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Simon WillcockView profile

Professor

• Ecosystem Services
• Tropical Ecology
• Climate Change
• +6 more

Simon Willcock is a Full Professor at Bangor University's School of Environmental & Natural Sciences, with a research focus on ecosystem services , tropical forest dynamics , and human-environment interactions . He utilizes innovative methods like smartphone surveys and machine learning to address sustainability challenges. Current position: Professor, Bangor University Previously: Senior Lecturer at same institution Academic qualifications: PhD (University of Leeds), BA in Biological Sciences (Oxford University), Postgraduate Certificate in Academic Practice (University of Southampton) His research spans climate change , land use change , and ecosystem resilience in tropical regions. Key projects include deforestation-neutral mining in Madagascar, smartphone-based ecological monitoring , and urban greenspace accessibility frameworks. Recent publications address: Sanitation systems and quality of life Tropical forest carbon sinks Machine learning for environmental data Ecosystem service interoperability Rural-urban service flows Professor Willcock supervises seven PhD students and contributes to university governance as a Senate member. His work aligns with UN Sustainable Development Goals through ecosystem service assessments and biodiversity conservation research.

• Optimal control
• Precision agriculture
• Process control
• +6 more

Dr. C (Congcong) Sun is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Agricultural Biosystems Engineering at Wageningen University & Research. His research focuses on developing intelligent control systems for sustainable agriculture, including the application of AI techniques like neural networks and reinforcement learning. He leads projects such as the 4TU Green Sensors initiative for biodegradable soil sensors and the DurableCASE collaboration for cooperative agrobotics systems. His expertise spans optimal control, precision agriculture, and agro food robotics. Education: PhD in Automation, Robotics and Vision (UPC-CSIC, Spain); MSc in System Engineering (Tongji University, China); BSc in Computer Science (Nanjing Audit University, China). He teaches courses including MSc Research Practice, Thesis guidance, and Advanced Machine Learning (FTE40306). Research Interests: Sensing systems, data-driven modeling, reinforcement learning for climate control, and robotic logistics in agricultural settings. Key projects include autonomous greenhouse climate control using RL, smart vertical farming, and mission planning for manure-removing robots in dairy barns. Publications emphasize applications in greenhouse climate modeling, water distribution networks, and robotic path planning. His work integrates control engineering with environmental sustainability goals.

Alejandro Morales SierraView profile

Lecturer

• Computational Modeling
• Crop Production
• Plant Physiology
• +7 more

Dr. Alejandro Morales Sierra is a Lecturer and Researcher at the Centre for Crop Systems Analysis (CSA) at Wageningen University. He holds a double MEng in Forestry and Agronomy from the University of Córdoba, Spain, an MSc in Plant Sciences, and a PhD from Wageningen University, focusing on plant photosynthesis modeling funded by IPOP Systems Biology and Biosolar Cells programs. His postdoctoral work involved NWO-funded research on abiotic stress impacts on plant development. His research integrates computational tools with crop science, emphasizing functional-structural plant modeling, climate change effects on crops (e.g., cocoa), and invasive species risk modeling. He advocates open science and programming literacy in research. Key contributions include developing the Virtual Plant Laboratory in Julia and advancing methodologies linking data with scientific models. His expertise spans crop production, plant physiology, machine learning, and mathematical modeling. Current projects explore cereal-legume intercropping microclimate interactions and nitrogen-optical-photosynthesis relationships in crops. He teaches advanced data analysis and modeling courses, contributing to MSc programs in crop science.

Pascual Garcia PerezView profile

Researcher

• Food Technology
• Nutrition
• Metabolomics
• +6 more

Pascual Garcia Perez is an Investigador Ramón y Cajal at the University of Murcia, affiliated with the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and the Department of Food Technology, Nutrition and Bromatology. He leads research in the Nutrición, Biotecnología Alimentaria y Aspectos Legales (Biofun) group, with prior involvement in the Plants Biofactory research group. His doctoral degree from the Universidad de Vigo (2021) focused on phytochemical valorization of Bryophyllum spp. using biotechnological and machine learning tools. His research emphasizes metabolomics, plant biochemistry, and the application of advanced analytical techniques to study bioactive compounds in medicinal plants, food systems, and agricultural crops. Key themes include plant stress responses, food authenticity, and the bioavailability of nutrients in microgreens and fermented foods. Collaborative projects explore sustainable agriculture practices and the industrial exploitation of underutilized plant species. Recent work highlights multi-omics approaches to elucidate metabolic pathways under abiotic stresses, the development of biocontrol strategies for crop diseases, and the optimization of extraction methods for phytochemicals. His publications reflect a strong focus on integrating computational tools with experimental data to predict metabolic outcomes and enhance food quality. Although no formal academic awards are listed, his extensive publication record and prestigious Ramón y Cajal position underscore his contributions to food and agricultural sciences. His advisory roles and research mentorship are reflected in his doctoral training under Dr. Pedro Pablo Gallego Veigas.

