Zaharia Marius | Materials Science | Best Researcher Award

Dr. Zaharia Marius | Materials Science | Best Researcher Award

Petru Poni Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry | Romania

Dr. Zaharia Marius is a distinguished Scientific Researcher at the “Petru Poni” Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry in Iași, Romania, where he conducts pioneering research in polymer and organic synthesis, ion-exchanger materials, and environmental chemistry. His scientific expertise encompasses the synthesis and characterization of functional ion-exchangers for water purification and medical applications, as well as the development of composite materials based on CaCO₃ and multilayer polyelectrolyte coatings for advanced functional surfaces. He has extensive experience in analytical and instrumental techniques, including HPLC, FT-IR, UV-Vis, XRD, GC-TCD, and atomic absorption spectrometry. Dr. Zaharia has authored or co-authored 32 ISI-indexed journal articles (12 in Q1 and 12 in Q2 journals), 8 conference proceedings papers, 39 oral presentations, 31 posters, and holds 1 patent. His scholarly impact is reflected in 274 citations and an h-index of 13, underlining the significance of his work. He has been involved in eight national research grants, one international PNRR project, and served as director of a national grant (WHIERTARN, 2019–2022) focused on wastewater heavy metal ion decontamination. Recognized with multiple awards for oral and poster presentations and excellence in research, Dr. Zaharia continues to advance innovative solutions for environmental sustainability and green chemistry. ORCID: 0000-0002-4964-8874.

 Profile:  Orcid 

Featured Publications

  1. Bucatariu, F., Petrila, L.-M., Ciobanu, T.-A., Zaharia, M.-M., & Mihai, M. (2025). Dynamic ultra-fast sorption/desorption of indigo carmine onto/from versatile core-shell composite microparticles. Applied Sciences, 15(19), 10725. https://doi.org/10.3390/app151910725

  2. Zaharia, M.-M., Bucatariu, F., Karayianni, M., Lotos, E.-D., Mihai, M., & Pispas, S. (2024). Synthesis of thermoresponsive chitosan-graft-poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) hybrid copolymer and its complexation with DNA. Polymers, 16(10), 1315. https://doi.org/10.3390/polym16101315

  3. Mihai, M., Lotos, E.-D., Zaharia, M.-M., Bucatariu, F., & Vasiliu, A.-L. (2024). Alginate-based composite hydrogels formed by in situ CaCO₃ crystallization. Crystal Growth & Design, 24(3), Article 3c01518. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.cgd.3c01518

  4. Pelin, I. M., Popescu, I., Calin, M., Rebleanu, D., Voicu, G., Ionita, D., Zaharia, M.-M., Constantin, M., & Fundueanu, G. (2023). Tri-component hydrogel as template for nanocrystalline hydroxyapatite deposition using alternate soaking method for bone tissue engineering applications. Gels, 9(11), 905. https://doi.org/10.3390/gels9110905

  5. Zaharia, M.-M., Bucatariu, F., Vasiliu, A.-L., & Mihai, M. (2023). Versatile zwitterionic beads for heavy metal ion removal from aqueous media and soils by sorption and catalysis processes. ACS Applied Polymer Materials, 5(10), 8183–8193. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsapm.3c01375

Lykourgos Magafas | Materials Science | Best Researcher Award

Prof. Dr. Lykourgos Magafas | Materials Science
| Best Researcher Award

Prof. Dr . Lykourgos Magafasat at Democritus University of Thrace, Greece.

Professor Lykourgos Magafas is a distinguished physicist and academic with over three decades of experience in electrical engineering, informatics, and applied physics. He currently serves as a Professor in the Department of Informatics at Democritus University of Thrace, Greece. Holding a Ph.D. from the same university, he has held professorial roles across several prominent Greek institutions. With a profound dedication to interdisciplinary research, Professor Magafas has led numerous international and national projects in complex systems, energy, and environmental monitoring. His scholarly contributions include high-impact publications and academic program development, notably in Economic Physics. His leadership and innovation continue to influence policy and academic research, marking him as a pioneering figure in modern applied science and technology in Greece.

