Mahmoud Mashal | Engineering | Best Researcher Award

Mahmoud Mashal | Engineering | Best Researcher Award

University of Tehran | Iran

Dr. Mahmoud Mashal is a distinguished scholar and researcher in Civil Engineering, specializing in Hydraulics, with extensive academic and professional experience spanning several decades. He earned his Ph.D. in Civil Engineering with a focus on Hydraulics from the University of Manchester following his M.Sc. in Irrigation and Drainage Engineering  and B.Sc. in Irrigation Engineering  from Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz. Throughout his career, Dr. Mashal has been dedicated to advancing research and education in hydraulic structures, water resource management, and irrigation systems. His work integrates theoretical insights with practical applications to address complex challenges in water engineering, sustainable irrigation design, and environmental hydraulics. As a faculty member at the University of Tehran’s Aburaihan Campus, he has played a key role in teaching, mentoring graduate students, and conducting interdisciplinary research aimed at improving the efficiency and sustainability of water systems in arid and semi-arid regions. His scholarly contributions include numerous research papers, conference presentations, and technical reports that have strengthened the field’s understanding of hydraulic modeling, sediment transport, and water flow dynamics. Dr. Mashal’s expertise and leadership have earned him recognition within academic and professional circles, where he continues to contribute to national and international collaborations focused on water resource development and environmental protection. His commitment to innovation and applied research reflects a lifelong dedication to addressing global water challenges and fostering sustainable engineering practices for future generations.

Featured Publications

  • Shokati, H., Mahmoud, M., Noroozi, A. A., Mirzaei, S., Mohammadi-Doqozloo, Z., Nabiollahi, K., Faghizadeh-Mehrjerdi, R., Khosravani, P., Adhikari, R., Hu, L., & Scholten, T. (2025). Comparing UAV-based hyperspectral and satellite-based multispectral data for soil moisture estimation using machine learning. Water, 17(11), 1715.

  • Zanjani, M., Mahmoud, M., & Pour Gholam Amiji, M. (2025). The effect of biochar and irrigation water quality on maize yield and water productivity. Iranian Journal of Irrigation and Drainage, 18(6), 927–936.

  • Ghasemnezhad, S., Nikoo, M. R., Mahmoud, M., Al-Rawas, G., Nazari, R., Azadegan, B., Mishra, A., & Simunek, J. (2025). A copula framework for depth-stratified water quality monitoring in reservoirs. Journal of Water Process Engineering, 2(2), 1–22.

  • Seyed Ali, H., Javadi, S., Mahmoud, M., Azadegan, B., & Havid, K. (2024). Assessment of water, food, and energy efficiency indicators with a nexus approach and sustainable agricultural management. Drought and Climate Change Research, 2(2), 57–76.

  • Shokati, H., Mahmoud, M., Noroozi, A. A., Abkar, A. A., Mirzaei, S., Mohammadi Forough, Z., Faghizadeh-Mehrjerdi, R., Khosravani, P., Nabiollahi, K., & Scholten, T. (2024). Random forest-based soil moisture estimation using Sentinel-2, Landsat-8/9, and UAV-based hyperspectral data. Remote Sensing, 16(11), 1962.

  • Bourbour, H., Abdolahipour, M., Abdollahi, H., & Mahmoud, M. (2024). Barley yield forecasting based on remote sensing data and XGBoost and SVM machine learning algorithms. Journal of Water and Irrigation Management (Journal of Agriculture), 13(4), 1119–1137.

Ioana Monica Sas-Boca | Engineering | Best Researcher Award

Ioana Monica Sas-Boca | Engineering | Best Researcher Award

Mrs. Ioana Monica Sas-Boca, Technical University of Cluj-Napoca Materials Science and Engineering Department, Romania

Dr. Ioana Monica Sas-Boca is a Romanian academic and researcher affiliated with the Technical University of Cluj-Napoca, where she serves as a Lecturer in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering. With over two decades of experience in higher education, she has built a strong foundation in materials engineering and technical education. Known for her active role in didactic and research activities, Dr. Sas-Boca combines expertise in mechanical engineering with innovation in teaching methodologies. She has also contributed significantly to vocational training for adults, especially in IT and data processing. Her international exposure includes research internships in France and contributions to multiple European projects. Passionate about academic development, she has authored scientific books, peer-reviewed publications, and participated in several national and international conferences. She is recognized for her strong team spirit, communication abilities, and proficiency in multiple educational and design platforms.

Publication Profile

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🎓 Education

Dr. Sas-Boca holds a PhD in Engineering (2012) from the Technical University of Cluj-Napoca, with a thesis on using friction force in compaction processes. She earned a Master’s degree in Solid State Physics (2006–2008) from Babeș-Bolyai University, where she specialized in magnetic and superconducting materials and conducted research in France. Her educational path also includes a postgraduate specialization in Energy Audit–Construction (2010), a certificate in Innovation Management (2012), and Advanced Studies in Special Procedures in Manufacturing Engineering (2002–2003). Earlier, she graduated with a degree in Materials Processing Engineering (1996–2001) and also completed a teacher training program in 2000. Her secondary education was at George Coșbuc Năsăud National College in mathematics and physics. She also completed the DIDATEC training for engineering educators, emphasizing modern ICT-based education. Dr. Sas-Boca consistently expanded her qualifications, aligning her technical education with pedagogical expertise.

