Fita Dehnie | Simulation & Training | Research Excellence Award

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Mr. Fita Dehnie | Simulation & Training | Research Excellence Award 

Dilla University | Ethiopia

 Fita Ayalew is an experienced education professional with over two decades of progressive leadership roles across Ethiopia’s TVET and higher education sectors. He is currently a PhD candidate in Education Policy and Leadership at Dilla University, building on an MA in Management of Vocational Education from Addis Ababa University , a Bachelor’s Degree in Office Administration and Office Technology from Jimma University , and a Diploma in Business Education from Addis Ababa University . Since 2016, he has served as Faculty Dean and Satellite Campus Coordinator at the Ethiopian Technical University, where he oversees project planning, education policy formulation, budgeting, academic supervision, research support, and technology incubation. His earlier career includes serving as a Human Resource Development Expert at SNNPR State TVET Bureau and Wolkite Polytechnic College, vocational counselor, construction campus coordinator, vice principal, department head, and trainer—roles through which he contributed to teacher recruitment, academic supervision, curriculum review, cooperative training, student counseling, program evaluation, and institutional quality improvement. His responsibilities have spanned academic planning, staff appraisal, data management, stakeholder coordination, and leadership of both human and material resources. Known for strong leadership, multitasking, communication, and active listening, he is fluent in Amharic and Afan Oromo, with very good English proficiency. He is recognized for professionalism and work ethics, reflected in certifications such as the ILO Key Facilitator certificate, BDS training, computer maintenance and networking, and commendations from KFW (IP Consult). Throughout his career, he has demonstrated commitment to advancing vocational education, fostering institutional excellence, and supporting students’ academic and career development across various administrative and instructional roles.

Profile: Orcid

Featured Publications

Ayalew, F. (2025). Cooperative training as a mediator between training materials and graduates’ employability in the Ethiopian vocational education. International Journal of Training and Development.

Ayalew, F. (2025). Employers’ perception of hiring graduates of vocational education. The Ethiopian Journal of Higher Education.

Ayalew, F. (2024). Policy analysis on Ethiopian Technical and Vocational Education and Training program: Emphasis on relevance and quality. Ethiopian Journal of Teacher Education and Leadership, 1(2).

Ayalew, F. (2014). Assessment of the implementation of industry extension services and challenges (Master’s thesis). Addis Ababa University.

Nicolas Pereira | Augmented Reality | Best VR Researcher Award

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Prof. Dr. Nicolas Pereira | Augmented Reality | Best VR Researcher Award

Specialized Center for Lymphedema and Lipedema Clinica Nea | Chile

Dr. Nicolas Pereira is an accomplished Plastic and Reconstructive Microsurgeon and the Medical Director of the Specialized Center for Lymphedema and Lipedema Clínica Nea in Santiago, Chile. Currently serving as the President of the Latin American Association of Microsurgery (ALAM) and Associate Professor of Plastic Surgery at the University of Chile, he leads clinical innovation and advanced surgical education in reconstructive microsurgery. A double fellowship-trained surgeon with a Master’s in Biological and Medical Sciences, Dr. Pereira specializes in microsurgery, supermicrosurgery, and complex limb reconstruction, with a particular focus on lymphedema, lipedema, lower extremity reconstruction, and migraine surgery. He directs the “Complex Limb Reconstruction and Microsurgery in Trauma” Fellowship Program at Hospital del Trabajador, mentoring future generations of reconstructive surgeons. His outstanding contributions have been recognized internationally through the Werner Spingler Fellowship Young Microsurgeon Award (2025), highlighting his leadership and impact in global microsurgery. Academically, Dr. Pereira has authored 43 peer-reviewed scientific papers, cited 485 times by 411 documents, achieving an h-index of 12 on Scopus—reflecting his influential role in advancing reconstructive and aesthetic surgical research. He also co-edited the authoritative textbook “Cirugía Plástica Esencial” (Andrades, Pereira & Navia, 2023), published by Editorial Universitaria, a cornerstone in Latin American surgical education. Beyond academia, he holds an Editorial Appointment as Member at Large for Latin America in the World Society for Reconstructive Microsurgery, actively fostering regional and international collaboration. His affiliations include the World Society for Reconstructive Microsurgery, Latin American Association of Microsurgery, Migraine Surgery Society, and the Chilean Society of Plastic Surgery, where he serves as Director of the Chilean Society of Reconstructive Microsurgery. Through Clínica Nea and the Specialized Center for Lymphedema and Lipedema (cELL), Dr. Pereira pioneers integrative approaches combining surgical innovation and patient-centered care. With over 50 completed and ongoing research projects, an expanding international reputation, and a strong record of mentorship, Dr. Nicolás Pereira represents a new generation of surgeon-scientists driving transformative progress in reconstructive surgery, microsurgical innovation, and patient rehabilitation.

