Tania Gonzalez | Future of VR Research | Research Excellence Award

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Ms. Tania Gonzalez | Future of VR Research | Research Excellence Award 

Centro de Investigación Cientifica y de Educación Superior de Ensenada, Baja California | Mexico

Tania Maribel González Mendoza is a dedicated Marine Ecologist with over five years of experience in research and monitoring of coral reefs and coastal ecosystems, with a specialization in reef fish ecology. She possesses strong expertise in scientific diving, marine organism collection, biological sample processing, and both field and laboratory data analysis. Throughout her academic career, including her current Ph.D. candidacy at CICESE, she has been actively involved in national research projects addressing critical issues such as ocean acidification, climate change, and reef ecology, contributing to several peer-reviewed publications. Her professional experience includes research assistant roles at Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana and active participation in projects like the deep-reef refuge hypothesis, Punta Colonet Port development, and reproductive ecology of damselfish, where she has conducted fieldwork, laboratory analyses, database management, and scientific reporting. She has also contributed to reef restoration and carbonate budget assessments, highlighting her hands-on approach to marine conservation. In addition to research, she is experienced in teaching and technical training, offering courses such as Reef Fish Ecology and Underwater Survey Techniques, and has provided workshops and seminars for scientific outreach. Tania is proficient in statistical and ecological software including RStudio, PRIMER+PERMANOVA, Past, and Statistica, and is certified in scientific and recreational diving (PADI Open Water and Advanced Diver). Fluent in Spanish and competent in English, she combines strong organizational skills, proactivity, responsibility, and teamwork with a commitment to advancing marine science. Her work integrates rigorous scientific methodology with field-based ecological insights, positioning her as a skilled researcher and educator dedicated to the conservation and understanding of coral reef ecosystems.


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Featured Publications

Xuefei Bai | Spatial Computing | Research Excellence Award

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Assoc. Prof. Dr. Xuefei Bai | Spatial Computing | Research Excellence Award

Liaoning University | China

Bai Xuefei is a distinguished researcher specializing in technological innovation, low-carbon economy, and big data analytics. Over recent years, she has published 27 papers and 2 monographs, contributing significantly to academic knowledge in her fields. She has led or participated in 56 research projects at national and provincial/municipal levels, including notable projects such as The Impact of Green Transformation on ESG Performance in Manufacturing Enterprises and industry-focused initiatives like the Premium Service Ecosystem Propelling High-Quality Development of Liaoning’s Pan-Regional Innovation Ecosystem. Bai Xuefei has been recognized for her leadership and expertise, being selected as a Shenyang High-Level Leading Talent and appointed as a Liaoning Provincial Science and Technology Commissioner in 2022. All her publications appear in CSSCI-indexed journals, and she holds editorial responsibilities as an editor of the Journal of Inner Mongolia Minzu University. Her collaborative work includes the Liaoning Strategic Alliance for Industrial Technology Innovation in AI Development for Manufacturing Processes. She actively contributes to the professional community as an executive council member of the Chinese Association of Young Statisticians, council member across several branches of the Chinese Society of Applied Statistics, a member of the Society of Complexity Management of China, and as a review expert for municipal scientific projects and graduate theses. Her research focuses on problem-oriented solutions with real-world social and industrial impact, combining academic rigor with practical innovation. Bai Xuefei has also authored two books (ISBN: 9787509668337; 9787502373597), further establishing her authority in her research domains. Her work bridges theoretical research, applied analytics, and strategic innovation, promoting sustainable development and advanced technological solutions in China. Recognized for her contributions, she demonstrates a consistent commitment to advancing knowledge, mentoring emerging researchers, and fostering interdisciplinary collaboration. Her research and consultancy projects have influenced policy and industrial practices, reflecting her capacity to translate complex analytics and technological insights into actionable strategies for societal and economic development. Academic and research achievements can be verified via her Baidu Scholar profile

 

Profile:  Orcid

Featured Publications 

Fan, X., Guo, Q., & Bai, X. (2025). The Impact of Green Transformation on ESG Performance in Manufacturing Enterprises: Empirical Evidence from Listed Companies in China. Sustainability, 17(24), 10911. https://doi.org/10.3390/su172410911 MDPI+1

Guo, P., Wang, X., Jiang, H., & Bai, X. (2025). Does Digital Transformation Improve Manufacturing ESG Performance: Evidence from China. Sustainability, 17(16), 7278. https://doi.org/10.3390/su17167278 MDPI+1

