Negin Aalami  |  Engineering  | Research Excellence Award

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Dr. Negin Aalami  |  Engineering  | Research Excellence Award

UT; RMIT | Australia

Negin Aalami is a Post-Doctoral Research Fellow whose work bridges sustainable architecture, advanced building engineering, and computational modelling. She holds a doctorate from RMIT University and conducts research at the University of Tehran, focusing on energy-efficient design, building physics, and natural ventilation supported by expertise in CFD analysis, FEM modelling, and additive manufacturing. Her academic record includes an h-index of one, four scholarly documents, and four citations, reflecting an emerging yet impactful presence in high-performance building research. She has contributed to multiple completed and ongoing research projects, published in leading indexed journals, participated in consultancy work, and holds patents in innovative architectural systems. Her research advances adaptive building technologies, including kinetic façades, bio-based materials, 4D-printed components, bilayer envelopes, and movable louvers designed to enhance thermal comfort and energy efficiency. She has developed integrated frameworks combining CFD, hybrid RANS-LES simulations, and multimaterial fabrication to evaluate and prototype responsive architectural systems. Beyond her publications, she has served as a reviewer for international journals in sustainable design and renewable energy. Professionally, she maintains memberships with WELL, the Australian Institute of Architecture, and the Iran Construction Engineering Organisation, contributing to a global architecture and engineering community committed to sustainable innovation.

Profile: Orcid 

Featured Publications 

Aalami, N., Abravesh, M., Maqsood, T., & Bhuiyan, M. A. (2025).
Movement optimization of a movable façade using bimetal as actuators for enhanced indoor airflow. Energy and Buildings, —, 116753.

Aalami, N., Maqsood, T., Bhuiyan, M. A., & Zhang, K. (2024).
Development of operable modular louvers sited in a single-sided ventilated room through 3D parametric optimization. Building and Environment, —, 112134.

Dr. Fares Zouaoui – Analytical chemistry and process engineering – Best Researcher Award 

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Dr. Fares Zouaoui - Analytical chemistry and process engineering - Best Researcher Award 

University of Rennes - France 

AUTHOR PROFILE 

ORCID 

EARLY ACADEMIC PURSUITS 📚

Fares Zouaoui began his academic journey at Bejaia University, Algeria, where he earned his Bachelor’s degree in Process Engineering in 2015, followed by a Master’s degree in Chemical Engineering in 2017. During these years, he developed a keen interest in the intersection of chemical engineering and analytical chemistry, particularly focusing on the application of electrochemical processes for environmental analysis. His foundational education set the stage for his deep exploration of electrochemistry, sensor technology, and water treatment processes, paving the way for his advanced research and career.

PROFESSIONAL ENDEAVORS 👨‍🔬

Fares’s professional journey has been marked by his work as a researcher and educator. After completing his PhD in Analytical Chemistry at Claude Bernard Lyon 1 University in France in 2020, where he focused on modeling and optimizing biosensors for environmental analysis, he transitioned to several key roles. From 2022 to 2023, he served as an Assistant Professor and later an Associate Professor at the University of Rennes in France. His professional endeavors have included postdoctoral research at the Commissariat à l’Energie Atomique (CEA) in Grenoble, where he worked on Diamond-Like Carbon (DLC) films as electrochemical electrodes. His academic roles allowed him to mentor students, coordinate research projects, and contribute significantly to the scientific community.

CONTRIBUTIONS AND RESEARCH FOCUS 🔬

Fares Zouaoui’s research focuses primarily on the development and optimization of electrochemical processes for environmental applications. His work includes the design of electrochemical sensors and biosensors, especially using Diamond-Like Carbon (DLC) materials and Molecularly Imprinted Polymers (MIPs). He has also worked extensively on water treatment technologies, Analytical chemistry and process engineering specifically focusing on the combined processes of anodic oxidation and ozonation. His PhD research in modeling and optimization of biosensors and his postdoctoral research have contributed to significant advancements in the fields of electrochemistry, sensor technology, and environmental remediation.

ACCELERATING INNOVATION THROUGH TEACHING AND SUPERVISION 🎓

As an educator, Fares has shared his knowledge and expertise with the next generation of scientists. He has taught courses on electrochemistry, analytical chemistry, and chemical engineering at the University of Rennes. His supervision activities include mentoring Master's students, interns, and PhD candidates, guiding them through their research on topics like electrochemical Analytical chemistry and process engineering processes and water treatment. His role in supervising doctoral research, including co-supervising a thesis on the elimination of refractory pollutants using hybrid processes, reflects his commitment to advancing both research and education in his field.

IMPACT AND INFLUENCE 🌍

Fares’s work has had a significant impact on both academia and industry. His innovative research on electrochemical sensors and water treatment processes has provided practical solutions to environmental challenges, particularly in the areas of pollutant removal and resource management. His contributions to electrochemical biosensors, especially for environmental Analytical chemistry and process engineering monitoring, have been recognized globally. Fares's involvement in international research projects, including collaborations with institutions in Brazil, highlights his global influence in the fields of chemical engineering and environmental sciences.

LEGACY AND FUTURE CONTRIBUTIONS 🌱

Looking forward, Fares Zouaoui is committed to continuing his research and teaching efforts to drive forward the development of sustainable and innovative technologies for environmental protection. His current projects, including his work on PFAS treatment and electrode material development, are aimed at solving some of the most pressing environmental issues. Through his leadership in research projects and educational roles, he is shaping the future of environmental chemical engineering and contributing to a cleaner, more sustainable world.

