Dr. Mariam Darestani | Environmental Engineering | Best Researcher Award

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Dr. Mariam Darestani | Environmental Engineering | Best Researcher Award

Dr. Mariam Darestani | Environmental Engineering – Western Sydney University, Kingswood, Australia

Dr. Mariam Darestani is a highly accomplished academic and researcher with a diverse and impactful career in the field of engineering. With a PhD in Engineering from the University of Sydney, Dr. Darestani has made significant contributions to the development of innovative materials and sustainable technologies, particularly in the areas of water purification, sustainable agriculture, and polymer engineering. She is currently serving as a Senior Lecturer at Western Sydney University (WSU), where she is also an Academic Program Advisor for various undergraduate engineering programs. As a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA), she has a strong commitment to enhancing the academic experience for students through innovative curriculum development and research.

Her academic journey is marked by numerous awards, including the prestigious Amelia Earhart Fellowship from Zonta International and several Excellence in Research Awards from the University of Sydney. With a background in Polymer Engineering, Dr. Darestani has worked across various sectors, applying her research to practical solutions in industry. In addition to her teaching and research roles, she has held leadership positions in various academic and industry-related initiatives, further cementing her reputation as a trailblazer in her field.

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Education:

Dr. Darestani’s academic foundation is robust, beginning with a Bachelor’s degree in Polymer Engineering (Honours) from Tehran Polytechnic University. She pursued her Master’s in Engineering (Polymer) from the Iran Polymer and Petrochemical Institute before embarking on doctoral studies at the University of Sydney, where she earned her PhD in Engineering. To further enhance her expertise in academic practice, she completed the Graduate Certificate in Academic Practice at Queensland University of Technology (QUT), which underpins her dedication to improving teaching methodologies. Her academic qualifications are complemented by ongoing professional development, including various courses aimed at enhancing her supervisory and leadership skills in academia.

Experience:

Dr. Darestani’s career has spanned multiple research and academic positions, which have contributed to her expertise in sustainable engineering solutions. She has been a Senior Lecturer at Western Sydney University since 2019, where she has also been involved in several leadership roles, such as Academic Program Advisor for the Undergraduate Advanced Manufacturing, Materials, Mechanical, and Robotic & Mechatronic Engineering programs. Her previous roles include serving as an Advance Queensland Research Fellow at Queensland University of Technology, where she focused on the development of novel materials and technologies for sustainable living. Her postdoctoral work at the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) and the University of Sydney has further enriched her ability to collaborate across academic and industrial sectors, providing valuable insights into the intersection of research, teaching, and practical engineering applications.

Research Interests:

Dr. Darestani’s research interests are primarily focused on developing innovative products and materials aimed at sustainable living. Her work is centered on the application of nanotechnology, sustainable water treatment, and the creation of advanced materials for agricultural and environmental purposes. She has a particular interest in water resource management, exploring the potential of zeolite-based products and other novel materials for addressing environmental challenges. Her research is interdisciplinary, drawing from fields such as polymer engineering, environmental sustainability, and nanotechnology to create practical solutions that benefit both industries and communities.

Awards:

Dr. Darestani has received numerous accolades and awards for her outstanding contributions to research and innovation. Some of her notable achievements include winning the EDBE Research Impact Award in 2024 and 2023 at Western Sydney University, as well as being named the Researcher of the Year through Industry Partnership in 2023. Her dedication to sustainability has earned her recognition in prestigious awards such as the Queensland Women in STEM Prize and the AMP Tomorrow Maker Award. Additionally, she was shortlisted for the Green Globe Award by the NSW government in 2019 and has received several industry fellowship awards, highlighting her ability to bridge the gap between academia and industry.

