Madeha Awad | Experimental methods | Best Researcher Award

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Madeha Awad | Experimental methods | Best Researcher Award

Sohag university  | Egypt

Dr. Madeha Ahmed Aboelfadl Awad is an Associate Professor in the Physics Department at the Faculty of Science, Sohag University, Egypt. With a career spanning nearly two decades in materials science and nanotechnology, she has become a prominent figure in the synthesis and characterization of advanced nanostructured materials for industrial and environmental applications. Dr. Awad is recognized for her dedication to both scientific research and academic development, contributing significantly to the Egyptian scientific community.

👨‍🎓Profile

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🎓 Early Academic Pursuits

Dr. Awad began her academic journey with a B.Sc. in Physics from Sohag University in 2003, graduating with a very good grade. She went on to earn an M.Sc. in Solid State Physics in 2008, where she investigated chalcogenide systems a foundation that set the stage for her specialization in material sciences. Her academic excellence continued with a Ph.D. in Nanomaterials Physics in 2015, focusing on the growth and characterization of ZnO-based nanomaterials, a vital material in modern optoelectronic and energy applications.

🧪 Professional Endeavors

Since joining the Sohag University faculty in 2004 as a demonstrator, Dr. Awad has steadily progressed through academic ranks, becoming an Assistant Lecturer (2013), Lecturer (2015), and finally Associate Professor (2020). Her career reflects a sustained commitment to both academic excellence and institutional service. In addition to her teaching and research, she has held leadership roles, including Director of the Credibility and Intellectual Property Unit, playing a vital part in raising awareness about intellectual property rights and research ethics.

🔬 Contributions and Research Focus

Dr. Awad’s primary research is rooted in the synthesis of nanomaterials across various dimensions 0D, 1D, 2D, and 3D using advanced techniques like sputtering, physical vapor deposition (PVD), chemical vapor deposition (CVD), and electron beam evaporation. Her work emphasizes characterization using state-of-the-art tools such as XRD, XPS, SEM, TEM, AFM, DSC, and TGA, making her a versatile experimental physicist. Her research outcomes are directly applied to real-world challenges in solar energy, water purification, and biomedicine.

🌍 Impact and Influence

Dr. Awad’s contributions are particularly relevant to sustainable development and clean energy. Her research on photocatalytic materials, metal oxides, and optoelectronic devices supports the transition to greener technologies. As a result, her work has an evident impact on addressing climate change, environmental pollution, and public health challenges.

📚 Academic Publications

She has authored multiple peer-reviewed publications in international scientific journals, including Physica Scripta and the Journal of Sustainable Food, Water, Energy and Environment. Her recent works in 2025 reflect continued scholarly productivity and a commitment to interdisciplinary research. These publications highlight the practical application of her materials in pollution degradation, photodetectors, and biological growth studies.

🧠 Research Skills

Dr. Awad demonstrates exceptional skills in materials characterization, experimental design, and project management. She is adept at conducting analytical tests using complex laboratory equipment and integrates findings across multiple techniques to evaluate material performance. Her ability to write and manage research projects related to energy and water positions her as a key contributor in applied research arenas.

👩‍🏫 Teaching Experience

Beyond the lab, Dr. Awad is a dedicated educator, delivering theoretical physics courses to undergraduate students and supervising graduate theses and senior projects. She also plays an instrumental role in developing laboratory infrastructure, guiding demonstrators, and innovating undergraduate experiments, reflecting her strong commitment to academic excellence and mentorship.

🏆 Awards and Honors

Dr. Awad has earned respect not only through research but also through her administrative and academic service. She was appointed to the Scientific Committee of the Faculty of Science, where she helped establish a scientific journal for the Physics Department an initiative considered pioneering within her institution. While specific awards are not listed, her appointments and leadership roles signify a high level of institutional trust and recognition.