Erin E BlankenshipView profile

Professor

• Statistics
• Environmental Science
• Agricultural Science
• +2 more

Erin E Blankenship is a Professor in the Department of Statistics at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Her research bridges statistical methodology with environmental and agricultural sciences, focusing on data analysis frameworks, ecological modeling, and educational tools for statistical learning. She is based in Hardin Hall (HARH 343B), reachable via phone at 402-472-7398 or email at erin.blankenship@unl.edu. Her work spans diverse applications: from ozone exposure metrics in atmospheric studies weed control timing in agricultural systems avian foraging patterns in fragmented habitats information-theoretic model selection nonlinear mixed-effects calibration pipeline plover conservation classroom data simulation pedagogy Her publications reflect interdisciplinary collaboration with agricultural and biological researchers. While no formal awards are listed, her peer-reviewed educational activities (e.g., CAUSEweb simulations) demonstrate outreach impact. She has contributed to wildlife management strategies and environmental policy through statistical analyses of ecological datasets.

Courage KrahView profile

Researcher

• Environmental Science
• Food Waste Management
• Economic Analysis
• +3 more

Courage Krah is a PhD Student at Pharos University , affiliated with the School of Management, People and Organisations . His research focuses on Household Food Waste in Ireland , particularly its Environmental and Economic Burdens , under the supervision of Dr. Anushree Priyadarshini and Dr. Paul Hynds. His work involves Quantifying household food waste via cross-sectional surveys Applying optimized Generalised Linear Models (GLMs) for demographic and geographic profiling Assessing greenhouse gas emissions and resource use with OpenLCA and life cycle costing (LCC) Recent publications and presentations highlight his expertise in Environmental and economic assessment of food waste Machine learning for consumer behavior analysis Pest management in agricultural crops He presented at the 52nd Annual Research Conference (UCD, 2024) and the TU Dublin Graduate Research Symposium (2024), and participated in stakeholder discussions at the Towards Halving Food Waste in Europe Conference (Netherlands, 2024).

Vivek KamatView profile

Researcher

• Microfluidics
• Nanoparticle Synthesis
• Biomedical Engineering
• +3 more

Dr. Vivek Kamat is a Researcher at Florida International University (FIU). His work focuses on interdisciplinary research in microfluidics, nanoparticle synthesis, and biomedical applications. He collaborates with institutions like the Herbert Wertheim School of Medicine to study bacterial biofilms and cancer diagnostics. His research emphasizes developing innovative biosensors and microfluidic platforms for early cancer detection, biofilm analysis, and environmental monitoring. Education: Post Doctoral Associate, Florida International University (2018) PhD Biotechnology, University of Pune (2014-2018) M.Sc. Biotechnology, University of Pune (2009-2011) B.Sc. Biotechnology, University of Pune (2006-2009) Research Interests: Circulating Tumor Cell (CTC) Detection: Using microfluidic platforms with electrical and optical sensors for real-time CTC capture and analysis. Biofilm Studies: Investigating bacterial biofilm growth in microfluidic systems using computational tools (e.g., COMSOL, CFD). Cell Culture Systems: Developing 2D/3D cell cultures and organ-on-chip platforms to study tumor microenvironments and cell responses. Key Awards: Recipient of the Sensor Division Outstanding Achievement Award (2020). Advising & Grants: Collaborates with Professors Natalia Bourguignon and Kalai Mathee on biofilm research. Engages in interdisciplinary projects funded by grants in biomedical engineering and environmental science. Labs & Teams: Works within FIU’s microfluidics and biosensors lab, contributing to projects on smart agriculture sensors and wearable medical devices.

• Plant Genetics
• Agricultural Biotechnology
• Molecular Biology
• +3 more

Nour Nissan is a Research Fellow in the Department of Biology at Carleton University, affiliated with the Faculty of Science. Her research focuses on plant genetics, agricultural biotechnology, and bioinformatics, particularly in soybean improvement. She specializes in identifying novel genes and mechanisms for resistance to pests like the soybean cyst nematode (SCN), leveraging proteomics, genomic data mining, and computational tools. Her work integrates artificial intelligence for drug discovery and addresses challenges in crop quality and safety, including cadmium accumulation and allergen identification. Her research interests span plant-microbe interactions, molecular biology, and the application of bioinformatics to solve agricultural problems. Nissan has contributed to developing pipelines for large-scale gene discovery and miRNA target prediction, enhancing crop resilience and productivity. She collaborates with academic and industry partners to advance sustainable agriculture practices through genomic innovations. Nissan is involved in mentoring students through capstone courses, guiding them in research methodologies and communication. Her projects emphasize hands-on laboratory and fieldwork experiences, preparing students for graduate studies and careers in biological sciences. She actively participates in departmental initiatives promoting equity, diversity, and inclusion in STEM.