Bai, X., Guo, Q., & Fan, X. (2024). Green Technology Innovation and Corporate ESG — Evidence Based on Listed Companies in China. Sustainability, 17(4), 1410. https://doi.org/10.3390/su17041410 MDPI

Bai, X., Guo, Q., & Fan, X. (2024). Does ESG Performance Enhance Corporate Green Technological Innovation? Micro Evidence from Chinese‑Listed Companies. Sustainability, 17(2), 636. https://doi.org/10.3390/su17020636

Jendrian Riedel | Immersive Visualization | Research Excellence Award

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 Dr. Jendrian Riedel | Immersive Visualization | Research Excellence Award 

Hochschule Bremen | Germany

Dr. Jendrian Riedel is a German biologist specializing in zoology with a strong interdisciplinary focus bridging evolutionary biology, biodiversity research, and bionics innovation. He completed his Diplom (Master’s) in Biology at the University of Bonn in 2013, majoring in Zoology with minors in Palaeontology and Philosophy, reflecting a foundation in both organismal biology and broader scientific thinking. Following this, he pursued a Ph.D. in Natural and Physical Sciences with a focus on Zoology at James Cook University, Australia, under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Lin Schwarzkopf, completing his doctorate in 2020. During his early academic career, Dr. Riedel expanded his research experience internationally, serving as a Guest Scientist at the Department of Evolutionary Biology at Bielefeld University, Germany, in 2020, followed by a postdoctoral position there in 2021. He further deepened his expertise in biodiversity analysis and evolutionary research as a postdoctoral researcher at the Leibniz Institute for the Analysis of Biodiversity Change (LIB) – Museum Koenig Bonn, Germany, from 2022 to 2023. Since 2024, he has been contributing to interdisciplinary research as a researcher at the Core Facility for Multidisciplinary Structural Analysis & Bionics Innovation Center at Hochschule Bremen, Germany, where he applies his knowledge of zoology and structural analysis to advance biomimetic and bionics-driven innovations. Dr. Riedel’s career demonstrates a consistent integration of classical zoological research with contemporary approaches in biodiversity assessment and applied bionics, reflecting both depth in organismal science and a strong commitment to multidisciplinary scientific innovation. His work is characterized by a combination of field-based and laboratory research, international collaborations, and a focus on translating biological insights into technological applications, positioning him as a versatile researcher at the intersection of natural sciences and applied bionics.

Profile: Google Scholar

Featured Publications 

Pillai, R. R., Riedel, J., Wirth, W., Allen-Ankins, S., Nordberg, E., Edwards, W., … (2025). What’s the point? The functional role of claws in pad-bearing taxa (Gekkota: Diplodactylidae). Proceedings B, 292(2054), 20251362.

Kukla, Y., Riedel, J., & Rödder, D. (2025). Sticky innovation, limited expansion: Biogeography and evolutionary ecology of toepads in geckos. Journal of Biogeography, e70087.

Hofmann, S., Rödder, D., Andermann, T., Matschiner, M., Riedel, J., Baniya, C. B., … (2024). Exploring Paleogene Tibet’s warm temperate environments through target enrichment and phylogenetic niche modelling of Himalayan spiny frogs (Paini, Dicroglossidae). Molecular Ecology, 33(15), e17446.

Hofmann, S., Rödder, D., Andermann, T., Matschiner, M., Riedel, J., Baniya, C. B., … (2024). Exploring Paleogene Tibet’s warm temperate environments through target enrichment and phylogenetic niche modelling of Himalayan spiny frogs (Paini, Dicroglossidae). Molecular Ecology, 33(15), e17446.

Riedel, J., Klemm, M., Higham, T., Grismer, L. L., Ziegler, T., Russell, A., Rödder, D., … (2023). Variation in claw morphology among the digits of Bent-toed geckos (Cyrtodactylus: Gekkota: Gekkonidae). BMC Zoology, 8(1), 19.

Sungeun Suh | Human–Computer Interaction | Research Excellence Award

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Assoc. Prof. Dr. Sungeun Suh | Human–Computer Interaction | Research Excellence Award 

