Leire Fernandez Diaz is a Pre-Doctoral Researcher at CIC energiGUNE , focusing on solid-state cathode research within the Cell Prototyping Group under the Electrochemical Energy Storage area. She graduated in Industrial Engineering from the Bilbao School of Engineering, University of the Basque Country, and pursued a Master in Nanoscience at UPV and CSIC in Donostia. Bachelor's Degree: Industrial Engineering, Bilbao School of Engineering, University of the Basque Country Master's Degree: Nanoscience, UPV and CSIC, Donostia Her research interests span Electrochemical Energy Storage , Solid-State Battery Technology , and Sustainable Energy , informed by her current role at CIC energiGUNE. Her academic journey also includes foundational work in Plasmonic Biosensing during her Master's thesis and prior exposure to Aeronautical Manufacturing through industry experience in the UK. She is dedicated to advancing energy storage solutions for a sustainable future. At CIC energiGUNE, Leire contributes to cutting-edge battery research while leveraging her interdisciplinary background in engineering and nanoscience. Her career trajectory reflects a shift from industrial applications to sustainability-focused research after a two-year stint in the UK under the Basque Government's Global Training scholarship.
Tooran Emami is a tenured full professor of Electrical Engineering in the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computing at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy (USCGA). She joined USCGA as a Tenure Track Assistant Professor in July 2011, advanced to Tenured Associate Professor in August 2017, and currently serves as a Tenured Professor since August 2023. Prior to USCGA, she was an adjunct faculty member at Wichita State University for three semesters. Ph.D., Electrical Engineering, Wichita State University M.S., Electrical Engineering, Wichita State University Dr. Emami's research focuses on control systems, with expertise in Proportional-Integral-Derivative (PID) controller design, robust control, time-delay systems, compensator design, analog and digital filter design, and hybrid fuel cell power plant design. Her work bridges theoretical control engineering with practical applications in energy systems, particularly fuel cells and renewable energy integration. She has made significant contributions to engineering pedagogy, developing innovative teaching methods for hybrid and virtual learning environments. Analysis of Dr. Emami's recent publications reveals a strong focus on PID controller design methodologies, particularly for systems with time delays. Her work increasingly integrates renewable energy systems, with numerous publications on hybrid fuel cell, solar, and battery systems. She maintains a dual focus on theoretical control systems and practical engineering education, with several publications addressing project-based learning approaches in electrical engineering education. Center for Advanced Study Summer Fellowship Award (2012) Spirit of The Bear Award (2016) Outstanding Doctoral Dissertation Award at Wichita State University Student Paper Award from Engineering Physics and Physics Division (2022) Multiple Best Paper and Student Paper Awards at ASEE conferences Dr. Emami serves as Lead Advisor for Electrical Engineering and Cyber Systems Majors and Advisor for Electrical Engineering Senior Capstone Projects. She has held numerous leadership positions including Interim Program Chair of Electrical Engineering, ASEE Electrical and Computer Engineering Division Program Chair, and Faculty Senate Vice President. Her service extends to conference organization, where she has served as Session Chair, Program Committee member, and Scientific Committee member at national and international conferences. She previously served as Ph.D. Student Dissertation Co-Adviser and Master Student Theses Co-Adviser at Wichita State University. Dr. Emami actively participates in professional organizations as a Senior Member of IEEE and member of IEEE Control System Society and American Society for Engineering Education. Her leadership roles in ASEE include serving as Electrical and Computer Engineering Division Vice Chair, Engineering Physics and Physics Division Program Chair, and Ocean Engineering Division Publication Chair. She has contributed to numerous conference committees and served as an advisor for Lockheed Martin Ethics in Engineering Case Competitions.
