Mrs. Ayesha Tasawar | Hydrometallurgical | Excellence in Research Award

Scientific Assistant at Institute of Process Metallurgy and Metal Recycling (IME), RWTH Aachen University | Germany

Mrs. Ayesha Tasawar is an emerging researcher in process metallurgy and sustainable materials engineering, with a strong focus on lithium-ion battery recycling and resource recovery. Her research addresses key challenges in circular economy technologies, particularly the hydrometallurgical processing of lithium iron phosphate (LFP) blackmass. She is the lead author of peer-reviewed journal articles in Resources, Conservation and Recycling and Metals, demonstrating original contributions to efficient lithium recovery through oxidative roasting and organic-acid-enabled leaching. Her work combines scientific rigor with industrial relevance, offering environmentally responsible solutions for advanced battery recycling. Scopus profile, 2 publications, emerging citation record, and emerging h-index.

Assist. Prof. Dr. Fahanwi Asabuwa Ngwabebhoh | Sustainable Materials | Research Excellence Award

Research Scientist at Kocaeli University | Turkey

Assist. Prof. Dr. Fahanwi Asabuwa Ngwabebhoh is a materials and polymer scientist recognized for advancing functional biomaterials, nanocomposites, and environmentally responsive polymers through research that integrates synthesis, structural modification, and performance optimization. His scientific work centers on bioinspired hydrogels, nanocellulose-derived systems, electroactive polymer composites, and sustainable biopolymer materials designed for applications in adsorption, drug delivery, wound healing, environmental remediation, energy storage, and biosensing. With 1,385 citations, 48 published documents, and a Scopus h-index of 19, he is widely acknowledged for producing high-impact research that bridges fundamental materials chemistry with practical technological solutions. His investigations have yielded important contributions to controlled drug delivery systems, injectable and self-crosslinking hydrogels, microbial cellulose biocomposites, conductive polymer–based electrodes for supercapacitors, photodegradation materials, and agro-waste-derived sustainable composites. He has also developed optimized nanostructured adsorbents and membrane systems for emerging pollutant removal, applying advanced modeling tools such as response surface methodology and kinetic–isotherm analysis to enhance material efficiency and predict functional behavior. His research on nitrogen-doped cellulose gels, enzymatically crosslinked hydrogels, and biodegradable nanofibrous scaffolds has been influential in both environmental and biomedical materials science. Dr. Ngwabebhoh’s work demonstrates strong interdisciplinary depth, combining polymer chemistry, nanotechnology, materials characterization, and applied engineering principles to generate innovation-driven scientific output. His publication profile and research achievements reflect impactful contributions that support sustainable technologies, advanced biomaterials, and green material design, establishing him as a leading researcher suited for recognition through the Research Excellence Award.

Profiles : Scopus | ORCID | Google Scholar

Featured Publications

Ngwabebhoh, F. A., Gazi, M., & Oladipo, A. A. (2016). Adsorptive removal of multi-azo dye from aqueous phase using a semi-IPN superabsorbent chitosan-starch hydrogel. Chemical Engineering Research and Design. Citation: 173

Ngwabebhoh, F. A., Erdagi, S. I., & Yildiz, U. (2018). Pickering emulsions stabilized nanocellulosic-based nanoparticles for coumarin and curcumin nanoencapsulations: In vitro release, anticancer and antimicrobial activities. Carbohydrate Polymers. Citation: 165

Erdagi, S. I., Ngwabebhoh, F. A., & Yildiz, U. (2020). Genipin crosslinked gelatin-diosgenin-nanocellulose hydrogels for potential wound dressing and healing applications. International Journal of Biological Macromolecules. Citation: 142

Nguyen, T. H., Fei, H., Sapurina, I., Ngwabebhoh, F. A., Bubulinca, C., Munster, L., & others. (2021). Electrochemical performance of composites made of rGO with Zn-MOF and PANI as electrodes for supercapacitors. Electrochimica Acta. Citation: 131

Ngwabebhoh, F. A., Zandraa, O., Patwa, R., Saha, N., Capáková, Z., & Saha, P. (2021). Self-crosslinked chitosan/dialdehyde xanthan gum blended hypromellose hydrogel for the controlled delivery of ampicillin, minocycline and rifampicin. International Journal of Biological Macromolecules. Citation: 103