Essa M. Saied | Biochemistry | Research Excellence Award

Published on by Chemical Scientist

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Essa M. Saied | Biochemistry | Research Excellence Award

Associate Professor | Humboldt University of Berlin | Germany

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Essa M. Saied is an accomplished multidisciplinary researcher specializing in medicinal chemistry, chemical biology, anticancer drug design, and molecular pharmacology, with strong integration of in vitro, in vivo, and in silico approaches. His research addresses critical biomedical challenges, including cancer therapy, neglected diseases, and molecular target identification. He has authored 72 peer-reviewed publications, accumulating  2,251 citations, and holds an h-index of 31, reflecting sustained scientific impact and productivity. His work appears in high-impact journals and spans small-molecule synthesis, mechanistic biology, and translational therapeutic evaluation. Through extensive international and interdisciplinary collaborations, he has contributed to advancing drug discovery pipelines and evidence-based therapeutic strategies. His research outcomes support innovation in healthcare, promote rational drug development, and contribute meaningfully to global biomedical and pharmaceutical sciences.

Citation Metrics (Scopus)

2251
1500
1000
500
0

Citations

2,251

Documents

72

h-index

31

Citations

Documents

h-index

Featured Publications

Balaji Panchal | Biochemistry | Editorial Board Member

Published on by Chemical Scientist

Dr. Balaji Panchal | Biochemistry | Editorial Board Member

Research associate professor | Hebei University of Engineering | China

Dr. Balaji M. Panchal is a distinguished and steadily rising researcher with a strong multidisciplinary background in sustainable energy systems, environmental geochemistry, and pollution mitigation technologies. With a growing scholarly presence reflected through more than 54 peer-reviewed publications, over 809 citations, and an h-index of 17, his research demonstrates increasing academic influence and global relevance. His work encompasses a broad scientific spectrum, including biodiesel production, municipal sludge valorization, coal geochemistry, mercury isotope tracing, and sustainable waste-to-energy conversion. Through open-access publications and technical studies, Dr. Panchal has contributed valuable insights into electrolysis-based biodiesel synthesis, environmental pollutants associated with coal and geological formations, and the geochemical characterization of organic matter under varied tectonic and thermal conditions. His comprehensive review studies highlight the potential of circular resource utilization and cleaner industrial processing, aligning closely with international sustainability agendas focused on renewable energy, carbon reduction, and environmental protection. His research collaborations include more than 100 co-authors, illustrating strong scientific networking and interdisciplinary engagement. Dr. Panchal’s contributions extend beyond laboratory findings, influencing areas such as clean fuel policy development, environmental monitoring, and industrial applications of sustainable chemistry. His academic trajectory reflects a commitment to addressing real-world environmental and energy challenges through evidence-based solutions, advanced analytical methods, and forward-looking scientific inquiry. His ongoing research continues to expand across emerging topics, including biofuel optimization, harmful trace element control, and geological carbon systems, ensuring relevance to future energy transitions and environmental stewardship. Overall, Dr. Panchal’s contributions position him as a noteworthy researcher dedicated to advancing sustainable fuel innovation, environmental remediation strategies, and applied geochemical science for long-term societal and environmental benefit.

Profiles : Scopus

Featured Publications

Panchal, B. M. (2025). Tectonic-driven thermal alteration of organic matter in the Permian high-rank coals in the southern North China Basin. Fuel.

Panchal, B. M. (2025). Geochemistry characteristics and coal-forming environments of Carboniferous–Permian coal: An example from the Zhaokai Mine, Ningwu Coalfield, Northern China. Sustainability (Switzerland).

Fritz Pragst | Medicinal Chemistry | Best Paper Award

Published on by Chemical Scientist

Prof. Dr. Fritz Pragst | Medicinal Chemistry | Best Paper Award

Guest Scientist | Humboldt University of Berlin | Germany

Prof. Dr. Fritz Pragst is a distinguished scholar in forensic and analytical toxicology whose work has significantly shaped modern toxicological science, evidence interpretation, and laboratory methodology. With an academic career spanning several decades, he has established himself as a leading authority in systematic toxicological analysis, forensic chemistry, and biomarker research, contributing to both foundational understanding and applied forensic practice. His scientific influence is demonstrated through 147 published documents, more than 6,170 citations, and an h-index of 43, reflecting consistent scholarly impact, high research relevance, and continued citation in contemporary toxicology literature. His pioneering contributions to hair analysis methodology, including alcohol biomarkers such as ethyl glucuronide and drug exposure evaluation in cases involving familial substance misuse, have provided globally referenced frameworks for long-term toxicological monitoring, legal case assessments, and public health applications. His work addresses complex analytical challenges, including differentiation between substance exposure routes, interpretation of low-level toxicological data, validation of forensic laboratory workflows, and development of ethical and scientifically defensible interpretation models. Beyond research, he has actively contributed to scientific societies, served in editorial and advisory roles, and engaged in extensive collaboration across multidisciplinary research networks, thereby supporting international knowledge exchange and capacity building within toxicology and forensic science communities. His scholarly output also demonstrates a commitment to solving real-world challenges, including improving diagnostic accuracy, enhancing substance abuse monitoring, and supporting fair use of toxicological evidence in legal and clinical environments. Through his influential publications, leadership roles, and contributions to methodological rigor and scientific education, Prof. Dr. Fritz Pragst has made a lasting impact on global forensic toxicology, ensuring that analytical science continues to advance with accuracy, ethical integrity, and societal relevance.

