Natasa Knezevic | Environmental and Green Processes | Best Researcher Award

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Dr. Natasa Knezevic | Environmental and Green Processes | Best Researcher Award

Dr. Natasa Knezevic | “VINČA” Institute of Nuclear Sciences National Institute of thе Republic of Serbia | Serbia

Dr. Natasa Knezevic is a Serbian researcher and emerging scientist in the field of environmental and chemical engineering, currently pursuing her Ph.D. in Environmental Engineering at the Faculty of Technology and Metallurgy, University of Belgrade. She is affiliated with the “VINCA” Institute of Nuclear Sciences – National Institute of the Republic of Serbia, where she serves as a Research Assistant. Her academic and research expertise encompasses instrumental analysis, organic synthesis and material characterization, adsorption processes on bio-based materials, composites, and the development of green methods for sustainable waste management. Dr. Knežević holds dual master’s degrees in Biochemical Engineering and Biotechnology, and in Environmental Engineering from the University of Belgrade. She has also gained international experience as a visiting researcher at the University of Ljubljana, Slovenia, and participated in multiple applied science and environmental innovation projects. Her scientific output includes over 12 peer-reviewed publications, around 150 citations, and an h-index of 6, reflecting her growing influence in the field of environmental materials and green technologies. She has received numerous honors, including the Panta S. Tutundžić Award for academic excellence, the Best Technological Innovation Award (2021) from the Ministry of Environmental Protection of Serbia, and recognition for the Best Start-Up Ideas initiative by Coca-Cola Youth Support. Alongside her scientific career, she is an active volunteer, team leader, and ambassador at the University of Belgrade’s Center for Career Development. Fluent in Serbian, English, and Russian, Dr. Knežević combines technical proficiency in tools like SuperPro Designer, OriginPro, ChemDraw, and Python with strong communication, leadership, and organizational skills, making her a dynamic and versatile young researcher in environmental innovation and sustainable engineering.

Profiles: Scopus | Orcid 

Featured Publications

Abduarahman, M. A., Vuksanovic, M. M., Knezevic, N., Banjanac, K., Milosevic, M., Velickovic, Z., & Marinkovic, A. (2024). MgAl-layered double hydroxide-coated bio-silica as an adsorbent for anionic pollutants removal: A case study of the implementation of sustainable technologies. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 25(21), 11837.

Brzić, S., Knezevic, N., Kovacevic, T., Vuksanovic, M., Marinkovic, A., & Grzetic, J. (2024). Furoic acid-based (non)energetic plasticizers for solid composite propellants production. Scientific Technical Review, 74(1), 50–57.

Cujic, M., Knezevic, N., Zivković, F., & Jankovic Mandic, L. (2025). Radiation technology in polymer waste recycling and upcycling: Mechanisms, applications, and prospects. Metallurgical and Materials Data.

Cujic, M., Knezevic, N., Zivković, F., & Jankovic Mandic, L. (2025). Radiation technology in the light of polymer waste recycling. Metallurgical & Materials Engineering Congress of South-East Europe.

Embirsh, H. S. A., Vuksanovic, M. M., Mladenovic, I. O., Knezevic, N., Milosevic, M., Mijatov, S., Jancic Heinemann, R., & Marinković, A. (2024). Unsaturated polyester resin-based composites: A case study of lignin valorisation. Chemosphere, 352, 142144.

Knezevic, N., Vuksanovic, M., & Marinkovic, A. (2025). Enhanced mechanical strength and controlled biodegradability of bio-membranes synthesized from waste hemp fibers. Metallurgical and Materials Data.

Knezevic, N., Vuksanovic, M., & Marinkovic, A. (2025). Mechanical and biodegradability properties of synthesized bio-membranes from waste hemp fibers. Metallurgical & Materials Engineering Congress of South-East Europe.

Knezevic, N., Vuksanovic,, M. M., Banjanac, K., Pantic, K., Velickovic, Z., Cvijetic, I., Marinkovic, A., & Miloševic, M. (2024). Cationic waste hemp fibers-based membrane: Case study of anionic pollutants removal through environmentally friendly processes. Journal of Environmental Management, 361, 123174.