Publications:

Dr. Darestani has authored and co-authored several peer-reviewed journal articles and conference papers that have had a significant impact on the field. Some of her recent publications include:

  1. Javan, K., & Darestani, M. (2024). Evaluating the environmental sustainability of a key crop in a crucial area: Analyzing the effects of climate change on agriculture, Heliyon. 🌱 (Cited by: 10+)
  2. Javan, K., & Darestani, M. (2024). Assessing environmental sustainability of a vital crop in a critical region using the SWAT model, Heliyon 10(3). 🌍 (Cited by: 8)
  3. Amari, S., Darestani, M., & Millar, G. (2024). Engineering and Life Cycle Assessment of Sustainable Zeolite-Based Geopolymer Incorporating Blast Furnace Slag, Sustainability 16(1), 440. ♻️ (Cited by: 12)
  4. Javan, K., Altaee, A., BaniHashemi, S., & Darestani, M. (2023). A review of interconnected challenges in the water-energy-food nexus: Urban pollution perspective towards sustainable development, Science of The Total Environment. 🌿 (Cited by: 20)
  5. Javan, K., Mirabi, M., & Darestani, M. (2023). Enhancing environmental sustainability in a critical region: Climate change impacts on agriculture and tourism, Civil Engineering Journal. 🌎 (Cited by: 15)

Conclusion:

Dr. Mariam Darestani is an exemplary figure in the field of engineering, blending academic rigor with practical, sustainable solutions. Her commitment to innovation in water resource management, sustainable materials, and engineering education has earned her a prominent place in both academic and industrial circles. With a proven track record of securing substantial research funding and delivering impactful projects, Dr. Darestani continues to make significant strides in advancing sustainable engineering practices. Through her work, she not only contributes to the academic community but also to the development of technologies that have a lasting, positive impact on the environment and society. Her contributions, both in research and teaching, make her a deserving candidate for recognition in any award nomination.

 

 

 

Licheng Zhang | Energy | Best Researcher Award

Posted on by Academic achievements

Dr. Licheng Zhang | Energy | Best Researcher Award

Dr. Licheng Zhang | Energy – Senior Engineer at Chang’an University, China.

Zhang Licheng is a Senior Engineer at Chang’an University, specializing in traffic information engineering and control. He holds a solid academic foundation in computer science and technology, and his work has led to groundbreaking advances in the modeling of fuel consumption and driving behavior. Zhang pioneered a fuel consumption prediction model that incorporates vehicular jerk, improving the accuracy of previous models. His research has significant implications for the development of energy-efficient driving behaviors, particularly for autonomous vehicles. His projects on intelligent vehicle motion planning, speed optimization, and ecological driving further emphasize his contribution to sustainable transport solutions.

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Education

🎓Zhang Licheng completed his undergraduate degree in computer science and technology, followed by a master’s and doctoral degree in traffic information engineering and control. During his academic journey, Zhang explored how driving behavior influences fuel consumption and developed innovative prediction models. His doctoral research focused on advancing the understanding of vehicle dynamics and control strategies, particularly energy-saving driving behaviors. Zhang’s work integrated multi-source traffic information to improve vehicle motion planning, speed optimization, and energy efficiency, leading to the design of more reliable and energy-efficient vehicle systems. His educational background laid the foundation for his contributions to smart vehicle technologies, particularly in energy consumption modeling, eco-driving strategies, and vehicle behavior optimization. Zhang’s research emphasizes the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration, particularly between computer science, engineering, and automotive technologies, to develop solutions for energy-efficient driving in modern intelligent vehicles.

Experience

Zhang Licheng is a Senior Engineer at Chang’an University, where he works on developing and optimizing energy-efficient driving behaviors for intelligent vehicles. He has actively participated in several research projects funded by both the National Natural Science Foundation of China and the Ministry of Science and Technology of the People’s Republic of China. Zhang has a wealth of experience in designing predictive models for fuel consumption and optimizing vehicle control strategies in various driving conditions. As part of his industry collaborations, he has worked on advanced projects like automated driving simulations, digital twin evaluations, and motion planning methods for intelligent vehicles. Zhang’s work contributes to the development of connected vehicle technologies and the creation of tools that balance efficiency and energy savings in urban roads. His expertise also extends to real-time traffic information integration, making it possible to optimize speed and driving behavior dynamically.

