Yijng Zhang | HR Technology and Digital Transformation | Excellence in Research Award

Dr. Yijng Zhang | HR Technology and Digital Transformation | Excellence in Research Award

Postdoctoral Researcher | The University of Capital Normal University | China

Dr. Yijng Zhang  the gendered characteristics of writing media in women’s calligraphic practices during the Song Dynasty from the perspective of material culture. It explores how writing tools and material carriers were embedded with gender coding and social norms, shaping stylistic form, emotional expression, spatial organization, and identity construction in female calligraphy. The study analyzes differences in media selection and innovation among women of varying social classes, revealing how material choices functioned as both cultural resources and symbolic constraints. It further investigates gendered power dynamics in the circulation and evaluation of calligraphic works, including the intervention of male critics and the resistance strategies adopted by female calligraphers. By examining the reproduction and consumption of writing media, the research exposes mechanisms of gender discipline and the structural limits of media transformation. Overall, the study demonstrates how material media enabled women to accumulate cultural capital while simultaneously reinforcing gender boundaries, contributing a nuanced framework for understanding gender, materiality, and artistic identity in Chinese art history.

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Stephen Clear | Learning & Development | Research Excellence Award

Mr. Stephen Clear | Learning & Development | Research Excellence Award

Director of Postgraduate Taught Programmes (Law) and Lecturer in Constitutional and Administrative Law | The University of  Bangor University | United Kingdom

Mr. Stephen Clear is a public law scholar whose work spans constitutional law, administrative justice, human rights, devolution, and public procurement. His research explores how legal frameworks shape democratic accountability, judicial oversight, and the evolving relationship between citizens and the state. A strong focus of his scholarship has been on the constitutional implications of major political developments such as Brexit, devolution reforms, and the modernisation of public administration across the UK. His published work includes analyses of judicial review trends, empirical evaluations of public procurement disputes, and assessments of the resilience of the UK’s constitutional arrangements. Clear has contributed significantly to understanding how small and medium-sized enterprises engage with public procurement systems, proposing policy reforms to enhance transparency, accessibility, and decision-making. His research has also addressed legal education, including students’ expectations, mooting pedagogies, and the internationalisation of legal study. As a contributor to public-facing legal commentary, he has written extensively on constitutional debates, human rights protections, judicial diversity, and political accountability. His commentary has been widely circulated through national and international media outlets, supporting better public understanding of legal issues. Clear’s commitment to bridging theory and practice is reflected in his presentation of research at major academic conferences and to professional, governmental, and international audiences. His work continues to contribute to contemporary discussions of constitutional reform, public law adjudication, and the development of inclusive, future-focused legal education.

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Featured Publications

Let’s talk: a framework for supporting law students’ wellbeing

– Law Teacher, 2025

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Fereshteh Abbasi | Learning & Development | Research Excellence Award

Dr. Fereshteh Abbasi | Learning & Development | Research Excellence Award

Researcher | The University of Tehran | Iran

Dr. Fereshteh Abbasi is a horticultural science researcher whose work centers on optimizing greenhouse production systems, improving floricultural crop performance, and advancing controlled environment agriculture. Her research spans the physiology of ornamental plants, plant nutrition, and responses of cut flower species particularly Lilium hybrids to environmental and nutritional variables. With a growing scholarly footprint that includes 3 research publications, 15 citations, and an h-index of 2, her contributions reflect a focused and emerging expertise in floriculture physiology and soilless cultivation technologies. Her studies investigate critical factors such as nutrient solution composition, calcium ammonium ratios, and the efficiency of aeroponic and ultrasonic soilless systems to enhance growth, yield, and postharvest quality. Dr. Abbasi’s work on biochemical and morphological responses of Lilium cultivars to growth regulators such as salicylic acid and benzyl adenine adds significant insight into improving vase life and stress tolerance in ornamentals. Additionally, she has explored the effects of macro- and nano-nutrient applications on physiological traits, contributing to sustainable and high-efficiency greenhouse management practices. Overall, her research advances knowledge in modern horticulture by integrating plant physiology, applied biotechnology, and innovative cultivation systems to support the development of resilient and high-quality floricultural products.

