Younes Hamed | Health Safety and Environment | Best Researcher Award

Published on by Petroleum Engineering

Prof. Younes Hamed | Health Safety and Environment | Best Researcher Award

Professor at University of Gafsa, Tunisia

Prof. Dr. Younes Hamed is an internationally recognized hydrogeologist and environmental scientist with over 24 years of experience. His work spans across Africa, Europe, the Middle East, and North America, contributing significantly to the fields of hydrogeology, geochemistry, and environmental risk assessment. As a senior expert, he is currently serving in multiple international assignments, including roles with Expertise France and the Ministry of Justice in Tunisia. With two PhDs in hydrogeology and nuclear contamination, he has pioneered advanced environmental studies related to groundwater, pollution modeling, and radiological risk assessment. Prof. Hamed is a key figure in environmental science, having published more than 200 papers and led multimillion-euro projects on water resources and climate change. He also serves as editor and guest editor for reputable journals and is an active member of academic reform initiatives across Africa. His scientific leadership and impactful work place him among the most influential hydrogeologists globally.

Profile

Scopus

Education

Prof. Hamed holds two doctoral degrees: a PhD in Hydrogeology and Geochemistry from the University of Sfax (Tunisia) in collaboration with Vienna University (Austria), and a second PhD in Nuclear Radioactivity Contamination from the University of Gabes (Tunisia) in partnership with Heifi University (China). He also earned a Postdoctoral Fellowship in Hydrogeology through the Fulbright Program at the University of Houston (USA), focusing on integrated geomorphological and geochemical analysis of karst aquifers. Prior to this, he completed a Research Master’s in Hydrogeology and Geochemistry and a Bachelor’s degree in Geosciences from the University of Sfax. His academic journey is supplemented by international certifications, including training from UNESCO-France in climate change impact and from the University of New Mexico-USA in chemical security. This robust academic foundation has enabled Prof. Hamed to conduct interdisciplinary research and provide policy-relevant environmental assessments at national and international levels.

Professional Experience

Prof. Hamed’s professional portfolio includes diverse, high-impact assignments in Tunisia, Saudi Arabia, Algeria, Iraq, and the United States. As Senior Expert, he has led extensive water quality monitoring campaigns, managed hydrometeorological networks, and conducted environmental audits for courts and ministries. In Tunisia, he headed large-scale aquifer modeling projects funded by the EU and GIZ-Germany. His expertise also contributed to evaluating oil and groundwater overexploitation impacts on subsidence in Texas, USA. He has worked on nuclear contamination assessments in phosphate mining regions and led geochemical risk analyses for both groundwater and soil. Prof. Hamed is frequently engaged by environmental ministries and international donors for projects exceeding €80 million in budget. His combined role as technical expert, field scientist, and project leader ensures science-based outcomes for sustainable water and environmental management.

Research Interests

Prof. Hamed’s research interests encompass hydrogeology, environmental geochemistry, radiological contamination, and climate change impacts on water resources. He specializes in groundwater modeling, aquifer vulnerability assessment, pollution risk analysis, and the geochemical tracing of toxic elements. His work includes artificial recharge systems using wastewater and rainwater, hydrogeophysical mapping, and ecosystem health risk evaluations. He also explores the interface of mining activities with environmental and human health hazards, particularly involving uranium and heavy metal contaminants. He integrates remote sensing, GIS, and isotope hydrology in his research and applies this to address environmental justice and water security in arid and semi-arid regions. Prof. Hamed’s work is highly interdisciplinary and policy-relevant, bridging science, public health, and environmental law. His ongoing focus includes remediation strategies for radioactively contaminated groundwater and development of sustainable desalination impact assessments.

Awards and Recognitions

Prof. Hamed has achieved top-ranking positions on national and continental scales: #1 in Tunisia and Africa, and #22 globally on the AD Scientific Index in Hydrogeology and Environmental Sciences. He is a recipient of multiple recognitions for international research leadership, including appointment as President of the International Association of Water Resources in the Southern Mediterranean Basin and Chairman of the International Symposium of Water Resources and Environmental Impact Assessment in North Africa. He has served as national and international committee member for PhD and curriculum reforms and is a trusted evaluator for major academic funding programs such as PRIMA, Erasmus+, and PHC-Maghreb. He is also Editor-in-Chief and Guest Editor for international journals such as Water, Sustainability, and Environmental Integration. These accolades underline his global standing and influence in hydro-environmental research and academic governance.

Publications

  1. Hamed, Y. et al. (2025). Radioactivity of the unconventional uranium resources from phosphate rock in Tunisia—remediation strategies. Euro-Mediterranean Journal for Environmental Integration. Cited by: 3.

  2. Boschetti, T., Hamed, Y. et al. (2025). Using PCA to distinguish sources of radioactivity and nitrates in groundwater. Journal of Geochemical Exploration, 271. Cited by: 5.

  3. Hamed, Y. et al. (2025). Radiological monitoring around phosphate deposits in Tunisia. Acque Sotterranee, 14(1). Cited by: 4.

  4. Hamed, Y. et al. (2025). Potential of uranium contamination origins and treatment technologies. Umm Al-Qura Univ. Journal for Applied Sciences. Cited by: 2.

  5. Hamed, Y. et al. (2024). Environmental radioactivity and toxic metals in dams. Sustainability Journal. Cited by: 7.

  6. Hamed, Y. et al. (2024). Assessment of groundwater contamination from phosphate mining. Hydrology, 11, 84. Cited by: 6.

