Rukiye Demir | AI in Healthcare | Best Researcher Award

Assist. Prof. Dr. Rukiye Demir | AI in Healthcare | Best Researcher Award

Assistant Professor at Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University, Turkey

Dr. Rukiye Demir is a dedicated academic in the field of midwifery, currently serving as a Doctor Öğretim Üyesi (Assistant Professor) at Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University, Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Midwifery. With a professional background deeply rooted in women’s health, reproductive care, and midwifery education, she has consistently contributed to the academic community through research, teaching, and participation in various national scientific projects. Her work emphasizes empowering women during childbirth and the postpartum period through evidence-based education and support. She also holds various academic and administrative roles, including department head and quality commission membership, further showcasing her leadership in health sciences education.

Profile

Scopus

Education

Dr. Demir’s academic journey began with a Bachelor’s degree in Midwifery from Süleyman Demirel University in 2008. She then pursued her Master’s degree in Public Health at Gaziantep University, where she completed a thesis titled “The prevalence of malnutrition in 0–2-year-old children and the impact of maternal education” in 2012. Driven by a passion for maternal and child health, she earned her Ph.D. in Midwifery from Aydın Adnan Menderes University in 2021, presenting a dissertation that examined the impact of discharge education methods on postpartum readiness, maternal adaptation, and breastfeeding self-efficacy. Her educational progression reflects a continuous commitment to advancing maternal and neonatal care.

Experience

Dr. Demir began her academic career with a strong foundation in clinical midwifery, which informed her transition into academia. Since April 2022, she has been a faculty member at Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University. She has taught a wide range of undergraduate courses, including “Introduction to Midwifery,” “Women’s Health,” “Risky Birth and Postpartum Period,” and “Public Education.” Her teaching integrates theoretical knowledge with hands-on clinical training, preparing students to provide holistic maternal care. In addition to her teaching duties, Dr. Demir has taken on significant administrative responsibilities, serving as department chair, commission head, and member of the faculty’s quality and accreditation committees.

Research Interest

Dr. Demir’s research interests center around maternal health, breastfeeding self-efficacy, postpartum psychological well-being, intergenerational perspectives in midwifery, and the role of midwives during crises such as natural disasters. She has led and collaborated on multiple nationally funded projects, including studies on postpartum education, psychological resilience among midwives, generational differences in perceptions of bodily autonomy, and the development of health education strategies. She is particularly interested in how educational interventions can improve health outcomes for mothers and infants, as well as how climate change and disaster preparedness intersect with women’s reproductive health.

Award

Dr. Demir’s scholarly work has been recognized at national and international conferences. She received the “Best Oral Presentation Award” at the 5th International and 6th National Midwifery Congress in 2021. Earlier in her career, she earned third place for an oral presentation at the 5th International and 9th National Student Midwifery Congress in 2018. These accolades affirm her contributions to advancing midwifery research and education and reflect her ability to translate clinical observations into impactful research.

Publication

Dr. Demir has authored several impactful articles published in internationally peer-reviewed journals. Her works include:

Demir, R., Kaya Odabaş, R., Taşpınar, A. (2025). The relationship between loneliness perception and breastfeeding self‐efficacy and breastfeeding behaviors in mothers. Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Research, 51(1), 1–9. Cited by 4 articles.

Kaya Odabaş, R., Demir, R. (2025). The relationship between body image, depression, and breastfeeding attitudes in women with 0–24-month-old infants. Revista da Associação Médica Brasileira, 71(2), 1–5. Cited by 3 articles.

Demir, R. (2025). Intergenerational Examination of the Vocational Professional Values and Motivations of Midwives. Adnan Menderes University Journal of Health Sciences, 9(1), 109–121. Cited by 2 articles.

Demir, R. (2024). Midwives’ Awareness of Disasters and Perceptions on the Role of Midwifery Services During Disasters. YOBÜ Journal of Health Sciences, 5(3), 279–292. Cited by 1 article.

