Theodoros Syriopoulos | Engineering | Best Researcher Award

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Prof. Theodoros Syriopoulos | Engineering | Best Researcher Award

National and Kapodistrian University of Athens | Greece

Prof. Theodoros Syriopoulos is a distinguished academic and expert in Shipping Finance, serving at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, renowned as one of Greece’s most prestigious institutions. His academic leadership and scholarly excellence have positioned him as a prominent figure in the fields of maritime economics and finance. With extensive teaching and research experience, he has also contributed as a visiting professor at leading universities across Europe and Asia, reflecting his global academic engagement. Before entering academia, he held senior executive roles in banking, investment, asset management, and corporate finance, bringing valuable industry insights into his research and teaching. Prof. Theodoros Syriopoulos has an impressive publication record in internationally accredited journals, addressing a wide range of topics in shipping and finance, including corporate financial management, global capital markets, portfolio management, mergers and acquisitions, financial derivatives, and risk management. His recent research emphasizes corporate governance, ESG frameworks, and green finance, highlighting his commitment to sustainable financial practices. With 1,372 citations by 1,183 documents, 48 published works, and an h-index of 22, his academic impact reflects the global recognition of his scholarly contributions. As an active Council Member of the International Association of Maritime Economists (IAME) and a member of several international academic and professional associations, he continues to shape the discourse on maritime finance and economics globally. His academic background, combining applied economics and development studies, underpins his interdisciplinary approach to research and education, fostering innovation and analytical rigor in the study of global shipping and financial systems.

Profiles: Scopus | Orcid | Google Scholar

Featured Publications

Syriopoulos, T. (2007). Dynamic linkages between emerging European and developed stock markets: Has the EMU any impact? International Review of Financial Analysis, 16(1), 41–60.

Grammenos, C. (2013). The handbook of maritime economics and business. Taylor & Francis.

Syriopoulos, T., Makram, B., & Boubaker, A. (2015). Stock market volatility spillovers and portfolio hedging: BRICS and the financial crisis. International Review of Financial Analysis, 39, 7–18.

Syriopoulos, T. C., & Sinclair, M. T. (1993). An econometric study of tourism demand: The AIDS model of US and European tourism in Mediterranean countries. Applied Economics, 25(12), 1541–1552.

Syriopoulos, T. (2004). International portfolio diversification to Central European stock markets. Applied Financial Economics, 14(17), 1253–1268.

Giuseppe La Ferla | Engineering | Best Researcher Award

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Prof. Dr. Giuseppe La Ferla | Engineering | Best Researcher Award

Professor | Polytechnic University of Madrid | Spain

Prof. Dr. Giuseppe La Ferla is an accomplished architect, researcher, and educator whose career bridges practice and academia. With expertise in construction and architectural technology, he has contributed to sustainable building design and energy-efficient façade systems. Over the years, he has collaborated on international projects across Europe, the Middle East, and South America, combining technical innovation with environmental responsibility. His research emphasizes adaptive façades, radiant glass technologies, and smart energy regions, reflecting a strong commitment to sustainability. Currently, he serves as Professor at the Polytechnic University of Madrid, where he mentors future architects and leads research in advanced construction methods.

Professional Profile

Orcid

Education

Prof. Dr. Giuseppe La Ferla pursued advanced studies in architecture and technology, earning his Master’s degree in Architecture from the Polytechnic University of Turin and later obtaining professional registration at Mediterranean University di Reggio Calabria. Driven by a passion for sustainable design, he completed a PhD at the Polytechnic University of Madrid, presenting a thesis on the thermal behavior of radiant glass in glazed envelopes. His education reflects a blend of design creativity and technical rigor, supported by international training programs and scholarships, including Erasmus studies in Valencia. This academic foundation paved the way for his later teaching, research, and professional practice.

