palaeoenvironmental and palaeoclimatic reconstruction of a native ecosystem on the coastal plain of southern Brazil through multi-proxy analysis. Journal of South American Earth Sciences, 106, 103067.

Chueng, K. F., Coe, H. H. G., Augustin, C. H. R. R., Macario, K. D., Ricardo, S. D. F., & Vasconcelos, A. M. C. (2019). Landscape paleodynamics in siliciclastic domains with the use of phytoliths, sponge spicules and carbon isotopes: The case of southern Espinhaço Mountain Range, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Journal of South American Earth Sciences, 95, 102232.

Chueng, K. F., Coe, H. H. G., Fagundes, M., Vasconcelos, A. M. C., & Ricardo, S. D. F. (2018). Paleoenvironmental reconstruction of the archaeological area of Serra Negra, east face of the southern Espinhaço (Minas Gerais), through phytolith analysis. Revista Brasileira de Geografia Física, 11(7), 2260–2275.

Coe, H. H. G., Macario, K. D., Gomes, J. G., Oliveira, F. M., Chueng, K. F., Gomes, P. R. S., Carvalho, C., Linares, R., Alves, E. Q., & Santos, G. M. (2014). Understanding Holocene variations in the vegetation of São João River Basin, southeastern coast of Brazil, using phytolith and carbon isotopic analyses. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, 403, 59–68.

Augustin, C. H. R., Coe, H. H. G., Chueng, K. F., & Gomes, J. G. (2014). Analysis of geomorphic dynamics in ancient quartzite landscape using phytolith and carbon isotopes, Espinhaço Mountain Range, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Géomorphologie: Relief, Processus, Environnement, 20(4), 355–376.

Coe, H. H. G., Gomes, J. G., & Chueng, K. F. (2013). Reconstitutions of vegetation examples and inferences of paleoclimates in the Rio de Janeiro State through silica biomineralizations (phytoliths) and carbon isotopes. Revista Tamoios, 9(1), 1–21.