Laleh Kalankesh | Environmental Science | Women Researcher Award

Assist Prof Dr. Laleh Kalankesh | Environmental Science | Women Researcher Award 

Medical science university | Iran

Dr. Laleh R. Kalankesh is an accomplished environmental health engineer and academic whose research integrates environmental engineering, public health, and environmental epidemiology, with a strong emphasis on water quality, pollution control, and human health risk assessment. She is currently an Assistant Professor of Environmental Health Sciences at Gonabad University of Medical Sciences, Iran, where she is actively involved in teaching, mentoring postgraduate students, and leading multidisciplinary research projects addressing critical environmental and health challenges in Iran and comparable arid and semi-arid regions. Dr. Kalankesh earned her PhD in Environmental Health Engineering from Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, where her doctoral research focused on monitoring disinfection by-products (DBPs), including trihalomethanes (THMs) and haloacetic acids (HAAs), in surface water, groundwater, and drinking water distribution networks. Her work also advanced membrane technology by developing graphene oxide–modified polyamide nanofiltration membranes to enhance the removal of DBPs and total organic carbon (TOC). This research built on her earlier MSc and BSc training in environmental health engineering, with a strong foundation in nanoparticle applications for wastewater treatment and heavy metal removal. Her research portfolio spans water and wastewater treatment, membrane processes, nanomaterials, air pollution, and environmental epidemiology. She has made notable contributions to understanding DBP formation and health risks, desalination using microbial desalination cells, photocatalytic degradation of organic pollutants, and the application of nanoparticles and composites as bactericides and adsorbents. In parallel, her epidemiological studies examine the health impacts of air pollution, meteorological factors, and socio-environmental inequalities, including contributions to large-scale Global Burden of Disease (GBD) studies published in leading journals such as The Lancet Planetary Health and The Lancet Global Health. Dr. Kalankesh has authored 45 peer-reviewed publications, holds an h-index of 21, and is recognized among the world’s top 2% scientists (2025). She has served as principal investigator on numerous nationally funded research projects and is an active peer reviewer for international journals. Her innovative capacity is further reflected in a patented portable device for sterilizing fruits and vegetables. Through her interdisciplinary research and academic leadership, Dr. Kalankesh continues to contribute significantly to advancing environmental health science and evidence-based policy for sustainable development and public health protection.

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Featured Publications

Wei-Hong Lin | Environmental Science | Excellence in Research Award

Dr. Wei-Hong Lin | Environmental Science | Excellence in Research Award 

National Health Research Institutes| Taiwan

Dr. Wei-Hong Lin is an accomplished environmental engineering researcher specializing in the fate, behavior, and ecological risks of microplastics and emerging contaminants. With a strong interdisciplinary foundation bridging environmental science, physical chemistry, and bioenvironmental engineering, Dr. Lin completed his Ph.D. at the National Taiwan University (2025), following an M.S. from National Sun Yat-sen University (2017) and a B.S. from National Pingtung University of Science and Technology (2015). His research trajectory spans microplastic weathering, heavy metal adsorption, environmental toxicology, groundwater remediation, and wetland ecosystem management. Dr. Lin’s academic and professional journey includes roles as a Postdoctoral Researcher at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, a Visiting Scholar at the University of California, Merced, and a Research Assistant at Academia Sinica. His work has resulted in multiple high-impact publications in journals including Environmental Pollution, Chemosphere, and Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics. During his doctoral training under the mentorship of Prof. Shang-Lien Lo, Dr. Lin pioneered an economical solar simulation system to study the environmental aging of microplastics, proposing one of the early mechanistic pathways explaining polymer degradation under environmental stressors. He further investigated heavy-metal interactions with both conventional and biodegradable plastics in marine and freshwater systems, while mentoring graduate students and contributing to national policy development through Taiwan’s Chemical Substance Management Capacity Enhancement Project. At UC Merced, he secured competitive funding from Taiwan’s National Science and Technology Council (NSTC) to study synergistic interactions between dissolved organic matter, weathered microplastics, and calcium ions, producing new insights now drafted for journal submission. Earlier work at Academia Sinica contributed to advancing mechanistic understanding of Criegee intermediates using laser-based spectroscopic techniques. Dr. Lin’s technical expertise spans analytical platforms including SEM, FTIR, ICP-OES, dynamic light scattering, flow cytometry, and advanced chromatography techniques for PFAS detection. He also possesses extensive experience in laboratory and project management and has contributed to environmental fieldwork, remediation system design, and teaching environmental experimentation. His research advances global understanding of plastic pollution pathways and informs science-based environmental governance, making him a rising contributor to environmental engineering, pollutant behavior research, and sustainability science.