Dr. Annett Gebert serves as Department Head of Chemistry of Functional Materials at the Leibniz Institute for Solid State and Materials Research Dresden (IFW Dresden). Her research focuses on the intersection of materials science, electrochemistry, and biomedical engineering, with particular expertise in metallic biomaterials, corrosion science, and surface engineering. Dr. Gebert's research interests span electrochemistry, corrosion, electrodeposition, chemical analytics, metallic biomaterials, metastable alloys, and magnetic materials. Her work primarily investigates titanium-based alloys, metallic glasses, and biodegradable metals for biomedical applications, with emphasis on surface modification techniques to enhance biocompatibility, corrosion resistance, and antibacterial properties. She has made significant contributions to understanding the relationship between microstructure, surface properties, and performance of advanced metallic materials in physiological environments. Analysis of her recent publications reveals a strong focus on biomedical applications of advanced metallic materials, particularly titanium alloys and metallic glasses. Her research demonstrates expertise in surface modification techniques including electrochemical treatments, laser patterning, and nanostructuring to improve material performance for implant applications. A significant portion of her recent work addresses challenges in biodegradable metals, corrosion mechanisms in physiological environments, and the development of antibacterial surfaces for medical devices. Dr. Gebert has authored or co-authored 299 journal papers, contributed to 30 collected editions/proceedings, and delivered 128 invited talks, demonstrating her significant impact in the field of functional materials research. Her research program involves extensive collaboration with materials scientists, biomedical engineers, and clinicians, focusing on translating fundamental materials research into practical biomedical applications. Current projects appear to emphasize additive manufacturing of biomedical alloys, surface engineering for enhanced biocompatibility, and the development of novel metallic glasses with tailored properties for medical implants.
Dr. Carmen Tripon is a senior researcher at the National Institute for Research and Development of Isotopic and Molecular Technologies in Cluj-Napoca, Romania, where she contributes to the Advanced Materials, Energy and Technologies Department through her work in quantum engineering and material science. MSc in Physics of Oxidic Systems (2002, Babeș-Bolyai University) PhD in Physics (2009, Babeș-Bolyai University) Her research focus spans atomic and molecular physics, photothermal techniques for material characterization, screening pharmaceutical solid forms, solid-state NMR for molecular structure elucidation, and UV-induced DNA degradation in plants. She develops advanced materials for environmental remediation, drug delivery systems, and energy storage solutions. Recent publications highlight her expertise in environmental science (adsorbent design, photocatalysis), biomedical engineering (nanocarriers for wound healing/melanoma imaging), and energy technology (supercapacitors, magnetic fluids). Key subfields include graphene-based sensors, metal-doped nanomaterials, and sustainable waste valorization for pollutant removal.
Maria Paola Carpanese is an Associate Professor at the Department of Civil, Chemical, and Environmental Engineering (DICCA) at the University of Genoa. Her academic career focuses on advanced materials for energy applications and electrochemical systems. Teaching: Courses on Chemical Fundamentals of Technologies, Ceramic Materials for Energy, and Electrochemical Systems for Fuel and Electrolysis Cells and Batteries. Research Interests: Centered on catalytic materials for energy conversion, electrochemical systems, and environmental engineering. Recent work explores ceria-based solid materials for redox properties, hydrogen safety in solid oxide fuel cells, and graphene-based materials for CO2 valorization. Publications demonstrate expertise in solid oxide fuel cells, microstructured electrodes, and molten salt synthesis techniques. Key topics include catalytic oxidation, LSTM-based anomaly detection, and material microstructural analysis. Email: maria.paola.carpanese@unige.it
Paul Forster is an Associate Professor in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV), with additional appointments in the radiochemistry program. His research focuses on synthesizing and characterizing nanoporous materials for gas storage, separation, and nuclear waste applications. His educational background includes a Ph.D. in Materials Science from the University of California, Santa Barbara (advisor: Anthony K. Cheetham) and a B.S. in Chemistry, Summa cum Laude, from Oregon State University (advisor: A. W. Sleight). Dr. Forster's research program centers on materials discovery through hydro/solvothermal synthesis, with emphasis on nanoporous frameworks exhibiting tunable pore chemistry. His group employs crystallography, neutron scattering, and gas sorption techniques to study structure-property relationships, particularly for hydrogen storage via coordinatively unsaturated metal sites and nuclear waste remediation involving technetium/actinide chemistry. Systematic studies of synthesis parameters (temperature, pH, concentration) enable precise control over material formation. Analysis of his publication record reveals consistent innovation in hybrid inorganic-organic materials, with dominant themes in gas-solid interactions ( hydrogen storage , fission product capture ) and structural characterization ( single-crystal diffraction , neutron studies ). His work bridges fundamental synthesis with energy and nuclear security applications. Dr. Forster directs a research group equipped with a Bruker Apex II diffractometer (SEB 2120) and maintains programmatic access to synchrotron facilities at the Advanced Light Source (Berkeley) and Advanced Photon Source (Chicago) for advanced structural studies.