Profile: Scopus

Featured Publications

Pereira, N., Oñate, V., Roa, R., & (others) (2023). A comprehensive approach to posttraumatic lymphedema surgical treatment. Archives of Plastic Surgery, 50(4), 422–431.

Pereira, N., Cambara, Á., Kufeke, M., & Roa, R. (2021). Prevention and treatment of posttraumatic lymphedema: a microsurgical soft tissue reconstruction approach. Annals of Plastic Surgery, 86(4), 434–439.

Pereira, N., Parada, L., Kufeke, M., Troncoso, E., & Roa, R. (2020). A new planning method to easily harvest the superficial circumflex iliac artery perforator flap. Journal of Reconstructive Microsurgery, 36, 165–170.

Mangelsdorff, G., Cuevas, P., Rodriguez, J. R., Pereira, N., Ramirez, E., & Yañez, R. (2019). Reduced anterolateral thigh flap donor-site morbidity using incisional negative pressure therapy. Journal of Reconstructive Microsurgery, 35(3), 229–234.

 

Julian Humml | Augmented Reality (AR) | Best VR Researcher Award

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Dr. Julian Humml | Augmented Reality (AR) | Best VR Researcher Award 

California Institute of Technology | United States

Dr. Julian Humml, Dr. sc. ETH, is an accomplished researcher and scientist specializing in the integration of machine learning, fluid dynamics, and augmented reality for scientific measurement and human–AI interaction. Since January 2025, he has been serving as a Postdoctoral Researcher at the Graduate Aerospace Laboratories of the California Institute of Technology (GALCIT), where he develops active learning measurement systems and online data assimilation algorithms for large-scale sampling and augmented reality–based human visualization and interaction. His work focuses on leveraging physics-informed machine learning techniques to enhance scientific measurements, particularly within complex aerodynamic environments. Prior to his appointment at Caltech, Dr. Humml gained extensive experience at the Institute of Fluid Dynamics, ETH Zurich (2018–2022), where he contributed to pioneering research in active learning systems for wind tunnel measurements and the augmented reality visualization of flow fields. His work involved the development of robotic manipulator operations optimized for multi-hole pressure probes and collaboration with the Swiss Data Science Center on the SmartAIR project, aimed at intelligent aerodynamic measurement systems. He also gained early industrial experience as an Engineering Intern at Liebherr Aerospace in Lindenberg, Germany (2016), where he managed wind tunnel testing facilities, planned and executed test campaigns, and oversaw equipment upgrades. In parallel with his research activities, Dr. Humml has demonstrated strong teaching and leadership capabilities. As Head Teaching Assistant for Fluid Dynamics I at ETH Zurich, he coordinated multiple exercise groups, prepared course materials and exams, and mentored students. He also served for several years as a Teaching Assistant for the ETH Wind Tunnel Laboratory Course and supervised junior researchers at the Institute of Fluid Dynamics. Dr. Humml earned his Doctor of Science (Dr. sc. ETH) in Mechanical Engineering from ETH Zurich in 2022, under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Thomas Rösgen and co-examiner Prof. Dr. Fernando Perez-Cruz. His doctoral thesis, titled “Self-Guided Machine Learning Algorithm for Real-Time Assimilation, Interpolation, and Rendering of Aerodynamic Measurements”, advanced the field of real-time data-driven aerodynamic measurement and visualization.

Profile: Orcid

 
Featured Publications

Humml, J., Cohen, V., & Perez-Cruz, F. (2024). Augmented reality guided aerodynamic sampling. In AIAA SciTech Forum 2024, Orlando, FL, USA, January 8-12, 2024 (AIAA 2024-1382). American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics.

