Committee Members

Dr. Ali Ayed Algarni is an Assistant Professor and the Head of Informatics and Computer Systems Department at King Khalid University (KKU) in Abha, Saudi Arabia. He specializes in Information Systems and has a strong academic and research background in areas such as Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), computational creativity, co-creative agent design, and biomedical informatics.

Dr. Algarni earned his Ph.D. in Human-Computer Interaction from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte (2015–2022) and holds a master’s degree in information systems from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (2011– 2013) . His research focuses on Human Computer Interaction, which includes interaction Design (IxD), human-centered AI, collaborative computing, neurocognitive. He is also interested in health informatics domains like patient UX, interface design, AI in healthcare systems.

At KKU, Dr. Algarni contributes to both academic leadership and research, guiding students and faculty in the rapidly evolving fields of information systems and artificial intelligence.

Crystopher Cardoso de Brito is a distinguished Brazilian materials engineer and academic, specializing in metallurgy and materials processing. He earned his bachelor’s degree in Materials Engineering from the Federal University of Pará (UFPA) 2010. He subsequently pursued both his master’s (2012) and doctoral (2016) degrees in Mechanical Engineering at the State University of Campinas (UNICAMP), with a concentration on the solidification of aluminum alloys and their mechanical and corrosion properties. His doctoral research involved a research internship at Aix-Marseille Université in France, supported by FAPESP.

Currently, Professor Brito holds the position of Assistant Professor at São Paulo State University (UNESP) within the Faculty of Engineering at the São João da Boa Vista campus, serving within the Department of Aeronautical Engineering. He is also the leader of the Research Group on Structures, Manufacturing, and Materials (GPEM²). His research interests include the solidification of metals, phase transformations, characterization of metallic alloys, and the development of advanced materials for aerospace and biomedical applications.

Previously, from 2016 to 2018, he was a faculty member at the Federal University of São Paulo (UNIFESP), where he made significant contributions to the Department of Marine Sciences and the Graduate Program in Engineering and Materials Science. Professor Brito has an extensive publication record comprising over 68 scientific papers and more than 1,000 citations, which reflect his considerable contributions to the field of materials engineering.

He actively engages in research collaborations and has served as a guest editor for special issues in esteemed scientific journals, such as the journal Metals, concentrating on high-performance aluminum alloys.

Gao Ma is a Professor in the College of Civil Engineering at Hunan University, core member of National Key Laboratory of Bridge Safety and Resilience and Key Laboratory for Damage Diagnosis of Engineering Structures of Hunan province, China. He received his BE from Wuhan University and Ph.D. from Harbin Institute of Technology.

His research interests include seismic performance analysis and retrofit, nondestructive testing, AI technology in civil engineering, and prefabricated concrete structure. He has hosted more than 15 scientific projects, including the National Nature Science Foundation (host 3 NSF fundings), the National Key Research and Development Program sub-project, and the Hunan Young Talents Program of Hunan Province, etc. He has published 77 international and national journal articles (including 48 SCI papers, 12 Engineering Structures journal papers, 7 ASCE journal papers), authorized 20 patents and 11 software copyrights. The research achievements won one association science award and have been adopted in three provincial technical standards. He also acts as the editorial board member of four journals, including the International Journal of Concrete Structures and Materials (SCI), Journal of Hunan University (Natural Sciences) (EI), and technical committee member of three international conferences.

Orawon Chailapakul is a Professor of Chemistry at Chulalongkorn University, Thailand. She received her Ph.D. from the University of New Mexico. Her research focuses on electrochemical and biosensors for medical and environmental diagnostics. Her innovations have earned national and international recognition in the field of analytical chemistry.

Michael Thompson obtained his undergraduate degree from the University of Wales, UK and his PhD in analytical chemistry from McMaster University. Following a period as Science Research Council PDF at Swansea University, UK, he was appointed Lecturer in Instrumental Analysis at Loughborough University. He then moved to the University of Toronto where he is now Professor of Bioanalytical Chemistry. He has held a number of distinguished research posts including the Leverhulme Fellowship at the University of Durham and the Science Foundation Ireland E.T.S Walton Research Fellowship at the Tyndall National Institute, Cork City.  He is recognized internationally for his pioneering work over many years in the area of research into new biosensor technologies and the surface chemistry of biochemical and biological entities. He has made major contributions to the label-free detection of immunochemical and nucleic acid interactions and surface behavior of cells using ultra high frequency acoustic wave physics.  In recent years his group has concentrated on solutions to the ubiquitous fouling and biocompatibility problem of sensors and medical devices. This has included the direct operation of biosensors in biological fluids and avoidance of platelet aggregation on medical polymeric materials.