Muhammed TAN is an Assistant Professor at Kastamonu University's Faculty of Engineering and Architecture , Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering. He has been active in academic roles since 2010, with a focus on Artificial Intelligence , Semiconductors , and Nanotechnology . Doctorate in Electrical and Computer Engineering (2012–2018) from University of California, Davis Master's in Physics (2010–2013) from Fatih University Bachelor's in Physics (2005–2010) from Fatih University His research spans nanomaterials for energy applications, machine learning in engineering systems, and semiconductor characterization . Recent work combines deep learning with thermal energy storage optimization and Python-based modeling of nanofluids. Key collaborations include Professor Yüksel Köseoğlu (2011–2013) and Charles E. Hunt (2016). Publications show significant impact in Materials Science and Electrical Engineering , with 655 citations and h-index 4. 2012 : MEB Overseas Education Scholarship 2011 : TÜBİTAK Master's Scholarship Teaches courses like Artificial Neural Networks , Power System Analysis , and Electric Vehicle Technology . Active in international research projects related to field-emission lighting and nanostructured materials .
Dr. Ke Gao is an Associate Professor in the Department of Earth and Space Sciences at Southern University of Science and Technology (SUSTech) in Shenzhen, China. He joined SUSTech in 2019 after completing postdoctoral research at Los Alamos National Laboratory in the United States. Dr. Gao holds a Ph.D. in Rock Mechanics from the University of Toronto, which he obtained in 2017. His educational background includes: 2021–present: Associate Professor, Department of Earth and Space Sciences, Southern University of Science and Technology 2019–2020: Assistant Professor, Department of Earth and Space Sciences, Southern University of Science and Technology 2017–2019: Post Doc, Solid Earth Geophysics, Los Alamos National Laboratory, USA 2012–2017: Ph.D., Rock Mechanics and Rock Engineering, University of Toronto, Canada Dr. Gao's research primarily focuses on rock mechanics and fault mechanics, with particular emphasis on the development of multiphysics coupling models based on the combined finite-discrete element method (FDEM). His work investigates rock fracturing mechanisms, hydraulic fracturing, and the stick-slip characteristics in sheared granular faults. He has made significant contributions to tensor-based statistical methods for characterizing stress variability and heterogeneity in fractured rock masses. His research bridges computational mechanics with earthquake physics, creating innovative approaches to understanding fundamental geological processes. Analysis of Dr. Gao's recent publications reveals a strong focus on computational geomechanics and earthquake physics. His work consistently applies and advances the combined finite-discrete element method (FDEM) to solve complex rock mechanics problems. There's a clear progression from fundamental method development to applications in earthquake source mechanics and hydraulic fracturing. The integration of machine learning techniques with traditional computational methods represents an emerging trend in his recent work, particularly for predicting slip behavior in granular fault systems. Dr. Gao has received several notable recognitions: Best Paper Award at the 7th International Symposium on In Situ Rock Stress (2016) National Overseas High-level Talent Program (Youth) (2020) Shenzhen 'Peacock Plan' B Talents (2021) Dr. Gao serves as principal investigator for multiple research projects funded by prestigious organizations including the National Natural Science Foundation of China, Ministry of Science and Technology key research and development projects, Guangdong Province general projects, and Shenzhen City general projects. He actively mentors graduate students and postdoctoral researchers, recruiting candidates with backgrounds in solid geophysics, rock mechanics, geological engineering, computational mechanics, and related disciplines. His research group provides comprehensive training in both theoretical and experimental aspects of rock mechanics and earthquake physics. Dr. Gao is affiliated with several professional organizations including the American Rock Mechanics Association, American Geophysical Union, International Society for Rock Mechanics, Canadian Geotechnical Society, Society of American Seismology, and ASCE Engineering Mechanics Institute, reflecting the interdisciplinary nature of his work spanning rock mechanics, geophysics, and computational engineering.
