Ioannis Spanopoulos, Ph.D.

Ioannis Spanopoulos is an Assistant Professor at the Departments of Chemistry and Chemical, Biological and Materials Engineering at the University of South Florida, FL and he is the director of the SMMARTT center at USF. Research at the Spanopoulos Group focuses on utilizing molecular and crystal engineering for the design and synthesis of next generation, environmentally stable and friendly hybrid semiconductors. These materials feature multiple functionalities, targeting applications such as photovoltaics, spintronics, sensing, gas-separation, solid-state batteries, environmental remediation and photo-catalysis. The Group recently reported the new family of water stable and porous metal halide semiconductors. He has received the 2020 IIN Outstanding Researcher award from the International Institute for Nanotechnology and the 2022 ACS PRF Doctoral New Investigator Research award.

Title of Speech: Generating Porosity to Metal Halide Semiconductors

Omer Burak Istanbullu, Ph.D.

Omer Burak Istanbullu is an Assistant Professor and department vice chair of Biomedical Engineering Department at Eskisehir Osmangazi University. After studying in the field of biomedical engineering and specializing on tumor segmentation from magnetic resonance images at Erciyes University, he then pursued a Master's program at Istanbul Technical University and Erciyes University with the scope of biomaterial-medical imaging device compatibility. Following the Master's degree, he received a Ph.D. from Erciyes University, in the field of biocompatibility improvement of implantable intravascular biomaterials using biomimetic surface modification approaches. Dr. Istanbullu is experienced in the development and improvement of biocompatible materials using biomimetic approaches, combining the computational methods and experimental analysis to achieve the most effective solutions for the challenges related to biomaterials. His research interests include surface modification by biomimetic approaches, diamond-like carbon and carbon nanotubes, electrochemical, thermal and mechanical characterization of biomaterials, anticorrosive and biocompatible surface development. The overall goal of Dr. Istanbullu through his work is contributing to the development of new and innovative biomaterials that have the potential to reduce the biomaterial-based risks in the field of biomedical engineering.

Title of Speech: Enhanced Radiographic Performance of 3D-Printable Polymeric Vascular Stents

Sajjad Seifi Mofarah, Ph.D.

Dr. Sajjad Seifi Mofarah is a materials scientist, who specializes in energy and environmental remediation. He earned his Ph.D. in Materials Science and Engineering from UNSW Sydney in 2020, where he conducted research on applied electrochemistry in fabrication of metal-based coordination polymers, oxides, and 2D heterojunction materials with engineered defect structures for catalysis and energy storage applications. Upon completing his Ph.D., he continued his work at UNSW as a Research Associate, expanding his research for fabrication and advanced characterization of functional materials for energy storage, thermo-catalysis, and electro-catalysis applications. In April 2020, Dr. Mofarah started working as a Research Associate at Sustainable Materials Research and Technology (SMaRT) Centre, UNSW Sydney, on cyclic reprocessing of battery materials. In 2022, he was appointed as the Chief Scientist at Vecor Technologies and a Senior Research Associate at UNSW. Dr. Mofarah's current research focus involves the development of materials for lithium and sodium rechargeable batteries. He maintains an impressive publication record in highly regarded journals, e.g., Chemical Society Reviews, Nature Communications, and Advanced Materials. His extensive research experience and expertise in the field of materials science provide a strong foundation for him to make significant contributions to the field in the years to come.

Title of Speech: High-Yield and Room Temperature Synthesis of Holey 2D Oxide Nanosheets

Niaz Ahmed, Ph.D

Dr. Niaz Ahmed has received his Ph.D. degree from Missouri University of Science and Technology, Rolla, USA, in 2017 where he worked in the field of underwater wireless communication and developed low power wireless sensor nodes. Dr. Niaz is one of the pioneers in the field of Magneto Inductive communication. He has published articles in reputed and prestigious journals and international conferences and is also author of a boot titled as "Underwater Communication and Networks". He is currently working as an Associate Professor in FAST university. His research interests include embedded systems, wireless communication, underwater wireless sensor network, and magneto-inductive communication systems.

Title of Speech: Oceanography and Informatics

Nadia Adrus, Ph.D.

Dr Nadia Adrus is an Associate Professor at Faculty of Chemical and Energy Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM). She holds a PhD Degree in Polymer from the University of Duisburg-Essen, Germany. She has more than 10 years of teaching experience and a recipient of Excellent Teaching Award Active Blended Learning in UTM. Her research focuses on natural fibre,UV photopolymerization and functional hydrogels for various applications. Currently, she has authored or co-authored more than 24 indexed publications, 40 nonindexed publications, 4 book chapters, 2 patents, 2 copyrighst and 3 trade secrets. Dr Nadia Adrus is recognized as Reviewer for several Journals such as Journal of Applied Polymer Science, RSC Advances, Journal of Membrane Science and Progress in Organic Coatings. In 2021, she was certified as Chartered Engineer by the Engineering Council of the United Kingdom (ECUK) due to her significant contribution in academic and industry. She dedicated her expertise in photopolymerization of hydrogel for the alternative UV of curing project for Alcon Ciba Vision (Johor). She has also been appointed as a principal consultant for Hyperseal, the oil and gas company in Malaysia, for water shut off applications using hydrogel. Furthermore, Dr. Nadia Adrus has also received recognition and awards from several exhibitions and competitions, including the recent two gold medals in IIDEX 2022.

Jamarosliza binti Jamaluddin, Ph.D.

