Prof. Dr. Daniela Dragoman | Plasmonic Sensor Awards | Best Researcher Award

Prof. Dr. Daniela Dragoman | Plasmonic Sensor Awards | Best Researcher Award

Prof. Dr. Daniela Dragoman, University of Bucharest, Romania

Dr. Daniela Dragoman is a distinguished Romanian physicist and University Professor at the University of Bucharest, where she has been a faculty member since 1990 and a Doctoral Supervisor since 2004. With a Ph.D. in Physics from the University of Limerick, Ireland, and a Dipl. Physics Eng. degree from the University of Bucharest, her expertise spans guided wave optics, nanostructures, quantum computing, and optoelectronic devices. Dr. Dragoman has served as Director of the Doctoral School of Physics since 2011 and has held prestigious research positions in France and Germany, including as an Alexander von Humboldt Fellow and Directeur de Recherche at LAAS-CNRS. Her teaching portfolio covers both undergraduate and postgraduate levels, including courses in nonlinear optics, solar energy materials, and integrated optoelectronics. An accomplished researcher and mentor, she is recognized for her leadership in academic and international research environments.

Professional Profile:

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Summary of Suitability for Best Researcher Award – Prof. Daniela Dragoman

Prof. Daniela Dragoman stands out as a highly accomplished and deserving candidate for the Best Researcher Award due to her long-standing academic excellence, leadership in doctoral education, and influential research in the fields of optoelectronics, nanostructures, and quantum physics.

👩‍🏫 Work Experience

  • University Professor (Feb 2001–Present) – University of Bucharest, Romania

    • 🎓 Director, Doctoral School of Physics (since 2011)

    • 👩‍🔬 Doctoral Supervisor (since 2004)

    • 📚 MSc Courses: Quantum Computing, Nanostructures, Nonlinear Optics, Solar Energy Materials, etc.

    • 🧑‍🏫 BSc Courses: Solid State Physics (English)

  • Lecturer / Assistant Lecturer (Oct 1990–Jan 2001) – University of Bucharest

    • 📘 Courses: Advanced Optoelectronic Devices, Solid State Optoelectronics

  • Physics Engineer (Oct 1989–Sept 1990) – IRNE, Piteşti

    • 🔬 Research in pyroelectric devices

  • Visiting Professor & Researcher

    • 🇫🇷 CNRS, Saint-Etienne (1997, 2000) – Research in optics

    • 🇩🇪 Alex. von Humboldt Fellow, Univ. Mannheim (1998–1999, 2001–2002) – Optoelectronics

    • 🇫🇷 Directeur de Recherche, LAAS-CNRS, Toulouse (2008–2010) – Nanostructures

🎓 Education

  • Ph.D. in Physics (1993) – University of Limerick, Ireland 🇮🇪

    • 📡 Specialization: Guided wave optics, modeling of fiber couplers

  • Dipl. Physics Engineer (MSc Equivalent) (1989) – University of Bucharest, Romania 🇷🇴

    • 🌌 Focus: Semiconductors, optics, general physics

🏆 Achievements & Honors

  • 🎖 Alex. von Humboldt Fellowship – Prestigious research grant (Germany)

  • 🌍 International recognition in optoelectronics, nanostructures, and quantum physics

  • 🗣 Taught and collaborated in multinational research environments (France, Germany, Ireland)

  • 🧑‍🔬 Directed numerous Ph.D. students and research teams

  • 📘 Contributed significantly to advanced education and curriculum development in quantum and nano sciences

Publication Top Notes:

Field-effect transistors based on nickel oxide doped with nitrogen semiconductor ferroelectrics for ultralow voltage switch (1 μV), low subthreshold swing and memory

Electric-Field-Induced Metal-Insulator Transition for Low-Power and Ultrafast Nanoelectronics

Graphene Monolayer Nanomesh Structures and Their Applications in Electromagnetic Energy Harvesting for Solving the Matching Conundrum of Rectennas

Room-temperature current modulation by an Y junction in graphene/hexagonal boron nitride

Quantum Graphene Asymmetric Devices for Harvesting Electromagnetic Energy

Demonstration of Microwave Harvesting Through Pyroelectricity in Cryogenic Conditions: A Quantum-to-Experimental Approach

Subthreshold slope below 60 mV/decade in graphene transistors induced by channel geometry at the wafer-scale

