Junfeng Zhao | Learning & Development | Research Excellence Award

Prof. Junfeng Zhao | Learning & Development | Research Excellence Award

Professor | The University of Henan University | China

Prof. Junfeng Zhao is an influential researcher in psychology whose scholarship integrates educational, developmental, health, and social psychology to address learning, adaptation, and mental health among children and adolescents. Across 98 publications, with 1,349 citations and an h-index of 26, his body of work combines rigorous empirical methods, longitudinal designs, and interdisciplinary approaches to investigate resilience, peer attachment, self-esteem, and school adaptation. He emphasizes applied outcomes measurement development, intervention design, and translation to educational practice while advancing theoretical understanding of developmental processes. A major strand of his research focuses on children affected by social disadvantages such as left-behind children, and those with sensory impairments examining risk and protective factors that shape psychological outcomes. Through multi-year tracking studies and psychometric scale evaluation, he has produced validated instruments and intervention-informed findings that clarify how family dynamics, peer relationships, and school contexts contribute to mental health trajectories. This work informs community based strategies and educational policies aimed at improving psychosocial supports for vulnerable groups. In educational psychology, his studies illuminate learning motivation, cognitive styles, learning strategies, and classroom processes, offering practical implications for curriculum design and teacher training. His research addresses early identification models for learning difficulties, the neural correlates of cognitive control and the psychological underpinnings of teacher professional identity and its influence on student well being. The portfolio demonstrates a productive mix of quantitative, qualitative, and neurophysiological methods. Methodologically, Zhao emphasizes mixed methods, longitudinal analyses, culturally sensitive measurement, and robust psychometrics strengthening the reliability and applicability of findings across contexts. His publications consistently bridge theory and practice, targeting educators, clinicians, and policymakers. The cumulative impact of his research lies in deepening understanding of how developmental mechanisms interact with social environments and in providing evidence-based frameworks for interventions that promote resilience and healthy development in children and adolescents. Overall, his work offers actionable frameworks for policy and practice.

Featured Publications

Huang, G., Qian, C., Newman-Norlund, R. D., Zhao, J., & Li, X.  Perceived stigma mediates the relationship between regional gray matter volume and aggressive behavior in children affected by parental.

Ji, L., Yu, Y., Wan, J., Zhang, Y., Zhao, J., & Chen, C. Relationship between cumulative peer risk and sense of security among adolescents: A moderated mediation model. BMC Psychology.

Wan, J., Ji, L., Wang, Z., Zhao, J., & Li, X.  Social exclusion and mental health of youths affected by parental HIV/AIDS in China: Based on a serial mediating model.

Chen, C., Wu, Q., Zhao, J., Zhao, G., Li, X., Du, H., & Chi, P. Enacted stigma influences bereavement coping among children orphaned by parental. A longitudinal study with network analysis.

Wu, J., Li, Q., Chi, P., Zhao, J., & Zhao, J. Mindfulness and well-being among socioeconomically disadvantaged college students: Roles of resilience and perceived discrimination.

Chao-Feng Shih | Leadership Development | Best Researcher Award

Assist. Prof. Dr. Chao-Feng Shih | Leadership Development | Best Researcher Award

Assist. Prof | The University of  Central Police University | Taiwan

Dr. Chao-Feng Shih is a scholar and engineer specializing in marine engineering, maritime safety, smart port technologies, and computational mechanics. His academic background and research trajectory focus on advancing hydrodynamics, nonlinear sloshing analysis, marine risk assessment, and intelligent port-based monitoring systems. He has developed strong expertise in integrating engineering theory with modern computational tools to address complex maritime challenges and enhance operational safety in port and offshore environments. His doctoral research applied a modified Lie-Group algorithm to nonlinear sloshing problems, contributing new numerical strategies for analyzing fluid structure interactions in confined and dynamic marine systems. Dr. Shih’s broader research in nonlinear hydrodynamics includes studies on sloshing suppression using baffle designs, meshless methods for heat transfer simulation, and explicit/implicit Lie-Group numerical schemes. His work has been published in reputable indexed journals, addressing topics such as underwater vehicle acoustics, two-dimensional tank sloshing behavior, and Trefftz-based multi-scale methods. Beyond theoretical contributions, Dr. Shih’s research intersects with applied maritime safety and smart harbor development. He has played key roles in projects involving 5G-enabled port monitoring, based inspection systems, and driven maritime applications. His recent works explore remote sensing for port operations, edge-computing frameworks for drone communications, and AI-enhanced solutions for underwater environmental monitoring. These efforts highlight his commitment to integrating emerging technologies with marine engineering to support safer, more efficient, and data-driven maritime operations. His academic publications also include studies on fire prevention in cargo vessels, unmanned underwater vehicle applications, and marine safety risk assessment. Future research directions involve developing AI assisted maritime training systems, simulation-based digital twin platforms, autonomous navigation technologies, and advanced predictive models for port-level risk management. Through this multidisciplinary research portfolio, Dr. Shih continues to contribute to innovation across marine engineering, intelligent maritime systems, and computational analysis.

