Hawazin Elani | Machine Learning | Best Researcher Award

Published on by Computer Science Engineering

Dr. Hawazin Elani | Machine Learning | Best Researcher Award

Harvard University | United States

Dr. Hawazin W. Elani, Ph.D., is an accomplished scholar and academic leader whose research integrates dentistry, epidemiology, and health policy to advance oral health equity through data-driven, interdisciplinary approaches. She serves as an Associate Professor in the Department of Health Policy and Management at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and in the Department of Oral Health Policy and Epidemiology at the Harvard School of Dental Medicine, with additional affiliations at the Harvard Data Science Initiative and the Kempner Institute for the Study of Natural and Artificial Intelligence. Dr. Elani earned her Ph.D. in Dental Sciences with a concentration in Epidemiology and Population Health and an M.Sc. from McGill University, as well as an MMSc in Oral Biology and a Clinical Certificate in Prosthodontics from Harvard. Her research explores health disparities, oral health policy, and the application of artificial intelligence and machine learning in predicting oral health outcomes. She has authored over 30 peer-reviewed publications in high-impact journals such as Health Services Research, JAMA Network Open, and Journal of Dental Research, with her work cited widely for shaping discussions on healthcare access and reform. As principal investigator on multiple NIH and foundation-funded projects, including R01 and K-series grants, she has led innovative studies assessing the effects of Medicaid expansion and socioeconomic factors on dental care utilization. Recognized with Harvard’s Young Mentor Award and Distinguished Junior Faculty Award in 2024, Dr. Elani also contributes to national and international committees, including the NIH, the National Academies of Sciences, and the Medicaid Policy Research Advisory Group. Through her leadership, global collaborations, and dedication to mentoring, she continues to advance the intersection of artificial intelligence, population health, and oral health policy, driving forward equitable and sustainable improvements in healthcare delivery worldwide.

Profiles: Scopus | ORCID
Featured Publication

lani, H. W., Kawachi, I., & Sommers, B. D. (2020). Changes in emergency department dental visits after Medicaid expansion. Health Services Research, 55(1), 76–84.

Elani, H. W., Simon, L., Ticku, S., Bain, P. A., Barrow, J., & Riedy, C. A. (2018). Does providing dental services reduce overall health care costs? A systematic review of the literature. Journal of the American Dental Association (1939), 149(6), 430–438.e10.

Elani, H. W., Starr, J. R., Da Silva, J. D., & Gallucci, G. O. (2018). Trends in dental implant use in the U.S., 1999–2016, and projections to 2026. Journal of Dental Research, 97(13), 1424–1430.

Gil, M. S., Ishikawa-Nagai, S., Elani, H. W., Da Silva, J. D., Kim, D. M., Tarnow, D., Schulze-Späte, U., Cleber, S., & Bittner, N. (2019). Comparison of the color appearance of peri-implant soft tissue with natural gingiva using anodized pink-neck implants and pink abutments: A prospective clinical trial. The International Journal of Oral & Maxillofacial Implants, 34(1), 168–175.

Gil, M. S., Ishikawa-Nagai, S., Elani, H. W., Da Silva, J. D., Kim, D. M., Tarnow, D., Schulze-Späte, U., & Bittner, N. (2017). A prospective clinical trial to assess the optical efficacy of pink neck implants and pink abutments on soft tissue esthetics. Journal of Esthetic and Restorative Dentistry, 29(3), 213–219.

Khaista Rahman | Artificial Intelligence| Best Paper Award

Published on by Computer Science Engineering

Dr. Khaista Rahman | Artificial Intelligence| Best Paper Award

Assistant Professor | Shaheed Benazir Bhutto University Sheringal | Pakistan 

Dr. Khaista Rahman is a distinguished researcher specializing in fuzzy set theory, fuzzy logic, aggregation operators, and artificial intelligence-based decision support systems, with a strong focus on solving decision-making problems under uncertainty. His work explores advanced mathematical structures like Pythagorean fuzzy numbers, interval-valued fuzzy models, and complex fuzzy systems to create robust solutions for multi-attribute group decision-making processes. Dr. Rahman has published extensively on generalized and induced aggregation operators, developing new models that enhance decision accuracy and reliability in diverse applications such as plant location selection, hospital siting during COVID-19, vaccine selection, and railway optimization problems. His research integrates t-norm and t-conorm-based approaches, Einstein hybrid operators, and logarithmic intuitionistic fuzzy techniques to handle complex decision environments. He has also supervised several M.Phil., M.Sc., and BS scholars, contributing significantly to academic mentorship and knowledge dissemination. Recognized among the top 2% scientists worldwide by Stanford University from 2022 to 2025, he has made substantial contributions to granular computing, soft computing, and intelligent systems literature. His work during the COVID-19 pandemic stands out for developing emergency response models using complex fuzzy information to predict and manage disease spread in Pakistan. As Principal Investigator of a funded project on complex intelligent decision support models, Dr. Rahman has bridged theoretical advancements with practical implementations, making his research highly impactful. With an H-index of 26 and over 1900 citations, his scholarly influence spans mathematics, operations research, and computational intelligence, providing frameworks that empower policymakers and industries to make optimal decisions in uncertain and dynamic scenarios. Dr. Khaista Rahman has achieved 776 citations across 532 documents with an impressive h-index of 16.

Profile:  Scopus | ORCID
Featured Publication

  1. Rahman, K., & Khishe, M. (2024). Confidence level based complex polytopic fuzzy Einstein aggregation operators and their application to decision-making process [Retracted]. Scientific Reports, 14(1), 15253.

  2. Rahman, K., & Khishe, M. (2024). Retraction Note: Confidence level based complex polytopic fuzzy Einstein aggregation operators and their application to decision-making process. Scientific Reports, 14(1).

  3. Rahman, K., et al. (2025). Unraveling vegetation diversity and environmental influences in the Sultan Kha Valley, Dir Upper, Pakistan: An advanced multivariate analysis approach. Polish Journal of Environmental Studies.

  4. Rahman, K. (2024). Some new types induced complex intuitionistic fuzzy Einstein geometric aggregation operators and their application to decision-making problem. Neural Computing and Applications.