Dr. Gabriela Dyrda | Chemistry | Best Researcher Award

Dr. Gabriela Dyrda | Chemistry | Best Researcher Award

University of Opole, Poland.

Dr. Gabriela Dyrda is a distinguished researcher and lecturer at the Faculty of Chemistry, Opole University, Poland. With a Ph.D. in Chemical Sciences from Opole University, she has dedicated her career to the study of the chemistry of phthalocyanine and porphyrin analogues. Dr. Dyrda is a recognized expert in the synthesis, reactivity, and opto-electronic properties of these compounds, with a particular focus on photocatalysis and bioactivity. She has a diverse academic background, including postdoctoral fellowships in Italy, and she has been a pivotal figure in advancing research in photochemical sensitization and energy transfer mechanisms.

Profile

Scopus

Education 🎓

Dr. Gabriela Dyrda completed her M.Sc. in 1997 at Opole University, Faculty of Mathematics, Physics, and Chemistry, where she focused on chemistry. She went on to earn her Ph.D. in 2006 from the same university, specializing in chemical sciences, with her research examining the photostability of metal phthalocyanines. Afterward, Dr. Dyrda pursued postdoctoral studies in Biotechnology at Opole University (2006-2008) before advancing her research career with a Post-Doctorate Fellowship at Università del Salento in Italy (2008), working under the guidance of leading experts in the field.

Experience 💼

Dr. Dyrda has been a researcher and lecturer at Opole University since 2006, contributing extensively to the Faculty of Chemistry. Her early career involved research assistant roles, where she focused on phthalocyanine complexes. She has also undertaken advanced research in Italy at Università del Salento, working with prominent scientists such as Prof. Giuseppe Mele.

Research Interests 🔬

Her research interests encompass the chemistry of phthalocyanines and porphyrins, focusing on:

Synthesis and reactivity of these analogues.

Opto-electronic properties and photocatalytic activity.

Energy transfer mechanisms between excited states of metallophthalocyanines and other molecules.

Bioactivity of phthalocyanine and porphyrin derivatives in biological applications.

Selected Publications 📚

Porphyrin and phthalocyanine photosensitizers designed for targeted photodynamic therapy of colorectal cancer
Janas, K., Boniewska-Bernacka, E., Dyrda, G., Słota, R. (2021). Bioorganic and Medicinal Chemistry, 30, 115926.
Citations: 50

Semiconductor @ sensitizer composites for enhanced photoinduced processes
Mele, G., Słota, R., Dyrda, G. (2021). Materials Science in Photocatalysis, pp. 183–209.
Citations: 2

Hydrogen bond-mediated conjugates involving lanthanide diphthalocyanines and trifluoroacetic acid (Lnpc2@TFA): Structure, photoactivity, and stability
Dyrda, G., Zakrzyk, M., Broda, M.A., Mele, G., Słota, R. (2020). Molecules, 25(16), 3638.
Citations: 10

Adducts of free-base meso-tetraarylporphyrins with trihaloacetic acids: Structure and photostability
Dyrda, G., Broda, M.A., Hnatejko, Z., Pędziński, T., Słota, R. (2020). Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology A: Chemistry, 393, 112445.
Citations: 3

Hybrid TiO2 @ phthalocyanine catalysts in photooxidation of 4-nitrophenol: Effect of the matrix and sensitizer type
Dyrda, G., Kocot, K., Poliwoda, A., Pal, S., Słota, R. (2020). Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology A: Chemistry, 387, 112124.

Citations: 10

 

 

Aamna Balouch | Chemistry | Best Researcher Award

Dr. Aamna Balouch | Chemistry | Best Researcher Award

 Associate Professor of University of Sindh, Pakistan

Dr. Aamna Balouch 🎓, Ph.D. in Analytical Chemistry, is an Associate Professor at the National Center of Excellence in Analytical Chemistry, University of Sindh, Pakistan 🏢. Her research focuses on nanomaterials, smart materials, and advanced analytical methods 🔬. She has received numerous awards, including the Best Researcher Award (2019) and Research Productivity Award (2012) 🏅. Dr. Balouch is a member of the American Chemical Society and the Chemical Society of Pakistan 🌍. She has also served as a visiting scientist in Turkey and completed postdoctoral research in Malaysia 🌟.

Professional Profile:

Education🎓

Dr. Aamna Balouch 🎓 holds a Ph.D. in Analytical Chemistry from the University of Sindh, Pakistan (2004-2010) 📜. She completed a short-term Ph.D. course at Wake Forest University, USA (2007) 🌎 and a postdoctorate in Nanotechnology at the University Kebangsaan Malaysia (2012-2014) 🧪. Dr. Balouch was a visiting scientist at Istanbul Technical University, Turkey (2020-2021) 🌟. She also earned a Master of Science in Analytical Chemistry from the University of Sindh, securing the first position in her class (2002-2003) 🥇🩺🎓

 

Professional Experience 📚

Dr. Aamna Balouch 🎓 is an Associate Professor at the National Center of Excellence in Analytical Chemistry, University of Sindh, Pakistan (2017-present) 🏢. She served as an Assistant Professor (2012-2017) and Lecturer (2009-2012) at the same institution. Her career began as a Research Associate (2004-2009) 🧪. Dr. Balouch was a trainer for the DELPHI PROJECT on urban water demand management (2008-2011) 🌍. She has also held the role of a visiting scientist at Istanbul Technical University, Turkey (2020-2021) 🌟, contributing significantly to the field of analytical chemistry.

