Ksenia Velmozhina | Аlternative energy | Best Researcher Award

Ms. Ksenia Velmozhina | Аlternative energy | Best Researcher Award

Research engineer at Peter the Great St.Petersburg Polytechnic University, Russia

Ksenia Velmozhina is a research engineer at Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University with a strong focus on sustainable technologies and renewable energy systems. Over the past four years, she has specialized in scientific research targeting biogas and biohydrogen production from organic waste. Her work is rooted in the broader mission of promoting energy efficiency and ecological responsibility through applied science. Ksenia’s scientific approach combines creativity, analytical rigor, and a dedication to environmental innovation, allowing her to contribute meaningfully to real-world sustainability challenges through interdisciplinary collaboration and patented solutions.

Profile

Scopus

EDUCATION

Ksenia completed her Bachelor’s degree in Technosphere Safety from Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University in 2021, where her thesis explored the implementation of green building standards in Russia. She continued at the same institution for her Master’s degree in Technosphere Safety, specializing in Environmental Safety in Industry, which she completed in 2023. Her graduate thesis focused on improving anaerobic digestion technology for energy purposes, laying the foundation for her research into renewable energy recovery from organic waste. Her academic background provided her with a solid understanding of industrial safety and ecological engineering, which directly informs her current professional and research endeavors.

EXPERIENCE

Professionally, Ksenia has held the position of research engineer at her alma mater, where she has applied her education to projects involving waste-to-energy technologies. Her responsibilities include the design and enhancement of anaerobic digestion systems, development of biohydrogen production methods, and research into microalgae-based carbon capture. She works closely with both academic researchers and industry experts to bring theoretical advancements into practical, scalable solutions. Her work bridges laboratory experiments with industrial application, making her contributions valuable for both scientific progress and real-world implementation of sustainable technologies.

RESEARCH INTEREST

Her primary research interests lie in the fields of anaerobic digestion, biogas and biodiesel production, hydrogen energy, microalgae-based environmental technologies, and organic waste recycling. She is particularly enthusiastic about hydrogen bioenergy, viewing it as a critical pillar of the future sustainable energy infrastructure. Ksenia’s work often emphasizes integration—combining processes like wastewater treatment, carbon dioxide capture, and energy recovery into comprehensive, eco-friendly systems. Her research contributes to sustainable development goals and seeks to mitigate climate change through advanced waste-to-energy conversions and bioengineering solutions.

AWARD

Ksenia has received several awards in recognition of her innovation and scientific excellence. She holds two patents: “Carbon Dioxide Utilization Using Chlorella Microalgae” (Patent No. 2022119015) and “Method for Enhancing Biogas Potential of Organic Waste” (Patent No. 2826145). In 2021, she won the EcoMarathon student competition, and in 2022, she earned first place in the All-Russian Youth Research Competition on Waste-to-Energy. Her continued success in renewable energy research earned her a prestigious grant in 2023 from St. Petersburg to support her work on biogas and biohydrogen production technologies, further validating her contribution to sustainable science and engineering.

PUBLICATION

Ksenia has authored and co-authored impactful scientific articles in high-ranking journals. In 2025, she co-authored “Development of a technological scheme for the utilization of carbon dioxide and the production of biohydrogen using microalgae” in the International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, cited for advancing CO₂-to-fuel methods. In 2023, she published “Production of Biohydrogen from Microalgae Biomass after Wastewater Treatment and Air Purification from CO₂” in Processes, a paper recognized for its integrated wastewater-energy approach. Her collaboration on “Carbon Dioxide Utilization Using Chlorella Microalgae” appeared in Environments (2023), a work cited in CO₂ biosequestration studies. She also contributed to “Heavy Metal Ions(II) Sorption by a Cellulose-Based Sorbent Containing Sulfogroups” in Polymers (2023), cited for eco-material innovation. Her 2024 review “Review of modern strategies for the development of hydrogen bioenergy” in International Journal of Hydrogen Energy outlined global hydrogen policies and pathways. Additionally, she co-authored “Production of biogas from organic waste at landfills by anaerobic digestion” in the same journal (2024), and contributed to the 2023 study “Modification of Liquid Glasses Is a Key Factor in the Technology of Obtaining Hybrid Compositions and Coatings with Anticorrosive Properties” in Coatings, expanding her interdisciplinary reach into materials science.