Kottom, L., Stefan-Zavala, A., Gharib, M., & Humml, J. (2025). Augmented reality and vision-language models to guide humans across manual tasks. Proceedings of the ACM (print version published August 10, 2025).

Humml, J. (2024). Physics-informed machine learning for large-scale sampling and augmented-reality human visualization and interaction.

Mario Covarrubias | Automotive & Manufacturing VR | VR Research Excellence Award

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Assoc. Prof. Dr Mario Covarrubias | Automotive & Manufacturing VR | VR Research Excellence Award 

 Politecnico di Milano | Italy

Dr. Mario Covarrubias Rodríguez is a distinguished multidisciplinary researcher whose academic and professional pursuits span the intersection of virtual reality (VR), mixed reality (MR), human–computer interaction (HCI), and inclusive design. His research is driven by a vision to harness immersive technologies for the advancement of education, rehabilitation, and cultural heritage preservation. Through his work, Dr. Covarrubias Rodríguez seeks to bridge the gap between digital innovation and human experience, ensuring that technological progress contributes meaningfully to learning, recovery, and social inclusion. A central focus of Dr. Covarrubias Rodríguez’s research lies in developing immersive and interactive environments that support cognitive and physical rehabilitation. His studies in VR-based stroke rehabilitation have demonstrated how virtual environments can assist patients in regaining motor skills, improving engagement, and enhancing therapeutic outcomes. By integrating engineering design principles with biomedical and psychological insights, he has contributed to the creation of adaptive systems that personalize therapy according to individual needs, making rehabilitation more motivating and effective. Dr. Covarrubias Rodríguez has contributed to the creation of virtual tours, 3D reconstructions, and interactive museum experiences that allow users to explore historical sites and artifacts in immersive detail. By combining computer-aided design (CAD), 3D visualization, and VR storytelling, he helps safeguard intangible and tangible heritage for future generations while making it accessible to global audiences. He has published widely in renowned journals and conference proceedings such as Computer-Aided Design and Applications, Lecture Notes in Computer Science (LNCS), and IEEE Rehabilitation Robotics. His work is characterized by methodological rigor, interdisciplinary collaboration, and a focus on real-world applicability. To date, he has authored or co-authored nearly 484 publications, with over 98 citations and an h-index of 10, reflecting both the breadth and depth of his contributions to the field. Beyond his research achievements, Dr. Covarrubias Rodríguez actively promotes the integration of inclusive design and accessibility in emerging digital systems. His overarching goal is to ensure that innovations in virtual and mixed reality are not only technologically advanced but also socially responsible and human-centered. Through his pioneering work, he continues to inspire a new generation of researchers, educators, and engineers committed to creating immersive digital technologies that empower individuals, enrich learning, and enhance human well-being across diverse communities.

Profiles: Scopus | Orcid | LinkedIn

Featured Publications

Covarrubias, M. (2024). Enhancing inclusive education for young students with special needs through mixed reality: Exploring the potential of CNC milling machine application. Computer-Aided Design and Applications, 21(3), 522–535. (Q1, IF 3.1, CiteScore 6.5).

Covarrubias, M. (2024). Exploiting virtual reality to design exercises for the recovery of stroke patients at home. Computer-Aided Design and Applications, 21(3), 463–473. (Q1, IF 3.1, CiteScore 6.5).

Covarrubias, M. (2024). Rapid prototyping in engineering education: Developing a hand exoskeleton for personalized rehabilitation. Computer-Aided Design and Applications, 21(3), 474–486. (Q1, IF 3.1, CiteScore 6.5).

Covarrubias, M. (2023). Google Earth in VR for students with special needs. Lecture Notes in Computer Science (LNCS 14219), Springer Nature, 3–14. (Q2, IF 2.4, CiteScore 4.1).

Covarrubias Rodriguez, M. (2023). Tintoretto Unveiled: Interactive virtual experience for artworks. Lecture Notes in Mechanical Engineering, Springer Nature, 1352–1363. (Q2, IF 2.2, CiteScore 3.8).