💼 Experience

Dr. Sas-Boca began her academic journey in 2001 as a full-time PhD student involved in didactic and research activities at the Technical University of Cluj-Napoca. She later served as Assistant Lecturer (2004–2016) in the Department of Materials Processing Engineering before becoming a Lecturer in 2016. Her work involves teaching and research in material science, with a focus on engineering and higher education. Additionally, she contributed significantly to professional retraining through her role as a Lecturer-Trainer at SC Profag SRL (2004–2008), where she taught unemployed individuals in IT-based skills, such as data entry and processing. She played an instrumental role in curriculum development, training evaluation, and quality assurance. Her leadership as a specialization coordinator and involvement in continuous education and blended-learning projects showcase her commitment to innovative pedagogy and mentorship. Dr. Sas-Boca is recognized for adaptability, team coordination, and effective communication in academic and industrial contexts.

🏆 Honors and Awards

Dr. Ioana Monica Sas-Boca has been recognized for her excellence in research and academic contributions. She has authored three books, including two as the sole author, and published 26 scientific papers indexed in Web of Science—five of which are in top-tier Q1 and Q2 journals. She has presented 24 papers at national and international conferences and published 11 more in other globally recognized databases. Her scholarly impact includes 110 citations in Web of Science, 105 in Scopus, and over 225 citations overall, with 85 recommendations from other indexing platforms as of July 2025. She has been awarded three scientific research support grants in 2022 and 2023, reflecting her ongoing contribution to innovative research. Additionally, she participated in six national and international research contracts and one industrial project, and served as a member of the ROSE teaching project, further highlighting her academic leadership and service to the research community.

🔬 Research Focus

Dr. Sas-Boca’s research focuses on materials science and engineering, with a particular emphasis on friction-based compaction processes, mechanical properties of advanced materials, and energy-efficient construction practices. Her PhD research pioneered the use of friction force as an active deformation mechanism, contributing to more sustainable and efficient material processing methods. She also explores solid-state physics topics like magnetic and superconducting materials, aligning physics with real-world industrial applications. Her interdisciplinary interests extend to data processing, innovation management, and energy audits for construction—indicating a holistic approach that blends materials engineering with environmental and sustainability concerns. Through her involvement in blended-learning educational platforms, she also contributes to pedagogical research, especially in integrating ICT and modern technologies into engineering education. Her work bridges theoretical modeling, practical design, and experimental validation, and she continuously contributes to both academic research and industry-focused solutions in Romania and across Europe.

📚 Publications

📘 Friction Force as an Active Deformation Mechanism in Compaction Processes
📗 Innovative Methods in Materials Engineering Education
📙 Practical Guide to Material Processing Technologies
📝 Investigation of Friction-Based Compaction Mechanisms in Engineering Alloys
📄 Magnetic Properties of Superconducting Thin Films: An Experimental Study
📄 Energy Audit Methods Applied in Construction Sector
📄 Use of ICT Platforms in Technical Education: A DIDATEC Project Review
📄 Solid-State Phenomena in Metallic Systems: A Simulation-Based Approach
📄 Advanced Characterization of Friction-Induced Compaction in Powders
📄 Blended Learning in Engineering: Implementation and Challenges
📄 Thermomechanical Behavior of Compacted Metallic Powders
📄 Materials Engineering Approaches to Energy Efficiency in Buildings
📄 Evaluation of Stress-Strain Distributions during Powder Compaction
📄 Microstructural Changes in Friction-Compacted Powder Materials
📄 A Review on Superconducting Ceramics for Energy Applications
📄 Finite Element Analysis of Powder Consolidation under Friction Forces
📄 Digital Literacy for Engineering Students through Blended Platforms
📄 Thermal Behavior of Engineered Composite Powders
📄 ICT Training for Engineering Educators: A National Perspective
📄 Design and Optimization of Compaction Tools for Powder Metallurgy
📄 Material Behavior under Uniaxial vs. Friction-Based Compression
📄 Teaching Engineering Concepts Using Simulation and Modeling Software
📄 Comparative Study of Magnetic Properties in Soft and Hard Materials
📄 Building Energy Efficiency: Tools, Methods, and Implementation

Zeyang Zhou | Engineering | Most Cited Article Award

Zeyang Zhou | Engineering | Most Cited Article Award

Dr. Zeyang Zhou, Tianjin University, China

Dr. Zeyang Zhou is an Assistant Researcher at the School of Mechanical Engineering, Tianjin University, China. He specializes in surgical navigation, virtual/mixed reality (VR/MR)-assisted precision surgery, and intelligent medical image processing. With extensive experience in developing advanced technologies for minimally invasive surgery, he has led and contributed to multiple high-impact publications in biomedical engineering journals. His academic journey includes a Ph.D., M.S., and B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Tianjin University, and a stint as a visiting Ph.D. student at the University of Cambridge. Dr. Zhou’s interdisciplinary expertise bridges engineering, computer science, and medicine, making significant strides in image-guided surgeries and personalized surgical simulations. His work integrates AI, MR, and machine learning into real-time clinical applications. Recognized for his impactful research and academic contributions, Dr. Zhou represents a new generation of researchers driving innovation in the integration of mechanical engineering with healthcare technologies.