CONCLUSION

In view of her impressive scientific contributions, innovative mindset, and commitment to solving environmental challenges through research, Ksenia Velmozhina is highly suitable for the Best Researcher Award. Her portfolio embodies excellence, creativity, and a strong vision for a sustainable future, making her a worthy candidate for this prestigious honor.

Anietie Etim | Clean Fuels | Innovative Solutions for Environmental Challenges Award

Dr Anietie Etim | Clean Fuels | Innovative Solutions for Environmental Challenges Award

Durban University of Technology, South Africa

Dr. Anietie Okon Etim is a distinguished Chemical Engineer specializing in renewable energy, sustainable fuels, and green catalysis. With a PhD from Durban University of Technology (2018-2022), an MSc from Obafemi Awolowo University (2013-2015), and a BSc from Nnamdi Azikiwe University (2004-2009), he has built a robust academic foundation. His research focuses on biomass conversion, waste recycling, and environmental sustainability. Dr. Etim is a postdoctoral researcher at Durban University of Technology, contributing to clean energy and biomass valorization. He is a member of prestigious organizations like SAICHE, NSE, and WSSET, and has received numerous awards, including the NRF postdoctoral fellowship. A prolific researcher, he has published extensively and presented at international conferences.

Professional Profile

Google Scholar

Scopus

Education 🎓

  • PhD Chemical Engineering, Durban University of Technology, South Africa (2018-2022)
  • MSc Chemical Engineering, Obafemi Awolowo University, Nigeria (2013-2015)
  • BSc Chemical Engineering, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Nigeria (2004-2009)

Dr. Etim’s academic journey reflects his dedication to advancing sustainable energy solutions through innovative research and interdisciplinary collaboration.

Experience 💼

  • Postdoctoral Researcher, Durban University of Technology (2023–Present): Leading clean energy research, biomass valorization, and co-supervising students.
  • Research Assistant, Durban University of Technology (2020–2021): Conducted research on waste cooking oil decolorization.
  • Doctoral Researcher, Durban University of Technology (2018–2022): Explored advanced biomass liquid fuels and feedstock hybridization.
  • Master’s Researcher, Obafemi Awolowo University (2012–2015): Optimized biodiesel synthesis using heterogeneous catalysts.

His expertise spans green catalysis, process optimization, and bioenergy systems.

Awards and Honors 🏆

  • NRF Postdoctoral Fellowship Award (2023)
  • DUT Doctoral Training/Support Award (2022)
  • S&F-NRF-TWAS African Renaissance PhD Fellowship (2018–2021)
  • Invited speaker at global conferences like GSPEE2024, Catalysis Expo-2022, and Biofuels Meet 2022.

These accolades highlight his contributions to sustainable energy and environmental research.

Research Focus 🔬

Dr. Etim’s research focuses on:

  • Renewable energy and sustainable fuels 🌱
  • Biomass conversion to fuels and petrochemicals ⚙️
  • Waste recycling and bioenergy ♻️
  • Green catalysis and biosorbents �
  • Wastewater treatment and environmental pollution control 💧
  • Simulation, modeling, and optimization of bio-processing systems 📊

His work aims to address climate change and promote sustainable development.