Thompson has served on the Editorial Boards of a number of major international journals including Analytical Chemistry and The Analyst and is currently Editor-in-Chief of the monograph series “Detection Science” for the Royal Society of Chemistry, UK. He has been awarded many prestigious international prizes for his research including The Robert Boyle Gold Medal of the Royal Society of Chemistry, The Elsevier Prize in Biosensor and Bioelectronic Technology, the E.W.R. Steacie Award of the Chemical Society of Canada, and recently the 2023 Royal Society of Chemistry Horizons Prize in Analytical Science. He was made a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada in 1999.

Moongyu Jang has completed his PhD at the age of 29 years from Korea Advanced Institure of Science and Technology (KAIST). He served as the director of Electronics and Telecommunication Research Institute (ETRI: goverment funded research institute), Korea. He has published more than 200 papers in SCIE journals and has been serving as an editorial board member of repute SCIE journals.

Benoît PIRO is Professor in Chemistry at Université de Paris Cité in France, Laboratory ITODYS. He got his MSc in Université de Poitiers, France, before to join Université Paris 7 – Denis Diderot in 1995 to prepare a PhD in the field of lithium batteries; he also developed, during his PhD, an innovative active medical device. Soon after being hired Assistant professor in 1998, he participated to the academic development of electrochemical biosensors directed to various target molecules (DNA, miRNA, proteins, peptides, antibodies, organic pollutants), including with international collaborations. He also participated to their economic valorization through patents, public and private contracts. Since 2010, he moved from purely electrochemical devices to organic electronic devices for sensing, e.g. organic field effect transistors (OFETs) and electrolyte-gated ones (EGOFETs and graphene FETs), but also electrochemical transistors OECTs, all applicable to aqueous media, which opens toward applications in the medical or environmental fields. Since 2016, he also introduced and developed printing technologies in his research group, not only for chemical but also for physical sensing. He is today full Professor, Editor-in-chief of the section Biosensors and Bioelectronic Devices of the journal Biosensors, president of the Teaching Council of the Chemistry department of Univ. Paris Cité, COO of the PRINTUP Institute (dedicated to collaborative R&D with the industry in the field of printed electronics), director of the Common Laboratory MED-SENSORS with the company ValoTec and an expert before French courts of appeal.

Satyendra Kumar Mishra received bachelor’s degree (2006) in Physics, Mathematics, Statistics, and a master’s degree in physics (2008) were obtained from Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Gorakhpur University Gorakhpur, as well as a master’s in technology degree (2010) in Nanotechnology from Jamia Millia Islamia University. He received Ph.D. degree in Physics was awarded to him by the Indian Institute of Technology in New Delhi, INDIA, in 2015. He did his postdoc from City University in Hong Kong (Feb 2015-Oct 2016), A &M (Postdoc) and Baylor University (Visiting Scientist) (Nov 2016-May 2018) Texas. Furthermore, he moved to ETS Montreal (Postdoc Research Associate) (June 2018 to June 2020) Canada. Afterwards, he worked at COPL Laval University (Research Professional) (July 2020 to July 2022), Quebec City, Canada, nd before joining CTTC he worked as a researcher in DTU Denmark. Currently, he is working at CTTC as a Senior Researcher. His research interests include quantum communication, quantum sensors, optical communication, vortex beam propagation, fiber and waveguide-based sensors, photodetector, and Meta surfaces. He is editor of IEEE Sensor Journal, Scientific reports, Lights and Discover journal. He is the author of one pending patent and over 125 refereed journal and conference publications

Dr. R. Sankar Ganesh is a seasoned researcher in materials science and chemical engineering, with expertise in optoelectronics, thin-film deposition, and sensor technology. He earned his first PhD in optoelectronics and nanostructure science from Shizuoka University, Japan, in 2018, followed by another PhD from SRMIST in 2022. Currently, he serves as a Project Researcher in the Department of Bioengineering at The University of Tokyo under Prof. H. Tabata. His research focuses on innovative applications in wearable devices, including e-skin and gas sensors. Dr. Ganesh has published 72 papers, achieved an h-index of 24, and holds several patents. He has also contributed as a guest editor for various journals. His work bridges fundamental research and real-world applications, particularly in nanotechnology, aiming to drive advancements in healthcare, optoelectronics, and diagnostics. Fluent in Japanese for daily conversations, he is committed to fostering interdisciplinary collaboration and continues to expand his contributions to the field through his multiple PhDs.