Profile: Scopus

Featured Publications

Cheng, P. K., Ponnusamy, V. K., Lin, W.-H., Chinnadurai, J., Tsai, P. C., Chen, C. Y., Chang, W. T., & Huang, P. C. (2025). Association between urinary metabolites of 1,3‐butadiene and toluene exposure with kidney function indices in Taiwanese school‐aged children living near a petrochemical complex. Environmental Pollution, 127400.

Lin, W.-H., Wang, H.-Y., Kuo, J., & Lo, S.-L. (2023). Adsorption and desorption characteristics of heavy metals onto conventional and biodegradable plastics. Chemosphere, 333, 138920.

Lin, W.-H., Kuo, J., & Lo, S.-L. (2021). Effect of light irradiation on metal adsorption onto microplastics. Chemosphere, 285, 131457.

Chao, W., Lin, Y. H., Yin, C., Lin, W.-H., Takahashi, K., & Lin, J. J. M. (2019). Temperature and isotope effects in the reaction of CH₃CHOO with methanol. Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics, 21(25), 13633–13640.

Lin, Y. H., Yin, C., Lin, W.-H., Li, Y. L., Takahashi, K., & Lin, J. J. M. (2018). Criegee intermediate reaction with alcohol is enhanced by a single water molecule. The Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters, 9(24), 7040–7044.

Kao, C. M., Lin, W.-H., Lien, P. J., Sheu, Y. T., & Tu, Y. T. (2018). Application of a multi‐function constructed wetland for stream water quality improvement and ecosystem protection: A case study in Kaohsiung City Taiwan. In Artificial or Constructed Wetlands (1st ed., pp. 126–141). CRC Press.

Xiang Li | Environmental Science | Best Researcher Award | 13461

Prof Dr. Xiang Li | Environmental Science | Best Researcher Award 

Prof Dr. Xiang Li, Fudan University, China

Prof. Dr. Xiang Li is a distinguished Professor in the Department of Environmental Science and Engineering at Fudan University, Shanghai. With deep expertise in exhaled volatile organic compounds (VOCs), his pioneering research integrates breathomics, multi-omics analysis, and AI-based diagnostics to enable non-invasive early detection of diseases such as colorectal, gastric, and brain cancers. Prof. Li has led over 20 research projects, including several major grants from the National Natural Science Foundation of China, and has collaborated internationally with institutions like TROPOS and the University of Waterloo. His work bridges environmental health, analytical chemistry, and public health innovation, making significant strides in the field of precision diagnostics and air pollution impact assessment.

Author Profile

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🎓 Early Academic Pursuits

Prof. Dr. Xiang Li began his academic journey with a keen interest in environmental chemistry and health science. His early training laid a robust foundation in analytical chemistry and environmental sciences, which later expanded into interdisciplinary research addressing public health challenges. A pivotal chapter in his formative years was his post-doctoral fellowship at the University of Waterloo, Canada (2008–2009), where he worked under Prof. Janusz Pawliszyn, a world-renowned expert in sampling and analytical techniques. This experience not only honed his technical expertise but also shaped his future research direction toward human exposure science and non-invasive diagnostics.