Profiles : Scopus | ResearchGate

Pragst, F. (2025). Systematic toxicological analysis in forensic and clinical laboratories: a challenging task of analytical chemistry. ChemTexts, 11(2).

Pragst, F., & Balíková, M. A. (2006). State of the art in hair analysis for detection of drug and alcohol abuse. Clinica Chimica Acta, 370(1–2), 17–49.

Pragst, F. (2022). Is there a relationship between abuse of alcohol and illicit drugs seen in hair results? Drug Testing and Analysis. (2025 listing for 2025 issues)

Prof. Dr. Fritz Pragst has significantly advanced forensic and clinical toxicology through pioneering work in systematic toxicological analysis and hair‐based drug detection methods, shaping global standards and improving public health, justice systems, and medico-legal investigations. His research continues to inspire innovation, strengthen scientific reliability, and support safer societies worldwide.

Joana Ferreira | Bioactive Properties | Best Researcher Award

Published on by Chemical Scientist

Prof. Joana Ferreira | Bioactive Properties | Best Researcher Award

Teacher at Santarém Higher School of Agriculture in Portugal.

🌍 Joana Patrícia Araújo Ferreira is a dedicated researcher and lecturer specializing in food chemistry, biorefinery, and sustainable food innovation. 🎓 She holds a PhD in Chemistry (2014) from the University of Aveiro and is an integrated member of LEAF – Linking Landscape, Environment, Agriculture, and Food. With over 30 peer-reviewed publications 📄, her research focuses on food product characterization, microalgae-based ingredients, and circular economy approaches. 🍏🔬 As a lecturer at the Polytechnic Institute of Santarém, she teaches bioproducts development and food biotechnology. Passionate about sustainability and innovation, she actively contributes to advancing food science and environmental research. 🌱✨

 

Professional Profile

Suitability for the Best  Researcher Award 🏆

Joana Patrícia Araújo Ferreira is an outstanding researcher with a strong background in food chemistry, biorefinery, and sustainability. With a PhD in Chemistry and a proven track record of over 30 peer-reviewed publications, she has significantly contributed to food innovation, analytical chemistry, and circular economy approaches. Her expertise in microalgae-based food products, valorization of food industry by-products, and bioactive compounds makes her a leading scientist in her field.

Education 🎓

  • PhD in Chemistry (2014) – University of Aveiro 🧪📚
    • Thesis: “Síntese e Transformações de compostos do tipo pirazol e 1,2,3-triazol”
  • Master in Organic Chemistry and Natural Products (2008) – University of Aveiro 🌿🔬
    • Thesis: “Estudos de halogenação de 5-estiril-3-(2-hidroxifenil)-1H-pirazóis”
  • Degree in Chemistry (2006) – University of Lisbon 🏛️⚛️
    • Thesis: “Estudo dos Constituintes e da Bioatividade de Extractos Anti-hiperglicemiantes de Genista tenera”
  • Specialization Courses & Workshops:
    • Biomedical Inorganic Chemistry – Applications in Diagnosis & Therapy 🏥⚗️
    • Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry for heavy metal detection 🌊🧴
    • Marine Lipidomics & Algae Bioactives for Health 🌊🧬

Professional Experience 🏥

  • Lecturer (2023-Present) – Polytechnic Institute of Santarém 🎓📖
    • Teaching Bioproducts Development, Food Biotechnology, Instrumental Analysis, Human Nutrition, and Biochemistry
  • Junior Researcher (2021-Present) – LEAF Research Center 🌱🔍
    • Research on food sustainability, microalgae-based products, and circular economy
  • Lecturer (2021-Present) – Instituto Superior de Agronomia 🏫🧑‍🏫
  • Research Fellow (2014-2021) – Forest Research Center, Instituto Superior de Agronomia 🌳🔬
    • Focus on biorefinery, sustainable food products, and bioactive compounds
  • Researcher (2007-2014) – University of Aveiro & University of Lisbon 🏛️🔬
    • Conducted studies in natural products synthesis and analytical chemistry
  • Health & Safety Trainer (2013-2014) – Génios Livres 🏥⚖️
  • Scientific Project Coordinator & Team Member in multiple international and national research projects 🌍🔬

Professional Development 🚀📖

Joana Patrícia Araújo Ferreira is a dedicated researcher and educator committed to advancing food chemistry and sustainability. 🧪🌱 She continuously enhances her expertise through specialized courses in marine lipidomics, biorefinery, and green chemistry. 📚💡 As a lecturer and researcher, she actively mentors students and contributes to cutting-edge projects on microalgae-based food innovations, bioactive compounds, and circular economy. 🌍🔬 She has attended numerous international workshops, conferences, and research collaborations, strengthening her proficiency in analytical techniques, spectroscopy, and bioprocessing technologies. 🎤📊 Passionate about innovation, she integrates sustainability and health-driven solutions into food science. 🍏🔍