🚀 Legacy and Future Contributions

As a leader in nanomaterials research in Upper Egypt, Dr. Awad is shaping the future of industrially relevant and sustainable materials. Her contributions to intellectual property awareness, research capacity-building, and student mentorship lay a strong foundation for future generations of scientists. With continued focus on international collaboration, patentable innovations, and expanded research funding, her work is poised to achieve greater global impact in the years ahead.

Top Noted Publications

Photocatalytic characteristics of indium oxide, copper oxide and indium oxide/copper oxide thin films on plastic waste substrates for organic pollutants degradation

  • Authors: M. Mohery, S. H. Mohamed, K. A. Hamam, A. Mindil, S. Landsberger, M. A. Awad
    Journal: Physica Scripta
    Year: 2025

Influence of oxygen flow rates on the optoelectronic properties SnO₂ thin films

  • Authors: M. A. Awad, Eman R. Abaza, Essam R. Shaaban
    Journal: Sohag Journal of Science
    Year: 2025

A comparison between the effect of zinc oxide and zinc oxide nanoparticles on the growth and some metabolic processes of Cosmarium sp

  • Authors: Asmaa Bakr, M. A. Awad
    Journal: Journal of Sustainable Food, Water, Energy and Environment
    Year: 2025

Highly sensitive TiO₂ based photodetector for environmental sensing applications

  • Authors: S. H. Mohamed, Mohamed Rabia, M. A. Awad, Mohamed Asran Hassan
    Journal: Journal of Sustainable Food, Water, Energy and Environment
    Year: 2025

Optoelectronic characteristics of In₂O₃/CuO thin films for enhanced vis‑light photodetector

  • Authors: A. M. Abd El‑Rahman, S. H. Mohamed, A. Ibrahim, Ali A. Alhazime, M. A. Awad
    Journal: Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Electronics
    Year: 2024

 

Steephenraj Arokiyasamy | Experimental methods | Best Researcher Award

Dr. Steephenraj Arokiyasamy | Experimental methods | Best Researcher Award

Post Doctoral Fellow at Rhodes University | South Africa

Dr. Steephenraj A. is a highly motivated and accomplished Postdoctoral Fellow in Physics at Rhodes University, South Africa, with a strong academic foundation and robust research expertise. He completed his Ph.D. in Physics from the prestigious SSN Research Centre, affiliated with Anna University, Chennai, with a focus on Nonlinear Optical (NLO) materials and third harmonic generation applications. His academic journey is a testament to a profound dedication to science, teaching, and research excellence.

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ORCID

🎓 Early Academic Pursuits

Dr. Steephenraj laid his academic foundation with a B.Sc. and M.Sc. in Physics, graduating with First Class honors from A.V.C College and Poombuhar College, respectively, both affiliated with Bharathidasan University. He further pursued an M.Phil in Physics from St. Joseph’s College, Trichy, refining his interest in experimental and computational physics. These formative years shaped his strong analytical mindset and commitment to scientific inquiry.

👨‍🏫 Professional Endeavors

With a commendable academic trajectory, Dr. Steephenraj has held the position of Assistant Professor at several esteemed institutions such as Mohamed Sathak A.J. College of Engineering and St. Joseph’s College of Arts and Science, Chennai. His tenure in these roles reflects a commitment to integrating teaching with cutting-edge research, nurturing young scientific minds, and contributing to curriculum development in Physics and Computer Applications.

🔬 Contributions and Research Focus

Dr. Steephenraj’s Ph.D. thesis stands out as a substantial contribution to the field of materials science and nonlinear optics, with a special focus on imidazolium-based dicarboxylic acid derivative single crystals. His research blends experimental crystal growth techniques (like slow evaporation) with computational methods such as Density Functional Theory (DFT). The work revolves around Third Harmonic Generation (THG)—a process vital to optical imaging, telecommunications, and laser frequency conversion. His investigations into 2MIMDT, IMSU, and 2MIO crystals have uncovered significant insights into their optical, structural, and thermal behaviors.