Petek, S., Demir, R. (2024). The Effect of Postpartum Adaptation Education via Video Methods on Postpartum Depression in Mothers. Bandırma Onyedi Eylül University Journal of Health Sciences and Research, 6(3), 487–499. Cited by 3 articles.

Demir, R. (2024). Examining Women’s Perceptions of Privacy According to Generations and Birth Preferences. Sakarya University Journal of Holistic Health, 7(3), 211–218. Cited by 1 article.

Bilgiç, B., Demir, R. (2024). The Effect of Climate Change on Women’s Reproductive Health: A Review. (Journal name not specified in provided data). Cited by 2 articles.

These publications reflect her interdisciplinary approach, combining psychology, education, public health, and midwifery.

Conclusion

Dr. Rukiye Demir stands out as a committed educator and researcher in the field of midwifery, blending academic excellence with clinical relevance. Her research not only enhances midwifery practices but also contributes to public health policies and educational reform in healthcare. Through her scholarly work, administrative leadership, and mentorship in national research projects, she continues to influence the future of maternal and child health education in Turkey. Her contributions underscore the value of interdisciplinary collaboration in improving women’s healthcare outcomes across generations and communities.

Giulia Iaconi | AI in Healthcare | Best Researcher Award

Dr. Giulia Iaconi | AI in Healthcare | Best Researcher Award

PhD Student at University of Genoa, Italy

Giulia Iaconi is a passionate and driven PhD student at the Università degli Studi di Genova, where she is pursuing her doctoral studies in Science and Technology for Electronics and Telecommunications Engineering, with a specialization in Electromagnetism, Electronics, and Telecommunications. Her academic foundation in biomedical and neuroengineering provides her with a unique interdisciplinary approach to address complex challenges in biomedical signal processing and computational neuroscience. Her journey reflects a dedicated pursuit of innovation, especially at the intersection of engineering, healthcare, and data science, where she leverages computational tools and machine learning to advance diagnostic and rehabilitation methods. Giulia’s commitment to applying technology to improve human health has guided her academic and research efforts, culminating in multiple scholarly contributions and participation in prominent interdisciplinary projects aimed at advancing digital health solutions.

Profile

Orcid

Education

Giulia began her academic career at the Alma Mater Studiorum of Bologna, where she obtained her bachelor’s degree in Biomedical Engineering. Her undergraduate thesis focused on exploring bradykinesia in Parkinson’s disease patients through neural models, highlighting her early interest in neuroscience and computational approaches. She later pursued a master’s degree in Neuroengineering from the University of Genoa, where her thesis delved into developing a computational model of the cortico-hippocampal circuit to characterize in vitro experimental dynamics. These educational experiences equipped her with a strong foundation in signal processing, systems modeling, and neurobiological applications. Currently, she is in the final phase of her PhD, during which she continues to deepen her expertise in electronic and telecommunication engineering within biomedical contexts, contributing meaningfully to both academic research and applied innovations.

Experience

Giulia’s research experience spans various domains of biomedical engineering, with a particular focus on digital image processing, data analysis, and machine learning as supportive tools in diagnosis, classification, and rehabilitation. As part of the STORMS (Solution Towards Occupational Rehabilitation for Multiple Sclerosis) project, she worked as an engineer responsible for the design and development of serious games aimed at cognitive assessment and rehabilitation of multiple sclerosis patients. Her interdisciplinary collaborations have enabled her to integrate technological solutions with clinical practices, offering digital innovations to healthcare. Through her involvement in this and other initiatives, she has demonstrated proficiency in implementing supervised learning models, analyzing clinical datasets, and creating user-friendly rehabilitation platforms.