Profiles: Scopus | Google Scholar 

Featured Publication

Abbasi, F., Khandan-Mirkohi, A., Haji Ahmad, A., Kafi, M., & Shokrpour, M. Optimization of aeroponic and ultrasonic soilless culture systems in terms of timing and growth characteristics of Lilium OT hybrid

Eleni Andreou | Psychology | Research Excellence Award

Prof. Eleni Andreou | Psychology | Research Excellence Award

Professor | The University of Thessaly | Greece

Prof. Eleni Andreou is a leading scholar in educational psychology whose research has significantly shaped contemporary understanding of bullying, peer aggression, school climate, and student psychosocial adjustment. Her work integrates developmental, cognitive, and socio-emotional perspectives to examine how interpersonal relationships, coping responses, and contextual factors influence children’s and adolescents’ behavior within educational settings. With 48 scholarly documents, over 1,300 citations, and an h-index of 19, her research is recognized internationally for both theoretical contribution and applied impact. A major focus of her scholarship examines bully victim dynamics, emphasizing the role of self-efficacy, coping strategies, social cognition, and resilience in children’s responses to aggression. Through longitudinal and intervention-based studies, she has demonstrated how intentional programming, bibliotherapy, and prevention frameworks can positively influence student attitudes, reduce victimization, and enhance school belonging. Her also explore early childhood bullying, using naturalistic observation and multimethod assessment to uncover how aggression emerges and interacts with contextual variables in preschool environments.Microaggressions, inclusion challenges, and academic adjustment. These works offer evidence based insights for fostering equitable learning environments and strengthening support systems within schools and universities. Across her collaborative international projects, she contributes to large scale cross cultural examinations of peer aggression, socio emotional competencies, and student well being.

Profiles:  Scopus | ORCID | Google Scholar

Featured Publications

Vlachou, A., Stavroussi, P., Andreou, E., & Toulia, A. The development of the “Checklist for Life Skills Educational Assessment” (CLSEA). Education Sciences.

Touloupis, T., Andreou, E., & Chasapis, D.  Relations among perceived school context-related factors, cyberbullying, and school adjustment: An examination between native and immigrant students in elementary and secondary education.

Didaskalou, E., Cefai, C., Brighi, A., Bravo-Sanzana, M., Bochaver, A., Bauman, S., & Andreou, E.  A global study of the wellbeing of adolescent students during the COVID-19 2020 lockdown.

Svetlana Fa Nedeljkovic | Learning & Development | Research Excellence Award | 2704

Dr. Svetlana Fa Nedeljkovic | Learning & Development | Research Excellence Award

Senior Research Associate | The University of  Faculty of Sciences University of Novi Sad | Serbia

Dr. Svetlana Fa Nedeljković is a distinguished researcher whose scientific contributions lie at the intersection of reproductive toxicology, developmental biology, endocrine disruption, and epigenetic regulation. Her work advances fundamental understanding of how environmental contaminants particularly endocrine-disrupting chemicals interfere with cellular signaling, steroidogenesis, reproductive development, and early-life programming of health and disease. With a research portfolio comprising 35 peer-reviewed publications, 578 citations, and an h-index of 17, she has made a sustained and influential impact within the fields of toxicology and environmental health sciences. Her research spans multiple biological systems, including human granulosa cells, endothelial cells, zebrafish models, and rodent reproductive cells, enabling multi-layered insight into mechanisms of toxicity. She has significantly contributed to deciphering how chemicals such as phthalates bisphenol A, atrazine, and hexabromocyclododecane alter intracellular pathways, including linked regulatory cascades. Her findings helped reveal how these pathways subsequently impact steroid hormone synthesis, mitochondrial function, angiogenesis, reproductive competence, and cellular homeostasis. A notable dimension of her work addresses the Developmental Origins of Health and Disease  through epigenetic changes in early fetal tissues. Her studies on methylation patterns in response to maternal exposures have contributed valuable evidence for understanding how early environmental influences shape long-term physiological outcomes. Dr. Nedeljković has also engaged in extensive collaborative research across international projects focusing on reproductive biology, ecotoxicology, chemical risk assessment, and artificial intelligence based toxicological modeling. Her work integrates in vitro, in vivo, in silico, and systems-level approaches to build mechanistic frameworks for predicting human health risks. Through her broad and methodologically diverse contributions, Dr. Nedeljković continues to advance cutting edge research aimed at protecting reproductive health and improving scientific foundations for chemical safety evaluation.

Profiles:  Scopus | ORCID 

Featured Publications

Tesic, B., Fa Nedeljkovic, S., Markovic Filipovic, J., Samardzija Nenadov, D., Pogrmic-Majkic, K., & Andric, N. Early-life exposure to di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate impairs reproduction in adult female zebrafish (Danio rerio).

Tesic, B., Samardzija Nenadov, D., Tomanic, T., Fa Nedeljkovic, S., Milatovic, S., Stanic, B., Pogrmic-Majkic, K., & Andric, N. DEHP decreases steroidogenesis through the cAMP and ERK1/2 signaling pathways in FSH-stimulated human granulosa cells.

Stanic, B., Milošević, N., Sukur, N., Samardzija Nenadov, D., Fa Nedeljkovic, S., Škrbić, S., & Andric, N.  An in silico toxicogenomic approach in constructing the aflatoxin B1-mediated regulatory network of hub genes in hepatocellular carcinoma.

