Rebecca Alowo| Engineering | Best Researcher Award

Dr. Rebecca Alowo| Engineering | Best Researcher Award

Assist. Prof. Dr. Komal Bansal, Dev Samaj College for Women, Affiliated to Panjab University Chandigarh, India, 

Dr. Rebecca Alowo is a distinguished researcher whose work bridges the gap between engineering and societal impact. Her research in sustainable groundwater management and WASH has transformed lives in Uganda and beyond. Her teaching and advocacy roles complement her research, highlighting her as a well-rounded candidate with an excellent balance of academic rigor, leadership, and practical impact.

Publication Profile

Scopus

 Experience:

Dr. Alowo is currently a Lecturer in the Department of Civil Engineering Technology at the University of Johannesburg, where she teaches courses such as Hydraulics, Water Reticulation Design, and Water & Wastewater Engineering. Since 2020, she has integrated innovative online teaching methods and assessment tools. Previously, she served as a lecturer at Central University of Technology, Vaal University of Technology, and the University of Free State, focusing on Strength of Materials and supervising master’s students. She also participated in consultations for the Water Technologies Demonstration Programme and reviewed research for international conferences. During her time at the University of Cambridge, she contributed to sustainable development projects, including the Cornwall Sustainable Development Plan and the evaluation of the Cambridge Guided Busway.

 

Educational :

Dr. Rebecca Alowo earned her Doctor of Engineering in Civil Engineering from the Central University of Technology, Free State, South Africa, where she conducted groundbreaking research on sustainable groundwater management through hydrological parameter modeling in the Modder River Catchment (2016–2021). She completed her Master of Philosophy in Engineering for Sustainable Development at the University of Cambridge, UK (2008–2009), focusing on community water resources management as a driver of development in Uganda. Her academic journey also includes a Post-Graduate Diploma in Project Planning and Management from Uganda Management Institute, Kampala, Uganda (2005–2006), and a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering with honors from Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda (1998–2003). Earlier, she excelled in her secondary education at Mt. St Mary’s College Namagunga, earning distinctions in key subjects for both her Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education and Uganda Certificate of Education.

 

Awards & Fellowships:

Dr. Alowo successfully lobbied for the establishment of Uganda’s WASH Parliamentary Forum and was recognized for her contributions to ICT-based solutions in water and sanitation management.

Technical Skills:

Dr. Alowo is proficient in GIS-based Management Information Systems and advanced hydrological modeling tools. She is also skilled in leveraging e-learning platforms such as Blackboard for modern teaching methodologies.

Publication Top Notes:

  • Title: An Investigation on Construction Project Development Planning Delays in South Africa
    • Authors: Nyaga Githae, B.; Hagir, H.; Alowo, R.
    • Year: 2024
    • Citations: 0
  • Title: GIS-based Vulnerability Model Assessment of The Alexandra Jukskei Catchment in South Africa
    • Authors: Gadisi, V.; Alowo, R.; Nkhonjera, G.
    • Year: 2024
    • Citations: 0
  • Title: Apps for Monitoring of Hydrological Parameters in the Alexandra Jukskei Catchment in South Africa
    • Authors: Achiro, D.; Alowo, R.; Nkhonjera, G.
    • Year: 2024
    • Citations: 0
  • Title: Understanding Land Use Planning and Sustainable Development from the Perspective of Smart Groundwater Monitoring
    • Authors: Kubuya, A.K.; Alowo, R.; Nkhonjera, G.
    • Year: 2023
    • Citations: 0
  • Title: Pollution in the Urban Environment: A Research on Contaminated Groundwater in the Aquifers Beneath the Qoboza Klaaste (QK) Building at University of Johannesburg in South Africa
    • Authors: Patience, D.; German, N.; Jeffrey, M.; Alowo, R.
    • Year: 2023
    • Citations: 0
  • Title: A Modelling Framework for Groundwater Sustainability in the Upper Orange Catchment of South Africa
    • Author: Alowo, R.
    • Year: 2023
    • Citations: 0
  • Title: Characterisation of Local Borehole Water within the Platinum Belt in Mokopane, Limpopo, Republic of South Africa
    • Authors: Weber, M.E.; Alowo, R.; Nkhonjera, G.
    • Year: 2023
    • Citations: 0
  • Title: Implementing a Groundwater Monitoring System in the Jukskei River Catchment: A TypeScript and MySQL Approach
    • Authors: Achiro, D.; Alowo, R.; Nkhonjera, G.
    • Year: 2023
    • Citations: 0
  • Title: The Development of an Application for Groundwater Management in Jukskei River Catchment of South Africa
    • Authors: Achiro, D.; Alowo, R.; Nkhonjera, G.
    • Year: 2023
    • Citations: 0
  • Title: Apps for Smart Groundwater Monitoring and Assessments: A Case Study of Regideso Catchment in Kimbanseke
    • Authors: Kabuya, A.K.; Alowo, R.; Nkhonjera, G.K.
    • Year: 2022
    • Citations: 0