Featured Publications

Tan, C.-C., Shih, C.-F., Shen, J.-H., & Chen, Y.-W.  A time–space numerical procedure for solving the sideways heat conduction problem.

Chen, Y.-W., Pan, C.-C., Lin, Y.-H., Shih, C.-F., Shen, J.-H., & Chang, C.-M. Acoustic field radiation prediction and verification of underwater vehicles under a free surface. Journal of Marine Science and Engineering

Beáta Šofranková | HR Technology and Digital Transformation | Best Researcher Award

Mrs. Beáta Šofranková | HR Technology and Digital Transformation | Best Researcher Award

Associate Professor | The University of Presov| Slovakia

Mrs. Beáta Šofranková, is a researcher in the field of management whose scholarly work centers on digital transformation, competitiveness, economic performance, and sustainable development across European countries. Her research integrates economic-mathematical reasoning with modern managerial perspectives, providing a multidimensional understanding of how digitalization and innovation impact institutional performance and long-term economic resilience. Her scientific portfolio consists of 16 published research documents, collectively cited 235 times, resulting in an h-index of 8. These metrics reflect a steady scholarly influence and demonstrate the relevance of her work within the fields of management, economics, and regional development. Her publications frequently address the evolving conditions of European economies, exploring strategic determinants of competitiveness, the role of digital technologies in economic growth, and the implications of sustainable development frameworks on national and regional performance indicators. She has contributed significantly to research initiatives through her involvement in major national grant projects, where she has designed, coordinated, or supported scientific tasks focused on digital readiness, innovation performance, and socio-economic transformation. Her participation in  projects reflects sustained engagement in evidence-based research aligned with national priorities and international academic standards. These projects have produced theoretical and empirical outputs that inform management practices, public policy, and academic debate. Her work also incorporates a strong comparative perspective, drawing on interdisciplinary frameworks that connect economic modelling, management theory, and sustainability science. She frequently collaborates within research teams exploring emerging digital trends, performance analytics, and the competitiveness challenges faced by European economies in the context of global transformations. Through her publication record, research leadership, and active contribution to national scientific projects, her scholarly profile demonstrates a consistent commitment to advancing knowledge about digital transformation and sustainable economic development. Her research output continues to support academic, institutional, and policy-oriented discussions within the broader European research community.

Featured Publication

Kiselakova, D., Sofrankova, B., Gombar, M., & Matijova, M. Modelling the impact of innovation performance on digital competitiveness: The key role of innovation and technologies. Asian Economic and Financial Review,

Salah-Eddine Chorfi | Rewards & Recognition | Young Researcher Award

Assist. Prof. Dr. Salah-Eddine Chorfi | Rewards & Recognition | Young Researcher Award

Assistant Professor | The University of Cadi Ayyad University | Morocco

Dr. Salah-Eddine Chorfi is an applied mathematician whose research lies at the intersection of inverse problems, control theory, and the analysis of partial differential equations. His work focuses on developing rigorous mathematical frameworks to address fundamental questions related to identification, stability, and controllability in complex dynamical systems. A key aspect of his research involves studying equipped with dynamic boundary conditions, which arise in models describing diffusion, heat transfer, and wave propagation in heterogeneous media. Chorfi’s contributions span multiple interrelated themes. He investigates inverse source problems, coefficient determination, and initial data reconstruction using advanced tools such as Carleman estimates, semigroup theory, and logarithmic convexity methods. These approaches enable the establishment of uniqueness and quantitative stability results for parabolic, hyperbolic, and time-fractional evolution equations. His work also explores the control and stabilization of PDEs, including null controllability, impulsive control, and finite-time stabilization, offering new insights into systems governed by coupled or degenerate equations. Another significant direction in his research is the analysis of time-fractional diffusion models and mean field game systems, where he examines backward problems, non-symmetric operators, and degenerate dynamics. His investigations contribute to bridging theoretical PDE analysis with computational and applied challenges, particularly in contexts where data are incomplete or the underlying systems are ill-posed. Chorfi has authored 23 scientific documents, which collectively have received 67 citations, resulting in an h-index of 7. His work is published in highly regarded journals including Evolution Equations and Control Theory, Journal of Mathematical Analysis and Applications, Mathematical Methods in the Applied Sciences, Applicable Analysis, Inverse Problems, and others. Through his collaborations with researchers in analysis, control theory, and mathematical modeling, he contributes to advancing modern approaches to inverse problems and dynamical systems. His research continues to influence emerging methodologies for understanding complex driven phenomena in both theoretical and applied settings.

Featured Publications

Chorfi, S. E., Habbal, A., Jahid, M., Maniar, L., & Ratnani, A. Stability of backward inverse problems for degenerate mean field game systems.

Chorfi, S.-E., Ismailov, M. I., Maniar, L., & Oner, I. Boundary null controllability of the heat equation with Wentzell boundary condition and Dirichlet control.