Gachon Unniversity | South Korea

Suh, S. E. is a leading researcher and educator in fashion design, recognized for her innovative integration of digital technologies, artificial intelligence, and sustainable practices into contemporary and traditional fashion contexts. Her scholarship focuses on the intersection of technology, culture, and design, exploring how digital platforms like Instagram and YouTube influence personal style, fashion consumption, and cultural representation. She has conducted extensive research using big data and text mining to decode global and Korean fashion trends, as well as generative AI to enhance creativity in textile and fashion design, including the development of customized designs based on traditional Korean patterns. Suh’s work emphasizes sustainability, addressing circular fashion, the eco-conscious practices of Generation Z, and the creation of performance-oriented ‘New Hanbok’ utilizing traditional craft techniques such as Najeon and Hanji, bridging heritage with contemporary design innovation. Her research also investigates historical and subcultural fashion phenomena, from 1970s–1980s casual subculture and British soccer hooliganism to Yosemite rock climbing communities, highlighting the sociocultural significance of fashion across contexts. She has published widely in top-tier journals including Sustainability, Fashion and Textiles, Journal of Fashion Design, and Humanities and Social Sciences Communications, reflecting her interdisciplinary approach spanning design, technology, and cultural studies. Beyond academia, Suh has actively translated her research into applied projects, including AI-based fashion pattern datasets (K-Deep Fashion), smart fashion product development supported by the Korean Ministry of Science and ICT, and practical design contributions such as the Pyeongchang Olympic private security uniforms and government facility uniforms. She has been recognized with multiple awards for excellence in research and presentation, including Best Reviewer Awards and numerous Awards of Excellence for poster and oral presentations at national and international conferences. Suh has also participated in prominent exhibitions, including the International Fashion Art Biennale in Busan (2022) and KSFD Fashion Exhibition (2021), demonstrating her ability to engage both scholarly and public audiences. Overall, her work represents a unique convergence of fashion, technology, and sustainability, positioning her as a leading figure in contemporary fashion research and education, whose contributions consistently bridge theoretical insight with practical, industry-relevant innovation.

Profile: Google Scholar

Featured Publications

Lee, N., & Suh, S. (2025). Decoding Korean men’s fashion trends: A text mining analysis of YouTube content. Humanities and Social Sciences Communications, 12(1), 1–17.

Lee, N., & Suh, S. (2024). How does digital technology inspire global fashion design trends? Big data analysis on design elements. Applied Sciences, 14(13), 5693.

Jung, D., & Suh, S. (2024). Enhancing soft skills through generative AI in sustainable fashion textile design education. Sustainability, 16(16), 6973.

Lee, J., & Suh, S. (2024). AI technology integrated education model for empowering fashion design ideation. Sustainability, 16(17), 7262.

Christiane Lange-Kuttner | Cognitive VR Research | Research Excellence Award

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Prof. Christiane Lange-Kuttner | Cognitive VR Research | Research Excellence Award 

Universitat Bremen | Germany

Prof. Dr. Chris Lange-Küttner is an internationally recognised developmental and cognitive psychologist whose extensive academic career spans Germany, the United Kingdom, and Cyprus, with core expertise in children’s visual cognition, spatial development, drawing, memory, intelligence, uncertainty processing, and developmental differences such as ASD and ADHD. She currently serves as Editor-in-Chief of Cognitive Development and previously held long-term editorial roles in major journals including Frontiers in Developmental Psychology, Journal of Experimental Child Psychology, and International Journal of Developmental Science. She holds an H-index exceeding 90 across major citation platforms, reflecting her substantial research influence. Educated at the Technical University Berlin and Free University Berlin, she earned her Dr. phil. magna cum laude, published her early landmark work on children’s graphic competence, and later completed her habilitation at the University of Bremen on spatial systems in development and learning. Her academic appointments include W3 and W2 Professorships in Developmental Psychology (Greifswald, Konstanz), more than two decades as Senior Lecturer at London Metropolitan University, and adjunct faculty roles at the University of Nicosia. She has led major research projects such as INSIDE at the Leibniz Institute for Educational Trajectories and has contributed significantly to academic leadership as Chair of the TEAP Conference, Psychology Ethics Committee Chair, Erasmus Coordinator, and PhD viva examiner. Her honours include listings in Outstanding Intellectuals of the 21st Century and Who’s Who, alongside multiple fellowships such as FHEA and Associate Fellow of the BPS. Prof. Lange-Küttner’s recent publications span influential topics including school transitions, ADHD–education links, visual search, spatial heuristics, relative age effects, longitudinal school performance, and academic-social profiles in autism. Her extensive earlier work includes foundational studies on drawing development, perceptual load, spatial binding, mental rotation, reaction time systems, bilingual speech preparation, object-based practice in Alzheimer’s disease, and cognitive mechanisms underlying children’s learning. She has supervised multiple doctoral and master’s students and mentored international interns whose work has led to published outcomes. Skilled in Python, R, SPSS, JMP, MPlus, AMOS, and experimental software, she integrates computational, statistical, and experimental methodologies to advance developmental science. Her career is marked by cross-disciplinary impact, global collaborations, and sustained contributions to understanding how children perceive, organise, and learn from the visual and spatial world.

