Workiye Getnet Abera | Chemical Engineering | Best Scholar Award

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Mr. Workiye Getnet Abera | Chemical Engineering | Best Scholar Award

Lecturer, Debre Tabor university, Ethiopia

Workiye Getnet Abera is a dynamic and innovative Chemical Engineer from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, specializing in modeling, simulation, and the development of biomass-based products. With over five years of academic and research experience, he currently serves as a Senior Lecturer and Researcher at Debre Tabor University. His journey began at Jimma University, where he earned both his BSc and MSc in Chemical Engineering with a focus on process engineering. Throughout his career, Workiye has demonstrated a passion for sustainable materials, publishing numerous papers in top-tier international journals and contributing actively as a reviewer and editorial board member. His hands-on industrial training at Fincha Sugar Factory enriched his practical knowledge, bridging the gap between theory and industry. As an academic with strong technical skills and a commitment to innovation, he continuously works toward developing eco-friendly engineering solutions that can address global sustainability challenges and promote cleaner production methods.

Profile

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🎓 Education 

Workiye Getnet Abera pursued both his undergraduate and postgraduate education in Chemical Engineering at Jimma University, one of Ethiopia’s most prestigious institutions. He obtained his Bachelor of Science (BSc) degree in 2017, gaining a strong foundation in core engineering principles, fluid mechanics, thermodynamics, and chemical process design. Building on this, he continued his academic journey and received his Master of Science (MSc) in Chemical Engineering with a specialization in Process Engineering in 2020. His master’s research was focused on sustainable technologies and renewable resource utilization, particularly in polymer and biomass-based material synthesis. His academic training emphasized both theoretical rigor and practical application, equipping him with advanced knowledge in process modeling, simulation, and optimization techniques. His educational background, coupled with strong analytical and research skills, has laid a solid foundation for his professional and academic accomplishments, preparing him for impactful work in the chemical engineering and sustainability sectors.

🧪 Experience

Workiye has a diverse professional background combining teaching, research, and industrial experience. He currently works as a Senior Lecturer and Researcher at Debre Tabor University, where he leads research in polymer chemistry and additive manufacturing and delivers core chemical engineering courses. Before this, he served as a Lecturer and Researcher at Dilla University from 2020 to 2024, where he was actively engaged in curriculum development, mentoring students, and advancing research in sustainable processes and materials. His industry experience began with an internship at Fincha Sugar Factory in 2015, where he gained practical exposure to large-scale industrial operations, including sugar production and bioproduct processing. This blend of academia and industry has shaped him into a well-rounded professional. His experience across both academic institutions and industrial settings enables him to bridge theory and practice, nurturing a new generation of engineers while conducting impactful research that meets real-world needs.

🔬 Research Focus 

Workiye Getnet Abera’s research centers around sustainable materials engineering, biomass utilization, and process optimization. His work contributes to global environmental goals by creating value-added products from renewable and agro-industrial waste. His primary research interests include the synthesis and characterization of bioplastics, development of plant-based biolubricants, and formulation of gluten-free functional foods. He employs modeling, simulation, and design of experiments (DoE) techniques using tools such as Aspen Plus, MATLAB, Design Expert, and ANSYS to optimize chemical processes. Additionally, Workiye is exploring polymer chemistry and additive manufacturing to produce eco-friendly alternatives to conventional plastics. Through interdisciplinary collaboration and hands-on experimentation, he aims to develop green engineering solutions for food, pharmaceutical, and energy sectors. His work not only contributes to academic knowledge but also holds practical implications for local industries and sustainable development in Ethiopia and beyond. His forward-looking research aligns well with the goals of global climate action and circular economy.

📚 Publication Top Notes

  1. 🧴 Synthesis, Characterization, and Optimization of Antimicrobial Biolubricant from Ocimum lamiifolium and Lactic Acid – Heliyon, 2025

  2. 🍞 Quality Assessment of Gluten-Free Sorghum Bread with Sweet Lupin Flour – CYTA Journal of Food, 2024

  3. 🍪 Effect of Baking Conditions on Gluten-Free Biscuit from Groundnut Oilseed Cake and Teff – Cogent Food & Agriculture, 2024

  4. 🌿 Synthesis and Characterization of Bioplastic from Banana Peel Starch and Cellulosic Fiber – Biomass Conversion & Biorefinery, 2023

 

 

Daniela Fico | materiali | Best Researcher Award

Published on by Popular Engineer

Dr. Daniela Fico | materiali | Best Researcher Award

Collaboratore, CNR-ISPC, Italy.