Guanhua Lin, received his Ph.D. in Physical Chemistry from Chinese Academy of Sciences in 2011. Since 2023, he is an associate professor (principal investigator) at Fujian Normal University in China, and his researches include development of functional materials and their applications in various fields such as sensor, green chemistry, and energy. Now, his studies focus on three directions: (1) synthesis and self-assembly of nanoparticles for building advanced nano/microstructures; (2) developing manipulation strategies for controlling the behaviors and performances of various colloidal particles such as droplets to prepare micro/nanorobots; (3) designing bionic intelligent materials, including bionic self-sensing flexible skin. In 2021, he has been recognized as Vebleo Fellow.

Dr. Caizhi Liao obtained his Ph.D. from the Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology (AIBN) at the University of Queensland (UQ) in 2020. He is the Assistant Professor (PI) at the Faculty of Biomedical Engineering, Shenzhen University of Advanced Technology (SUAT). Previously, he worked as a Research Fellow at Cambridge University. His research fields include bioelectronics (Flexible, Wearable and Implantable), biosensors, and AI for Healthcare. Dr. Liao serves as the Editor of Scientifica (Wiley), the Associate Editor of the Journal of Biomedical and Life Sciences, the Guest Editor of many highly reputed journals, and the Editorial Board Member of dozens of other scientific journals. In addition, Dr. Liao served as the Committee Chair and Technical Committee Member of dozens of international conferences.

Chia-Hung Chen is a researcher and faculty member at City University of Hong Kong, with expertise in biomedical engineering, microfluidics, and biosensing technologies. His research focuses on developing lab-on-a-chip systems and diagnostic platforms for healthcare and environmental monitoring. Dr. Chen has authored numerous scientific publications and actively contributes to interdisciplinary innovation at the interface of engineering and life sciences.

Osvaldo is a researcher at the Institute of Physics of São Carlos (IFSC), University of São Paulo (USP), with expertise in photonics, optical physics, and advanced imaging techniques. His work focuses on the development of innovative optical systems for applications in biomedical imaging, spectroscopy, and material characterization. Dr. Osvaldo has contributed to numerous scientific publications and collaborative projects, advancing research at the intersection of physics and life sciences.

Umer Hassan is a faculty member at Rutgers University, specializing in biomedical engineering and health technologies. His research focuses on the development of point-of-care diagnostic systems, biosensors, and personalized medicine tools aimed at improving global health outcomes. Dr. Hassan has led and contributed to numerous interdisciplinary research initiatives and is committed to translating scientific innovation into real-world healthcare solutions.

J. J. Prías Barragán is a researcher and faculty member at the University of Quindío, Colombia, specializing in chemistry and materials science. His research focuses on the synthesis and characterization of novel materials for applications in environmental remediation, catalysis, and nanotechnology. Dr. Prías Barragán has participated in various interdisciplinary projects and has contributed to scientific publications that support innovation and sustainability in the region.

Chang Kyoung Choi is a faculty member at Michigan Technological University, with research interests in mechanical engineering, microfluidics, and thermal sciences. His work involves the development of advanced microsystems and energy-efficient technologies, contributing to innovations in biomedical devices and thermal management. Dr. Choi has authored numerous scholarly articles and is recognized for his contributions to experimental and computational fluid dynamics.

Vengadesh Periasamy is a researcher and academic at the University of Malaya, specializing in materials science and nanotechnology. His research focuses on advanced materials for energy storage, sensors, and electronic applications. Dr. Periasamy has published extensively in peer-reviewed journals and actively collaborates on multidisciplinary projects across academia and industry. He is committed to advancing sustainable technologies through innovation and scientific excellence.

Zach Zinsli is an academic affiliated with Harvard University, focusing on the intersections of philosophy, ethics, and political theory. His work explores contemporary moral and political challenges through both historical and analytical lenses. With a background in philosophy and the humanities, he contributes to scholarly discourse on justice, civic responsibility, and ethical frameworks in modern society.

