Soujanya Reddy Annapareddy | Engineering | Women Researcher Award

Published on by Research Awards

Mrs. Soujanyareddy Annapareddy | Engineering | Women Researcher Award

TAE Power Solutions | United States

Mrs. Soujanya Reddy Annapareddy is a seasoned Firmware Automation and Software Test Engineer with over 7.5 years of professional experience in embedded systems testing, automation frameworks, and data-driven validation methodologies. Her research and professional interests lie at the intersection of firmware validation, automation engineering, and intelligent system testing, focusing on how advanced test automation techniques enhance the performance, reliability, and scalability of embedded and IoT systems. At TAE Power Solutions, she has contributed to the automation and validation of Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) control platforms, integrating hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) environments and open-source frameworks such as PyTest, pandas, and matplotlib to improve regression coverage and testing efficiency. Her work explores the application of data analytics, fault-injection methods, and CI/CD pipeline integration in firmware testing to ensure real-world performance and fault tolerance. Her prior experience at Google Inc. involved automation testing for Android devices, wearable technologies, and data center systems, where she developed automation scripts in Python, Go, and C++, applied object-oriented design principles, and leveraged tools such as Mobly, Blueberry, and Buganizer for large-scale system validation. Soujanya’s analytical research focuses on automated testing frameworks, system-level reliability modeling, and signal strength optimization in wireless and connectivity domains. Methodologically, she employs Python-based automation, statistical analysis, and cloud-integrated validation frameworks, with hands-on experience in Linux environments, GCP cloud infrastructure, and RF system automation. Her interdisciplinary expertise bridges firmware engineering, test analytics, and computer science, offering insights into how automation accelerates innovation in embedded systems. Soujanya holds a Master of Science in Computer Technology from Eastern Illinois University and a Bachelor of Technology in Electronics and Communication Engineering from Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University Hyderabad (JNTUH), where she graduated with distinction. Her academic projects and industrial research underscore her commitment to advancing intelligent automation, embedded testing, and data-driven system optimization in modern technology ecosystems.

Profile: Google Scholar

Featured Publications

Annapareddy, S. R. (2025). Edge AI for real-time fault detection in embedded systems. International Journal of Emerging Trends in Computer Science and Information Systems.

Annapareddy, S. R. (2024). Managing power flows and energy efficiency in embedded systems for BESS. IJAIDR – Journal of Advances in Developmental Research, 15(2), 1–5.

Annapareddy, S. R. (2024). Advanced fault detection and diagnostics in embedded control units for BESS. IJSAT – International Journal on Science and Technology, 15(4).

Annapareddy, S. R. (2024). Firmware architecture and safety standards in battery energy storage systems. International Journal of Innovative Research in Engineering.

Annapareddy, S. R. (2024). Optimizing Android device testing with automation frameworks. International Journal of Innovative Research and Creative Technology, 10(4), 1–7.

Annapareddy, S. R. (2024). Real-world applications of Python in firmware and software automation. International Journal of Innovative Research and Creative Technology, 10(2), 1–6.

Annapareddy, S. R. (2024). Advancements in firmware testing and validation techniques. ESP Journal of Engineering & Technology Advancements, 4(3).

Mujahid Aziz | Engineering | Best Researcher Award

Published on by Research Awards

Prof. Mujahid Aziz | Engineering | Best Researcher Award

Cape Peninsula University of Technology | South Africa

Professor Mujahid Aziz is a distinguished academic and research leader serving as the Assistant Dean: Learning & Teaching in the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment (FEBE) at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT) in South Africa. In this leadership role, he oversees and enhances academic excellence across eight departments within the faculty, which collectively serve nearly 10,000 students, including a growing cohort of postgraduate scholars. As a champion of academic transformation, Prof. Aziz is deeply committed to promoting innovative teaching practices, curriculum modernization, and student-centered learning within engineering education. His leadership is instrumental in aligning the faculty’s academic strategies with industry relevance, sustainability goals, and the national development agenda. With over 23 years of experience as an Associate Professor of Chemical Engineering, Prof. Aziz has established himself as a transformative educator, researcher, and mentor. His academic journey reflects a sustained dedication to advancing both the theoretical and practical dimensions of environmental and chemical engineering. Throughout his career, he has supervised numerous postgraduate students and contributed to the development of engineering curricula that integrate sustainability, innovation, and applied research. His pedagogical philosophy emphasizes experiential learning and the development of problem-solving skills essential for addressing real-world engineering challenges, particularly in water and environmental systems. As the Principal Investigator of the Environmental Engineering Research Group (EERG), Prof. Aziz leads multidisciplinary research focused on sustainable water and wastewater treatment technologies. His work is internationally recognized, with publications in high-impact journals such as Desalination, MDPI Membranes, MDPI Water, and Environmental Processes. Recent research endeavors have explored cutting-edge methods for biofouling mitigation in polyamide thin-film composite reverse osmosis membranes, particularly through polymer grafting and nanoparticle coating. These innovations are pivotal for improving the treatment of municipal bioreactor secondary effluent and enhancing the efficiency and longevity of membrane systems used in desalination and wastewater reuse. Prof. Aziz’s research portfolio is characterized by a strong interdisciplinary approach that bridges materials science, chemical process design, and environmental sustainability. His areas of specialization encompass membrane technology, wastewater reuse, electrochemical and adsorption processes, brine management, and zero liquid discharge (ZLD) systems. His work addresses critical environmental challenges associated with water scarcity and industrial pollution, offering viable pathways for circular water economies and resource recovery. His pursuit of innovation in micropollutant removal, membrane fouling control, and electro-oxidation for water reuse reflects his vision of achieving sustainable and intelligent environmental engineering solutions. Through his academic leadership, pioneering research, and commitment to mentorship, Prof. Mujahid Aziz continues to make a profound impact on the future of engineering education and sustainable water technology development in South Africa and beyond.

Profiles: Orcid | Google Scholar

Featured Publications

Aziz, M., & Ojumu, T. (2020). Exclusion of estrogenic and androgenic steroid hormones from municipal membrane bioreactor wastewater using UF/NF/RO membranes for water reuse application. Membranes, 10(3), 37. https://doi.org/10.3390/membranes10030037

Aziz, M., & Kasongo, G. (2021). The removal of selected inorganics from municipal membrane bioreactor wastewater using UF/NF/RO membranes for water reuse application: A pilot-scale study. Membranes, 11(2), 1–14. https://doi.org/10.3390/membranes11020104

Myburgh, D. P., Aziz, M., Roman, F., Jardim, J., & Chakawa, S. (2019). Removal of COD from industrial biodiesel wastewater using an integrated process: Electrochemical oxidation with IrO₂–Ta₂O₅/Ti anodes and chitosan powder. Environmental Processes, 6(4), 819–840. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40710-019-00393-5

Kasongo, G., Steenberg, C., Morris, B., Kapenda, G., Jacobs, N., & Aziz, M. (2019). Surface grafting of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) cross-linked with glutaraldehyde (GA) to improve resistance to fouling of aromatic polyamide thin film composite reverse osmosis membranes. Water Practice & Technology, 14(3), 614–624. https://doi.org/10.2166/wpt.2019.042

Chakawa, S., & Aziz, M. (2021). Investigating the result of current density, temperature, and electrolyte concentration on COD subtraction of petroleum refinery wastewater using response surface methodology. Water, 13(6), 835. https://doi.org/10.3390/w13060835

Aziz, M., & Kasongo, G. (2019). Scaling prevention of thin film composite polyamide reverse osmosis membranes by Zn ions. Desalination, 464, 76–83. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.desal.2019.04.006