Reza Chamani | Sustainable Development | Best Researcher Award

Dr. Reza Chamani | Sustainable Development | Best Researcher Award

Post Doctoral Researcher at Tarbiat Modares University in Iran

Dr. Reza Chamani is a dedicated researcher in Watershed Management Sciences & Engineering, currently serving as a Postdoctoral Researcher at Tarbiat Modares University (TMU), Tehran, Iran. With a passion for hydrological sustainability, Dr. Chamani’s work focuses on watershed health, climate resilience, and ecological security. He earned his Ph.D. from TMU, where he developed models to assess the effect of hydrologic service changes on watershed health. Over the past decade, he has been actively involved in the implementation, assessment, and design of watershed structures across South Khorasan. His research contributions include over 15 publications in reputed journals and affiliations with professional bodies like the Iran Watershed Association and the World Association for Soil and Water Conservation (WASWC). Dr. Chamani brings academic rigor, practical field experience, and visionary research on land degradation neutrality, making him a strong candidate for international recognition in sustainable water resource management.

Professional Profile

Education 

Dr. Reza Chamani holds a distinguished academic background in watershed and environmental management. He completed his Ph.D. in 2023 in Watershed Management Sciences & Engineering from Tarbiat Modares University (TMU), where his research focused on evaluating the impact of hydrologic service changes resulting from watershed management measures on watershed health. He is currently pursuing a postdoctoral fellowship at TMU, continuing his work on implementing land degradation neutrality-based action plans for Iran’s second-order priority watersheds. Prior to this, he earned his Master’s degree in 2015 from Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, studying the role of land use management in climate change adaptation, in collaboration with the University of Jena, Germany. His academic journey began with a Bachelor’s degree in 2010 from Zabol University, with a focus on pasture and watershed management. His education spans interdisciplinary and international experiences, setting a solid foundation for his applied research in sustainable watershed practices.

Experience

Dr. Reza Chamani brings a wealth of practical and research-based experience in watershed management. Between 2017 and 2019, he actively contributed to Iran’s Department of Natural Resources and Watershed Management in South Khorasan, where he participated in detailed design, planning, and implementation of dam and watershed rehabilitation projects across the Noferst and Bisheh watersheds. His hands-on involvement included detailed structure measurements and preparing regional status reports. At the academic level, Dr. Chamani has collaborated with national and international researchers and served under the supervision of eminent scientists like Prof. Dr. S.H. Sadeghi and Prof. Dr. Mehdi Vafakhah. His experience bridges fieldwork and scientific inquiry, making his contributions especially valuable to sustainable land and water resource projects. As a Postdoctoral Researcher, he now works on strategic watershed health plans, integrating policy-relevant models and global frameworks like Land Degradation Neutrality. His dual expertise in practice and theory amplifies the applicability and impact of his research.

Research Focus 

Dr. Chamani’s research focuses on the interdisciplinary study of watershed health, climate resilience, and sustainable water resource management. He applies cutting-edge models like the Pressure-State-Response (PSR) framework, and the Reliability–Resilience–Vulnerability (RRV) model, to assess watershed performance under environmental stressors such as drought and climate change. His current postdoctoral research targets land degradation neutrality-based planning for Iran’s second-order priority watersheds, a concept promoted by the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification. Dr. Chamani also investigates the hydrological impacts of land use changes, evaluates ecological security through spatial modeling, and forecasts watershed behavior using GIS and remote sensing. His work is applied in scope, offering insights for policy development, infrastructure design, and adaptive land-use planning. Collaborating across institutions and disciplines, he aims to ensure that watershed interventions are both environmentally sustainable and socially responsible, contributing meaningfully to regional climate adaptation strategies and global sustainability goals.

Publication Top Notes

1. Watershed health and ecological security zoning throughout Iran

Authors: SH Sadeghi, R Chamani, MZ Silabi, M Tavosi, A Katebikord, …
Journal: Science of The Total Environment, Vol. 905, Article 167123
Cited by: 29 | Year: 2023
Summary: This study presents a comprehensive national-scale ecological zoning of Iran based on watershed health and ecological security. Using a multi-criteria decision-making approach, it identifies critical zones requiring immediate management interventions.

2. Changes in reliability–resilience–vulnerability-based watershed health under climate change scenarios in the Efin Watershed, Iran

Authors: R Chamani, M Vafakhah, SH Sadeghi
Journal: Natural Hazards, 116(2), 2457–2476
Cited by: 19 | Year: 2023
Summary: The paper evaluates watershed health in Efin under climate change using reliability, resilience, and vulnerability (RRV) indices. It highlights future risks and offers guidance for sustainable watershed management.

