Francesco Banfi | Materials Science | Research Excellence Award

Posted on by The Scientist

Prof. Francesco Banfi | Materials Science | Research Excellence Award

Professor | Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1 – Institut Lumière Matière | France

Prof. Francesco Banfi is a leading physicist internationally recognized for his contributions to ultrafast energy transport, nanoscale thermo-mechanics, and time-resolved optical spectroscopy. Over the past two decades, he has advanced the understanding of energy transients in nanostructures, high-temperature superconductors, and surface-based electron systems, establishing a strong interdisciplinary research profile that bridges condensed-matter physics, ultrafast photonics, and nanoscale material science. His scholarly impact is reflected in 1,826 citations, 101 publications, and an h-index of 25, underscoring his sustained influence in the global physics community. Prof. Banfi has led and participated in numerous competitive international projects across Europe, the USA, and Switzerland, contributing significantly to frontier research initiatives. Notably, he served as Principal Investigator for a 500 k€ FIRB Consolidator Grant on ultrafast thermo-mechanics and a 70 k€ French National Research project, strengthening cross-border scientific collaborations. His research group has produced high-impact publications in Nano Letters, Physical Review Letters, Applied Physics Letters, and Nature Communications, complemented by more than 70 conference presentations and 15+ invited institutional seminars. Prof. Banfi has further shaped the scientific landscape through editorial roles in EPJ, IOP, and MDPI journals and by serving on review panels for national research agencies in Italy, the UK, Spain, Hungary, and Germany. His international engagement includes invited positions at CNRS, leadership in joint doctoral programs with KU Leuven, Notre Dame, and institutions in Chile, and coordination of major research-exchange initiatives with IIT India and UNESCO-ICTP. With extensive mentoring experience spanning PhD, postdoctoral, and graduate levels, Prof. Banfi continues to contribute profoundly to advancing ultrafast physics and strengthening global scientific networks.

Profiles: Google Scholar | Scopus | ORCID | ResearchGate

Featured Publications

  1. Dal Conte, S., Giannetti, C., Coslovich, G., Cilento, F., Bossini, D., Abebaw, T., … Banfi, F. (2012). Disentangling the electronic and phononic glue in a high-Tc superconductor. Science, 335(6076), 1600–1603. Cited by: 250

  2. Dal Conte, S., Vidmar, L., Golež, D., Mierzejewski, M., Soavi, G., Peli, S., Banfi, F., … Giannetti, C. (2015). Snapshots of the retarded interaction of charge carriers with ultrafast fluctuations in cuprates. Nature Physics, 11(5), 421–426. Cited by: 130

  3. Nardi, D., Travagliati, M., Siemens, M. E., Li, Q., Murnane, M. M., Kapteyn, H. C., … Banfi, F. (2011). Probing thermomechanics at the nanoscale: Impulsively excited pseudosurface acoustic waves in hypersonic phononic crystals. Nano Letters, 11(10), 4126–4133. Cited by: 118

  4. Giannetti, C., Revaz, B., Banfi, F., Montagnese, M., Ferrini, G., Cilento, F., … Parmigiani, F. (2007). Thermomechanical behavior of surface acoustic waves in ordered arrays of nanodisks studied by near-infrared pump-probe diffraction experiments. Physical Review B, 76(12), 125413. Cited by: 105

  5. Benetti, G., Cavaliere, E., Brescia, R., Salassi, S., Ferrando, R., Vantomme, A., … Banfi, F. (2019). Tailored Ag–Cu–Mg multielemental nanoparticles for wide-spectrum antibacterial coating. Nanoscale, 11(4), 1626–1635. Cited by: 82

Lucia Camelia Pirvu | Materials Science | Best Collaborative Research Award 

Posted on by The Scientist

Dr. Lucia Camelia Pirvu | Materials Science | Best Collaborative Research Award 

Senior Researches | National Institute of Chemical Pharmaceutical R&D | Romania

Dr. Lucia Camelia Pîrvu is a senior researcher and biochemist at the National Institute of Chemical Pharmaceutical Research and Development (ICCF), Bucharest, Romania. With over 29 years of dedicated research and innovation in pharmaceutical biotechnology, she has significantly contributed to the advancement of natural and plant-derived products for medicinal, agricultural, cosmetic, and hygienic applications. Her expertise encompasses the design and development of novel phytoproducts, extraction technologies, and advanced analytical characterization methods for active botanical compounds, alongside pre-pharmacological screening and ROS activity assessments. Dr. Pîrvu has coordinated and managed 12 interdisciplinary research projects funded by national and European programs, with a cumulative budget exceeding €4 million. Notable among these are pioneering studies on ecological laser technologies, natural antimicrobial agents, and herbal products targeting metabolic and gastrointestinal disorders. Her leadership has strengthened technology transfer between public research institutions and private industries, fostering innovation in Romania’s bioeconomy and sustainable health sectors. Her academic impact is underscored by 401 citations across 361 documents, 51 publications, and an h-index of 12, reflecting her recognized contribution to biochemistry and pharmaceutical sciences. Dr. Pîrvu’s research integrates molecular biology, phytochemistry, and green chemistry approaches to develop safer, eco-friendly bioactive formulations. Through international collaborations and participation in EU-funded consortia, she has promoted interdisciplinary dialogue between academia and industry. Her scientific vision emphasizes the valorization of plant resources through innovative, sustainable biotechnological processes that support human health and environmental well-being. As a project leader, mentor, and expert in herbal medicine research, Dr. Lucia Camelia Pîrvu continues to shape the evolution of natural product-based pharmaceutical development in Romania and beyond.