Nicolas H. Voelcker is a renowned materials scientist and bioengineer, currently serving as a Professor at Monash University and the Director of the Melbourne Centre for Nanofabrication (MCN). His research focuses on the development of advanced nanomaterials for biomedical applications, including drug delivery, biosensing, and diagnostics. With a strong background in surface chemistry and nanotechnology, Professor Voelcker has authored numerous high-impact publications and holds several patents. He is also a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Technology and Engineering and has received multiple awards for his contributions to science and innovation.

Vengadesh’s research covers a comprehensive multi-disciplinary approach whereby
underlying fundamentals are thoroughly investigated to enable possible applications by
constructing, characterizing and testing prototype sensors and devices. He is actively pursuing
frontier research into fundamental nucleic acids and protein electronics, which would
ultimately enable development of rapid DNA/RNA/protein/cell detection kits and devices. Dr.
Vengadesh focuses on developing both the electronic (eProfiler-L) and electrochemical
(eProfiler-S)- based solid-state sensors for the detection and identification of pathogens and
other organisms, biomarkers from sweat, tears and other sources etc which could be utilized
in numerous industries such as healthcare, electrochemical, agriculture, aquaculture,
forensics, food and beverage (F&B), water management and others. The first in-its-class of
electronic and electrochemical sensors, which are now extensively patented and protected,
forms the technology behind his spin-off company, allows a universal detection method based
on characteristic electronic (eProfiles) and electrochemical (eSignatures) profiles. In-line with
this, research directions are therefore directed towards understanding interfacial electronic
and electro/biochemical properties by deciphering extracted eProfiles and eSignatures to be
applied in relevant applications. In anticipation of the launch of the first products for
commercialization, Dr. Vengadesh is therefore currently involved in prototyping and validation
activities of the technologies working in collaboration with relevant researchers and industries
around the globe.

Chenzhong LI is a X.Q. Deng Presidential Chair Professor at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen, the editor-in-chief of the international flagship academic journal Biosensor and Bioelectronics (IF13), the deputy editor-in-chief of RESEARCH (IF11) sponsored by the China Association for Science and Technology, and the journal Technology and Innovation of the National Academy of Inventors. Editor-in-Chief of Journal.

Rosa Fireman Dutra is associate professor at the Federal University of Pernambuco
(UFPE), Brazil. She is Leader of Biosensors and Bioengineering Research Group, Electronic
Engineer and has gone her PhD in biosensors area (Brazil) with focus on point-of-care devices.

Dr. Luis Benítez de Lugo Enrich has been a professor of Prehistory at the Complutense University of Madrid since 2021. He has previously carried out teaching and research activities at other public universities since 2004: the National University of Distance Education and the Autonomous University of Madrid. For 27 years he was an independent consultant in Archaeology.

Vladimir G. Chigrinov is Professor of Hong Kong University of Science and Technology since 1999. He is an Expert in Flat Panel Technology in Russia, recognized by the World Technology Evaluation Centre, 1994, and SID Fellow since 2008. He is an author of 6 books, 31 reviews and book chapters, about 322 journal papers, more than 677 Conference presentations, and 121 patents and patent applications including 38 US patents in the field of liquid crystals since 1974.

He got Excellent Research Award of HKUST School of Engineering in 2012. He obtained Gold Medal and The Best Award in the Invention & Innovation Awards 2014 held at the Malaysia Technology Expo (MTE) 2014, which was hosted in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on 20-22 Feb 2014. He is a Member of EU Academy of Sciences (EUAS) since July 2017.

Arzum Erdem received Bachelor in Pharmacy from Ege University, Izmir, Turkey in 1993. She received the master degree in 1996 and PhD degree in 2000 in the Department of Analytical Chemistry at the same university in Izmir. She worked as an Assistant Professor from 2000 to 2003 and as an Associated Professor from 2003 to 2009 at the Analytical Chemistry Department of the Faculty of Pharmacy in Ege University. She has been working at the same department as a Full Professor since 2009. Arzum Erdem has initiated many national and international collaborative research on development and applications of electrochemical (bio)sensors based on drug, enzyme and nucleic acids. Her recent research is centred on the development of novel transducers and chemical and biological recognition systems by using different nanomaterials (e.g, graphenes, magnetic nanoparticles, carbon nanotubes, gold and silver nanoparticles, dendrimers, nanowires, nanorods etc.) designed for electrochemical sensing of nucleic acid (DNA, miRNA) hybridization, and also the specific interactions between drug and DNA, or protein and DNA, aptamer-protein and also the development of integrated analytical systems for environmental monitoring, food safety, industry and biomedical monitoring.