Research Interests

🔬Zhang Licheng’s primary research focus is on the relationship between driving behavior and fuel consumption, particularly in the context of intelligent and connected vehicles. His work aims to optimize energy-efficient driving behaviors and improve fuel prediction models by accounting for vehicular jerk, which helps represent driving behavior more accurately. He is dedicated to advancing energy consumption models and creating strategies that balance efficiency and energy use in urban roads and autonomous vehicles. Zhang’s research also integrates multi-source traffic information, focusing on how it can improve vehicle motion planning, energy-saving strategies, and ecological driving. Additionally, he is involved in projects that explore the use of digital twins and automated driving simulations for testing and evaluating intelligent vehicle systems. Zhang is working towards developing more reliable machine learning models to ensure the safety, efficiency, and sustainability of energy-efficient driving behaviors, especially in the age of autonomous vehicles.

Awards

🏆Zhang Licheng has received multiple honors for his research contributions in traffic engineering and intelligent vehicle technologies. Notably, he has been recognized for his pioneering work in energy-saving driving behaviors, where his models significantly improved fuel consumption predictions. He has also made notable contributions to the optimization of electric vehicle performance, and his research on intelligent vehicle motion planning methods has garnered substantial recognition within the field. Zhang’s work on integrating multi-source traffic information for ecological driving in connected vehicles has earned him funding from both local and national scientific programs, further enhancing his reputation as a leading researcher in his area. His achievements in energy consumption modeling and optimization strategies for autonomous vehicles have earned him accolades in both academic and industry circles. Zhang has been widely recognized for his impactful contributions to the development of more sustainable and energy-efficient vehicle systems.

Publications

New innovations in pavement materials and engineering: A review on pavement engineering research

Authors: JE Office, J Chen, H Dan, Y Ding, Y Gao, M Guo, S Guo, B Han, B Hong, …

Citations: 151

Year: 2021

Improved watershed analysis for segmenting contacting particles of coarse granular soils in volumetric images

Authors: Q Sun, J Zheng, C Li

Citations: 60

Year: 2019

Highway constructions on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau: Challenge, research and practice

Authors: A Sha, B Ma, H Wang, L Hu, X Mao, X Zhi, H Chen, Y Liu, F Ma, Z Liu, …

Citations: 55

Year: 2022

Material characterization to assess effectiveness of surface treatment to prevent joint deterioration from oxychloride formation mechanism

Authors: X Wang, S Sadati, P Taylor, C Li, X Wang, A Sha

Citations: 44

Year: 2019

Mechanistic-based comparisons of stabilised base and granular surface layers of low-volume roads

Authors: C Li, JC Ashlock, DJ White, PKR Vennapusa

Citations: 38

Year: 2019

Improvement of Asphalt-Aggregate Adhesion Using Plant Ash Byproduct

Authors: Z Liu, X Huang, A Sha, H Wang, J Chen, C Li

Citations: 36

Year: 2019

Morphology-based indices and recommended sampling sizes for using image-based methods to quantify degradations of compacted aggregate materials

Authors: C Li, J Zheng, Z Zhang, A Sha, J Li

Citations: 34

Year: 2020

In situ modulus reduction characteristics of stabilized pavement foundations by multichannel analysis of surface waves and falling weight deflectometer tests

Authors: C Li, JC Ashlock, S Lin, PKR Vennapusa

Citations: 34

Year: 2018

Mechanistic-based comparisons for freeze-thaw performance of stabilized unpaved roads

Authors: C Li, PKR Vennapusa, J Ashlock, DJ White

Citations: 32

Year: 2017

Influence of water on warm-modified asphalt: Views from adhesion, morphology and chemical characteristics

Conclusion

Zhang Licheng’s innovative research in energy-efficient driving behaviors and intelligent vehicle control, coupled with his strong academic background and real-world applications, positions him as a strong candidate for the Best Researcher Award. His work on fuel consumption models and the optimization of energy use in autonomous vehicles has not only contributed significantly to his field but also holds potential for transformative impacts on global transportation systems. Zhang’s accomplishments, coupled with his dedication to improving the automotive industry, make him a deserving nominee for this prestigious recognition.