Songbai HAN is a Research Professor and Assistant Dean at the Institute of Frontier and Interdisciplinary Sciences, Southern University of Science and Technology (SUSTech). He also serves as Director of the Neutron Science Center, Director of the Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Solid-State Battery R&D, and Deputy Director of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Joint Laboratory of Photothermal Energy Materials and Devices. With over 20 years of experience in neutron scattering and large scientific facility construction, he has led national projects and built four neutron spectrometers at CARR and CSNS. Education: Ph.D. in Inorganic Chemistry, Graduate School of Chinese Academy of Sciences (2006) M.S. in Analytical Chemistry, Jilin University (2003) B.S. in Chemistry, Jilin University (2000) Research Interests: Prof. HAN's research focuses on neutron/X-ray diffraction and imaging for advanced functional materials, including solid-state batteries, gas hydrates, rare earth magnets, and MOFs. He develops neutron imaging techniques for non-destructive testing and energy material diagnostics. Awards & Honors: Beijing Science and Technology Progress Award (Second Prize), 2022 China Patent Excellence Award, 2022 Shenzhen Nanshan High-Level Talent, 2023–2026 Grants & Projects: Led over 300 million RMB in research funding Project leader for two Ministry of Science and Technology Key R&D projects Major Shenzhen technical research project on photon-counting CT (25 million RMB) Labs & Facilities: He directs the Shenzhen Materials Genome High-Pressure Neutron Spectrometer and the Neutron Science Center, enabling cutting-edge research in materials, physics, chemistry, and energy under extreme environments.
Dr. Salvatore Grasso is a Senior Lecturer in Ceramics at the School of Engineering and Materials Science, Queen Mary University of London . He serves as Editor of the European Ceramic Society and Associate Editor for the American Ceramic Society and International Journal of Applied Ceramic Technology. With over 250 publications and 28 patents, his work focuses on sustainable ceramics processing. Royal Society Industry Fellow (2025-2028, £157,805) Developed MagMat for electromagnetic material processing Research Interests include: Ultra-fast high-temperature sintering (UHS) with heating rates up to 10⁴°C/min Cold sintering processes for room-temperature joining Magnetic field alignment (9-15 Tesla) for textured ceramics High-entropy oxides and perovskites for energy storage Thermal shock synthesis of advanced ceramics Scientific Awards include: Pfeil Award Best paper in Asian Ceramic Society Journal Best PhD thesis (Japan) Research Trends in his 15 most recent articles show focus on: Reducing energy consumption in ceramic manufacturing Developing novel multi-field-assisted processing techniques Exploring high-entropy systems for enhanced stability Creating sustainable routes for functional ceramics Current Funding supports his project Revolutionizing fuel and electrolysis cell production for NET-Zero: Sustainable, Efficient, and Rapid ceramics processing (SER) . He leads international collaborations with groups in Europe, Asia, and America using custom equipment and multi-physics FEM simulations.
Dr. Anthony Phillips is a Lecturer in Condensed Matter and Materials Physics at the School of Physics and Astronomy, Queen Mary University of London. His research focuses on advanced materials, particularly ferroelectrics, barocalorics, and perovskites, using neutron scattering and computational methods like reverse Monte Carlo modeling.
Prof. Petra E. de Jongh is a Full Professor at the Materials Chemistry and Catalysis group within the Debye Institute for Nanomaterials Science at Utrecht University. Her research focuses on nanostructured inorganic materials for sustainable catalysis and energy storage/conversion, emphasizing the interplay between particle size, confinement, pore structure, and functionality. Education : MSc in Chemistry (cum laude) from Utrecht University (1995), PhD in Photoelectrochemistry of Nanoporous Semiconductor Electrodes (cum laude, 1999) Research Interests : A pioneer in catalysts and energy materials, de Jongh's work spans heterogeneous catalysis for renewable energy, CO2 conversion , electrocatalysis , and sustainable battery development . Her research explores pathways to sustainability through energy transition, particularly hydrogen storage and CO2 utilization. Scientific Contributions : With over 200 publications, 15 patents, and an h-index of 59, her work drives advancements in nanomaterial synthesis , catalyst testing , and electron microscopy . She has supervised 21 PhD students and 14 postdocs, including 9 PhD students and 3 postdocs currently under her guidance. Awards & Grants : Recipient of prestigious accolades including the ERC Consolidator Grant (2014) NWO Vici Award (2012) KNAW Membership (2018) Labs & Teams : Leads cutting-edge research at Utrecht University's Debye Institute, collaborating with industrial partners like Philips and academic institutions globally (e.g., Université Pierre et Marie Curie, Paris). Her lab focuses on developing solid-state batteries and catalysts for sustainable fuels.
