Thiago Santos | Environmental | Best Researcher Award

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Mr. Thiago Santos | Environmental | Best Researcher Award

Mr. Thiago Santos, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil

Mr. Thiago F. Santos is a Brazilian ecologist affiliated with the Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte. He holds a Ph.D. in Ecology from the Federal University of Bahia and specializes in tropical ecosystem dynamics, biodiversity conservation, and plant-insect interactions. His research focuses on understanding ecological responses to environmental changes, aiming to support sustainable management and restoration of Brazil’s native biomes. With expertise in ecological modeling, biomonitoring, and statistical analysis, Mr. Santos actively contributes to advancing ecological science and conservation strategies in Brazil.

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Summary:

Mr. Thiago Santos is a dedicated researcher and academic affiliated with the Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil. He holds a PhD in Chemical Engineering, with specialized research in the development and mathematical modeling of innovative textile materials for renewable energy applications. With a Master’s degree in Textile Engineering, his work has focused on high-performance fabrics, particularly investigating the impact resistance and photodegradation properties of non-Newtonian fluids in Kevlar® textiles. He has also explored surface modification of cotton yarns during his undergraduate studies. His research integrates textile science, materials engineering, and energy innovation. Mr. Santos has served as a substitute professor in Textile Chemistry and earned multiple regional awards at INOVA SENAI 2019 for innovation-driven projects. His technical skills span experimental design, materials modeling, and fluid-structure interaction, contributing significantly to sustainable and protective textile advancements.

🎓 Education

Thiago Felix dos Santos holds a PhD in Chemical Engineering from the Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN), Brazil, completed in 2022. His doctoral research focused on the development and mathematical modeling of new textile materials as renewable energy sources, under the guidance of Prof. Jose Heriberto Oliveira do Nascimento and co-supervision of Prof. Domingos Fabiano de Santana Souza. He received a scholarship from the Carrefour Brasil Group to support this work. He also earned a Master’s degree in Textile Engineering from UFRN in 2019. His thesis examined the photodegradation properties and impact performance of non-Newtonian fluids impregnated in Kevlar® fabrics, guided by Prof. JosĂ© Ivan de Medeiros and co-advised by Professors Fernando Ribeiro Oliveira and Marcos Silva de Aquino, with scholarship support from CNPq. Thiago completed his Bachelor’s degree in Textile Engineering at UFRN in 2017, with a final project on the mechanical properties of 100% cotton yarns modified with DBD plasma and sizing treatments, under the supervision of Prof. Michelle Cequeira Feitor. His early education was completed at various schools in Brazil, including Almirante TamandarĂ© State School and JoĂŁo GuiĂł Municipal School.

đź’ĽExperience

In 2019, Thiago was approved in a public competition as a substitute professor in the area of Textile Chemistry at the Department of Textile Engineering (DET/CT) at UFRN. His role contributed to academic development and research in textile sciences and materials engineering, aligning with his strong background in chemical and textile engineering.

🔬Research Focus

Thiago’s primary research interests lie in advanced textile materials, renewable energy integration in fabrics, shear thickening fluids, ballistic and impact-resistant materials, and photodegradation behavior in engineered composites. His work bridges engineering, material science, and applied chemistry with strong interdisciplinary relevance to safety, sustainability, and performance textiles.

🛠️Skills

Thiago possesses expertise in experimental and mathematical modeling of textile systems, high-performance fabric design, fluid-material interactions, and the application of non-Newtonian fluids in protective fabrics. He is skilled in using engineering tools for material characterization and has experience in academic instruction and applied industrial research.

🏆Awards

In 2019, Thiago won two regional championships at the INOVA SENAI competition organized by FIERN-SENAI. He secured 1st place in both the “Projects with Anchor Companies” category and the “Project Searching for Partners” category. Additionally, he was listed as a CAPES scholarship recipient in the PPGET master’s program and was recognized for his academic achievements by being selected as a substitute professor at UFRN in the same year.

đź“š Publications

  • Title: Investigation of Mechanical Properties of a Composite Material Supported with Nano Materials for Manufacturing Prosthetic Socket
    Year: 2025
    Journal: Journal of Advanced Research in Applied Mechanics

     

  • Title: Corrigendum to “Characterization of renewable material from biowaste: Waste Albizia lebbeck leaves biomass-based bioplasticizer for futuristic applications”
    Year: 2025
    Journal: Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering, 13(1)

  • Title: Design of Experiments and Statistical Approach on Tensile Properties of Simple-Pique Fabrics for Potential Use in Composite Reinforcement
    Year: 2025
    Journal: Sustainable Materials and Technologies

     

  • Title: Finite Element Analysis for Aluminium Alloy 7075-T6 Subjected to the Bending-Torsional Variable Phase of Fatigue Loading
    Year: 2025
    Journal: Journal of Advanced Research in Applied Mechanics

Conclusion:

Mr. Thiago Santos continues to play a pivotal role in advancing sustainable technologies and high-performance textile applications. His work reflects a commitment to scientific excellence, practical innovation, and societal impact.

