Prof. Dr. Sam Kacew | Inhalation Exposure | Lifetime achievement Award

Prof. Dr. Sam Kacew | Inhalation Exposure | Lifetime achievement Award 

Prof. Dr. Sam Kacew, university of ottawa, Canada

Dr. Sam Kacew is a distinguished toxicologist and Associate Director of Toxicology at the McLaughlin Centre for Population Health Risk Assessment, University of Ottawa. He earned his Ph.D. in 1973 from the University of Ottawa, where he later served as a Professor in the Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine from 1976 to 2011. A certified Fellow of the Academy of Toxicological Sciences (ATS) since 1994, Dr. Kacew has made seminal contributions to toxicology, with a focus on public health, cellular responses to toxicants, and risk assessment. His career has been recognized with numerous prestigious awards, including the Velyien E. Henderson Award (1983), the Society of Toxicology Achievement Award (1986), and the ICOETox Career Award (2018). He has undertaken international lecture tours sponsored by institutions such as the United States-China Foundation, Colgate-Palmolive, and the Republic of China’s Ministry of Education, promoting global collaboration and education in toxicology. Dr. Kacew is also renowned for his public outreach, having received the Society of Toxicology’s Public Communications Award in 2002 for advancing public understanding of toxicological science.

Professional Profile:

SCOPUS

Summary of Suitability: Dr. Sam Kacew – Candidate for Best Researcher Award

Dr. Sam Kacew, Ph.D., ATS, is a globally recognized leader in the field of toxicology, whose distinguished career has profoundly shaped both scientific research and public understanding of toxicological health risks. Currently serving as Associate Director of Toxicology at the McLaughlin Centre for Population Health Risk Assessment, University of Ottawa, Dr. Kacew combines academic rigor with decades of experience in policy-relevant science and public education.

🎓 Education

  • 📘 B.Sc. – McGill University, 1967

  • 📗 M.Sc. – University of Ottawa, 1970

  • 📕 Ph.D. – University of Ottawa, 1973

💼 Work Experience

  • 👨‍🏫 Professor (1976–2011) – Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Ottawa

  • 🧪 Associate Director of Toxicology – McLaughlin Centre for Population Health Risk Assessment, University of Ottawa

  • 🌍 Sabbatical Leave (1985) – Department of Biochemistry, University of Surrey, UK (with Dr. Keith Snell)

🏆 Achievements

  • 🧬 Certified Fellow of the Academy of Toxicological Sciences (ATS) – March 16, 1994

  • 📢 Renowned for advancing toxicology through teaching, research, public communication, and international collaboration

  • ✍️ Contributed to global knowledge through lectures, academic service, and leadership in toxicological science

🎖️ Awards and Honors

  • 🧪 1983: Velyien E. Henderson Award (Society of Toxicology of Canada)

  • 🌟 1986: Achievement Award (Society of Toxicology, USA)

  • ✈️ 1991: ICI Traveling Lectureship Award (SOT – Europe tour)

  • 🇨🇳 1995 & 2001: United States-China Foundation Award (China lecture tours)

  • 🧴 1997: Colgate-Palmolive Visiting Professorship Award

  • 🇹🇼 1998 & 2000: Taiwan National Science Council and Ministry of Education Lectureship Awards

  • 📚 2002: Public Communications Award (SOT – for outreach in toxicology)

  • 🏅 2018: ICOETox Career Award (Portugal – for lifelong impact in occupational and environmental toxicology)

Publication Top Notes:

Green tea catechins: protectors or threats to DNA? A review of their antigenotoxic and genotoxic effects

A comparative study on chromium-induced micronuclei assessment in the peripheral blood of Hsd:ICR mice

Saponins: A class of bioactive natural products with wide applications in human health

Environmental Toxicology and Human Health

A perspective on In vitro developmental neurotoxicity test assay results: An expert panel review

Drosophila as a Robust Model System for Assessing Autophagy: A Review

US regulations to curb alleged cancer causes are ineffectual and compromised by scientific, constitutional and ethical violations

Dendropanoxide Alleviates Thioacetamide-induced Hepatic Fibrosis via Inhibition of ROS Production and Inflammation in BALB/C Mice