Research Interest

Giulia’s research interests lie at the convergence of computational neuroscience, biomedical signal processing, and intelligent healthcare systems. She is particularly invested in the development of machine learning algorithms and digital tools that enhance early diagnosis and personalized rehabilitation. Her work often involves constructing computational models that replicate brain circuitry behavior or employing image and signal processing to extract meaningful clinical insights. She is passionate about building systems that are not only technically robust but also accessible and impactful in clinical settings. Her recent work has emphasized the integration of these techniques into remote healthcare applications, such as telerehabilitation systems that assist in motor recovery monitoring for neurological patients.

Award

Giulia Iaconi is a strong candidate for the Best Researcher Award due to her continued excellence in research, particularly in biomedical engineering applications that merge computational tools with real-world clinical impact. Her contributions to digital health through machine learning and image processing have advanced diagnostic accuracy and patient rehabilitation techniques. Her interdisciplinary work, both in academia and in applied research projects like STORMS, has set a high benchmark in innovation-led healthcare engineering. Her scholarly achievements, active engagement in engineering communities such as IEEE, and ability to collaborate across disciplines collectively demonstrate her outstanding merit in research and development.

Publication

Giulia has published several impactful research articles that showcase her expertise and innovative contributions. Some of her notable publications include:

“Supervised learning algorithms for liver fibrosis classification using ultrasound images,” published in Electronics, 2023 – cited by 6 articles.

“Analysis of event-related potentials in multiple sclerosis rehabilitation: A case study,” in Biomedical Signal Processing and Control, 2022 – cited by 9 articles.

“Computational modeling of the cortico-hippocampal circuit for neurodynamics interpretation,” in Frontiers in Computational Neuroscience, 2023 – cited by 4 articles.

“Digital biomarkers in telehealth systems for cognitive assessment,” published in Sensors, 2022 – cited by 5 articles.

“Development of serious games for neurological rehabilitation,” in Journal of Medical Systems, 2021 – cited by 7 articles.

“Feature extraction from EEG signals for attention deficit assessment,” in IEEE Access, 2023 – cited by 3 articles.

“Artificial intelligence in biomedical imaging: A review on liver disease diagnostics,” in Diagnostics, 2022 – cited by 6 articles.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Giulia Iaconi exemplifies a new generation of researchers who are reshaping biomedical engineering through the application of cutting-edge technologies. Her deep academic grounding, coupled with her research innovation in neuroengineering and digital health, makes her a promising contributor to the future of intelligent healthcare systems. Her collaborative efforts, scholarly publications, and real-world project involvement reflect her commitment to enhancing patient outcomes using data-driven solutions. Through her doctoral studies and beyond, Giulia continues to push the boundaries of what technology can achieve in medical science, making her an ideal nominee for the Best Researcher Award.

Wisal Zafar | AI in Healthcare | Data Scientist of the Year Award

Mr. Wisal Zafar | AI in Healthcare | Data Scientist of the Year Award

Lecturer at Cecos University of IT and Emerging Sciences, Pakistan

Wisal Zafar is a dynamic academic and research-oriented professional whose expertise lies at the intersection of data science, artificial intelligence, and deep learning. With a strong foundation in software engineering, he has progressively transitioned into data-centric domains where he now actively contributes as a lecturer, researcher, and data scientist. His work integrates modern machine learning techniques and neural networks to tackle real-world problems ranging from healthcare to education. His career is marked by a drive to foster innovation through technology, an unwavering commitment to academic excellence, and a passion for nurturing student potential in both undergraduate and postgraduate settings.

Profile

Scopus

Education

Wisal’s academic journey began with a Bachelor of Science in Software Engineering from Iqra National University, Peshawar, completed in 2020 with a commendable CGPA of 3.47/4.00. Building on this strong foundation, he pursued a Master of Science in Software Engineering at the same university, expected to be completed by mid-2024, where he currently holds a CGPA of 3.50/4.00. His academic record reflects a consistent pursuit of knowledge and skill advancement in software technologies, deep learning, and data analysis. Prior to his university education, he completed his Intermediate from Capital Degree College and matriculation from The Jamrud Model High School with notable academic performances.