Alaa AlZoubiView profile

Research Fellow

• Computer Vision
• Machine Learning
• Deep Learning
• +4 more

Dr. Alaa AlZoubi is a Research Fellow in Machine Learning and Computer Vision at The University of Buckingham, with a PhD in Computer Science from the University of Lincoln. He previously held a Research Fellow position at Cranfield University's Centre for Electronic Warfare Information and Cyber, part of the Defence Academy of the United Kingdom. His expertise spans Computer Vision, Medical Image Analysis, Autonomous Systems, and GIS, with 8+ years of industrial experience in R&D and software engineering. Education: BSc and MSc in Computer Information Systems, followed by a PhD in Computer Science from the University of Lincoln. Research Focus: Specializes in applying machine learning to medical imaging (e.g., thyroid and breast lesion classification), autonomous systems, and computer vision for humanitarian applications like land mine detection. Recent projects include a STFC-funded grant investigating robotics and remote sensing for safer land mine surveying. Publications: Over 20 peer-reviewed articles in journals and conferences, focusing on medical image analysis, deep learning frameworks, and vehicle activity recognition. Key contributions include Clustered-CAM for thyroid nodule classification and Faster R-CNN hyperparameter optimization for breast lesion detection. Labs/Teams: Involved in interdisciplinary projects combining robotics, remote sensing, and computer vision for humanitarian and industrial applications.

• Sustainable Agriculture
• Agroforestry
• Climate Change Mitigation
• +4 more

Paul Burgess is a Professor of Sustainable Agriculture and Agroforestry at Cranfield University, affiliated with the School of Water, Energy and Environment. His career includes a BSc (Hons) in Agriculture from the University of Reading, an MSc in Land and Water Management from Cranfield University, and a PhD in tea agronomy from Cranfield. He joined Cranfield in 1995 and has held roles from Lecturer to Senior Lecturer (2008), Reader (2014), and Professor (2021). His expertise spans agrifood systems, agroforestry, and climate-smart agriculture. Burgess has authored over 100 peer-reviewed papers and led major projects such as the EU AGFORWARD initiative (2014–2018), the UKRI Land Use for Net Zero project, and the BBSRC tea production partnership with Liptons. His research focuses on agroforestry economics, climate resilience, and sustainable land systems. He contributed to the DEFRA agroecology study and carbon sequestration projects with the Ministry of Defence. His awards include a Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy since 2007. He collaborates globally, with fieldwork in China, India, and East Africa. Current projects include digital tools for agroforestry (DigitAF) and regenerative tea production systems.

• Geospatial Informatics
• Natural Capital Mapping
• Digital Soil Mapping
• +5 more

Dr. Joanna Zawadzka is a Lecturer in Geospatial Informatics at the Cranfield Environment Centre, Cranfield University. Her expertise spans Carbon, Climate and Risk, Digital Agriculture, Environmental Informatics, Natural Capital, and Soil Resources. She holds an MSc in Interdisciplinary Environmental Protection and Geographical Information Management from Warsaw University of Life Sciences and Cranfield University, and a PhD from Cranfield University focusing on urban heat mitigation through spatial configuration. Research Interests: Developing geospatial methods for natural capital mapping and ecosystem services assessment. Digital soil mapping, including resilience and health assessments for Great Britain, England/Wales, and Ireland. Urban heat mitigation through green infrastructure analysis, verified with land surface temperature data. Applications of machine learning in flood damage detection using UAV imagery. Recent Projects: Carbon storage/sequestration assessments for England’s Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty and MoD estate. Ecosystem service evaluations for major infrastructure projects (e.g., Northern Norwich Distributor Road, Oxford-Cambridge Expressway). Soil resilience mapping at national scales and water treatment wetland analysis in Florida. Teaching: Digital terrain analysis and soil mapping at the MSc level. Collaborations: Works with Natural England, DEFRA, MoD, EU Horizon 2020, and industry partners like Mott MacDonald. Key Achievements: Created soil health maps for England/Wales and a 1:250,000 scale soil map for Ireland. Contributed to urban cooling models and flood damage detection frameworks.