NOTABLE PUBLICATIONS 

  • Title: Electrochemical sensors based on amorphous carbon electrode: A review
    Author: Fares ZOUAOUI, Gauthier Menassol, Cédric DUCROS, Pascal Mailley, Yohann Thomas
    Journal: Microchemical Journal
    DOI: 10.1016/j.microc.2025.112650
  • Title: Anodic oxidation by electrical power pulses for alachlor degradation
    Author: Fares Zouaoui, Didier Floner, Florence Fourcade
    Journal: Environmental Technology
    DOI: 10.1080/09593330.2024.2389323
  • Title: Assessment of a hybrid process coupling ozonation and anodic oxidation in a monophasic configuration
    Author: Helios Yasmine, Florence Fourcade, Fares Zouaoui, Pierre-François Biard
    Journal: Electrochimica Acta
    DOI: 10.1016/j.electacta.2024.144049
  • Title: New poly(ether-phosphoramide)s sulfides based on green resources as sensitive films for the specific impedimetric detection of nickel ions
    Author: Taha Chabbah, Saber Chatti, Fares Zouaoui, Ibtissem Jlalia, GAIJI HOUDA, Houyem Abderrazak, Hervé Casabianca, Régis Mercier, Steffen Weidner, Abdelhamid Errachid et al.
    Journal: Talanta
    DOI: 10.1016/j.talanta.2022.123550
  • Title: Mathematical Model and Numerical Simulation of Conductometric Biosensor of Urea
    Author: Fares Zouaoui, Nadia Zine, Abdelhamid Errachid, Nicole Jaffrezic-Renault
    Journal: Electroanalysis
    DOI: 10.1002/elan.202100610

Prof. Nouria Fatah – Process and powder technology -Excellence in Innovation

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Prof. Nouria Fatah - Process and powder technology -Excellence in Innovation

centrale lille Institut UCCS - France

Professional Profile

SCOPUS 

ORCID 

🎓 EARLY ACADEMIC PURSUITS

Nouria Fatah's journey in academia began with an engineering degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Science and Technology in 1985. This foundational education was followed by a D.E.A from the Institute National Polytechnique de Toulouse in 1987, where she conducted a theoretical and practical study on the hydrodynamics of fluidized layers of alumina particles. She further pursued her passion for process engineering, earning her doctorate in 1991 from the same institute. Her thesis focused on the fluidization of large particles at high temperatures, investigating both hydrodynamics and heat transfer.

👩‍🏫 PROFESSIONAL ENDEAVORS

Nouria's professional career began in 1992 as a lecturer at the Ecole National Supérieure de Chimie de Lille (ENSCL), where she also served as a researcher in the Catalysis and Solid Chemistry Unit (UCCS). Her early career included a post-doctoral position at the Centre for Coal Studies and Research within the Charbonnage de France group. In 2006, she became a professor at ENSCL, continuing her research at UCCS. By 2024, she had established herself as a professor at Centrale Lille Institut, contributing significantly to the Catalysis and Solid Chemistry Unit.

🔬 CONTRIBUTIONS AND RESEARCH FOCUS

Nouria Fatah's research has been pivotal in the development of new solvent-free materials through mechanosynthesis and mechanochemistry, focusing on energy applications. Her work on the intensification of gas-solid reactors, particularly the miniaturization of fluidized beds, and advancements in powder technology, granulation, and characterization of macro-micro and nanoparticles, has been groundbreaking. Process and powder technology Additionally, she has significantly contributed to numerical modeling of pulverulent media and two-phase systems, as well as the development of new materials with high solar flux absorption and conduction efficiency.

🏅 ACCOLADES AND RECOGNITION

Throughout her illustrious career, Nouria Fatah has received numerous accolades. Notably, in 2012, she was honored with the title of Chevalier Process and powder technology in the Order of the Palmes Académiques, recognizing her outstanding contributions to the field of process engineering and education.

🌍 IMPACT AND INFLUENCE

Nouria's impact extends beyond her research. She has supervised 22 doctoral theses, with three currently in progress, along with mentoring seven post-doctoral researchers and overseeing 42 internships. Her leadership roles include heading the 'Process and Powder Technology Process and powder technology Solutions (PPTS)' platform and the "Powder Technologies and Processes" theme in the CEMOP team at UCCS. She has also led several industrial contracts and projects with prominent organizations, further solidifying her influence in the industry.

📚 LEGACY AND FUTURE CONTRIBUTIONS

Nouria Fatah's legacy is marked by her dedication to advancing process engineering and her innovative approach to research. Her contributions to education, through the development of multimedia teaching modules and ongoing training for manufacturers, have left a lasting impact. As a member of various academic and administrative committees, she has shaped the future of engineering education and research. Her work continues to inspire future generations of engineers and researchers.

NOTABLE PUBLICATIONS

Numerical simulation study of the hydrodynamic regimes in large to micro fluidized beds based on a Two-Fluid Model 2023(1)

New investigation of Micro-fluidized bed: The effect of wall roughness and particle size on hydrodynamics regimes 2022(4)

Diagnosis of hydrodynamic regimes from large to micro-fluidized beds 2020(7)

Analysis of particle breakage during the preparation steps of Co/Al2O3 catalysts 2019(6)

Catalytic dehydration of glycerol to acrolein in a two-zone fluidized bed reactor  20219(17)