Experience

Professionally, Wisal has held several key positions in academia and data processing. He is currently serving as a Lecturer at CECOS University of IT and Emerging Sciences, Peshawar, where he imparts advanced-level knowledge in Artificial Intelligence, Data Science, and Machine Learning. Before this, he contributed significantly to Iqra National University both as a Lecturer and as an EDP Officer, where he oversaw electronic data processing and optimized data accessibility across research and academic projects. His roles have consistently involved not only teaching but also mentorship, particularly in guiding final-year students through research and development of innovative software solutions. His earlier professional engagements also include roles as a Junior Web Developer and teaching positions, showcasing a diverse skill set in both educational and technical domains.

Research Interests

Wisal’s research interests are rooted in the application of artificial intelligence and machine learning to critical societal challenges. His work spans brain tumor detection, plant disease classification, emotion recognition in educational settings, and mental health analysis using social media data. He is particularly intrigued by hybrid deep learning architectures, transformer-based models, and neural networks. He consistently integrates image processing techniques and NLP tools to build intelligent, data-driven solutions. His recent focus includes real-time decision support systems, content-based image retrieval, and multi-scale classification, which have promising implications for both healthcare and education systems.

Awards

In recognition of his exceptional contribution to the academic and technical environment, Wisal was honored with the “Best Employee of the Year 2023” award at Iqra National University. This accolade acknowledges his consistent performance, innovative approach to teaching and research, and his ability to blend administrative responsibilities with cutting-edge academic delivery. His recognition serves as a testament to his dedication, collaborative spirit, and leadership potential in the academic research community.

Publications

Wisal has made significant scholarly contributions, with several research publications in high-impact international journals. His paper “Enhanced TumorNet: Leveraging YOLOv8s and U-Net for Superior Brain Tumor Detection and Segmentation Utilizing MRI Scans” was published in Results in Engineering (2024) and is cited for its innovative approach to medical imaging using hybrid models. Another influential work, “Revolutionizing Diabetes Diagnosis: Machine Learning Techniques Unleashed”, appeared in MDPI-Healthcare (2023) and explores diagnostic modeling using AI techniques. His third publication, “A Survey on Big Data Analytics (BDA) Implementation and Practices in Medical Libraries of Punjab”, published in the Journal of Computing & Biomedical Informatics (2023), provides insights into the integration of BDA in healthcare information systems. These publications highlight his range—from healthcare diagnostics to knowledge systems—and his adaptability in multiple AI-driven domains.

Conclusion

Wisal Zafar stands out as a highly motivated data scientist and academician with a clear vision for the future of AI and its applications. Through his diverse academic background, hands-on teaching experience, impactful research, and recognized contributions to institutional growth, he exemplifies the qualities of an innovative thinker and dedicated professional. His continued exploration of deep learning and intelligent systems is not only enriching the academic field but also paving the way for practical solutions to societal challenges. With a growing portfolio of research and a keen eye for technological advancements, Wisal is well-poised to make long-term contributions to AI-based research and higher education. His career trajectory illustrates a seamless blend of academic rigor, technical skill, and research excellence.

Andreia de Bem Machado | AI in Healthcare | Best Researcher Award

Dr. Andreia de Bem Machado | AI in Healthcare | Best Researcher Award

Professor | Federal University of Santa Catarina| Brazil

Andreia de Bem Machado is a teacher, researcher, educational consultant, and academic work supervisor based in Santa Catarina, Brazil. With over 25 years of experience in the education sector, her academic journey is highlighted by a PhD in Engineering and Knowledge Management from the Federal University of Santa Catarina (UFSC), a Master’s in Scientific and Technological Education from the same institution, and a specialization in Literacy. She has been involved in diverse educational fields, including distance education, hybrid teaching, digital technologies, and knowledge management. She has held positions in universities, schools, and research institutions, contributing to educational innovation and policy development. As an expert in these areas, she has also published several articles and chapters in national and international journals.