  7. Al-Hussein, A. A., Hamed, Y. et al. (2024). SWAT modeling of sediment yield in Iraq. Euro-Mediterranean Journal for Environmental Integration. Cited by: 3.

Conclusion

Prof. Dr. Younes Hamed exemplifies scientific excellence and environmental stewardship through his integrative work in water sciences. His dual expertise in geochemistry and nuclear radioactivity sets him apart as a visionary researcher capable of addressing the region’s most pressing environmental challenges. Through sustained academic leadership, high-impact publications, and international collaborations, he has made transformative contributions to the understanding and mitigation of pollution in groundwater and ecosystems. His global engagements—from Tunisia to Texas—demonstrate not only the breadth of his capabilities but also the trust placed in him by governments, universities, and global organizations.

Javad Saien | Petroleum refinery wastewater treatment | Best Research Article Award

Published on by Petroleum Engineering

Prof. Javad Saien | Petroleum refinery wastewater treatment | Best Research Article Award

Academic staff at Bu-Ali Sina University, Hamedan, Iran

Professor Javad Saien is a distinguished academic and prolific researcher in chemical engineering, currently serving as a professor at the Faculty of Chemistry and Petroleum Science at Bu-Ali Sina University, Iran. With a career spanning over three decades, he has made significant contributions in the fields of environmental remediation, interfacial phenomena, and chemical processes. He is recognized globally for his innovative work in photocatalysis, liquid-liquid extraction, and the application of ionic liquids in enhanced oil recovery. His scholarly influence is evidenced by a Google Scholar h-index of 36 and over 4,400 citations. In addition to his academic duties, he serves on the editorial boards of several scientific journals and is an editor for the Journal of the Iranian Chemical Society.

Profile

Orcid

Education

Professor Saien earned his B.Sc. in Chemical Engineering from Amir Kabir University in 1984, followed by an M.Sc. in 1991 from Tehran University. He completed his Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering at the University of Bradford in the United Kingdom in 1996. This strong academic foundation laid the groundwork for his later breakthroughs in interfacial chemistry and environmental engineering. His doctoral and postdoctoral work set the tone for his life-long dedication to research and academic leadership.

Experience

Over the years, Professor Saien has taught an extensive array of undergraduate and graduate courses, including Industrial Chemistry, Chemical Reaction Engineering, Petrochemistry, and Advanced Transport Phenomena. He has over 40 years of teaching experience and has supervised 13 Ph.D. and 54 M.Sc. theses, with six Ph.D. students currently under his supervision. He has also held numerous academic positions such as Dean of Faculty, Director of the Applied Chemistry Department, and Executive Manager of national seminars, further amplifying his impact on institutional growth and scientific excellence.

Research Interest

Professor Saien’s research interests are anchored in pollutant degradation, interfacial tension dynamics, and the thermodynamics of liquid-liquid systems. He has extensively explored photocatalytic and solar-driven processes for wastewater treatment, chemical-enhanced oil recovery using advanced surfactants, and the role of ionic liquids in modifying interfacial properties. His recent works include green and sustainable chemical approaches involving deep eutectic solvents and metal-organic frameworks, with practical applications in petroleum and environmental industries.

Award

Professor Saien’s dedication to scientific advancement has earned him several prestigious honors. Notably, he was recognized as the Distinguished Researcher in Applied Chemistry by the Iranian Chemical Society in 2016. He has been repeatedly awarded as a top university researcher and educator in applied chemistry. In 2023, he received national distinction from the Iranian Ministry of Science, Research, and Technology as one of the country’s outstanding academic staff members. These accolades reflect his substantial contributions to both national and international scientific communities.

Publication

Professor Saien has authored over 140 peer-reviewed journal articles. A selection of his impactful publications includes:

  1. Saien J., Slater M.J. (1999). “A possible approach to improving rotating disc contactor design…” Chemical Engineering Journal, 75, cited by 60 articles.

  2. Saien J., Soleymani A.R. (2007). “Degradation and mineralization of Direct Blue 71…” Journal of Hazardous Materials, 144, cited by 180 articles.

  3. Saien J., Nejati H. (2007). “Enhanced photocatalytic degradation of pollutants…” Journal of Hazardous Materials, 148, cited by 160 articles.

  4. Saien J., Mesgari Z. (2017). “Photocatalytic degradation of methyl orange…” Applied Organometallic Chemistry, 31, cited by 90 articles.

  5. Saien J., Kharazi M. (2022). “Trends offered by ionic liquid-based surfactants…” Separation and Purification Reviews, cited by 45 articles.

  6. Saien J., Bahiraei M. (2023). “A green hydrophobic deep eutectic solvent for extraction of phenol…” Scientific Reports, 13, cited by 20 articles.

  7. Saien J., Shokri B., Kharazi M. (2024). “Effective synergistic action of benzimidazolium nano Gemini ionic liquid…” ACS Omega, 9, cited by 12 articles.

Conclusion

Professor Javad Saien exemplifies academic rigor, research excellence, and institutional leadership. His decades-long contributions to chemical engineering have addressed critical industrial and environmental challenges using innovative, sustainable methods. His multidisciplinary approach, combining chemical thermodynamics, catalysis, and process optimization, positions him as a leading figure in applied chemistry. As a mentor, educator, and innovator, Professor Saien continues to inspire future generations of engineers and researchers, making him an outstanding candidate for any prestigious academic award.