Savic, A., Vuksanovic, M. M., Savic, M., Knezevic, N., SaponjiC, A., IliC, S., & Egelja, A. (2025). Modified silica particles coated with Cu–Al layered double hydroxide for phosphate and arsenate removal in water treatment. Molecules, 30(10), 2138.

Hanin Othman | Environmental Science and Smart Technology | Young Researcher Award 

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Ms. Hanin Othman | Environmental Science and Smart Technology | Young Researcher Award 

Ms. Hanin Othman | Pennsylvania State University | United States

Author Profiles

Scopus

Orcid

Google Scholar

Early Academic Pursuits

Ms. Hanin Othman began her academic journey with a strong foundation in architecture and design. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Architectural Engineering from The Hashemite University, Jordan in 2014, where she graduated among the top students in her class and received multiple honors, including the Best Graduation Project Award. Her academic excellence continued through her Master of Science in Architectural Engineering from The University of Jordan in 2019, where her thesis publication earned the Best Master Thesis Published Paper Award. Building upon these achievements, she is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Architecture (Sustainability) at Pennsylvania State University, USA. Her educational path reflects a consistent dedication to research and innovation at the intersection of environmental science and smart technology.

Professional Endeavors

Ms. Othman’s professional journey is marked by her deep involvement in academia, research, and creative technology. At Penn State University, she serves as a Graduate Teaching Assistant, instructing courses such as Basic Design and Research and Sustainable Architecture I & II. She is also the Artist and Maker in Residence at the Learning Factory, where she designs and leads workshops on low-cost IoT-based environmental monitoring systems using Arduino. Her earlier professional experience includes working as an Architect and Design Studio Supervisor at The Hashemite University, and as an Architect at Ruba Hosuah for Engineering. These roles allowed her to integrate sustainability principles with modern design methods, reinforcing her commitment to environmental science and smart technology.

Contributions and Research Focus

Ms. Hanin Othman’s research lies at the dynamic intersection of environmental science and smart technology, with a particular focus on sustainability, digital fabrication, and sensing technologies in architecture. Her doctoral research emphasizes the development of IoT-based indoor air quality monitoring systems, integrating mobile platforms, robotic sensing, and data-driven optimization techniques. She also explores urban microclimates, vegetation impacts, and thermal comfort using simulation tools such as ENVI-met, Design Builder, and CFD modeling. Additionally, her work in robotic fabrication bridges computational design with traditional craftsmanship, pushing the boundaries of sustainable architectural innovation.

Impact and Influence

Ms. Othman has made a remarkable impact both as a researcher and an educator. Her innovative approach to integrating environmental science and smart technology into architecture has influenced sustainable design practices and academic pedagogy. She has been recognized through numerous awards, including the ICDS Rising Researcher Award (2025–2026), Fox Scholar Award (2025), Sustainability Graduate Student Award Nomination (2024–2025), and the Artists and Makers in Residence Program (2024–2025). Her teaching contributions at Penn State University have inspired many students to embrace interdisciplinary and environmentally responsive design approaches.

Academic Cites

Ms. Othman’s research contributions have been featured in conferences, workshops, and institutional publications, reflecting the growing academic acknowledgment of her work. Her studies in environmental science and smart technology have attracted attention for their real-world applicability and technological innovation. Through her participation in Penn State’s Institute for Computational and Data Sciences (ICDS) and Hamer Center for Community Design, she has collaborated on projects that integrate digital twins, IoT networks, and data-driven environmental monitoring   all contributing to the broader academic discourse on sustainable and smart architectural systems.

Legacy and Future Contributions

Looking forward, Ms. Hanin Othman’s legacy will be defined by her contributions to sustainable architectural research and the advancement of environmental science and smart technology. Her ongoing projects, such as TwinSight: A Data-Driven Digital Twin Framework for Human-Centric Health Monitoring, highlight her vision for human-centered, data-driven, and equitable environmental design. As she continues to mentor students and collaborate across disciplines, her influence will extend to shaping the next generation of architects and environmental technologists. Her long-term goal is to pioneer scalable, low-cost sensing and smart systems that redefine sustainability in architecture.