Conclusions:

Dr. Alowo is a strong candidate for the “Best Researcher Award.” Her ability to translate research into actionable solutions, particularly in underprivileged communities, sets her apart. With further enhancement of her publication record and expansion of global collaborations, she could be a leading figure in sustainable development research worldwide

Marco Calabria | Neuropsychology | Best Researcher Award

Assist. Prof. Dr. Marco Calabria | Neuropsychology | Best Researcher Award

Assist. Prof. Dr. Marco Calabria, Universitat Oberta de Catalunya, Spain

Dr. Marco Calabria is an Associate Professor of Neuropsychology at Universitat Oberta de Catalunya, Barcelona, since 2019. He holds a Ph.D. in Psychobiology from the University of Padua, Italy. His research focuses on bilingualism, cognitive decline, and neuropsychology. He has held postdoctoral positions at Pompeu Fabra University and IRCCS Centro S. Giovanni di Dio-FBF, Italy. Dr. Calabria has led numerous funded projects on bilingualism’s role in aging and cognitive well-being. He is proficient in Italian, English, Spanish, Catalan, and French. 📚🎓 His work has earned multiple grants, contributing significantly to cognitive science and neuropsychology.

 

Publication Profile

Orcid

Work Experience 🧠

Dr. Marco Calabria is an Associate Professor of Neuropsychology at Universitat Oberta de Catalunya, Barcelona, since December 2019. He has an extensive background in neuropsychology, with prior roles as a Ramón y Cajal Research Fellow at Pompeu Fabra University (2014-2019) and postdoctoral positions focusing on speech production and bilingualism under Prof. Albert Costa. His earlier career includes research in neuropsychology and neurophysiology of aging and dementia at IRCCS Centro S. Giovanni di Dio-FBF, Italy. Dr. Calabria’s work significantly contributes to the study of bilingualism and cognitive aging. 📚🔬

 

Teaching Experience 📚

Dr. Marco Calabria has an impressive teaching background, having received accreditation as a Tenure-track Lecturer and Associate Professor from AQU Catalunya. Since 2019, he has taught the MSc in Neuropsychology at Universitat Oberta de Catalunya, covering topics such as language, aging, dementia, and executive functions. He also delivered courses at Pompeu Fabra University, including Neuroscience of Language and the neurocognitive bases of learning and language. His workshops on bilingualism at the University of Reading and his role in teaching across multiple degrees highlight his expertise in neuropsychology, language, and cognitive neuroscience. 🎓🧠

 

Education 🎓

Dr. Marco Calabria holds a Ph.D. in Psychobiology from the University of Padua (Italy), where he focused on memory for faces and proper names, exploring both episodic and semantic aspects under the guidance of Prof. Patrizia Silvia Bisiacchi. He also earned a Master’s Degree in Statistics, specializing in Biostatistics and Epidemiology, from the University of Milano Bicocca (Italy) in 2005. Earlier, he completed his Bachelor’s Degree in Experimental Psychology at the University of Padua, with a dissertation on ERP components in early face processing. His academic journey blends psychology, neuroscience, and statistical expertise. 📚🔬