3. Assessment of the effect of climate change on the health status of Atrak watershed in Northeastern of Iran

Authors: R Chamani, M Vafakhah, M Tavosi, S Zare
Journal: Arabian Journal of Geosciences, 15(24), 1745
Cited by: 13 | Year: 2022
Summary: Investigates the impact of climate projections on the Atrak Watershed’s ecological health using scenario-based modeling. Findings suggest serious degradation under high-emission pathways.

4. Reliability, resilience, and vulnerability of Chalous Watershed based on drought index

Authors: R Chamani, SH Sadeghi, M Vafakhah, M Naghdi
Journal: Watershed Engineering and Management, 14(1), 65–75
Cited by: 9 | Year: 2022
Summary: This study evaluates the Chalous watershed’s response to drought conditions using RRV indices. Results provide insight into its adaptive capacity and inform drought mitigation strategies.

5. Flood‐oriented watershed health and ecological security conceptual modeling using pressure, state, and response (PSR) approach for the Sharghonj Watershed, South Khorasan

Authors: R Chamani, SH Sadeghi, S Zare, H Shekohideh, A Mumzaei, H Amini, …
Journal: Natural Resource Modeling, 37(1), e12385
Cited by: 7 | Year: 2024
Summary: Introduces a PSR-based conceptual model for assessing flood-induced impacts on watershed health. Emphasizes the need for proactive watershed and disaster management.

6. Effect of drought on temporal-spatial changes of the Efin Watershed health

Authors: R Chamani, M Vafakhah, SHR Sadeghi
Journal: Watershed Engineering and Management, 15(1), 1–12
Cited by: 7 | Year: 2023
Summary: Analyzes spatial and temporal drought effects on Efin Watershed health, proposing adaptive water management strategies.

7. Evaluation and variability of flood-oriented health of Shiraz Darwazeh Quran Watershed from watershed management structures

Authors: SH Sadeghi, M Tavoosi, S Zare, V Beiranvandi, H Shekohideh, …
Journal: Watershed Engineering and Management
Cited by: 6 | Year: 2022
Summary: Evaluates the effectiveness of structural measures on flood-related watershed health using empirical data and modeling.

8. Hydrological response to future climate changes in Chehelchay Watershed in Golestan Province

Authors: R Chamani, M Azari, S Kralisch
Journal: Watershed Engineering and Management, 12(1), 72–85
Cited by: 6 | Year: 2020
Summary: Assesses the impact of climate change on hydrological patterns in Chehelchay Watershed using SWAT model simulations.

9. Flood-oriented watershed health and ecological security conceptual modeling using PSR approach for the Sharghonj watershed, South Khorasan Province, Iran

Authors: R Chamani, SH Sadeghi, S Zare, H Shekohideh, A Mumzaei, H Amini, …
Journal: Natural Resource Modeling, Article e12385
Cited by: 5 | Year: 2023
Summary: Duplicate entry of #5 with minor variation in title. Focus remains on flood-driven ecological health modeling using the PSR framework.

10. Health variability based on SPI and estimating median and mean health indices in watersheds and townships of Kermanshah Province, Iran

Authors: SH Sadeghi, R Chamani, M Kalehhouei, K Haji
Journal: Environment, Development and Sustainability, 1–21
Cited by: 4 | Year: 2024
Summary: Uses the Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI) to evaluate watershed health across Kermanshah, providing a new method for spatial health estimation.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Dr. Reza Chamani is not only a qualified but also a highly deserving nominee for the Best Researcher Award. His innovative, data-driven contributions to watershed health, resilience modeling, and ecological security have significantly advanced both the scientific understanding and applied practices in watershed management in Iran and beyond. With a forward-looking research agenda and demonstrated scientific rigor, Dr. Chamani exemplifies the qualities of a modern environmental scientist and is a strong candidate to be honored with this distinction.

Edson Rodrigues-Filho | Environmental sciences | Excellence in Research

Prof. Edson Rodrigues-Filho | Environmental sciences | Excellence in Research

Prof, Federal University of São Carlos, Brazil

Edson Rodrigues-Filho is a distinguished Professor of Organic Chemistry at the Federal University of São Carlos (UFSCAR) in Brazil, where he has been a faculty member since 1992. Holding a degree in Chemistry from the University of Uberlândia (1986), followed by a Master’s (1989) and Doctorate (1992) in Chemistry from UFSCAR, Rodrigues-Filho also completed a postdoctoral fellowship in Plant Pathology at the University of Minnesota. He is a Productivity Scholar at CNPq and has made significant contributions in the field of natural product chemistry, focusing on microbial biosynthesis, biotransformation, and the synthesis of bioactive molecules. His extensive expertise is recognized through his work with fungal microorganisms, especially in antibiotic and insecticide production.