Dr. Jonathan Higham | Air Quality | Best Researcher Award

Dr. Jonathan Higham | Air Quality | Best Researcher Award 

Dr. Jonathan Higham, The University of Liverpool, United Kingdom

Dr. Jonny Edward Higham is a Senior Lecturer in Contemporary and Dynamic Processes in the Department of Geography and Planning at the University of Liverpool. With a Ph.D. in Environmental Fluid Mechanics and an MEng in Civil & Structural Engineering from the University of Sheffield, he integrates advanced machine learning (ML) and artificial intelligence (AI) techniques—especially those rooted in linear algebra such as Singular Value Decomposition (SVD) and Proper Orthogonal Decomposition (POD)—to address critical challenges in maritime safety, environmental monitoring, and public health. Dr. Higham has led high-impact projects, including MarRI-UK-funded research that has reduced port maintenance costs and digitalized shipyard operations in partnership with Lloyd’s Register. His work on ML-based aerosol dynamics in dentistry informed NHS COVID-19 guidelines, while his deployment of a 58-sensor air quality network across Liverpool directly informs city policy. As the founder of the Liverpool Employer-Led Academy (LELA), launched in 2024, he fosters collaboration between academia and industry to enhance student employability. A recipient of multiple awards, including from the American Physical Society and the University of Liverpool, Dr. Higham has over 609 citations and more than 35 publications. He also serves as Deputy Chair of the FSE Ethics Committee and SoES Commercialisation Lead, and supervises numerous doctoral students in ML/AI research.

Professional Profile:

SCOPUS

GOOGLE SCHOLAR

Summary of Suitability for Best Researcher Award: Dr. Jonny Edward Higham

Dr. Jonny Edward Higham, Senior Lecturer at the University of Liverpool, is a distinguished researcher whose interdisciplinary work in machine learning (ML), artificial intelligence (AI), and environmental engineering has made a significant impact on public safety, healthcare, and environmental policy. His research excellence, practical innovation, and mentorship make him an outstanding candidate for the Best Researcher Award.

🎓 Education

  • PhD in Environmental Fluid Mechanics, University of Sheffield (2013–2016)

  • MEng in Civil & Structural Engineering, University of Sheffield (2009–2013)

  • MEng in E.T.S. de Ingeniería de Caminos, Canales y Puertos, Universidad de Granada (2012)

  • Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (2016)

  • Currently pursuing Senior Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy

💼 Work Experience

  • 👨‍🏫 Senior Lecturer, Department of Geography and Planning, University of Liverpool (2018–Present)

    • Led £190k MarRI-UK project using ML and SVD for nearshore bathymetry, cutting port costs by 15%

    • Principal Investigator for £30k MarRI-UK Digital Shipyard project using AI in shipbuilding with Lloyd’s Register

    • Developed YOLOv8-based boulder detection model (78% accuracy) for maritime navigation

    • Engineered ML models for aerosol dynamics during COVID-19, contributing to NHS protocols

    • Installed 58-sensor air quality network across Liverpool, influencing city policy

    • Founded and leads Liverpool Employer-Led Academy (LELA), launched 2024

    • Supervises 10 PhD students (4 completed, 6 ongoing)

    • Deputy Chair of FSE Ethics, SoES Commercialisation Lead

  • 🧪 Oakridge Research Fellow, National Energy Technology Laboratories, U.S. Department of Energy (2016–2018)

    • Applied ML and linear algebra for granular flow analysis, laying groundwork for maritime and environmental innovations

🏆 Awards and Honors

  • 🥇 American Physical Society Award (2020) – ML contributions to fluid mechanics

  • 🎓 School Teaching Prize, University of Liverpool (2020) – for ML-based teaching innovations

  • 💰 Faculty Teaching Development Grant, University of Liverpool (2020) – for AI-driven teaching tools

📊 Key Achievements

  • 609 Google Scholar citations

  • 35+ peer-reviewed publications

  • Established YOLOv8 models in sonar imaging and healthcare

  • Influenced NHS and Liverpool City Council with ML-driven research

  • Leads national-level MarRI-UK maritime innovation projects

Publication Top Notes:

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