Profiles: Scopus | Orcid

Featured Publications

Chris Lange-Kuttner, C. (2025). Spatial heuristics and random spatial exploration: Children, adults, and the machine coloring-in places in the grid game. Frontiers in Developmental Psychology.

Chris Lange-Kuttner, C. (2025). Visual search and domain-specific interests in children. International Journal of Developmental Science.

Chris Lange-Kuttner, C. (2025). The relative age effect in secondary schools. Cognitive Development.

Chris Lange-Kuttner, C. (2025). A 5-year longitudinal study about the effect of school change on grades. The Journal of Genetic Psychology.

Chris Lange-Kuttner, C. (2025). Academic and social profiles of adolescents with autism. Psychological Test and Assessment Modeling.

Chris Lange-Kuttner, C. (2024). Are school grades correlated with competencies in secondary school pupils with special needs? Frontiers in Education.

Chris Lange-Kuttner, C. (2024). Object-based practice effects recover the graphic object concept in Alzheimer’s dementia. Psychology of Aesthetics, Creativity, and the Arts.

Chris Lange-Kuttner, C. (2024). COVID-stressed schools struggled to teach mathematics. Acta Psychologica.

Chris Lange-Kuttner, C. (2024). Visual and motor cognition in children and infants. Routledge.

Zeyu Peng | Human–Computer Interaction | Research Excellence Award 

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Mr. Zeyu Peng | Human–Computer Interaction | Research Excellence Award 

Migu Culture Technology Co.,Ltd | China

Zeyu Peng is an accomplished Graphics AI Algorithm Engineer based in Shenzhen, Guangdong, with a strong academic foundation in Mathematics and Applied Mathematics, earning an MSc from Wuhan University (2015–2018) specializing in Optimization Theory, Algorithms, and Applications, and a BSc from Central South University (2011–2015). Professionally, Zeyu has extensive experience in AI-driven graphics and operations research, currently contributing to Migu Culture Technology as a Graphics AI Algorithm Engineer since 2021, and previously serving as an Algorithm Engineer at China Southern Airlines IT Research Institute (2018–2021). His notable projects include developing a Speech-to-3D Facial Animation Generation engine, creating multi-style performance rule sets, and implementing both combination optimization and diffusion-based facial animation synthesis frameworks for digital humans. He has also engineered a Co-Speech Gesture Generation system leveraging language models, inverse kinematics, and diffusion models to produce contextually appropriate gestures synchronized with speech. Additionally, Zeyu has worked on FlowMatch and FastPitch-based AI voice conversion models for speech and singing applications, and contributed to large-scale aviation optimization projects such as flight pairing and crew scheduling, involving graph-based algorithms, branch-and-bound frameworks, and operations research algorithm libraries. He has developed a Facial Detection SDK with MTCNN for autonomous airport check-in systems and a luggage damage detection system utilizing object detection and classification techniques. Zeyu’s technical expertise spans C++, Python, Rust, and frameworks like PyTorch and ONNX, complemented by proficiency in LaTeX, Maya, Blender, and certifications including CET-6 and TOEFL. His research contributions are evidenced by publications in high-impact venues such as The Journal of Supercomputing and CGI2025, along with multiple patents in facial animation synthesis, video generation, and digital human animation technologies. Overall, Zeyu demonstrates a rare combination of deep theoretical knowledge, practical algorithmic implementation, and impactful contributions to AI-driven virtual reality, digital human animation, and optimization systems, establishing him as a leading engineer and innovator in graphics AI and virtual human technologies.

Profile: Google Scholar

Featured Publications

Peng, Z., Ma, D., & Lv, X. (2025, July). A two stage co-speech gesture generation method. Oral Presentation at CGI 2025.

Peng, Z., Li, H., & Wang, S. (2025, April). FaceImitate: Speech-driven 3D facial animation synthesis from imitation. The Journal of Supercomputing.

Peng, Z., & Wang, S. (2024, October 11). A video synthesis method, device, storage medium, and program product based on a classification model [Patent No. CN118764575A]. Migu Culture Technology Co., Ltd.; China Mobile Communications Group Co., Ltd.

Peng, Z., Wang, S., & Li, H. (2024, July 9). Facial motion prediction methods, devices, media, and computer program products [Patent No. CN118314614A]. Migu Culture Technology Co., Ltd.; China Mobile Communications Group Co., Ltd.