Profile

Education

Edson Rodrigues-Filho’s academic journey began with a Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry from the University of Uberlândia (1986). He continued at UFSCAR, completing his Master’s (1989) and Doctorate (1992) in Chemistry, specializing in the phytochemical analysis of species from the Simaroubaceae family. His doctoral research was funded by the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq), exploring natural compounds with potential anticancer properties. After earning his Ph.D., Rodrigues-Filho enhanced his expertise with a postdoctoral research position at the University of Minnesota, focusing on plant pathology and microbial interactions. Over the years, he has expanded his academic and professional expertise, contributing to the scientific community through both teaching and research in organic chemistry, with a particular emphasis on natural products and microbial chemistry.

Experience

Edson Rodrigues-Filho has dedicated over three decades to academia, primarily at UFSCAR, where he has been a tenured professor since 1992. He has taught a variety of undergraduate and graduate courses in organic chemistry, including subjects such as Organic Chemistry, Analytical Chemistry, and Mass Spectrometry. Throughout his career, he has also held leadership roles within the university, including serving as Vice-Chair of the Chemistry Department and representing his faculty at various academic committees. His extensive research work has focused on the chemical properties of microorganisms, biotransformation processes, and the synthesis of bioactive natural products. Additionally, Rodrigues-Filho has worked on research projects with applications in biotechnology, health, and agriculture, contributing to the development of new antimicrobial agents and biocatalysts. He has also guided numerous graduate students, helping shape the next generation of scientists in his field.

Awards and Honors

Throughout his esteemed career, Edson Rodrigues-Filho has been recognized for his contributions to organic chemistry and natural product research. His work has been supported by prestigious research grants, including funding from the CNPq, Brazil’s National Council for Scientific and Technological Development. He has been a recipient of multiple academic honors, such as research scholarships in various fields related to chemistry and microbial sciences. His postdoctoral research at the University of Minnesota in plant pathology further expanded his international academic stature. Rodrigues-Filho’s impact extends to mentoring students and advancing research in the chemical sciences, which has earned him recognition at both the national and international levels. His involvement in major scientific projects in Brazil has helped advance research on microbial chemistry, biosynthesis, and biotransformation, underscoring his standing as a leading figure in the field of natural products.

Research Focus

Edson Rodrigues-Filho’s research focuses on natural product chemistry, with a particular emphasis on microbial biosynthesis, biotransformation, and the development of bioactive molecules. His work explores how microorganisms, particularly fungi and actinomycetes, produce compounds with potential applications in medicine, agriculture, and biotechnology. Rodrigues-Filho is deeply involved in studying the synthesis of natural products, such as antibiotics and insecticides, from microbial sources. He also investigates the chemical processes involved in the production of biologically active molecules and their subsequent modifications via biotransformation. His research further delves into the application of techniques such as mass spectrometry, chromatography, and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy to analyze and understand these complex compounds. Additionally, his interest in designing new synthetic routes for bioactive molecules has made significant contributions to the development of novel pharmaceutical and agricultural chemicals.

Publication Top Notes

  1. Antimicrobial Potential of Soil/Sediment Mangrove Associated Fungi: A Review 📚
  2. Perylenequinones production induced by co-culturing Setophoma sp. and Penicillium brasilianum 🌱
  3. Computational and pharmacological investigation of novel 1,5-diaryl-1,4-pentadien-3-one derivatives for analgesic, antiinflammatory and anticancer potential 💊
  4. Synthesis, characterization, molecular docking, analgesic, antiplatelet, and anticoagulant effects of dibenzylidene ketone derivatives 🧬
  5. Photolysis of parabens using medium-pressure mercury lamps: Toxicity effects in MCF7, Balb/c 3T3 cells and Ceriodaphnia dubia ⚡
  6. Differential metabolism of diastereoisomeric diterpenes by Preussia minima, found as endophytic fungus in Cupressus lusitanica 🌿
  7. Antiplasmodial properties and cytotoxicity of endophytic fungi from symphonia globulifera (Clusiaceae) 🌍
  8. Heterogeneous microtubules of self-assembled silver and gold nanoparticles using alive biotemplates ⚙️
  9. Nanostructured assemblies of gold and silver nanoparticles for plasmon enhanced spectroscopy using living biotemplates 💎
  10. Biosynthesis and mass spectral fragmentation pathways of 13C and 15N labeled cytochalasin D produced by Xylaria arbuscula 🔬