Hala El-Khozondar | Solar Cells | Best Researcher Award

Prof. Dr. Hala El-Khozondar | Solar Cells | Best Researcher Award

Professor at Islamic University of Gaza, Palestine, State of

Professor Hala J. El-Khozondar is a distinguished physicist and electrical engineer, currently a Visiting Professor at Imperial College London and a Professor at the Islamic University of Gaza. With expertise in nanomaterials, photonics, and renewable energy, she has made significant contributions to science and education. She has held leadership roles, including department head and research committee chair. Her research spans optical sensors, solar cells, and nonlinear transmission lines. A mentor and advisor, she has supervised numerous students and research projects. Recognized globally, she has received multiple awards for her outstanding contributions to academia and scientific research.

Publication Profile

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Education Background📚🎓

Prof. El-Khozondar earned her Ph.D. in Physics with a minor in Electrical Engineering (1999) and a Master’s in Physics (1995) from New Mexico State University, USA. She previously obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Physics (1987) and a Teaching Certificate Diploma (1989) from Birzeit University, West Bank. Her postdoctoral research was conducted at the Max Planck Institute for Nuclear Physics, Germany. Throughout her academic journey, she has pursued advanced studies in nanotechnology, photonics, and engineering, collaborating with international institutions and contributing to groundbreaking research in material science and electrical engineering.

Professional Experience 🏫🔬

Prof. El-Khozondar is a Distinguished Professor at the Islamic University of Gaza and a Research Fellow at Imperial College London. She has served as the Head of the Electrical Engineering and Smart Systems Department and held leadership roles in quality assurance and research committees. Previously, she worked at the Technical University of Munich and was a Vice Dean for External Relations. Her teaching spans undergraduate and graduate levels, covering physics, electrical engineering, and renewable energy. She has supervised numerous students, contributed to academic policy, and played key roles in scientific collaborations.

Awards and Honors 🏆🎖

Prof. El-Khozondar has received numerous accolades, including the Palestinian Ministry of Higher Education’s Best Researcher Award (2023), IUG’s Best Research Prize (2021), and the TWAS-Aro Prize for Science Diplomacy (2018). She has been honored by ISESCO, DAAD, and the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation for her contributions to science. She is a Fellow of the Islamic World Academy of Sciences and TWAS. Recognized internationally, she has been awarded multiple research fellowships in Germany, Belgium, and Turkey. Additionally, she has been named a TUM Research Alumni Ambassador and recognized for excellence in academic publishing and science diplomacy.

Research Focus 🔬🌍

Prof. El-Khozondar specializes in nanomaterials modeling, photonic crystal-based optical sensors, and solar cell efficiency enhancement. Her work includes Monte Carlo simulations for material evolution, nonlinear transmission lines for microwave applications, and polarization rotation in optical fibers. She explores fiber Bragg grating sensors, electromagnetic radiation effects on tissues, and optical waveguides for nonreciprocal devices. Using MATLAB and OrCad, she develops models for photovoltaic performance. Her interdisciplinary research integrates physics, engineering, and materials science, driving innovation in renewable energy, sensor technologies, and photonics, with a focus on advancing smart systems and sustainable solutions for global scientific challenges.

Publication Top Notes

Design of an isolated renewable hybrid energy system: a case study ⚡🌍
Year: 2022 | Cited by: 113
A review study of photovoltaic array maximum power tracking algorithms ☀️🔋
Year: 2016 | Cited by: 112
Standalone hybrid PV/wind/diesel‐electric generator system for a COVID‐19 quarantine center 🏥🌬️🔋
Year: 2023 | Cited by: 92
Design of one-dimensional refractive index sensor using ternary photonic crystal waveguide for plasma blood samples applications 🩸🔬
Year: 2019 | Cited by: 92
Carbon footprint and energy life cycle assessment of wind energy industry in Libya 🌿💨⚙️
Year: 2024 | Cited by: 84

Conclusion

Professor Hala J. El-Khozondar is a distinguished researcher with a Ph.D. in Physics and a minor in Electrical Engineering, renowned for her contributions to nanomaterials, photonic structures, optical sensing, and renewable energy. With extensive research experience at prestigious institutions such as Imperial College London, Max Planck Institute, and the Technical University of Munich, her work has significantly advanced photonics, fiber optics, and solar energy applications. Her leadership roles as a department head, research committee chair, and quality assurance leader highlight her influence in academia, while her dedication to teaching and mentoring has shaped future generations of engineers and scientists. Recognized internationally, her impactful research and interdisciplinary contributions make her a highly deserving candidate for the Best Researcher Award.
  

 

Roonak Daghigh | Solar Energy | Best Researcher Award

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Roonak Daghigh | Solar Energy | Best Researcher Award

Associate Professor at University of Kurdistan, Iran

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Roonak Daghigh is a distinguished researcher and academic in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Kurdistan, Iran. She holds a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering-Energy Conversion from the National University of Malaysia (UKM), with a focus on photovoltaic thermal heat pumps. She has served as Dean of the Faculty of Engineering and held key leadership roles at UOK. Recognized among the Top 2% scientists by Stanford University (2021-2024), her expertise spans energy studies, renewable energy, solar thermal systems, and HVAC. Dr. Daghigh has authored 65+ peer-reviewed articles with 2049 citations, an h-index of 25, and an i10-index of 38. She is an active reviewer for high-impact journals and has received multiple international awards.