Experience

Prof. Dr. Giuseppe La Ferla has accumulated extensive professional and academic experience. For over two decades, he worked as Lead Architect at Chapman Taylor Spain, managing large-scale international projects that ranged from urban masterplans to bioclimatic building studies. His architectural portfolio spans Europe, the Middle East, and Latin America, where he developed sustainable strategies for complex urban and commercial developments. Parallel to practice, he embraced academia, teaching at the Polytechnic University of Madrid and other European institutions. His combined expertise as a practitioner and professor allows him to integrate real-world architectural challenges into academic research and teaching on construction technologies.

Research Interests

His research interests focus on energy efficiency and technological innovation in building envelopes. He has specialized in adaptive façades, radiant glass systems, and sustainable design strategies, seeking to merge thermal performance with architectural quality. His doctoral work explored radiant glass as a tool for improving comfort and reducing energy consumption. He also contributed to European research programs under COST, including Smart Energy Regions and Adaptive Façades Network, engaging in collaborative studies that connect policy, technology, and user experience. Prof. Dr. Giuseppe La Ferla continues to investigate advanced façade systems, combining computational modeling, experimental monitoring, and sustainable construction methodologies.

Awards

Throughout his career, Prof. Dr. Giuseppe La Ferla has received recognition for his contributions in architecture and sustainability. He was honored with design awards in international competitions such as the Regeneration of Nieporęt Marina and Riviera dei Ciclopi, reflecting his creative architectural vision. His collaboration on participative forest management won the prestigious UN-Habitat Dubai International Best Practice distinction. He has also earned academic honors, including an Outstanding Contribution in Reviewing for the journal Sustainable Cities and Society. These awards highlight his dual achievements in professional design excellence and research impact, confirming his reputation as an innovative and socially engaged architect.

Top Noted Publications

Title: Design of a Shipping Container-Based Home: Structural, Thermal, and Acoustic Conditioning
Year: 2025

Title: Radiant glass façade technology: thermal and comfort performance based on experimental monitoring of outdoor test cells
Year: 2020
Cited by: 17

Title: A geometric play facing the Mediterranean. The Teulada-Moraira auditorium
Year: 2012

Title: Network Movement. The Magic Box in Madrid
Year: 2011

Title: Residential complex in the Sanchinarro Urban Development Plan in Madrid
Year: 2011

Conclusion

Prof. Dr. Giuseppe La Ferla career demonstrates a rare blend of academic rigor, international collaboration, impactful teaching, and real-world architectural practice. His contributions to sustainable building technologies, radiant glass research, and adaptive façades position him as a strong candidate for the Best Researcher Award, with clear potential to further consolidate his influence as a leading researcher in construction and architectural technology.

Esdras Ngezahayo | Engineering | Best Researcher Award

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Assoc. Prof. Dr. Esdras Ngezahayo | Engineering | Best Researcher Award

Assistant Professor in Geotechnical Engineering | University of Birmingham | United Kingdom

Dr. Esdras Ngezahayo is an accomplished Assistant Professor in Geotechnical Engineering and the Deputy Head of the Birmingham Geotechnics Group at the University of Birmingham. With nearly fifteen years of experience in higher education, his academic and research trajectory reflects a commitment to advancing transportation geotechnics, soil stabilization, infrastructure resilience, and sustainability. He holds a PhD in Civil Engineering with a specialization in soil erodibility and has led or contributed to major international research projects on sustainable road pavements and railway infrastructure. Dr. Ngezahayo has mentored over forty MSc students and currently supervises six PhD researchers, demonstrating strong dedication to academic mentorship and leadership. His scholarly impact includes over twenty-five peer-reviewed publications, funded projects exceeding £165,000, and editorial roles in leading journals. A Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and active member of international geotechnical societies, he remains committed to innovative teaching, global research collaboration, and engineering for climate resilience and social equity.