Ioana Cristina PLAJERView profile

Lecturer

• Image processing
• Multispectral imaging
• Artificial Intelligence
• +7 more

Ioana Cristina PLAJER is a Lecturer at the Department of Mathematics and Computer Sciences, Faculty of Mathematics and Computer Sciences, Transilvania University of Brașov. Her work focuses on image processing, multispectral imaging, artificial intelligence, machine learning, formal languages, and compiler design. She has contributed to both theoretical and applied research, including advancements in spectral data analysis, medical imaging segmentation, and automata theory applications in diverse fields like dog breeding risk assessment and game design. Dr. PLAJER's research explores the intersection of computational methods and real-world challenges, particularly in remote sensing, medical diagnostics, and compiler optimization. Her publications span topics such as satellite data fusion, neural cellular automata for texture synthesis, and deep learning models for improving X-ray angiogram quality. She actively participates in international conferences, presenting work at venues like the IEEE Emerging Technologies and Factory Automation (ETFA) and the International Symposium on Signals, Circuits and Systems (ISSCS). Her technical contributions include developing algorithms for NDVI computation from hyperspectral imagery, creating datasets like DACIA5 for agricultural monitoring, and advancing techniques for tumor segmentation in CT scans. These efforts highlight her commitment to bridging algorithmic innovation with practical applications in healthcare and environmental science.

Radu-Mihai COLIBANView profile

Associate Professor

• Digital Signal Processing
• Digital Systems Design
• Hyperspectral Image Processing
• +4 more

Radu-Mihai COLIBAN is an Associate Professor at the Department of Electronics and Computers, Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, University of Technical Education of Braila. His research focuses on digital signal processing, digital systems design, and hyperspectral image processing with applications in remote sensing, FPGA implementations, and image segmentation. He has contributed to projects like the ATLAS New Small Wheel detector electronics and developed novel methods for hyperspectral visualization and fractal analysis. Education: PhD in Electronics/Computer Science (inferred from academic rank) Advanced training in FPGA design and signal processing techniques Research Interests: Signal Processing: Digital systems, FPGA-based implementations, and real-time signal analysis Image Analysis: Hyperspectral/multispectral data processing, segmentation algorithms, and color texture characterization Applications: Agricultural monitoring, medical imaging, and high-energy physics instrumentation Publications Trends: Recent work emphasizes hyperspectral image processing (e.g., band selection, segmentation) and FPGA-accelerated algorithms (e.g., modular arithmetic, 8b/10b encoding). His 2023-2025 publications show a focus on agricultural datasets (DACIA5), polarization-based analysis, and environmental monitoring. Lab/Teams: Involved in interdisciplinary projects combining signal processing with remote sensing and hardware design. Likely collaborates with the ATLAS experiment team and local/ international research groups in fractal analysis and image denoising.

• Landscape Architecture
• Urban Greening
• Green Roof Systems
• +5 more

Professor Nektarios Panayiotis holds a dual role as a Professor in the Department of Floriculture and Landscape Architecture and Dean of the School of Agricultural Sciences at the Hellenic Mediterranean University (HMU). His academic journey includes a Diploma in Agriculture from the Agricultural University of Athens (1990) and a Diploma in Environmental Turfgrass Science from Cornell University, USA (1994). He leads the Laboratory of Quality and Safety of Agricultural Products, Landscape and Environment (QS AgriPLanE), focusing on sustainable urban greening solutions. His research emphasizes green roof systems urban landscape restoration plant biodiversity utilization sustainable agriculture with particular attention to Mediterranean ecosystems. Recent work explores salt-tolerant crops, substrate optimization for urban greenery, and the integration of native plants into urban planning. He has contributed to major projects like the Athens Concert Hall roof garden and adaptive green roof designs for arid climates. Over 150 peer-reviewed articles highlight his expertise in plant physiology under stress environmental impact assessments technological innovations in floriculture with a focus on translating research into practical solutions for urban sustainability. As a leader in horticultural science, his work bridges ecological principles with architectural design, aiming to enhance urban resilience through innovative landscaping practices.

• Food Safety and Quality
• Apiculture
• Image Processing
• +5 more

Eleftherios Alissandrakis is an Associate Professor in the Department of Agriculture at the Hellenic Mediterranean University. Contact via email at ealiss@hmu.gr or phone +30-2810-379401. Office hours are Tuesday 10:00-12:00 and Wednesday 9:00-11:00. Education: Diploma in Agriculture, Department of Crop Science, Agricultural University of Athens (1999) MSc in Crop Protection, Agricultural University of Athens (2001) PhD on Analysis of Volatile Compounds of Honey, Agricultural University of Athens (2007) Research Focus: His work spans food safety, apiculture product quality, machine/deep learning applications in food control, microplastics contamination, and IoT solutions for beekeeping. Key methodologies include chemical analysis and computational techniques. Courses Taught: Apiculture Quality and Certification Systems in Agriculture and Food Industry Food Chemistry Food Quality Control Advanced Entomology (Postgraduate) Holistic Methods in Pest Control (Postgraduate) Additional Roles: Member of the Department of Agriculture's Internal Evaluation Group. External Profiles: Scopus , ORCID , ResearchGate .