Raziyeh Pourdarbani | Artificial Intelligence | Best Paper Award

Prof. Raziyeh Pourdarbani | Artificial Intelligence | Best Paper Award

Faculty Membr | University of Mohaghegh Ardabili | Iran

Dr. Raziyeh Pourdarbani is a Professor of Biosystems Engineering at the University of Mohaghegh Ardabili and an internationally recognized researcher in precision agriculture, image processing, machine vision, artificial intelligence, and hyperspectral imaging. Her research is dedicated to developing advanced computational approaches that enhance automation, sustainability, and non-destructive assessment within agricultural production systems. She has established a strong scholarly footprint through extensive publications that explore cutting-edge deep learning architectures, including the application of 2D and 3D convolutional neural networks, majority voting ensemble strategies, hybrid neural networks, and metaheuristic optimization techniques for quality evaluation and decision-making in crop and fruit management. Her studies have significantly advanced non-destructive methodologies for detecting bruises, internal defects, and ripening stages in fruits, as well as monitoring excessive nitrogen consumption and estimating chemical and physicochemical properties in plant leaves using hyperspectral, visible, and near-infrared spectral data. In addition to agricultural sensing and classification research, she has contributed impactful work on sustainable bioenergy, including biomethane production from agricultural residues, biodiesel engine performance enhancement using nanomaterials, and advanced exergy and life-cycle analysis of hybrid geothermal–solar power systems. She has authored multiple academic books addressing renewable energy and intelligent grading technologies and has led numerous research projects involving automated fruit identification algorithms, orchard-based robotic systems, video-based fruit maturity estimation, spectral wavelength optimization, agricultural development modeling, and geothermal heating-system design. Dr. Pourdarbani actively disseminates her findings through national and international conferences and contributes to the scientific community through reviewing and collaborative roles in multidisciplinary research initiatives. Her work is widely acknowledged for its scientific value and practical relevance in improving agricultural resource efficiency, enhancing food-quality monitoring, and promoting environmentally responsible production strategies. As a leading figure in the integration of computational intelligence with agricultural engineering, she continues to shape research directions that support global progress toward smart, sustainable, and technologically empowered agriculture.

Profile : Google Scholar

Featured Publication

Alibaba, M., Pourdarbani, R., Manesh, M. H. K., Ochoa, G. V., & Forero, J. D. (2020). Thermodynamic, exergo-economic and exergo-environmental analysis of hybrid geothermal–solar power plant based on ORC cycle using emergy concept. Heliyon, 6(4).

Pourdarbani, R., Sabzi, S., Kalantari, D., Hernández-Hernández, J. L., & Arribas, J. I. (2019). A computer vision system based on majority-voting ensemble neural network for the automatic classification of three chickpea varieties.

Pourdarbani, R., Sabzi, S., García-Amicis, V. M., García-Mateos, G., Hernández-Hernández, J. L., & Arribas, J. I. (2019). Automatic classification of chickpea varieties using computer vision techniques. Agronomy, 9(11), 672.

Ebrahimi, S., Pourdarbani, R., Sabzi, S., Rohban, M. H., & Arribas, J. I. (2023). From harvest to market: Non-destructive bruise detection in kiwifruit using convolutional neural networks and hyperspectral imaging. Horticulturae, 9(8), 936.

Pourdarbani, R., Sabzi, S., Rohban, M. H., Hernández-Hernández, J. L., & Arribas, J. I. (2021). One-dimensional convolutional neural networks for hyperspectral analysis of nitrogen in plant leaves. Applied Sciences, 11(24), 11853

Niti Kant | Computational Theory | Best Researcher Award

Prof. Dr. Niti Kant | Computational Theory | Best Researcher Award

Professor | University of Allahabad | India

Prof. Dr. Niti Kant is a distinguished physicist currently serving in the Department of Physics, University of Allahabad, Prayagraj, India. With a Ph.D. from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi (2005) under the supervision of Dr. A. K. Sharma, his research focuses on laser–plasma interaction, self-focusing of lasers, harmonic generation, laser-induced electron acceleration, and terahertz (THz) radiation generation. Over the past two decades, Dr. Kant has made significant contributions to theoretical plasma physics, employing advanced analytical and numerical modeling approaches using Mathematica and Origin. He has published over 150 research papers in reputed international journals indexed by SCI, earning an H-index of 33 on Google Scholar, reflecting the global impact of his research. His academic journey includes postdoctoral research at POSTECH, South Korea, and academic leadership at Lovely Professional University, Punjab, where he served as Professor before joining the University of Allahabad. Dr. Kant has successfully led several sponsored research projects funded by CSIR, SERB, and DST, totaling over ₹50 lakhs, and has guided more than ten Ph.D. scholars in cutting-edge areas such as THz generation, nonlinear optics, and high-power laser–matter interaction. A life member of several prestigious scientific societies, including the Indian Science Congress Association, Optical Society of India, and Plasma Science Society of India, he also serves on editorial and review boards of international journals and as a peer reviewer for top publishers like Elsevier, IOP, and AIP. His work has been recognized with multiple honors, including the Merit Award (2024) by the University of Allahabad, Research Excellence Awards (2020, 2021), and the Outstanding Scientist Award (2020). With active international collaborations across the UK, Czech Republic, South Korea, and the USA, Dr. Kant’s research continues to advance the frontiers of laser–plasma physics, contributing to innovations in photonics, clean energy, and applied plasma technologies with profound implications for scientific and technological progress.

Featured Publication

Kamboj, O., Azad, T., Rajput, J., & Kant, N. (2025). The effect of density ramp on self-focusing of q-Gaussian laser beam in magnetized plasma. Journal of Optics (India). Citations: 2

Azad, T., Kant, N., & Kamboj, O. (2025). Efficient THz generation by Hermite–cosh–Gaussian lasers in plasma with slanting density modulation. Journal of Optics (India). Citations: 23

Singh, J., Kumar, S., Kant, N., & Rajput, J. (2025). Effect of frequency-chirped ionization laser on accelerated electron beam characteristics in plasma wakefield acceleration. European Physical Journal Plus. Citations: 1

Anshal, L., Kant, N., Azad, T., Rajput, J., & Kamboj, O. (2025). Propagation of Hermite–cosh–Gaussian laser beam in free-electron laser device under upward plasma density ramp. Laser Physics Letters. Citations: 1

Azad, T., Kant, N., & Kamboj, O. (2025). Enhanced third harmonic generation and SRS suppression in magnetized rippled plasma using Hermite cosh–Gaussian laser beam. Journal of Optics (India). Citations: 2

Prof. Dr. Niti Kant’s pioneering research in laser–plasma interaction, nonlinear optics, and terahertz generation has advanced the understanding of high-power laser applications, enabling innovations in photonics, clean energy, and next-generation communication technologies. His work bridges fundamental physics with practical technologies, fostering global scientific collaboration and contributing to sustainable technological progress.