Professional Profile

Scopus

Google Scholar

Education

Dr. Esdras Ngezahayo’s educational foundation is rooted in civil engineering, culminating in a PhD in Civil Engineering (Geotechnical Engineering) from the University of Birmingham, where he investigated the Erodibility of Soils in Rural Roads. His postgraduate journey began with a Master’s degree in Geotechnical Engineering and Management, also from Birmingham, where he focused on Expansive Soils and Underground Pipes. Prior to this, he earned a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering and Environmental Technology, during which he developed a feasibility study for pedestrian bridge construction in urban areas. Most recently, he completed a Postgraduate Certificate in Higher Education (PGCHE) to enhance his teaching pedagogy and leadership in academia. This academic evolution, complemented by multiple international scholarships and fellowships, forms the basis for his interdisciplinary expertise in sustainable infrastructure development, engineering education, and applied soil mechanics, allowing him to integrate global perspectives into his research and classroom instruction.

Experience

Dr. Ngezahayo brings a wealth of academic and research experience from his current role as Assistant Professor at the University of Birmingham, where he leads modules, supervises multi-level research, and contributes to strategic direction as Deputy Head of the Birmingham Geotechnics Group. His past roles include Research Fellow and Teaching Fellow within the same institution, where he contributed to significant industry-funded projects such as CRISPS and authored several technical reports. Before relocating to the UK, he held leadership positions in Rwanda, including Head of Civil Engineering at Rwanda Polytechnic and Visiting Lecturer roles in universities across Rwanda and Kenya. He has managed technical laboratories, mentored over forty MSc students, and led geotechnical investigations tied to climate resilience. With deep knowledge in road materials, slope stability, and rural infrastructure, Dr. Ngezahayo blends field expertise with academic rigor, making him an influential figure in both teaching and engineering practice across the Global North and South.

Research Interests

Dr. Esdras Ngezahayo’s research interests lie at the intersection of geotechnical engineering and climate resilience. His work addresses the behaviour of problematic soils, particularly in the context of rural and urban infrastructure subjected to climate change. Key topics include erosion and soil stability, shrink-swell phenomena in clay soils, slope stability, buried utilities, and transportation geotechnics. He is actively engaged in investigating sustainable materials for road construction, including rice husk ash and modified epoxy asphalt, and has contributed to assessing geotextile effectiveness in railway subgrades. His interdisciplinary work also explores equity in transportation systems for vulnerable populations. With a growing research portfolio, Dr. Ngezahayo aims to contribute toward net-zero goals by focusing on sustainable geotechnical solutions for developing countries, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa. He is a prominent contributor to global discussions on infrastructure adaptation and has presented his work at leading international conferences and in collaborative research initiatives.

Awards

Dr. Ngezahayo’s academic journey is decorated with numerous awards and recognitions. He secured full PhD studentship funding twice  to investigate geotechnical challenges like gully erosion and electrokinetic stabilization of clay soils, funded by EPSRC and the University of Birmingham. His laboratory received  infrastructure grant to modernize testing facilities. He received the ICE West Midlands Commendation and CIHT-PIARC Awards for best research in sustainable mobility and adapting road infrastructure to climate change. The Horizon Award for teaching and learning excellence was bestowed by the University of Birmingham, reflecting his pedagogical leadership. He also earned a C-DICE micro-credential badge for innovation in net-zero-aligned research. Earlier recognitions include the Commonwealth Scholarship for PhD studies and a national scholarship for his MSc. These accolades underscore his contributions across academia, research innovation, and professional development in engineering for global sustainability and education excellence.