🌍 Impact and Influence

His research has not only been published in high-impact journals like Journal of Molecular Structure, Chemical Papers, and Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Electronics, but has also been acknowledged through citations and collaborations. His work contributes meaningfully to the global understanding of nonlinear optical materials and promotes advancements in laser-based technologies.

📚 Academic Citations

Dr. Steephenraj has authored over 6 peer-reviewed journal papers, many of which are indexed in Scopus and have a respectable impact factor ranging from 1.9 to 4.0. Notable among these is his work on Imidazolium Hydrogen Succinate and 2-Methylimidazolium D-Tartrate, which have been cited by fellow researchers in the field of nonlinear optics and computational material studies.

🧪 Research & Analytical Skills

He possesses hands-on expertise in advanced scientific instrumentation and software tools such as:

  • Wilson Vickers Hardness Tester, Z-scan, UV–Visible NIR, FT-IR, SEM, TG/DTA

  • Computational Tools: Gaussian 09W, GaussView, Quantum ESPRESSO, Mercury, Crystal Explorer, Bilbao Crystallographic Server, and more.

These skills have enabled him to successfully characterize materials and simulate molecular properties to predict optical behavior with high precision.

👨‍🏫 Teaching Experience

Dr. Steephenraj has rich teaching experience spanning several years, covering both undergraduate and postgraduate curricula in Physics and Computer Applications. He is recognized for his concept-based approach, emphasizing hands-on learning, student engagement, and the integration of research with teaching. He has also guided M.Sc. and Ph.D. students, showcasing his capability as a mentor and academic leader.

🏆 Awards and Honors

His dedication to academics and research has earned him prestigious accolades such as:

  • Best Teacher Award (2022–2023) – Mohamed Sathak AJ College of Engineering.

  • Best Poster Award – Jeppiaar Engineering College (2018).

  • Resource Person for national and international conferences and faculty development programs.

These accolades reflect his outstanding performance in academia and research dissemination.

🧭 Legacy & Future Contributions

Looking ahead, Dr. Steephenraj aspires to make significant contributions in advanced materials science and optical physics, with goals aligned toward sustainable technologies and global collaborations. His long-term vision includes becoming a leading research scientist and an academic policy influencer, helping shape the future of science education and innovative research in Physics.

Publications Top Notes

Studies on the Growth, Structural, Optical and Quantum chemical investigations of 2-Methylimidazolium D-Tartrate Single Crystal for SHG applications

  • Authors: A. Steephenraj, S. Chinnasami, Rajesh Paulraj
    Journal: Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Electronics
    Year: 2022

Growth, structural, vibrational, characterization and DFT investigations of 2-methylimidazolium hydrogen oxalate dihydrate (2MIO) single crystal – towards third order NLO applications

  • Authors: A. Steephenraj, S. Chinnasami, P. Rajesh, S.S.J. Dhas
    Journal: Journal of Molecular Structure
    Year: 2023

Synthesis and optical Properties of Tin oxide thin films nanoparticles

  • Authors: A. Steephenraj, P. Rajendhiran
    Journal: Journal for Advanced Research in Applied Science

Growth of High Quality KADP Mixed Crystals Grown by Conventional and Sankaranayanan-Ramasamy (SR) Methods for Nonlinear Optical Applications

  • Authors: T.S. Franklin Rajesh, J.S. Dhas, A. Steephenraj, R. Senthamizhselvi, A. Sivakumar, R.S. Kumar, Abdulrahman I. Almansour
    Journal: Journal of Optical Materials
    Year: 2024

 2-Methylimidazolium hydrogen succinate single crystal growth and DFT insight for NLO applications

  • Authors: K. Sowmiya, A. Steephenraj, M. Avinash, R. Gunaseelan, P. Sanjay
    Journal: Journal of Molecular Physics
    Year: 2025