 

Research Focus 🔍🤖

Joana Patrícia Araújo Ferreira’s research spans multiple scientific disciplines, focusing on food chemistry, biorefinery, and sustainable innovations. 🌱🍽️ She specializes in nutritional and chemical characterization of food products, microalgae-based food innovations, and valorization of food industry by-products. 🔍🌊 Her work in circular economy emphasizes waste reduction and resource optimization. She is also involved in analytical and organic chemistry, including natural product synthesis, structural elucidation, and green chemistry methodologies. ⚛️🧪 Additionally, she explores glyphosate’s impact on human health and the development of functional food products with enhanced sensory and technological properties. 🏥🌿

 

Awards & Honors 🏆
  • Short Term Scientific Mission (STSM) Grant (2015) – COST Action FP1203 🌍🔬
    • Recognized for contributions to Non-Wood Forest Products Research at the University of Ljubljana, Slovenia.
  • PhD Research Grant (2009) – Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (FCT) 🎓⚛️
    • Awarded a prestigious doctoral research fellowship for studies in organic and analytical chemistry.
  • Treaty of Windsor Anglo-Portuguese Joint Research Programme (2006) – British Council 🇬🇧🇵🇹
    • Selected for an international research collaboration between University of Lisbon and University of York.
  • Bronze Award (2024) – AlgaEurope Conference 🥉🌊
    • Awarded for poster presentation on the sensory profile of microalgae.

 

Publication Top Notes:

1️⃣ Ingestion of microplastics by commercial fish off the Portuguese coast – D Neves, P Sobral, JL Ferreira, T Pereira | Marine Pollution Bulletin 101 (1), 119-126 | 📅 2015 | 🔗 Cited by: 1093

2️⃣ Amberstripe scad Decapterus muroadsi (Carangidae) fish ingest blue microplastics resembling their copepod prey along the coast of Rapa Nui (Easter Island) in the South Pacific – NC Ory, P Sobral, JL Ferreira, M Thiel | Science of the Total Environment 586, 430-437 | 📅 2017 | 🔗 Cited by: 686

3️⃣ Low prevalence of microplastic contamination in planktivorous fish species from the southeast Pacific Ocean – N Ory, C Chagnon, F Felix, C Fernández, JL Ferreira, C Gallardo, … | Marine Pollution Bulletin 127, 211-216 | 📅 2018 | 🔗 Cited by: 281

4️⃣ Microplastics in sediments from the littoral zone of the north Tunisian coast (Mediterranean Sea) – S Abidli, JC Antunes, JL Ferreira, Y Lahbib, P Sobral, NT El Menif | Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science 205, 1-9 | 📅 2018 | 🔗 Cited by: 266

5️⃣ Plastic and other microfibers in sediments, macroinvertebrates and shorebirds from three intertidal wetlands of southern Europe and west Africa – PM Lourenço, C Serra-Gonçalves, JL Ferreira, T Catry, JP Granadeiro | Environmental Pollution 231, 123-133 | 📅 2017 | 🔗 Cited by: 246

6️⃣ Plastic ingestion and trophic transfer between Easter Island flying fish (Cheilopogon rapanouiensis) and yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares) from Rapa Nui (Easter Island) – C Chagnon, M Thiel, J Antunes, JL Ferreira, P Sobral, NC Ory | Environmental Pollution 243, 127-133 | 📅 2018 | 🔗 Cited by: 154

7️⃣ Ungulates and their management in Portugal – J Vingada, C Fonseca, J Cancela, J Ferreira, C Eira | European Ungulates and their Management in the 21st Century 392 | 📅 2010 | 🔗 Cited by: 62

8️⃣ Poly (vinyl acetate) paints in works of art: A photochemical approach. Part 1 – JL Ferreira, MJ Melo, AM Ramos | Polymer Degradation and Stability 95 (4), 453-461 | 📅 2010 | 🔗 Cited by: 55

9️⃣ Shedding new light on polyurethane degradation: Assessing foams condition in design objects – SF de Sá, JL Ferreira, IP Cardoso, R Macedo, AM Ramos | Polymer Degradation and Stability 144, 354-365 | 📅 2017 | 🔗 Cited by: 40

🔟 Characterization and long-term stability of historical PMMA: impact of additives and acrylic sheet industrial production processes – S Babo, JL Ferreira, AM Ramos, A Micheluz, M Pamplona, MH Casimiro, … | Polymers 12 (10), 2198 | 📅 [Year Not Specified] | 🔗 Cited by: 32

🎯 Conclusion:

Joana Ferreira is a highly deserving candidate for the Best Researcher Award, given her exceptional contributions to scientific research, innovation in sustainable food chemistry, and dedication to mentoring the next generation of researchers. Her work has a profound impact on food science, sustainability, and human health, making her an ideal choice for this prestigious recognition. 🌍🔬👏