Sandra HervĂ­as-Parejo | Ecology | Best Researcher Award

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Assist. Prof. Dr. Sandra Hervias-Parejo | Ecology | Best Researcher Award

Assist. Prof. Dr. Sandra Hervias Parejo, CSIC-UIB – Instituto Mediterraneo de Estudios Avanzados , Spain

Assist. Prof. Dr. Sandra Hervías-Parejo is a postdoctoral researcher at the Instituto Mediterráneo de Estudios Avanzados (IMEDEA, CSIC-UIB) in Spain, specializing in ecosystem restoration, invasive species, and island ecology. With a PhD in Ecology from the University of Murcia, she has led and contributed to numerous international research projects addressing biodiversity loss and global change. Her work, published in top scientific journals, is widely recognized for its policy impact and commitment to open science. Dr. Hervías-Parejo is also active in science communication, mentoring, and promoting gender equity in research.

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Summary:

Dr. Sandra HervĂ­as-Parejo is an accomplished and highly regarded researcher in the field of ecology, with a special focus on conservation science. She has demonstrated exceptional leadership in both research and education, with numerous contributions to understanding and mitigating ecological threats. Her interdisciplinary work, international collaborations, and innovative research in island ecosystems make her an outstanding candidate for the Best Researcher Award.

🎓 Education

Sandra HervĂ­as-Parejo holds a PhD in Ecology from the University of Murcia, Spain, awarded in 2014. She earned an MSc in Invasive Species Management from the same university in 2009. In addition, she holds a Certificate in Teaching Skills from the University of Granada, completed in 2006, and a Degree in Biology obtained through studies at the University of Granada and the University of La Laguna de Tenerife in 2004.

đź’ĽExperience

Sandra is currently a postdoctoral researcher at the Global Change Research department at IMEDEA (UIB-CSIC), Spain, under an ERC Advanced Grant led by Dr. A. Traveset since November 2022. Her earlier roles include a Vicenç Mut postdoctoral fellowship at the Balearic Islands Government (CAIB) from August 2020 to July 2022, and a postdoctoral contract at IMEDEA from September 2018 to July 2020, which she left upon receiving the fellowship. She also held a postdoctoral research position at the Charles Darwin Research Station in the Galapagos from February 2016 to August 2017.

🔬Research Focus

Sandra has published 40 articles in SCI-indexed journals, with 90% led or conceptualized by her. Her research has significantly influenced conservation policies and practices, and all her recent publications are open access to promote transparency. She has played an active role in 14 international research projects, leading two of them, and collaborates with researchers from over 20 countries. Her work has been recognized nationally and internationally, and she regularly participates in European scientific groups, academic committees, and peer reviews for over 22 scientific journals.

🛠️Skills

Her expertise spans ecosystem restoration, food-webs, global change biology, invasive alien species, island ecology, keystone species, multilayer ecological networks, and functional traits. Sandra’s work is highly interdisciplinary and addresses urgent ecological issues, with a strong emphasis on applied conservation and biodiversity protection, particularly in vulnerable island ecosystems.

🏆Awards

Sandra’s projects have received both national and international funding, earning accolades for their innovation and societal relevance. She is dedicated to science communication, appearing on TV and radio, publishing popular science content, and developing educational materials. A strong advocate for gender equity, she works to inspire the next generation through outreach and mentoring.

đź“š Publications

Title: On the structure of species-function participation in multilayer ecological networks
Year: 2024
Authors: Hervías-Parejo S., Cuevas-Blanco M., Lacasa L., Melián C.J., Eguíluz V.M.
Journal: Nature Communications

Title: Vertebrates can be more important pollinators than invertebrates on islands: the case of Malva (=Lavatera) arborea L.
Year: 2024
Authors: Robles C., Romero-Egea V., Traveset A., Ruiz de Ybáñez M.R., Hervías-Parejo S.
Journal: AoB PLANTS

Title: Gulls contribute to olive seed dispersal within and among islands in a Mediterranean coastal area
Year: 2024
Authors: Ando H., Martin-Velez V., Tavecchia G., MartĂ­nez-AbraĂ­n A., HervĂ­as-Parejo S.
Journal: Journal of Biogeography

Conclusion:

Dr. Sandra Hervías-Parejo’s exceptional academic contributions, leadership in international research projects, and commitment to public engagement make her an ideal candidate for the Best Researcher Award. Her ability to lead cutting-edge research and influence conservation policies is highly commendable, and she has consistently demonstrated a profound impact on both the scientific community and society.