Research Interest 🔍

Dr. Aamna Balouch’s research interests 🔬 include the synthesis of nanomaterials (metals, metal oxides, metal chalcogenides) and their applications in catalyst and sensor technology 🧪. She focuses on the development of novel smart materials and metal ion imprinted polymers for environmental analytical applications 🌍. Additionally, Dr. Balouch is dedicated to advancing chromatographic, spectrophotometric, and spectrofluorimetric methods for analyzing ionic analytes using non-toxic micellar media 📊. Her innovative work aims to improve the accuracy and efficiency of environmental monitoring and analytical chemistry techniques.

Award and Honor🏆

Dr. Aamna Balouch has received numerous awards and honors 🏆, including the prestigious Best Researcher Award from the University of Sindh (2019) 🥇 and the Research Productivity Award from the Ministry of Science and Technology (2012) 🏅. She was recognized for outstanding research in Science by the Australian Multicultural Charity and SAWF in 2021 🌟. Additionally, she earned a Ph.D. split program scholarship from the Higher Education Commission, Islamabad, for research at Wake Forest University, USA (2007) 🎓. Dr. Balouch also secured first positions in both her M.Phil and M.Sc programs 🥇.

 

Research Skills🌟

 

Dr. Aamna Balouch possesses advanced research skills in nanomaterials synthesis, including metals, metal oxides, and metal chalcogenides 🧪. She excels in fabricating smart materials and metal ion imprinted polymers for environmental applications 🌍. Dr. Balouch is proficient in developing chromatographic, spectrophotometric, and spectrofluorimetric methods for ionic analytes using non-toxic micellar media 📊. Her expertise extends to the design and application of nanosensors for detecting toxic ions and pollutants 🔍. With a strong background in analytical chemistry, she continually enhances techniques to improve environmental monitoring and catalysis.

Achievements🏆

  • Best Researcher Award (2019): University of Sindh 🥇.
  • Research Productivity Award (2012): Ministry of Science and Technology 🏅.
  • Outstanding Research in Science Award (2021): Australian Multicultural Charity and SAWF 🌟.
  • Ph.D. Split Program Scholarship (2007): Higher Education Commission, Islamabad, for research at Wake Forest University, USA 🎓.
  • First Position in M.Phil and M.Sc Programs: University of Sindh 🥇.
  • Reviewer: 10 International and 1 National Chemistry Journals 📚.

Projects💧🔬

  • Metal Ion Imprinted Polymers (MIIPs): Novel material for pre-concentration and separation of total arsenic in aqueous systems, funded by the Pakistan Science Foundation (2016-2018) 💧🔬.
  • Postdoctoral Fellowship: Surfactant-assisted, shape-controlled synthesis of metal nanowires or nanorods and their application, funded by UKM, Malaysia (Completed) 🧪🌟.

Publications 📚

  • Changes in fatty acid composition in muscle of three farmed carp fish species (Labeo rohita, Cirrhinus mrigala, Catla catla) raised under the same conditions
    • Author, Year: NN Memon, FN Talpur, MI Bhanger, A Balouch (2011)
    • Citation: Food Chemistry 126 (2), 405-410 🐟🔬
  • A novel green synthesis and characterization of Ag NPs with its ultra-rapid catalytic reduction of methyl green dye
    • Author, Year: Y Junejo, A Baykal, M Safdar, A Balouch (2014)
    • Citation: Applied Surface Science 290, 499-503 🌱🔬
  • Biosorption of fluoride from aqueous solution by white—rot fungus Pleurotus eryngii ATCC 90888
    • Author, Year: F Amin, FN Talpur, A Balouch, MA Surhio, MA Bhutto (2015)
    • Citation: Environmental Nanotechnology, Monitoring & Management 3, 30-37 🍄💧
  • Sorption kinetics, isotherm and thermodynamic modeling of defluoridation of groundwater using natural adsorbents
    • Author, Year: A Balouch, M Kolachi, FN Talpur, H Khan, MI Bhanger (2013)
    • Citation: Scientific Research Publishing 🌍🔬
  • Efficient heterogeneous catalytic hydrogenation of acetone to isopropanol on semihollow and porous palladium nanocatalyst
    • Author, Year: A Balouch, A Ali Umar, AA Shah, M Mat Salleh, M Oyama (2013)
    • Citation: ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces 5 (19), 9843-9849 🧪🌟
  • Poriferous microtablet of anatase TiO2 growth on an ITO surface for high-efficiency dye-sensitized solar cells
    • Author, Year: AA Umar, S Nafisah, SKM Saad, ST Tan, A Balouch, MM Salleh (2014)
    • Citation: Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells 122, 174-182 ☀️🔋
  • Microwave-assisted synthesis of imprinted polymer for selective removal of arsenic from drinking water by applying Taguchi statistical method
    • Author, Year: FA Mustafai, A Balouch, N Jalbani, MI Bhanger, MS Jagirani, A Kumar (2018)
    • Citation: European Polymer Journal 109, 133-142 🌊🧪
  • Sensitive fluorescence detection of Ni 2+ ions using fluorescein functionalized Fe 3 O 4 nanoparticles
    • Author, Year: MT Shah, A Balouch, E Alveroglu (2018)
    • Citation: Journal of Materials Chemistry C 6 (5), 1105-1115 💡🔬
  • ZnO nanocubes with (1 0 1) basal plane photocatalyst prepared via a low-frequency ultrasonic assisted hydrolysis process
    • Author, Year: ST Tan, AA Umar, A Balouch, M Yahaya, CC Yap, MM Salleh, M Oyama (2014)
    • Citation: Ultrasonics Sonochemistry 21 (2), 754-760 🔲🌊
  • Synthesis of ultrasonic-assisted lead ion imprinted polymer as a selective sorbent for the removal of Pb2+ in a real water sample
    • Author, Year: A Balouch, FN Talpur, A Kumar, MT Shah, AM Mahar (2019)
    • Citation: Microchemical Journal 146, 1160-1168 🌊🧪