Ali Eyvazi | Simulation & Training | Research Excellence Award

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Dr. Ali Eyvazi | Simulation & Training | Research Excellence Award 

Vali-e-Asr University of Rafsanjan | Iran

Ali Eyvazi is a researcher in the field of clean and sustainable energy systems, currently affiliated with the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Vali-e-Asr University, Iran, with expertise focused on energy, hydrogen production, exergy evaluation, geothermal systems, and economic optimization of advanced multigeneration technologies. His research portfolio centers on the development and thermoeconomic assessment of novel multigeneration energy systems that simultaneously produce power, heating, cooling, and liquid hydrogen, typically by incorporating geothermal resources, gas turbines, absorption heat transformers, ejector cooling, and compressed air energy storage technologies. Eyvazi’s works adopt a holistic performance evaluation framework that includes energy, exergy, and cost analyses, often coupled with optimization methods to identify thermodynamically efficient and economically viable configurations. His 2025 publications prominently explore geothermal-based multigeneration cycles, including innovative cascade methods for hydrogen liquefaction and combined precooling processes (e.g., Claude hydrogen liquefaction integrated with helium-based Joule-Brayton cycles). He frequently collaborates with experienced co-authors such as Mehran Ameri, Mohammad Shafiey Dehaj, and Hadi Ghaebi, contributing to multiple reputable journals in heat and mass transfer, sustainable energy systems, and process integration. His studies aim to reduce reliance on fossil fuels and improve the practicality of hydrogen as a clean fuel, particularly by lowering energy consumption during liquefaction and enhancing heat recovery mechanisms. Alongside optimization-driven geothermal designs, his research also examines hybrid systems combining gas turbines with absorption chillers, as well as environmentally safer cooling systems utilizing sulfur dioxide-based ejector technology. These contributions support the advancement of renewable energy integration and more efficient energy conversion methods for future smart grid applications. Although his scientific metrics are at an early stage — with 1 citation, h-index 1, and i10-index 0 — his rapidly growing publication record between 2024 and 2025 (more than 15 articles) highlights strong academic productivity and continued engagement with emerging topics in global decarbonization efforts. Eyvazi’s overall objective is to address global energy sustainability challenges through high-efficiency thermal systems, providing economically optimized solutions for clean hydrogen generation and multi-output energy plants that can support industrial and societal needs in the evolving renewable energy landscape.

Profile: Google Scholar

Featured Publications 

Eyvazi, A., Ameri, M., Shafiey Dehaj, M., & Ghaebi, H. (2025). Thermoeconomic analysis and optimization of a novel geothermal based multi generation system for electricity generation, cooling, heating and hydrogen liquefaction. Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer Research.

Eyvazi, A., Ameri, M., Shafiey Dehaj, M., & Ghaebi, H. (2025). Energy, exergy, and economic analysis and optimization of a novel geothermal energy-based multigeneration system for liquid hydrogen, hot water, cooling, and power production. Process Integration and Optimization for Sustainability, 1–20.

Eivazi, A., & Shafiey Dehaj, M. (2025). Thermo-Economic Evaluation of the combined power, heat and cooling production system integrating gas turbine and absorption cooling. Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer Research, 12(1), 29–44.

Eyvazi, A., Ameri, M., Shafiey Dehaj, M., & Ghaebi, H. (2025). Energy, exergy and economic analysis of a new geothermal resource-based multigeneration system for power, heat, cooling and liquid hydrogen production by cascade method. Journal of Sustainable Energy Systems, 4(1), 83–105.

Eyvazi, A., Ameri, M., Dehaj, M. S., & Ghaebi, H. (2025). Thermoeconomic analysis and optimization of Claude hydrogen liquefaction cycle integrated with helium-based Joule–Brayton precooling cycle in a novel geothermal multigeneration system. Heat Transfer.

Eyvazi, A. (2025). Energy, exergy, and economic analysis and optimization of novel multi-generation system with combination of heat recovery exchanger and absorption transformer. Energy, 6(2), 293–313.

