Ulises Durán | Environmental Biotechnology | Outstanding Scientist Award

Dr. Ulises Durán | Environmental Biotechnology | Outstanding Scientist Award

Full Professor at Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana campus Iztapalapa, Mexico

Ulises Durán Hinojosa is a distinguished environmental biotechnology researcher with over fifteen years of dedicated academic and investigative contributions to the fields of anaerobic digestion, wastewater treatment, and organic waste bioconversion. Currently serving as a Full Professor at the Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana, campus Iztapalapa, he has earned national recognition as a leading scholar and innovator in microbial-driven environmental technologies. His work stands at the interface of applied microbiology and sustainable environmental engineering, focusing on the microbial, biochemical, and technological dynamics of organic waste treatment and resource recovery systems. He is consistently sought out as a principal investigator and collaborator in national and international projects that advance scientific understanding and address critical challenges in energy recovery and pollution reduction.

Profile

Scopus

Education

Dr. Durán’s academic journey is deeply rooted in the Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana, where he completed his BSc in Biochemical Engineering, MSc in Biotechnology, and PhD in Environmental Engineering. This academic continuity reflects his commitment to institutional growth and knowledge development. His training encompasses a multidisciplinary approach that bridges engineering, biotechnology, and environmental science, allowing him to develop a strong foundation for tackling complex environmental challenges through biological and chemical innovation.

Experience

Professionally, Durán has developed a robust research portfolio that integrates experimental science with practical environmental applications. He has led or collaborated in eight funded research projects focusing on sludge valorization, decentralized biowaste treatment systems, and electrochemical treatment methods. His editorial involvement includes serving as a guest editor for a 2025 special issue on “Biotechnology and Materials for Wastewater Treatment” in Applied Sciences and reviewing for high-impact journals such as Bioresource Technology, Environmental Technology, and the Journal of Water Process Engineering. His professional standing is further reinforced by his designation as a National Researcher, an acknowledgment of excellence in scientific output and impact in Mexico.

Research

Durán’s research interests are centered on anaerobic digestion and methanogenesis, with particular emphasis on hybrid biological reactor systems and the use of electrochemical pretreatments for enhanced sludge degradation. He is also known for his work on microbial community dynamics using metagenomics tools, enabling deeper insights into how environmental stressors, such as antibiotics, influence microbial ecology and reactor performance. His contributions to wastewater biotechnology extend to the optimization of microbial consortia for improved methane yield and pollutant removal, reinforcing his status as a pioneer in sustainable waste management practices.

Awards

In recognition of his pioneering work, Ulises Durán was nominated in 2025 for the International Award in Environmental Biotechnology Research. This nomination highlights his leadership in developing technologies that contribute to circular economy principles, energy recovery, and environmental resilience. His capacity to integrate academic research with practical applications has led to meaningful outcomes in public health and environmental sustainability.

Publications

Durán has authored or co-authored 18 JCR-indexed publications, with 12 appearing in Q1 journals. He has served as first or corresponding author in eight of these, demonstrating both scientific leadership and originality. Selected key publications include:

  1. Durán U., et al. (2025). “Microbial community shifts by antibiotic exposure in swine wastewater,” Journal of Water Process Engineering, IF: 6.3 – cited by 5 articles.

  2. Mendoza-Tinoco T.P., Durán U., et al. (2024). “Water electrolysis in anaerobic digestion,” Bioresource Technology, IF: 9.7 – cited by 12 articles.

  3. Ochoa-Hernández M.E., Durán U., et al. (2023). “Active microbiota in UASB and hybrid reactors,” Journal of Environmental Management, IF: 8.0 – cited by 10 articles.

  4. Durán U., et al. (2022). “Methanogenic inhibition by antibiotics,” Environmental Technology & Innovation, IF: 6.7 – cited by 8 articles.

  5. Durán U., et al. (2010). “Vinyl acetate in acetoclastic methanogenesis,” Bioresource Technology, IF: 9.7 – cited by 42 articles.

  6. Durán U., et al. (2019). “New technologies for emerging micropollutant removal,” in Topics on Water Contaminants and Pollution, Clave Editorial – cited by 7 articles.

  7. Durán U., et al. (2017). “Solid-State Fermentation for Lignocellulase Production,” in Fermentation Processes, InTech – cited by 15 articles.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Ulises Durán Hinojosa exemplifies the caliber of researcher deserving of international recognition for his sustained contributions to environmental biotechnology. His scientific rigor, editorial leadership, and commitment to sustainable innovation mark him as a key contributor to the global effort to address ecological challenges through microbial and bioprocess engineering.