Mim Rahimi serves as Assistant Professor in the Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering at the University of Houston's Cullen College of Engineering, with affiliate status in Materials Science and Engineering since 2021. Holding a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from Pennsylvania State University (2017) and postdoctoral training at MIT, Dr. Rahimi directs research at the intersection of electrochemistry and climate solutions. Postdoctoral, Chemical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2021 Ph.D., Chemical Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, 2017 B.S., Chemical Engineering, Sharif University of Technology, 2014 Dr. Rahimi's research centers on electrochemical carbon capture, utilization, and storage (eCCUS) , with specific focus on developing processes for carbon separation from flue gas and air, waste heat harvesting, and AI-integrated carbon capture systems. The lab pioneers electrochemical approaches to bridge electricity and thermochemistry for emission reduction, addressing critical gaps in industrial decarbonization pathways through both fundamental electrochemistry and applied process engineering. Analysis of recent publications reveals strong emphasis on electrochemically mediated amine regeneration for carbon capture (12+ papers), thermally regenerative batteries for waste heat conversion (8+ papers), and emerging work on ocean carbon removal and AI-optimized capture systems . Key disciplinary intersections include environmental electrochemistry, chemical process engineering, and sustainable materials development. NSF CAREER Award (2024) AAEES 40 Under 40 Recognition (2025) UH Junior Faculty Research Excellence Award (2024-2025) UH-Chevron $25K Energy Transition Innovation Challenge (2023) As Principal Investigator, Dr. Rahimi directs multiple federally funded projects including the NSF CAREER award for electrochemical carbon capture research. The lab maintains active collaborations with Schlumberger-Doll Research, Illinois Sustainable Technology Center, and University of Texas at Austin, while advising graduate students in electrochemical process development. Professional service includes editorial roles at Frontiers in Earth Science and Batteries Journal, plus IPCC AR6 review contributions. Team Rahimi operates a dedicated electrochemistry research facility focusing on bench-scale carbon capture system development and waste heat conversion technologies, with strong industry partnerships driving translational research toward commercial implementation.
Morten Mattrup Smedskjær , Professor at the Department of Chemistry and Life Sciences, Faculty of Engineering and Science, Aalborg University, is a world-leading researcher in disordered materials and oxide glass chemistry. With over 534 publications and 34 ongoing/complete projects, his work bridges fundamental glass science and advanced technological applications. Institution: Aalborg University, Denmark Department: Chemistry and Life Sciences Research Focus: Glass structure/mechanics, self-healing materials, solid-state batteries, bioactive glass His groundbreaking research explores glassy electrolytes for batteries, porous liquid-derived self-healing glass, and disordered metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) for drug delivery. Recent projects like MultiBat and DrugMOF demonstrate his interdisciplinary approach. Scientific Awards: EliteForsk Prize 2025 Grundfos Prize 2019 Vittorio Gottardi Prize 2019 W.H. Zachariasen Award 2019 Sir Alastair Pilkington Award 2018 Current work focuses on diffusion probabilistic models for inverse material design and economic impacts through glass-based manufacturing innovations. His 2025 Energy and Environmental Science review article establishes new paradigms in amorphous battery interfaces.
Michele Stefanizzi serves as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Mechanics, Mathematics and Management at the Polytechnic University of Bari, Italy. His academic work focuses on energy systems and power generation within the ING-IND/09 classification, with research centered on sustainable energy infrastructure and decarbonization technologies. His research interests encompass: Advanced hydrogen storage systems (solid-state and physisorption) Energy recovery in water distribution networks using pumps as turbines Thermoacoustic instability control in gas turbine combustion Fuel cell systems for marine propulsion applications Concentrated solar thermal integration with thermal energy storage Wave energy conversion using Wells turbines Analysis of his 15 most recent publications (2022-2025) reveals a strong thematic focus on decarbonization pathways through hydrogen technologies, renewable energy integration, and energy recovery systems. His work consistently combines numerical modeling, experimental validation, and techno-economic analysis across fluid mechanics, thermodynamics, and energy conversion domains, with particular emphasis on practical applications in water infrastructure, marine transportation, and industrial processes. Scientific awards: No awards were documented in the provided materials. Regarding academic advising, research grants, and laboratory facilities, the available information does not specify any details about student supervision, funded projects, or dedicated research infrastructure.