Eyvazi, A., & Ghaebi, H. (2025). Thermoeconomic study of a new combined power, heat and cooling system combined with an electrolyzer for producing hydrogen. Journal of Simulation and Analysis of Novel Technologies in Mechanical Engineering.

Eyvazi, A. (2025). Thermodynamic and economic analysis of new multiple generation system with steam turbine combined with ejector cooling based on sulfur dioxide. Journal of Energy Conversion.

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.

Albert “Skip” Rizzo | VR Therapy & Mental Health | Lifetime Achievement in Virtual Reality Award

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Prof. Albert “Skip” Rizzo | VR Therapy & Mental Health | Lifetime Achievement in Virtual Reality Award

USC-Institute for Creative Technologies | United States

Albert “Skip” Rizzo, Ph.D., is an internationally recognized clinical psychologist and neuropsychologist who founded one of the world’s first Clinical Virtual Reality laboratories at USC in 1995 and currently serves as Director of Medical VR at the USC Institute for Creative Technologies, where he has spent three decades designing, developing, and evaluating over 60 VR and Virtual Human systems for clinical diagnosis, treatment, and research across domains such as PTSD, anxiety, depression, autism, ADHD, stroke, traumatic brain injury, cerebral palsy, and other health conditions; best known for his groundbreaking BRAVEMIND PTSD therapy used with veterans and trauma survivors, he has collaborated extensively with computer scientists, engineers, artists, and medical leaders to advance the field, earning widespread recognition including being named one of Polygon’s top 25 VR innovators, Ozy’s “Godfather of Virtual Reality,” recipient of the 2018 Michael Dell “Engine of Human Progress” award, the ISTSS Trauma Innovation Award, the International Society on Virtual Rehabilitation Distinguished Service Award, the Best Paper Award for his VR ADHD classroom study involving 700 children, and the 2023 IEEE VR Lifetime Achievement Award; his team also secured second place and $1M funding in the VA Mission Daybreak competition for the Battle Buddy suicide-prevention system, while his career research portfolio exceeds $60M in funding—$30M specifically in Virtual Humans—with major grants from the Department of Defense, DARPA, VA, Army Research Lab, and leading industry partners including HP, Nvidia, Google, Dell, Intel, Samsung, HTC/Valve, AMD, Magic Leap, and many others; with more than 350 peer-reviewed publications, 31 chapters, 10 books, over 1000 professional presentations, 41 awards, and over 1000 media appearances, Dr. Rizzo’s influential body of work continues to shape and expand the global impact of clinical VR in healthcare and rehabilitation.

Profiles:  Orcid | Google Scholar

Featured Publications

Rizzo, A. S. (2025). Relationships between parent ratings of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder behaviors and the Virtual Reality Attention Tracker in school-aged children: Cross-sectional study. Journal of Medical Internet Research.

Rizzo, A. S. (2025). Virtual reality exposure for treating PTSD due to military sexual trauma. Journal of Clinical Psychology.

Rizzo, A. S. (2025). Expert consensus best practices for the safe, ethical, and effective design and implementation of artificially intelligent conversational agent (i.e., chatbot/virtual human) systems in health care applications. Journal of Medical Extended Reality.

Rizzo, A. S. (2024). Reporting guidelines for the early-phase clinical evaluation of applications using extended reality (RATE-XR): Qualitative study guideline. Journal of Medical Internet Research.

Rizzo, A. S. (2024). Advances in the use of virtual reality to treat mental health conditions. Nature Reviews Psychology.

Rizzo, A. S. (2024). Reporting guidelines for the early-phase clinical evaluation of applications using extended reality (RATE-XR): Qualitative study guideline (Preprint). JMIR Preprints.

Rizzo, A. S. (2023). Reporting the early-stage clinical evaluation of virtual-reality-based intervention trials: RATE-VR. Nature Medicine.

Rizzo, A. S. (2022). Enhancing exposure therapy for posttraumatic stress disorder: A randomized clinical trial of virtual reality and imaginal exposure with a cognitive enhancer. Translational Psychiatry.

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).