On the Transmission Line Analogy for Modeling Plasmonic Nanowire Circuits

Dr. Vera Solovyeva | Environmental Detectors | Women Researcher Award

Dr. Vera Solovyeva | Environmental Detectors | Women Researcher Award 

Dr. Vera Solovyeva, Aramco Innovations, Russia

Dr. Vera A. Solovyeva is a seasoned chemist and Technology Thrust Champion at Aramco Innovations LLC, with over 20 years of international academic and industrial research experience in organic chemistry, material science, and nanomaterials. She holds a Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry from Moscow State University and has an impressive track record spanning medicinal chemistry, catalysis, and metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) synthesis and scale-up. Dr. Solovyeva has contributed to innovative projects at leading institutions such as Eli Lilly, Novartis, KAUST, and Aramco Innovations, where she led multiple field-deployed oil and gas applications. Her expertise encompasses organic synthesis, heterogeneous catalysis, and advanced analytical techniques, with a strong focus on developing sustainable materials for energy and environmental solutions. Recognized internationally, she has published impactful research highlighted by ACS and JACS, reflecting her commitment to advancing smart and functional nanomaterials.

Professional Profile:

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Summary of Suitability for Women Researcher Award: Dr. Vera A. Solovyeva

Dr. Vera A. Solovyeva stands out as an exceptionally qualified candidate for the Women Researcher Award based on her extensive, multidisciplinary, and globally recognized contributions to the fields of nanomaterials, catalysis, and sustainable energy technologies. With over 20 years of research experience across both academia and industry—including prestigious organizations such as KAUST, Aramco Innovations, and top pharmaceutical companies like Eli Lilly and Novartisshe exemplifies the ideal balance of scientific rigor and applied innovation.

🧑‍🎓 Education

🎓 Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry — Moscow State University (MSU), Russia (2002–2007)
 • Thesis: “Partial Hydrodehalogenation of Functional Derivatives of gem-Dibromocyclopropanes”
🎓 M.S. in Chemistry — Moscow State University (MSU), Russia (1997–2002)
 • Undergraduate research under supervision of Prof. I.G. Bolesov and Academician I.P. Beletskaya
🧪 Internship — University of Pennsylvania (UPenn), USA (Jan–Feb 1999)
 • Biochemistry techniques training

💼 Work Experience

🏢 Technology Thrust Champion — Aramco Innovations LLC (2019–Present)
 • Lead projects in upstream oil & gas; 3 successful field deployments
🔬 Senior Research Scientist — Moscow State University & Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry (2018–2019)
 • Research in covalent-organic frameworks for photovoltaic applications
🔬 Consultant — KAUST Technology Transfer Office, Saudi Arabia (2016–2017)
 • Pilot-scale synthesis of MOFs
🔬 Postdoctoral Fellow — KAUST, Saudi Arabia (2011–2016)
 • Research on MOFs, catalysis, and nanoparticle stabilization
🧪 Senior Research Scientist — Chemical Diversity Research Institute, Moscow (2007–2011)
 • Contract R&D for pharma giants (Eli Lilly, Novartis, Merck, Solvay)
🧬 Editor — Science & Technology Informational (STI) Centre for Reaxys/Elsevier (2005–2011)
💻 Research Scientist — Algodign LLC (2002–2005)
 • Drug design and molecular docking for startup by Nobel Laureate Michael Levitt

🏆 Awards & Honors

🇺🇸 1999 – Internship Award from University of Pennsylvania 🥼
🇷🇺 2004 – Best Organic Chemistry Presentation at Lomonosov Conference 🧪
🌍 2003–2005 – Ph.D. project awarded INTAS individual funding (EU-Russia scientific cooperation)
📰 2014 – Paper highlighted on Front Cover of ACS Comb. Sci. 🧬
📣 2015 – ACS Editors’ Choice article and featured in C&EN (ACS Comb. Sci.) 🧫
 2015 – JACS paper highlighted as Spotlight Publication 💡

Publication Top Notes:

MOF Crystal Chemistry Paving the Way to Gas Storage Needs: Aluminum-Based soc-MOF for CH4, O2, and CO2 Storage

CITED:835

Metal–organic frameworks to satisfy gas upgrading demands: fine-tuning the soc-MOF platform for the operative removal of H 2 S

CITED:121

Hydrocarbon recovery using ultra-microporous fluorinated MOF platform with and without uncoordinated metal sites: I-structure properties relationships for C2H2/C2H4 and CO2 …

CITED:86

A very large diversity space of synthetically accessible compounds for use with drug design programs

CITED:43

Sequence-controlled copolymers of 2, 3, 4, 5-pentafluorostyrene: mechanistic insight and application to organocatalysis

CITED:40

Current downhole corrosion control solutions and trends in the oil and gas industry: A review

CITED:38