Emanuela Drago | Health Safety and Environment | Best Academic Researcher Award

Posted on by Petroleum Engineering

Assist. Prof. Dr. Emanuela Drago | Health Safety and Environment | Best Academic Researcher Award

Assistant Professor at University of Genoa | Italy

Emanuela Drago is a dedicated researcher in chemical and process engineering, specializing in sustainable materials and innovative active food packaging technologies. Currently serving as a Researcher (RTDA) at the University of Genoa, she integrates expertise in polymer science, green processing, and bioengineering. Her international research experience includes a visiting position at Imperial College London, where she developed biodegradable sensors for food quality monitoring. Through extensive collaborations across Europe and the U.S., she has contributed to advancing biodegradable polymers, supercritical fluid technologies, and biosensor integration in packaging. Her work bridges environmental sustainability with industrial applicability, earning recognition for innovation and scientific excellence.

Profile

Scopus

Education

Emanuela Drago earned her Ph.D. in Chemical, Materials and Process Engineering from the University of Genoa in 2023, focusing on the development of innovative active food packaging biomaterials through eco-friendly technologies. She holds a Master’s degree in Chemical and Process Engineering, where she explored microparticle production via spray drying and computational fluid dynamics simulation. Her Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering (2015) involved studying functional foods and probiotic applications. Earlier, she completed a Classical Studies high school diploma, enhancing her analytical and multidisciplinary thinking. This robust academic foundation underpins her research in sustainable materials, food packaging, and advanced process engineering.

Experience

Emanuela Drago has amassed diverse research and academic experience in chemical engineering, bioengineering, and materials science. She is currently an RTDA researcher at the University of Genoa and has served as a postdoctoral fellow on systemic resilience models for pandemic-related risk management. Internationally, she was a Visiting Researcher at Imperial College London, developing biodegradable sensors for agri-food applications. Her collaborative projects span sustainable packaging, supercritical fluid processing, and bio-based polymers. She has co-supervised multiple theses, contributed to European Commission-funded initiatives, and served as a reviewer for scientific journals. Her work consistently integrates innovation, sustainability, and industrial problem-solving.

Research Interest

Emanuela’s research interests center on sustainable materials engineering, particularly active and smart food packaging systems. She specializes in biodegradable polymers, supercritical fluid processing, biosensors, and the valorization of agri-food waste into functional materials. Her work explores the interplay between material science and process optimization to enhance packaging performance, food safety, and environmental sustainability. She is also interested in green processing technologies that align with circular economy principles. Beyond packaging, she engages in interdisciplinary research that intersects bioethics, process engineering, and environmental impact assessment, ensuring that her innovations contribute to both technological advancement and societal benefit.

Award

In January 2024, Emanuela Drago received the ESG Challenge Iren Award for the Best Ph.D. Thesis on sustainability and ESG challenges, recognizing her outstanding contribution to developing eco-friendly active packaging solutions. This award highlights her commitment to integrating environmental responsibility into engineering innovation. Her research outcomes not only advance academic knowledge but also provide scalable, industry-ready solutions for food preservation and waste reduction. This achievement underscores her ability to address global sustainability goals through practical and scientifically rigorous methods, positioning her as an emerging leader in sustainable chemical and process engineering.

Publication Top Notes 

Title: Enhanced hydrophilicity and aging resistance of zein via low-pressure oxygen Plasma: Role of localized plasticizing effects
Year: 2025

Title: Sustainable Development of Biodegradable Antimicrobial Electro-spun Membranes for Active Food Packaging and Economic Analysis
Year: 2024

Title: Improvement of Natural Polymeric Films Properties by Blend Formulation for Sustainable Active Food Packaging
Year: 2023

Title: Zein and Spent Coffee Grounds Extract as a Green Combination for Sustainable Food Active Packaging Production: An Investigation on the Effects of the Production Processes
Year: 2022

Title: Unsteadiness and resolution effects in experimentally verified simulations of a spray drying process
Year: 2022

Conclusion

Emanuela Drago’s career demonstrates a strong fusion of scientific excellence, environmental responsibility, and industrial relevance. Her academic achievements, research collaborations, and award-winning work in sustainable food packaging reflect a consistent drive to address pressing global challenges. With expertise spanning materials science, process engineering, and green technologies, she has made significant contributions to advancing the circular economy and food safety. Through publications, international collaborations, and mentorship roles, she continues to inspire innovation in chemical engineering. Her trajectory positions her as a rising leader whose work will have enduring impact on both industry and academia.

Younes Hamed | Health Safety and Environment | Best Researcher Award

Posted 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.