🌍 Professional Profile:

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Scopus 

🏆 Suitability for the Best Researcher Award :

Professor Lykourgos Magafas is highly suitable for the Best Researcher Award due to his impactful, sustained, and interdisciplinary research contributions across physics, informatics, and engineering. With over 16 major research projects, including seven as coordinator, he has demonstrated leadership in complex system modeling, sustainable technologies, and applied informatics. His research has influenced both academic advancements and practical implementations in environmental and technological domains. His dedication to mentoring, teaching, and building international collaborations further reflects his commitment to excellence in research and academic service. Recognized for bridging theoretical and applied science, Professor Magafas stands out as a visionary researcher whose work continues to shape innovative approaches in physics-based systems and computational intelligence.

🎓 Education :

Professor Magafas began his academic journey with a degree in Physics from the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki in 1987. He later earned his Ph.D. in 1992 from the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the Democritus University of Thrace. His doctoral thesis focused on “Deposition Properties and Applications of Amorphous Semiconductors,” laying the foundation for his interdisciplinary research in electronics, materials science, and computational physics. This strong educational foundation equipped him with deep analytical and experimental skills, enabling him to contribute significantly to both theoretical and applied scientific domains. His academic training spans both pure and applied sciences, making him a versatile educator and innovative researcher in physics and informatics.

🏢 Work Experience :

Professor Lykourgos Magafas has over 30 years of academic and research experience. He began his career as a Research Fellow at the Technological Institute of Kavala (1992–2005). He held academic appointments at Democritus University and Kavala Institute of Technology, progressing from Lecturer to Associate Professor. From 2010 to 2019, he was a full Professor at the Eastern Macedonia and Thrace Institute of Technology. He then served at the International Hellenic University before returning to Democritus University in 2025 as a Professor of Informatics. His diverse appointments highlight a strong record of research supervision, project leadership, and academic governance. He has also coordinated M.Sc. programs, demonstrating a strong commitment to interdisciplinary education and institutional development.

🏅Awards and Honors

Throughout his distinguished career, Professor Magafas has received multiple recognitions for his contributions to science and education. While specific named awards are not detailed in the provided record, his leadership as coordinator of major EU and national projects such as ASPIDA and GREEN PUMB demonstrates a high level of trust and acknowledgment from funding bodies and scientific institutions. He has served as coordinator for 7 out of 16 major projects, reflecting his respected standing in the research community. Additionally, his academic appointments at leading institutions and his role in curriculum development, such as the MSc in Economic Physics, highlight professional esteem and peer recognition. These accomplishments collectively attest to his reputation as a leading scientific and academic figure.

🔬 Research Focus :

Professor Magafas’ research spans applied physics, complex systems, computational intelligence, and informatics. He focuses on the integration of physics-based methods with real-world applications, particularly in environmental monitoring, energy systems, and economic modeling. His coordination of projects like ASPIDA and GREEN PUMB showcases expertise in autonomous monitoring systems and groundwater resource management. He is also active in developing algorithms for complex network analysis, with applications ranging from public health policy (e.g., COVID-19 analysis) to electrostatics and system modeling. His interdisciplinary approach blends theoretical physics with modern computational techniques, contributing to smart systems, sustainability, and decision-making frameworks. He also leads academic initiatives in Economic Physics, merging physics methodologies with financial forecasting and socio-economic dynamics.

📊 Publication Top Notes:

📊 Modeling and forecasting the COVID-19 temporal spread in Greece: An exploratory approach based on complex network defined splinesCited by 81 – 🗓️ 2020

🔌 Electrical properties of a-SiC/c-Si (p) heterojunctionsCited by 53 – 🗓️ 1992

🌀 Chaotic behaviour of a fourth-order autonomous electric circuitCited by 48 – 🗓️ 2003

🧪 Cost estimation of polymeric adsorbentsCited by 47 – 🗓️ 2019

🦠 The effect of anti-COVID-19 policies on the evolution of the disease: A complex network analysis of the successful case of GreeceCited by 45 – 🗓️ 2020

📡 Digital chaotic synchronized communication systemCited by 42 – 🗓️ 2009

📘 The PapadopoulosCited by 28 – 🗓️ 2006

📈 The use of scaling properties to detect relevant changes in financial time series: A new visual warning toolCited by 26 – 🗓️ 2021

🔬 Optical properties of α-SiC:H thin films grown by rf sputteringCited by 25 – 🗓️ 1994

The influence of metal work function on electrical properties of metal/a-SiC:H Schottky diodesCited by 23 – 🗓️ 1997