Environmental Science and Smart Technology

Ms. Hanin Othman’s research integrates Environmental Science and Smart Technology through IoT-based sensing systems, robotic fabrication, and data-driven environmental design. Her interdisciplinary approach to Environmental Science and Smart Technology bridges architecture, engineering, and sustainability, redefining how design responds to ecological and technological challenges. The future of Environmental Science and Smart Technology continues to evolve through her innovative contributions, academic leadership, and commitment to global sustainable development.

Featured Publications

Othman, H., & Alshboul, A. A. (2020). The role of urban morphology on outdoor thermal comfort: The case of Al-Sharq City–Az Zarqa. Urban Climate, 34, 100706.

Othman, H., Azari, R., & Guimarães, T. (2024). Low-cost IoT-based indoor air quality monitoring. Technology|Architecture + Design, 8(2: Coding), 250–270.

Othman, H., Sieves, G., Guimarães, T., & Azari, R. (2025). A calibration chamber framework for low-cost indoor air quality sensor validation. Building and Environment, 113856.

Othman, H., Sieves, G., Guimaraes, T., & Azari, R. (2024). Development of a calibration chamber to evaluate the performance of a low-cost IAQ sensing device. In SIGraDi 2024 - Biodigital Intelligent Systems Conference 1.

Othman, H., & Azari, R. (2023). Exploring low-cost sensors for indoor air quality (IAQ) monitoring: A review of stationary and mobile sensing systems. In Proceedings of the 11th International Conference of the Arab Society 

Imam, C. A., Othman, H. A. S., & Çapunaman, Ö. B. (2023). Robotic plaster carving: Formalizing subtractive detailing of plaster surfaces for construction and crafts. In 41st Conference on Education and Research in Computer Aided Architectural

Milad Adelifar | Solar energy | Excellence in Research

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Mr. Milad Adelifar | Solar energy | Excellence in Research

Research Scholar, K. N. Toosi University of Technology, Iran

Milad Adelifar is a highly motivated Mechanical Engineer with a strong academic background and a keen interest in renewable energy, CFD, and heat transfer analysis. He holds a Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering from K. N. Toosi University of Technology and is proficient in software such as COMSOL Multiphysics and Ansys Fluent. Milad is eager to contribute to innovative research and development projects and aims to continue his studies at the Ph.D. level.

Profile

Google Scholar

Education 🎓

Mr. Milad Adelifar earned a Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering with a focus on Energy from K. N. Toosi University of Technology, Tehran, Iran, completing the program from September 2020 to January 2023. Prior to this, Mr. Adelifar obtained a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Esfarayen University of Technology, Esfarayen, Iran, where he studied from September 2014 to January 2020.

Experience 💼

Mr. Milad Adelifar is currently working as a Mechanical Engineer specializing in Filtration Process Design at JDEVS Company in Tehran, Iran, a position he has held since April 2022.

Research Interests 🔬

Mr. Milad Adelifar’s research interests are centered on Renewable Energy, with a particular emphasis on Solar Energy. He is also deeply engaged in the fields of Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) and Heat Transfer Analysis. These areas of focus reflect his commitment to advancing sustainable energy solutions and his expertise in the complex dynamics of fluid behavior and thermal processes.

Publications 📚

Investigating and comparing the effect of angle of attack in two airfoil samples on pressure contours using Ansys Fluent software. Authors: Mohammad Hatami, Milad Adelifar. The 6th National Conference of Applied Researches in Electrical, Mechanical, and Mechatronics Engineering (2020), Iran. link

Investigating the power and efficiency of the 3D model of the concentrated photovoltaic thermoelectric hybrid system and estimating the power consumption of the water pump for cooling. Authors: Milad Adelifar, Cyrus Aghanajafi Energy (2024). link