Daniela Fico is a renowned researcher at the National Research Council—Institute of Heritage Science (CNR-ISPC), Lecce, Italy, specializing in the preservation of cultural heritage. With a PhD in Analytical Chemistry from the University of Salento (2015), her work integrates advanced technologies in the study of materials and heritage preservation. She is recognized for her innovative research in green protective materials for stone and cultural heritage, sustainable polymer composites, and biocomposite materials. Fico has contributed to several national and international projects, published extensively, and served as a reviewer and guest editor for international journals.

Profile

Google scholar 

Education

Daniela Fico obtained her PhD in Analytical Chemistry in 2015 from the Department of Cultural Heritage at the University of Salento, Lecce, Italy. Her doctoral research focused on the analysis and preservation of cultural heritage materials, combining spectroscopic and chromatographic techniques. Fico has also undertaken advanced studies in sustainability, 3D printing technologies, and material characterization, further expanding her expertise in multidisciplinary research approaches, particularly with applications in cultural heritage conservation.

Experience

Fico’s career spans over a decade of research in various fields, from analytical chemistry to sustainability in material sciences. She has worked at the University of Salento’s Department of Cultural Heritage (2015–2020), contributing to the chemical and morphological characterization of materials and developing innovative analytical protocols. From 2021 to 2022, she worked at the Department of Engineering for Innovation, focusing on sustainable materials and circular economy. Currently, Fico is employed at CNR-ISPC, where she conducts diagnostic analyses and studies for the preservation of cultural heritage, using high-resolution mass spectrometry and advanced imaging techniques.

Awards and Honors

Daniela Fico has received numerous accolades for her groundbreaking contributions to the fields of analytical chemistry and heritage conservation. She is the recipient of various research grants and has been invited to collaborate on national and international projects. As an author of highly cited papers in prestigious journals, Fico’s work has earned her recognition within the scientific community. She also serves as a reviewer and guest editor for several international journals, demonstrating her leadership and influence in her field.

Research Focus

Fico’s research focuses on the intersection of sustainability, heritage preservation, and material science. She specializes in the development of innovative non-toxic protective materials for stone and other cultural heritage artifacts. Her work also explores the use of recycled polymers, biocomposites, and 3D printing in material manufacturing, aiming to reduce environmental impact. Additionally, she employs advanced analytical techniques like ATR-FTIR, LC-MS, and high-resolution mass spectrometry to study materials’ composition, provenance, and preservation methods in cultural heritage.

Publications

  • “A review of polymer-based materials for fused filament fabrication (FFF): focus on sustainability and recycled materials” 📄
  • “A rapid and simple method for the determination of 3, 4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid, norepinephrine, dopamine, and serotonin in mouse brain homogenate by HPLC with fluorimetric detection” 🧠
  • “Development and characterization of sustainable PLA/Olive wood waste composites for rehabilitation applications using Fused Filament Fabrication (FFF)” ♻️
  • “The molecular composition of Sicilian amber” 🍯
  • “A multianalytical study of archaeological faience from the Vesuvian area as a valid tool to investigate provenance and technological features” 🏺
  • “Pirin: A novel redox-sensitive modulator of primary and secondary metabolism in Streptomyces” 🧪
  • “An overview on wood waste valorization as biopolymers and biocomposites: definition, classification, production, properties and applications” 🌳
  • “Sustainable polymer composites manufacturing through 3D printing technologies by using recycled polymer and filler” 🖨️
  • “The study of the mural painting in the 12th century monastery of Santa Maria delle Cerrate (Puglia-Italy): characterization of materials and techniques used” 🎨
  • “Decanoic acid and not octanoic acid stimulates fatty acid synthesis in U87MG glioblastoma cells: a metabolomics study” 🔬