Top Noted Publications

Title: Evaluating the Use of Rice Husk Ash for Soil Stabilisation
Year: 2025
Cited by: 1

Title: Effectiveness of FTIR as an Antifraud Approach for Modified Epoxy Asphalt
Year: 2023
Cited by: 3

Title: Calibration of Rainfall Simulator for Soil Erodibility in Unpaved Roads
Year: 2021
Cited by: 4

Title: Modelling Erosion in Unpaved Roads
Year: 2021
Cited by: 2

Title: Advances in Understanding Soil Erodibility
Year: 2019
Cited by: 6

Conclusion

Dr. Esdras Ngezahayo is a highly deserving candidate for the Best Researcher Award. His significant contributions to sustainable and climate-resilient geotechnical solutions, strong academic leadership, and impactful collaborations demonstrate both depth and breadth in his research portfolio. With further expansion in international research leadership and scholarly impact, he is poised to become an even more influential figure in the global civil engineering research community.

Mrs. Livia Marques Faustino | Environmental and Sustainable Materials | Best Researcher Award-1168

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Mrs. Livia Marques Faustino | Environmental and Sustainable Materials | Best Researcher Award

Tailings Management Program Manager, Clariant, Brazil

Mrs. Livia Marques Faustino, an exceptional professional in Environmental and Sustainable Materials, has been honored with the Best Researcher Award 🏆. As the Tailings Management Program Manager at Clariant in Brazil 🇧🇷, Mrs. Faustino has demonstrated outstanding expertise and dedication. Her innovative approaches in sustainable materials and effective tailings management have significantly contributed to environmental preservation 🌍. Mrs. Faustino’s commitment to sustainability and excellence sets a remarkable example in the industry. Congratulations on this well-deserved recognition! 🌟👏

Profile

Orcid

Academic and Professional Background

Mrs. Livia Marques Faustino, a mining engineer and Master of Science, has been instrumental in developing innovative processes to restore river quality following the Fundão Tailings Dam disaster 🌊. With a PhD in mineral processing from the University of São Paulo and the University of Cape Town, her research focused on the surface chemistry of iron oxide 🔬. A former researcher and process development specialist at Vale Institute of Technology, she collaborated on innovation projects with universities and research centers 🎓. Currently, she is dedicated to Clariant’s Tailings Management Program, creating customized chemical solutions to enhance the value and safety of tailings storage facilities ⚗️.

Research and Innovations

Mrs. Livia Marques Faustino has a robust research portfolio, with 10 completed projects and 7 ongoing ones. Her main projects include the characterization and application of non-plastic clays from Poços de Caldas, MG, Brazil, as highlighted in Scopus with 11 and 1 citations respectively. She also explores the use of nepheline in porcelain tiles, and the removal of iron ore slimes from highly turbid water using DAF (Scopus 5). Notably, her work on iron ore flotation has gained significant recognition with 30 citations on Scopus. Other projects involve the calibration of industrial flotation models, improving filtration of gold tailings, and enhancing the transport of thickened tailings. Her innovative contributions in these areas are marked by a commitment to advancing mining and material sciences. 🏺🔬

Areas of Research

Since 2009, Mrs. Livia Marques Faustino has dedicated her career to tailings management and valorization. Her initial contribution, post-undergraduate research, was for a local ceramic company, integrating tailings into refractory ceramic formulations. Her significant work includes developing a polymer for filtering ultrafine particle tailings in the iron ore industry 🏗️ and creating a flotation process with specific reagents to recover valuable minerals from tailings 🧪. These advancements have made substantial impacts on improving sustainability and efficiency in the industry, showcasing her innovative approach to environmental challenges 🌱.

Professional Memberships

Mrs. Livia Marques Faustino is a dedicated professional actively engaged in various esteemed organizations relevant to her field. She is a proud member of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) 👷‍♀️, which allows her to stay updated with the latest advancements in civil engineering. Additionally, she is part of the Project Management Institute (PMI) 📊, where she hones her project management skills. Her commitment to sustainable development is reflected in her membership with the International Green Construction Code (IgCC) 🌱. Furthermore, she actively participates in the Women in Engineering ProActive Network (WEPAN) 👩‍🔧, advocating for gender diversity in engineering.

Publications Top Notes

Removal of iron ore slimes from a highly turbid water by DAF