Publication Top Notes 📚

  1. Sustainable biodiesel production via biogenic catalyzed transesterification of baobab oil methyl ester and optimization process.
  2. Synthesis of a highly efficient mesoporous green catalyst from waste avocado peels for biodiesel production.
  3. Recursive Neural Network–Particle Swarm optimization of biodiesel from Hevea brasiliensis.
  4. A novel green bio-composite catalyst for linseed-marula oil blend methyl ester production.
  5. Evaluation of in-situ and ex-situ hybridization in transesterification of vegetable oils.
  6. Optimization of flaxseed oil methyl ester synthesis using bio-alkaline catalyst.
  7. Green heterogeneous catalyst from bicomponent biowaste for linseed oil methyl ester.
  8. Potential of Carica papaya peels in transesterification of used vegetable oil.
  9. Transesterification and optimization of marula seed oil methyl ester synthesis.
  10. Effectiveness of biogenic waste-derived catalysts in biodiesel production.
  11. Application of agricultural waste-based catalysts in biodiesel synthesis.
  12. Potential of ripe plantain peels as an eco-friendly catalyst for biodiesel synthesis.

Conclusion 🌍

Dr. Anietie Okon Etim is a leading researcher in renewable energy and sustainable chemical engineering. His innovative work in biomass conversion, green catalysis, and waste valorization has significantly contributed to environmental sustainability. With numerous publications, awards, and international recognitions, Dr. Etim continues to drive advancements in clean energy and climate change mitigation. His dedication to research and education inspires future generations to pursue sustainable solutions for a greener planet.

NGUYEN QUOC MINH – Renewable Energy – Best Researcher Award

NGUYEN QUOC MINH - Renewable Energy - Best Researcher Award

Hanoi University of Science and Technology - Vietnam

EDUCATION AND RESEARCH INTERESTS

Nguyen Quoc Minh earned a PhD in Electrical Engineering from The University of Texas at Arlington in 2016. Prior to this, he completed an MSc in Electrical Engineering at Hanoi University of Science and Technology in 2009 and a Bachelor's degree at the same institution in 2007. His research interests encompass power system protection and control, integration of renewable energy into power systems, data science applications in smart grids, and wireless power transmission.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE AND CONTRIBUTIONS

Nguyen Quoc Minh has made significant contributions to the field of electrical engineering through his research and publications. He has authored numerous papers on topics such as microgrid planning, electricity load forecasting, PV array fault classification, and wireless power transfer systems. His work has been published in prestigious journals and presented at international conferences, reflecting his expertise and influence in the field.

SELECTED PUBLICATIONS

Nguyen Quoc Minh has published several influential papers, including "A Bi-level Optimization for the Planning of Microgrid with the Integration of Hydrogen Energy Storage" in the International Journal of Hydrogen Energy (2024), and "Short-term Electricity Load Forecasting of Hanoi City based on Prophet Model" presented at the 2023 Asia Meeting on Environment and Electrical Engineering. His research on PV array fault classification and machine learning was showcased at the 11th International Conference on Control, Automation and Information Sciences in 2022.

AWARDS AND RECOGNITION

Throughout his career, Nguyen Quoc Minh has been recognized for his contributions to electrical engineering and renewable energy research. His work on wireless power transfer systems, including studies on frequency modes in MIMO systems and field distribution models of spiral coils, has garnered attention and acclaim in both academic and professional circles.

ONGOING RESEARCH AND FUTURE DIRECTIONS

Currently, Nguyen Quoc Minh is focused on advancing his research in power systems and renewable energy integration. His ongoing projects explore innovative solutions to enhance the efficiency and reliability of electrical grids, leveraging cutting-edge technologies and data science applications to address contemporary challenges in the field.

PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL IMPACT

Nguyen Quoc Minh's work continues to influence the development of smart grid technologies and renewable energy systems. His dedication to research and education, combined with his extensive publication record, underscores his commitment to advancing the field of electrical engineering and contributing to sustainable energy solutions for the future.

NOTABLE PUBLICATION

A Bi-level optimization for the planning of microgrid with the integration of hydrogen energy storage 2024 (2)