Profiles: Google Scholar | Scopus | ORCID | ResearchGate

Featured Publications

  1. Pîrvu, L., Hlevca, C., Nicu, I., & Bubueanu, C. (2014). Comparative studies on analytical, antioxidant, and antimicrobial activities of a series of vegetal extracts prepared from eight plant species growing in Romania. JPC–Journal of Planar Chromatography–Modern TLC, 27(5), 346–356. Citations: 58

  2. Armatu, A., Colceru-Mihul, S., Bubueanu, C., Draghici, E., & Pîrvu, L. (2010). Evaluation of antioxidant and free scavenging potential of some Lamiaceae species growing in Romania. Romanian Biotechnological Letters, 15(3), 5274–5280. Citations: 53

  3. Pîrvu, L., Dragomir, C., Schiopu, S., & Mihul, S. C. (2012). Vegetal extracts with gastroprotective activity. Part I. Extracts obtained from Centaurea cyanus L. raw material. Romanian Biotechnological Letters, 17(2), 7169–7176. Citations: 34

  4. Stefaniu, A., Pîrvu, L., Albu, B., & Pintilie, L. (2020). Molecular docking study on several benzoic acid derivatives against SARS-CoV-2. Molecules, 25(24), 5828. Citations: 31

  5. Grigore, A., Bubueanu, C., Pîrvu, L., Ionita, L., & Toba, G. (2015). Plantago lanceolata L. crops – source of valuable raw material for various industrial applications. [Publication details not specified]. Citations: 31

Osiris Guirguis | Materials Science | Best Researcher Award

Posted on by The Scientist

Prof. Dr. Osiris Guirguis | Materials Science | Best Researcher Award

Professor Emeritus | Faculty of Sciecne – Cairo University | Egypt

Prof. Osiris W. Guirguis, Professor Emeritus of Experimental Biophysics at Cairo University, is a distinguished physicist renowned for his pioneering work in radiation biophysics, biomaterials, and polymer physics. He earned his B.Sc. in Physics (1976), M.Sc. in Solid State Physics (1980), and Ph.D. in Experimental Radiation Biophysics (1987) from Cairo University, Egypt. Over his prolific academic career, he has held positions ranging from Demonstrator and Assistant Lecturer to Professor and Head of the Biophysics Department, leading cutting-edge research and supervising over 40 M.Sc. and Ph.D. theses. His professional experience encompasses international collaborations, organizing major biophysics conferences, and serving on numerous editorial boards and peer-review committees, reflecting his leadership in the global scientific community. Prof. Guirguis’s research interests focus on understanding radiation effects on polymers and biopolymers for medical applications, dosimetry, and biomaterials development, integrating experimental biophysics with applied polymer science. His technical expertise spans polymer characterization, radiation dosimetry, biomaterial analysis, and biophysical instrumentation, enabling high-impact experimental studies. He has been recognized internationally through nominations for prestigious awards including the Balzan Prize, Heineken Prize, TWAS Prize, and Kuwait Prize, and his scientific contributions have been consistently cited in high-impact journals, highlighting both research excellence and mentorship quality. In conclusion, Prof. Osiris W. Guirguis exemplifies scientific innovation, academic leadership, and global research influence, making him a highly deserving candidate for international recognition and awards in biophysics and biomaterials research. Metrics: 779 Citations by 705 documents, 48 Documents, h-index 19 (View h-index button is disabled in preview mode).

Profiles: Google Scholar | Scopus | ORCID | ResearchGate

Featured Publications

  1. Guirguis, O. W., & Moselhey, M. T. H. (2011). Thermal and structural studies of poly(vinyl alcohol) and hydroxypropyl cellulose blends. Scientific Research Publishing. (Citations: 435)

  2. Guirguis, O. W., & Moselhey, M. T. H. (2011). Optical study of poly(vinyl alcohol)/hydroxypropyl methylcellulose blends. Journal of Materials Science, 46(17), 5775–5789. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10853-011-5555-5 (Citations: 91)

  3. Hussein, E. M., Desoky, W. M., Hanafy, M. F., & Guirguis, O. W. (2021). Effect of TiO2 nanoparticles on the structural configurations and thermal, mechanical, and optical properties of chitosan/TiO2 nanoparticle composites. Journal of Physics and Chemistry of Solids, 152, 109983. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpcs.2021.109983 (Citations: 83)

  4. El-Zaher, N. A., Melegy, M. S., & Guirguis, O. W. (2014). Thermal and structural analyses of PMMA/TiO2 nanoparticles composites. Natural Science. (Citations: 76)

  5. El-Falaky, G. E., Guirguis, O. W., & Abd El-Aal, N. S. (2012). AC conductivity and relaxation dynamics in zinc–borate glasses. Progress in Natural Science: Materials International, 22(2), 86–93. (Citations: 59)