Dr. Jamarosliza binti Jamaluddin is a senior lecturer in the Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Chemical & Energy Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM). She is one of the Research Associate in UTM Biopolymer Research Group, where this research group focusses on the natural fibre, natural rubber, coating and adhesive, hydrogel, and nanocellulose. Dr Jamarosliza received her bachelor (Chemical-Polymer Engineering) from Universiti Teknologi Malaysia in 2001 and M.SC. in Polymer Chemistry from Universiti Putra Malaysia in 2006. After completing her master's degree, she pursued her PhD studies at Dongguk University, South Korea in 2009. Due to her passion in material science, particularly in the polymer area, her main research area is focused on the polymer adhesive and coating, UV LED technology and photopolymerization, bioplastic and modification of natural fibre. Currently, she has authored or co-authored more than 30 indexed publications, 5 non-indexed publications, 3 book chapters, a patent and a trade secret. In her research field, Dr. Jamarosliza is actively contribute to the projects of several research grant schemes including fundamental, exploratory, and prototype research grant schemes, as well as research university grants. Furthermore, she is truly active in collaborating with industrial companies and government agencies as a project leader and project member.

Martyn McLachlan, Ph.D.

Martyn McLachlan is the current Director of the EPSRC-SFI funded Centre for Doctoral Training in the Advanced Characterisation of Materials and is the Deputy Senior Tutor for the Faculty of Engineering. His research focusses on deriving an understanding of the relationships between composition, structure, and processing in solution processable electronic materials. Of particular interest are the roles of defects, electronic and structural, on measured device and thin film characteristics. He has more recently developed activities based on interfacial and near interfacial characterisation in perovskite solar cells, deriving a fundamental understanding of structure-processing-property relationships in these materials with an objective of targeting inherent instabilities and lifetime issues. He has published over 130 peer-reviewed papers (h = 32) in the area of materials chemistry and has 2 patent filings.

Title of Speech: Understanding Structure, Composition and Performance Relationships in Perovskite Solar Cells

Anthony B. Dichiara, Ph.D.

Dr. Anthony B. Dichiara is a Weyerhaeuser-Endowed Assistant Professor of Bioresource Science & Engineering at the University of Washington, Seattle WA. His research encompasses every aspect related to the sustainable design and engineering of advanced materials, from the synthesis and characterization of innovative bio-sourced nanoparticles to their assembly, both in the laboratory and large-scale facilities, into multifunctional composites with exceptional performance in catalytic, environmental, and electronic applications. His research production includes over 50 peer-reviewed publications in higher impact journals, 5 journal covers, 1 book chapter, and 5 patents and disclosures with 2 being licensed for commercialization purposes.

Title of Speech: Cellulose-Based Flexible Materials for Emerging Multifunctional Liquid Sensing

Zoltan K Nagy, Ph.D.

Zoltan K Nagy is a Professor of Chemical Engineering at Purdue University and holds a research professor position at Loughborough University, UK. Dr Nagy has 20 years of experience in advanced process control, process analytical technologies, crystallization modeling and control approaches and advanced control of particulate systems. He has published over 250 peer reviewed journal, 300 conference papers, 5 patents, co-founded 2 companies, and has received awards and best paper prizes for his work in the areas of crystallization and control from IEEE, IFAC, European Federation of Chemical Engineering, Institute of Chemical Engineering, Council of Chemical Research, Royal Academy of Engineering and the European Research Council.

Title of Speech: Smart Manufacturing of Pharmaceuticals

Baabak Ashuri, Ph.D.

Dr. Ashuri's research and teaching occupy a distinctive position in the Georgia Tech landscape, bridging the fields of building construction, civil and environmental engineering, economics, and operations research. His work has focused on Data Analytics and Economic Decision Analysis for the Built Environment with important contributions in the areas of construction analytics, investment evaluation methods, risk analysis, innovative project delivery, and valuation of green-energy investments. Dr. Ashuri has 184 publications in these fields, including 55 refereed journal articles, 82 peer-reviewed conference papers, 44 research reports and guidebooks, 1 co-edited book, and 2 referred book chapters. Dr. Ashuri has given keynotes and invited lectures in England, China, Chile, Croatia, Bolivia, and Scotland, as well as numerous places in the U.S.

Title of Speech: Investment Decision Analysis of Renewable Energy Sources for Existing Buildings

Prasanta Kalita, Ph.D.

Dr. Prasanta K. Kalita is a Professor and Distinguished Teacher Scholar at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC), and serves as the leader of Soil & Water Resources Engineering program of the Agricultural & Biological Engineering Department. He is a Presidential Fellow of the University of Illinois System and provides leadership to the UIUC team on "Environment and Water" theme through the Discovery Partners Institute (DPI). He is the Director of the Appropriate Scale Mechanization Consortium (a multi-institutional research program funded by the USAID). He served as the Associate Dean of Academic Program and the Honors Dean, as well as the Director of the ADM Institute for the Prevention of Postharvest Loss. A Fellow of the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers (ASABE) and Indian Society for Agricultural Engineering (ISAE), Dr. Kalita's areas of research include water resources engineering and management and environmental sustainability, climate change and mitigation, food security, and water quality and non-point pollution control. He is widely recognized for his excellence in teaching, research, and international engagement. He has worked extensively in educational development and capacity building, water resources, food production, and food security issues around the world. He has published more than 150 articles in journals and conferences and served as editor-in-chief and associate editor for three international journals. His career is marked impressively by over 40 honors and awards recognizing educational excellence, research excellence, and outstanding service and leadership.

Title of Speech: Water Resources and Environmental Sustainability - A Global Perspective