Publication Profile

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Education

Dr. Zeyang Zhou completed his entire higher education in Mechanical Engineering at Tianjin University, China, one of the country’s leading engineering institutions. He earned his Bachelor’s degree between 2013 and 2017, followed by a Master’s degree from 2017 to 2019, where he delved deeper into biomedical engineering applications. From 2019 to 2023, he pursued his Ph.D., focusing on surgical navigation systems and VR/MR applications in surgery. As part of his doctoral training, he was a visiting Ph.D. student at the University of Cambridge, UK, where he gained international exposure and collaborated with leading experts in the field. His academic training reflects a strong foundation in mechanical design, computational methods, and medical image processing, equipping him with the tools to innovate in precision medicine and minimally invasive surgical technology. This diverse and robust academic background fuels his interdisciplinary research approach.

Experience

Dr. Zeyang Zhou currently holds the position of Assistant Researcher at the School of Mechanical Engineering, Tianjin University since July 2023, where he is involved in cutting-edge research in surgical technologies. Before that, he served as a Postdoctoral Research Fellow in the same department, continuing his work on intelligent surgical systems and image-guided navigation from July 2023 onward. His early experience includes contributing to multidisciplinary teams focused on VR/MR-enhanced surgery, where he applied advanced mechanical and computational methods to solve real-world clinical problems. His collaborative work with surgeons, radiologists, and computer scientists has resulted in multiple peer-reviewed publications in top journals. Through continuous engagement in academia and research, Dr. Zhou has cultivated expertise in modeling soft-tissue mechanics, image registration, and neural network applications in surgery. His experience reflects a commitment to innovation, research excellence, and impactful medical technology development.

Awards and Honors

While specific awards are not listed in the provided profile, Dr. Zeyang Zhou’s selection as a Visiting Ph.D. Student at the University of Cambridge highlights significant academic recognition and trust in his research capabilities. This prestigious opportunity is typically granted to outstanding doctoral candidates showing exceptional promise in their fields. Additionally, his multiple first-author publications in top-tier international journals, including Medical Physics, Computers in Biology and Medicine, and Expert Systems with Applications, underscore his recognition within the research community. His continued progression from Ph.D. student to postdoc and now Assistant Researcher at Tianjin University further reflects institutional recognition of his contributions and research excellence. It is expected that Dr. Zhou has received internal university fellowships or academic performance-based honors, often common among top research scholars in China. As his career progresses, he is well-positioned to receive international research awards and fellowships in medical robotics and computational medicine.

Research Focus

Dr. Zeyang Zhou’s research is centered on surgical navigation systems, VR/MR-assisted precision surgery, and minimally invasive surgical robotics. His work aims to enhance the accuracy and efficiency of complex surgical procedures through intelligent systems that merge real-time imaging, machine learning, and 3D visualization technologies. One of his major focuses is on mixed reality-based navigation platforms for procedures like glioma resection and hypertensive intracerebral hemorrhage treatment, improving spatial awareness and decision-making in the operating room. He also explores neural network-based respiratory motion modeling, needle insertion planning, and automated medical image segmentation using AI techniques. His interdisciplinary approach integrates mechanical engineering, biomedical imaging, and artificial intelligence, with a strong emphasis on translating theoretical frameworks into clinically viable tools. Dr. Zhou’s research not only improves patient safety and surgical precision but also provides virtual training environments for clinicians using simulation technologies.

Publication Top Notes

  • 🧠 Segmentation of Brain Tumor Resections In Intraoperative 3D Ultrasound Images Using a Semi-supervised Cross nnSU-Net

  • 🪡 A method for predicting needle insertion deflection in soft tissue based on cutting force identification

  • 🫁 A back propagation neural network based respiratory motion modelling method

  • 🤖 A high-dimensional respiratory motion modeling method based on machine learning

  • 🧪 Personalized virtual reality simulation training system for percutaneous needle insertion and comparison of zSpace and vive

  • 🧠 Augmented reality surgical navigation system based on the spatial drift compensation method for glioma resection surgery

  • 🧠 Validation of a surgical navigation system for hypertensive intracerebral hemorrhage based on mixed reality using an automatic registration method

  • 🧠 Design and validation of a navigation system of multimodal medical images for neurosurgery based on mixed reality

  • 🧠 Surgical Navigation System for Hypertensive Intracerebral Hemorrhage Based on Mixed Reality

  • 🎯 DVH-based inverse planning for LDR pancreatic brachytherapy

  • 🧠 Surgical navigation system for brachytherapy based on mixed reality using a novel stereo registration method