 

Research Experiences Abroad 🌍🔬

Dr. Marco Calabria has broadened his research horizons through several international collaborations. In November 2022, he was a visiting researcher at the Department of Psychology and Clinical Language Sciences at the University of Reading, supported by the Research Connections call (UOC). He also gained valuable experience at INSERM U534 in Lyon, France, first as a predoctoral trainee (Sept. 2008), focusing on temporal representation in spatial neglect patients, and later during his post-Lauream internship (March–Sept. 2003), studying prism adaptation in spatial neglect rehabilitation. Additionally, he participated in the Erasmus-Socrates Program at Université Catholique de Louvain, Belgium, in 2001, specializing in neuropsychology and EEG lab training. 🌐🧠

 

Research Focus

Marco Calabria’s research primarily focuses on the intersection of bilingualism, cognitive decline, and neurodegenerative diseases, particularly in individuals with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) and other cognitive disorders. His work explores how bilingualism impacts cognitive functions such as executive control, language processing, and memory in the context of aging and neurological conditions. He also investigates the effects of language switching, cross-language interference, and neuropsychological deficits in bilingual patients. Calabria’s research has implications for understanding cognitive resilience and neuroplasticity in bilingual individuals. 🧠💬🔄📚

 

Publication Top Notes

  • “Dissociating language switching from executive control in bilinguals with MCI,” Cortex, 2024-12 📖🧠, DOI: 10.1016/j.cortex.2024.11.020
  • “Efficacy of a theatre-based intervention in patients with Parkinson’s disease,” Preprint, 2024-06-20 🎭, DOI: 10.31219/osf.io/rejnd
  • “Cross-language interference in bilinguals with neurodegenerative disorders,” Bilingualism: Language and Cognition, 2024-03 🧠🌍, DOI: 10.1017/S1366728923000470
  • “Hippocampal adaptations in Mild Cognitive Impairment patients are modulated by bilingual language experiences,” Bilingualism: Language and Cognition, 2024-03 🧠📚, DOI: 10.1017/S1366728923000354
  • “Introduction: Clinical aspects of bilingualism research in adults,” Bilingualism: Language and Cognition, 2024-03 📚🧠, DOI: 10.1017/S136672892400004X
  • “Bilingualism and language control,” Book Chapter, 2023-09-01 📘, DOI: 10.1075/bpa.17.04cal
  • “Evolving Trends in Neuropsychological Profiles of Post COVID-19 Condition: A 1-Year Follow-up in Individuals with Cognitive Complaints,” Preprint, 2023-06-18 🦠💡, DOI: 10.31219/osf.io/bwgx8
  • “Background music and memory in Mild Cognitive Impairment: the role of interindividual differences,” Preprint, 2023-01-09 🎶🧠, DOI: 10.31234/osf.io/6xawp
  • “Post-COVID-19 fatigue: the contribution of cognitive and neuropsychiatric symptoms,” Journal of Neurology, 2022-08 🦠💤, DOI: 10.1007/s00415-022-11141-8
  • “Cross-language interference in bilinguals with neurodegenerative diseases,” Preprint, 2022-06-13 🌐🧠, DOI: 10.31234/osf.io/jrbfk
  • “Neuropsychological deficits in patients with cognitive complaints after COVID‐19,” Brain and Behavior, 2022-03 🧠🦠, DOI: 10.1002/brb3.2508
  • “Language reconfiguration in bilinguals; A study with Huntington’s disease patients,” Linguistic Approaches to Bilingualism, 2021 🧠📚, DOI: 10.1075/lab.18022.cal
  • “Memories: Albert Costa’s legacy,” Journal of Neurolinguistics, 2021 🧠📖, DOI: 10.1016/j.jneuroling.2020.100967
  • “On the semantic optimum and contexts,” Bilingualism, 2021 💬📚, DOI: 10.1017/S1366728921000419
  • “Processing of semantic and grammatical gender in Spanish speakers with aphasia,” Aphasiology, 2021 🧠🔤, DOI: 10.1080/02687038.2021.1924355