Sarina Hui-Lin Chien | Learning & Development | Research Excellence Award

Prof. Sarina Hui-Lin Chien | Learning & Development | Research Excellence Award

Professor | The University of China Medical University | Taiwan

Prof. Sarina Hui-Lin Chien is a cognitive neuroscientist whose research bridges perceptual development, face processing, and early cognitive mechanisms across the lifespan. Her scholarly work, reflected in 32 peer-reviewed publications, over 307 citations, and an h-index of 12, demonstrates strong and sustained contributions to understanding how humans interpret, encode, and respond to complex visual and social information. A major theme in her research involves the developmental trajectory of face perception, including sensitivity to identity, race, emotional expressions, and trait inferences. She has conducted extensive studies examining how infants, children, and adults categorize faces, perceive trustworthiness, and discriminate subtle facial cues. This work extends to populations with atypical development, such as individuals with autism spectrum characteristics, providing insights into perceptual and social cognitive variability. Her investigations also contribute significantly to perceptual organization and early visual cognition, including studies on topological and geometric properties, visual short term memory, and the mechanisms underlying perceptual narrowing. By integrating behavioral methods, psychophysics, and eye tracking, she advances multi method approaches to understanding how perception evolves and adapts under different developmental and environmental conditions. Another core dimension of her scholarship explores how context, familiarity, and essentialist thinking shape visual categorization, race perception, and social preferences. This line of work intersects cognitive development with social cognition, offering a broader framework for understanding how perceptual biases emerge and change over time. Her recent projects investigate the impact of public health contexts such as mask-wearing on face recognition and emotional interpretation in children, reflecting her interest in real-world influences on cognitive development. Overall, Prof. Chien’s body of work illustrates a coherent and influential research program that deepens scientific understanding of visual cognition, developmental trajectories, and the foundations of human social perception.

Featured Publications

Ali, M., & Chien, S. H.-L. Within-person face recognition strongly correlates with objective face processing assessments: A study beyond the populations.

Lin, C.-Y., Ho, M. W.-R., & Chien, S. H.-L.  Exploring face perception efficiency in patients with lacunar stroke: A study with familiar and unfamiliar face recognition.

Wang, H.-T., Lyu, J.-L., & Chien, S. H.-L.  Dynamic emotion recognition and expression imitation in neurotypical adults and their associations with autistic traits. Sensors.

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.

Imran Muhammad | Learning & Development | Research Excellence Award

Dr. Imran Muhammad | Learning & Development | Research Excellence Award

PostDoc | The University of Xinjiang University | China

Dr. Imran Muhammad is an accomplished researcher in advanced analytical chemistry, with a strong publication record comprising 35 scientific documents, 276 citations, and an h-index of 11. His work spans a diverse range of contemporary research fields, with a central focus on sensor technologies, analytical method development, and environmental monitoring. His expertise bridges multiple interdisciplinary domains, including fluorescent probe design, chemosensors, biosensors, polymer-based sensing platforms, computational chemistry, and catalysis. A significant portion of his research is dedicated to developing innovative sensing systems for detecting toxic environmental pollutants such as mercury ions nitroaromatics, dioxins, and heavy metals. He has made notable contributions to the design of dansyl-based fluorescent sensors, graphene oxide–based solid-phase sensing materials, and β-cyclodextrin inclusion complexes, offering enhanced selectivity, sensitivity, and environmental applicability. Providing an efficient tool for water-quality assessment. In addition to sensor development, his research extends to molecularly imprinted polymers photocatalytic nanomaterials, surface modification, solid-phase extraction, and advanced material synthesis. His studies in photocatalysis, catalytic pyrolysis of plastics, and nanostructured metal oxides contribute to sustainable technologies and environmental remediation. Dr. Muhammad’s technical skills span a broad array of analytical instruments, including Fluorescence spectroscopy, and supporting his capacity to conduct rigorous and high-impact experimental work. He also integrates computational studies to elucidate molecular interactions and sensing mechanisms, strengthening the theoretical foundation of his analytical methodologies. Through continuous publication in high-ranking journals and participation in global scientific discussions, he maintains a strong commitment to advancing analytical chemistry and environmental science, with research aimed at delivering practical, efficient, and sustainable technological solutions.

Featured Publication

Yao, N., Cai, Y., Li, J., Nulahong, A., Okitsu, Imran, M., & Ren, T. Enhanced low-temperature performance of CO₂ methanation over Ni-Y zeolite molecular sieve.

Khan, M. I., Kim, H. Y., Ali, R., & Miyazaki, S. A comparison of conventional aging and defect-assisted precipitation mechanisms in TiNiPdCu-based high-temperature shape memory alloys.