👨‍🔬 Professional Endeavors

Prof. Xiang Li has been a central figure at Fudan University’s Department of Environmental Science and Engineering since 2006, ascending from Assistant Professor to Full Professor. His academic career is marked by consistent progression and international collaboration, including a visiting scholar stint at TROPOS, Germany (2014–2015), where he worked with Prof. Hartmut Herrmann on atmospheric chemistry.

Since 2016, he has held the position of Full Professor, leading a vibrant research group and mentoring graduate students, postdoctoral researchers, and early-career scholars. Over the years, he has secured more than 20 research projects, amassing over 15 million RMB in research funding, with sustained support from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC).

🔬 Contributions and Research Focus

At the core of Prof. Li’s research lies the application of exhaled volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in disease diagnostics, particularly in cancer screening. He has developed a high-fidelity breath sampling system and a high-resolution VOC detection platform, allowing for precise identification of metabolic changes associated with various diseases.

His integrated approach combines:

  • 🧪 Direct VOC observation

  • 🧬 Multi-omics analysis

  • 🤖 AI-driven modeling for multi-disease classification

His goal is to develop non-invasive, scalable, and clinically reliable diagnostic tools. These tools have proven especially valuable in early detection of diseases like colorectal, gastric, and brain cancers.

Additionally, Prof. Li’s group actively studies:

  • 🌍 Extreme climate events

  • 🔄 Environmental carbon cycling

  • ⚗️ Environmental analytical chemistry

  • ⚠️ Emerging pollutants

  • 🌫️ Air organic pollution exposure and health impacts

This interdisciplinary scope reinforces his ability to bridge environmental science and public health, a rare and valuable combination.

🏅 Accolades and Recognition

Prof. Li’s prolific research output and innovation have earned him recognition at both national and international levels. His successful acquisition of key NSFC grants, including international cooperative projects (e.g., Sino-German studies on ozone and PM interactions), highlights his leadership in global scientific networks.

Select prestigious projects include:

  • 🌬️ NSFC Key Project on Atmospheric Ozone & PM Regulation (2021–2023)

  • 💨 NSFC Project on Human Exhaled VOC Response to Air Pollution (2023–2026)

  • 🔥 NSFC Project on Oxidative Potential of Atmospheric Particles (2019–2022)

These projects underscore his ability to lead high-impact research teams that address urgent environmental and health-related challenges.

🌍 Impact and Influence

Prof. Li’s work has profound societal implications, especially in non-invasive disease diagnostics and air pollution exposure analysis. His contributions are helping to:

  • 💡 Advance early detection techniques for life-threatening diseases

  • 🧑‍⚕️ Reduce healthcare burden through preventive diagnostics

  • 🌱 Promote sustainable development by linking air quality and human health

  • 🧭 Inform policy decisions regarding environmental health risks

Moreover, by incorporating AI algorithms, he is at the forefront of next-generation precision medicine, moving beyond traditional boundaries of environmental science.

🧬 Legacy and Future Contributions

Prof. Dr. Xiang Li’s scientific legacy is already evident in the real-world applicability of his research. He is building a framework for large-scale clinical adoption of breath biopsy—a field that has the potential to revolutionize public health screening.

Looking ahead, his team is expected to:

  • Expand the breathomics database for multiple diseases

  • Enhance AI-based diagnostic models using global clinical datasets

  • Collaborate across countries for standardizing breath tests

  • Advocate for public health policies rooted in scientific evidence

✍️ Publication Top Notes


📘Pinning a complex dynamical network to its equilibrium

Author: X Li, X Wang, G Chen
Journal: IEEE Transactions on Circuits and Systems
Year: 2004

📘A Facile One-Pot Synthesis of a Two-Dimensional MoS2/Bi2S3 Composite Theranostic Nanosystem for Multi-Modality Tumor Imaging and Therapy.
Author: S Wang, X Li, Y Chen, X Cai, H Yao, W Gao, Y Zheng, X An, J Shi, …
Journal: Advanced Materials
Year: 2015

📘Spatial epidemiology of networked metapopulation: An overview

Author: L Wang, X Li
Journal: Chinese Science Bulletin
Year: 2014