Publication Profile

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Education 🎓

Dr. Daghigh earned her Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering-Energy Conversion from the National University of Malaysia (UKM) in 2011, specializing in photovoltaic thermal heat pumps for water heating, drying, and cooling. She completed her M.Sc. in Mechanical Engineering at University Putra Malaysia (UPM) in 2008, focusing on air exchange effectiveness in thermal comfort. Her B.Sc. in Chemical Engineering – Process Design of Oil Industries from Iran University of Science and Technology (IUST) involved research on rust protection systems for buried pipelines using sacrificial anodes. She conducted part of her Ph.D. research at the Solar Energy Research Institute (SERI) in Malaysia.

Experience 👩‍🏫

Dr. Daghigh has been an Associate Professor at the University of Kurdistan since 2017, previously serving as an Assistant Professor (2013-2017). She held leadership roles, including Dean of the Faculty of Engineering (2022-2025), Deputy of Research (2018-2022), and Head of the Technology Incubation Centre (2015-2018). Before academia, she was an advisor at the Institute of Standards & Industrial Research of Iran (2011-2013). She is an editorial board member, keynote speaker, and active participant in technical committees for national and international events.

Awards and Honors 🏆

Dr. Daghigh has been recognized as a Top 2% scientist by Stanford University (2021-2024) and the Islamic World Science Citation Center (2024). She was named Top Department Researcher in 2014, 2015, 2021, and 2023. She received the Excellence in Reviewing Award from Elsevier and multiple medals at international innovation exhibitions in Malaysia, including gold at ITEX 2009. Her work has won best paper awards, including at the WSEAS Renewable Energy Sources Conference in Spain.

Research Focus 🔬

Dr. Daghigh specializes in energy studies, with a strong focus on renewable energy technologies, including solar energy conversion, fuel cells, and HVAC systems. Her research covers photovoltaic thermal systems, solar thermal applications, indoor air quality, and clean room technology. She has contributed significantly to applied energy solutions for heating, ventilation, and air conditioning. Her research integrates sustainability with advanced thermal management techniques.

Publication Top Notes

📗 Advances in liquid based photovoltaic/thermal (PV/T) collectors – R Daghigh, MH Ruslan, K Sopian | Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews | 232 citations | 2011

🌞 Review of solar assisted heat pump drying systems for agricultural and marine products – R Daghigh, MH Ruslan, MY Sulaiman, K Sopian | Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews | 176 citations | 2010

🔥 Theoretical and experimental analysis of thermal performance of a solar water heating system with evacuated tube heat pipe collector – R Daghigh, A Shafieian | Applied Thermal Engineering | 147 citations | 2016

🏢 Hybrid photovoltaic thermal (PV/T) air and water based solar collectors suitable for building integrated applications – A Ibrahim, GL Jin, R Daghigh, MHM Salleh, MY Othman, MH Ruslan, … | American Journal of Environmental Sciences | 117 citations | 2009

🔳 Evaluation of single-pass photovoltaic-thermal air collector with rectangle tunnel absorber – GL Jin, A Ibrahim, YK Chean, R Daghigh, H Ruslan, S Mat, MY Othman, … | American Journal of Applied Sciences | 110 citations | 2010

🌍 Assessing the thermal comfort and ventilation in Malaysia and the surrounding regions – R Daghigh | Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews | 107 citations | 2015

🔋 Predicting the performance of amorphous and crystalline silicon based photovoltaic solar thermal collectors – R Daghigh, A Ibrahim, GL Jin, MH Ruslan, K Sopian | Energy Conversion and Management | 107 citations | 2011

☀️ An experimental study of a heat pipe evacuated tube solar dryer with heat recovery system – R Daghigh, A Shafieian | Renewable Energy | 90 citations | 2016

🔄 A multistate investigation of a solar dryer coupled with photovoltaic thermal collector and evacuated tube collector – R Daghigh, R Shahidian, H Oramipoor | Solar Energy | 72 citations | 2020

🤖 Techno-economic estimation of a non-cover box solar still with thermoelectric and antiseptic nanofluid using machine learning models – S Nazari, M Najafzadeh, R Daghigh | Applied Thermal Engineering | 62 citations | 2022

🚗 Artificial intelligence/machine learning in energy management systems, control, and optimization of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles – M Fayyazi, P Sardar, SI Thomas, R Daghigh, A Jamali, T Esch, H Kemper, … | Sustainability | 59 citations | 2023

🏠 Ventilation parameters and thermal comfort of naturally and mechanically ventilated offices – R Daghigh, NM Adam, BB Sahari | Indoor and Built Environment | 56 citations | 2009

❄️ Effective design, theoretical and experimental assessment of a solar thermoelectric cooling-heating system – R Daghigh, Y Khaledian | Solar Energy | 53 citations | 2018

🔄 Energy-exergy analysis of a multipurpose evacuated tube heat pipe solar water heating-drying system – R Daghigh, A Shafieian | Experimental Thermal and Fluid Science | 51 citations | 2016

💧 Techno-enviro-exergo-economic and water hygiene assessment of non-cover box solar still employing parabolic dish concentrator and thermoelectric peltier effect – S Nazari, R Daghigh | Process Safety and Environmental Protection | 44 citations | 2022

⚙️ Improving the performance of heat pipe embedded evacuated tube collector with nanofluids and auxiliary gas system – R Daghigh, P Zandi | Renewable Energy | 43 citations | 2019

♨️ Experimental analysis of heat transfer in spiral coils using nanofluids and coil geometry change in a solar system – R Daghigh, Z Pooya | Applied Thermal Engineering | 41 citations | 2018