Profile

Scopus

Education

Andreia de Bem Machado’s educational qualifications reflect her extensive expertise in education and knowledge management. She holds a PhD in Engineering and Knowledge Management from UFSC (2014–2018), with a focus on entrepreneurship, administration, and innovation. Prior to this, she completed a Master’s degree in Scientific and Technological Education at UFSC (2005–2007), further specializing in literacy through a post-graduate program at Santa Catarina State University (1994–1996). Her undergraduate degree in Pedagogy was also from Santa Catarina State University, where she graduated in 1994. These academic credentials have provided her with the theoretical foundation to pursue and contribute to research and education in a variety of academic and professional settings.

Experience

Dr. Andreia de Bem Machado has held numerous teaching and administrative roles throughout her career. Currently, she serves as the Director of Education at the Palhoça Municipal Department of Education in Brazil. She also holds positions as a Special Education Advisor and a professor in Pedagogy and Engineering courses at various educational institutions, including Faculdade Municipal da Palhoça and Faculdade do Vale. Additionally, she works as an evaluator for the National Institute for Educational Studies and Research (INEP), and her academic experience spans multiple universities such as the Federal University of Santa Catarina (UFSC) and Leonardo da Vinci University Center. Furthermore, Andreia has contributed to international education through her role as an evaluator for the Ministry of Education in Portugal and a consultant for UNESCO in special education materials. Her diverse experience emphasizes her dedication to educational excellence and innovation across local and global contexts.

Research Interests

Andreia’s primary research interests lie at the intersection of education, technology, and management. She has a deep focus on distance education, hybrid teaching models, and the integration of digital technologies into educational practices. Additionally, her research explores the concept of knowledge management, with applications in business administration and entrepreneurship. She is particularly interested in how digital tools and active learning methodologies can foster sustainable education and contribute to the development of innovative educational environments. Her work also delves into special education, specifically in creating inclusive learning environments for students with visual impairments. Andreia has collaborated with various research groups, including the Center for Studies in Intelligence, Management, and Technologies for Innovation (IGTI), to further explore these topics.

Awards

Throughout her career, Dr. Andreia de Bem Machado has received various accolades for her contributions to education. Notably, she was recognized with the Student Merit Award during her academic tenure. This acknowledgment reflects her academic excellence and her ongoing commitment to improving education, particularly in the domains of special education and distance learning. She also participated in multiple training and certification programs that have reinforced her expertise, such as courses on educational technologies, school management, and innovative teaching practices.

Publications

Dr. Andreia de Bem Machado has authored several significant publications in the fields of education, knowledge management, and technology. Her contributions include book chapters and journal articles in both national and international academic forums. A few of her selected publications include:

  1. Machado, A. de B. (2022). Digital Learning as an Educational Format towards Sustainable Education. Journal of Education and Technology, 28(1), 45–60.
  2. Machado, A. de B. (2021). Innovative Learning Methods for Distance Education. International Journal of Educational Innovations, 22(3), 134–150.
  3. Machado, A. de B., & Souza, M. (2020). Hybrid Teaching Models in Higher Education: Challenges and Opportunities. Journal of Educational Research, 45(2), 78–92.
  4. Machado, A. de B. (2019). Inclusive Education for Students with Visual Impairments: Approaches and Solutions. International Journal of Special Education, 18(4), 210–220.

Her work has been widely cited by scholars in educational research, with numerous articles examining the integration of technology in education and innovative teaching strategies. These contributions continue to influence academic thought in her field.

Conclusion

Dr. Andreia de Bem Machado’s multifaceted career underscores her dedication to advancing education through innovative practices and research. Her academic qualifications, coupled with extensive experience in various educational roles, allow her to be a leader in both the theoretical and practical realms of education. She has significantly contributed to the improvement of education systems through her involvement in distance learning, hybrid teaching, and special education. Her continued research and publications in knowledge management and educational technologies emphasize her position as a thought leader in the field, shaping the future of education in Brazil and beyond.