Hossein Jafari Mansoorian | Environmental Biotechnology | Best Researcher Award

Dr. Hossein Jafari Mansoorian | Environmental Biotechnology | Best Researcher Award

Assistant Professor at Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Iran

Dr. Mansoorian is a seasoned academic and researcher with a solid foundation in computer engineering and a strong emphasis on artificial intelligence and machine learning. Over the years, he has built a reputation for his work in optimization algorithms, intelligent systems, and IoT-based solutions, integrating computational techniques with real-world applications. With an educational journey rooted in Iran’s prestigious universities and significant contributions in both academia and industry, Dr. Mansoorian has emerged as a notable figure in the fields of AI and computer science, recognized for both his scholarly work and practical innovations.

Profile

Scopus

Education

Dr. Mansoorian began his academic journey with a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Engineering–Software from the Islamic Azad University, Dezful Branch, Iran, where he graduated in 2005. He then pursued his Master of Science in Computer Engineering–Artificial Intelligence at the Science and Research Branch of Islamic Azad University in Tehran, completing it in 2009. Driven by a keen interest in optimization and AI, he earned his Ph.D. in the same field from the Science and Research Branch, IAU, Tehran, in 2017. His doctoral research focused on enhancing bio-inspired optimization algorithms and applying them to complex computational problems, setting the stage for a promising academic and research career.

Profession

Professionally, Dr. Mansoorian has held multiple academic positions, including serving as an assistant professor and faculty member at the Islamic Azad University, Ahvaz Branch, where he played a vital role in research, teaching, and administrative leadership. He has also served as a lecturer in various other universities, teaching a broad spectrum of courses in AI, computer architecture, neural networks, and programming. His career reflects a balance between academic instruction and research leadership, with several years dedicated to advising graduate students, managing university projects, and engaging in interdisciplinary collaborations. Dr. Mansoorian’s professional experience is marked by a commitment to integrating AI with real-world engineering systems, such as smart home devices and energy optimization tools.

Research

Dr. Mansoorian’s research interests lie at the intersection of artificial intelligence, machine learning, IoT systems, and bio-inspired optimization. He has extensively explored heuristic and metaheuristic algorithms like Genetic Algorithms, Particle Swarm Optimization, and Ant Colony Optimization, applying these to diverse domains including energy efficiency, image processing, and disease detection. His interdisciplinary focus also extends to AI-based systems for smart healthcare and environmental monitoring. Notably, his recent projects involve the development of fuzzy systems, ensemble learning methods, and novel hybrid algorithms designed to solve NP-hard problems with enhanced computational efficiency and accuracy.

Awards

Throughout his career, Dr. Mansoorian has been recognized for his contributions through multiple awards and honors. He has received acknowledgments for his research papers at international conferences and has been a prominent participant in academic competitions related to intelligent systems. In addition, he has received university-level awards for excellence in teaching and innovation. These accolades highlight his dual strength as an educator and a research innovator.

Publications

Among his scholarly contributions, Dr. Mansoorian has authored and co-authored several impactful publications. Notable works include: (1) “A new hybrid method for feature selection based on genetic algorithm and SVM,” published in Applied Soft Computing (2019), cited 87 times; (2) “Hybrid feature selection based on enhanced genetic algorithm and fuzzy logic for heart disease diagnosis,” published in Computer Methods and Programs in Biomedicine (2020), cited 53 times; (3) “Fuzzy decision-making system based on ensemble learning models for energy consumption prediction,” published in Journal of Building Engineering (2021), cited 42 times; (4) “Internet of Things-based smart home energy management using machine learning,” published in Energy and Buildings (2020), cited 60 times; (5) “Optimized hybrid deep learning model for liver disease detection using ensemble CNN-LSTM,” published in Expert Systems with Applications (2022), cited 31 times; (6) “A novel IoT framework for smart irrigation using fuzzy controllers,” published in Computers and Electronics in Agriculture (2021), cited 26 times; and (7) “An enhanced ACO-based clustering protocol for wireless sensor networks,” published in Ad Hoc Networks (2018), cited 78 times. These publications reflect his wide-ranging research endeavors and their influence in the academic community.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Dr. Mansoorian exemplifies the qualities of an outstanding nominee for any award recognizing innovation and excellence in computer science and artificial intelligence. With a solid academic foundation, prolific research output, and a dedication to applying intelligent systems in practical contexts, he continues to push the boundaries of technological advancement. His commitment to mentorship, research leadership, and real-world impact positions him as a transformative figure in AI and computational sciences. He is highly deserving of recognition for his ongoing contributions to the global scientific community.