Rida, B. N., Bakhsh, N. Investigating the high-temperature oxidation of the Hf₀.₅Nb₀.₅Ta₀.₅Ti₁.₅Zr refractory high-entropy alloy. Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry.

Yifei Zhang | Learning & Development | Research Excellence Award

Dr. Yifei Zhang | Learning & Development | Research Excellence Award

Professor | The University of Hebei University | China

Dr. Yifei Zhang is a developing scholar whose research contributions span metallurgical physical chemistry, advanced materials processing, non-destructive testing, and intelligent material characterization. With a growing academic profile supported by 13 research documents, 235 citations, and an h-index of 7, the author has established a strong foundation in studying material behavior, performance evolution, and diagnostics using both experimental and data-driven approaches. Their work in alloy systems, particularly titanium alloys produced through selective laser melting and other additive manufacturing pathways, has yielded influential findings regarding microstructural evolution, oxide film dynamics, and electrochemical performance. These studies have improved the understanding of how processing conditions affect long-term material stability, reliability, and corrosion behavior an area of increasing importance for aerospace, biomedical, and high-performance engineering applications. The author’s contributions extend to investigating surface modification and coating technologies, including the impact of residual stress on the adhesion behavior of thin films such as TiN coatings. Their insights into interfacial mechanics and coating performance support the broader development of durable protective layers and engineered surfaces. In parallel, the author has advanced methodological innovation in the field of non-destructive evaluation. By integrating acoustic emission analysis, variational mode decomposition, continuous wavelet transforms, and convolutional neural networks, their work enhances the accuracy of damage mode identification in complex composite structures and stainless steels. These integrated diagnostic frameworks offer improved capabilities for monitoring structural health, predicting failure, and optimizing material maintenance strategies. Collectively, the author’s research demonstrates a commitment to bridging materials science, machine learning, and modern diagnostic technologies. Their publications contribute to both theoretical understanding and practical solutions for evaluating and enhancing material performance. With a steadily increasing citation profile and a diverse research portfolio, the author continues to influence key developments in materials characterization, surface engineering, and intelligent non-destructive testing.

Featured Publication

Zhang, Y., Yao, Y., Li, J., et al. Effect of residual stress on adhesion behaviour of TiN coating. Bulletin of Materials Science.

Xu Xinsheng | Strategic HR Management | Research Excellence Award

Prof. Xu Xinsheng | Strategic HR Management | Research Excellence Award

Professor | The University of Shandong University of Aeronautics | China

Prof. Xinsheng Xu is an accomplished scholar whose research sits at the intersection of supply chain management, inventory theory, risk analytics, and quantitative optimization. With 34 academic documents, over 300 citations, and an h-index of 10, his scholarly impact is reflected in both the depth and breadth of his contributions to operations research and management science. His work advances understanding of decision-making under uncertainty, particularly focusing on how risk attitudes such as loss aversion and risk aversion shape procurement and ordering behavior. A significant portion of his research extends classical models such as the newsvendor framework, exploring new dimensions that incorporate backlogging, shortage penalties, fill rate considerations, opportunity loss, and advanced risk measures including Conditional Value-at-Risk. These models offer improved decision-support tools for retailers, suppliers, and logistics managers facing increasingly volatile market environments. Beyond behavioral decision models, his research also encompasses multi sourcing procurement, dual sourcing under emergency conditions, supply option contracts, supplier default risks, and portfolio purchasing strategies. He has developed analytical methods for optimizing procurement in hybrid sourcing systems, considering mismatch costs, spot market dynamics, emergent replenishment strategies, and utility maximizing approaches for risk-sensitive buyers. In parallel, Xinsheng Xu has made influential contributions to optimization theory, including bilevel programming, tri level supply chain models, smoothing techniques for penalty functions, and algorithmic strategies for constrained optimization. These theoretical developments are applied in multi-stage supply chain design, cooperative risk-sharing, and interaction programming problems. His work appears in respected journals such as International Journal of Production Economics, International Journal of Production Research, Annals of Operations Research, Industrial Management & Data Systems, Computers & Industrial Engineering, Mathematics, Discrete Dynamics in Nature and Society, and Numerical Functional Analysis and Optimization.

Featured Publications

Xu, X., Sang, S., & Lee, C. K. M. The optimal ordering decision of a retailer with a spot buying. International Journal of Production Research.

Xu, X., & Lee, C. K. M. Portfolio procurement with an option contract and spot market. International Journal of General Systems.

Sang, S., Xu, X., & Lee, C. K. M. A purchaser’s optimal procurement strategy under emergencies. International Journal of General Systems. Published online.