Reza Chamani | Sustainable Development | Best Researcher Award

Published on by Popular Engineer

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.

Ophir Katzenelenbogen | Cognitive Science | Pioneer Researcher Award

Published on by Popular Engineer

Dr Ophir Katzenelenbogen | Cognitive Science | Pioneer Researcher Award

Postdoctoral Fellow, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel

Dr. Ophir Katzenelenbogen is a clinical psychologist and interdisciplinary researcher whose work spans social, developmental, and health psychology. A postdoctoral fellow at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, he focuses on dyadic goal dynamics, mindfulness-based interventions, and mental health prediction models for adolescents. He holds a PhD in Psychology from Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, where he investigated interdependence in couples’ goal pursuits. Dr. Katzenelenbogen has collaborated with top international research labs, such as the REACH Lab at the University of Southern California, and has authored peer-reviewed publications in Q1 journals. With clinical experience in psychiatric settings, psychotrauma centers, and psychodynamic therapy, he bridges empirical science with real-world therapeutic applications. His leadership, community involvement, and service in the IDF further highlight a career grounded in resilience, compassion, and innovation. He is currently developing ecological, personalized interventions that aim to transform how cognitive and emotional health is supported across diverse populations.

Profile

orcid

🎓 Education

Dr. Ophir Katzenelenbogen’s academic journey began with a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Education from Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (2013–2016), where he graduated with distinction (94.03 GPA). He continued to pursue a Master’s degree in Psychology at Ruppin Academic Center (2016–2018), earning a weighted GPA of 91.54 and an exceptional thesis score of 93. For his PhD (2018–2024), also at Ben-Gurion University, he explored “Dyadic Interdependence in Goal-Dynamics” under Prof. Eran Bar-Kalifa and achieved a remarkable coursework GPA of 95.5. Currently, he is a postdoctoral fellow in the Department of Psychology at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, mentored by Dr. Gal Lazarus. His education reflects a unique integration of psychological science, clinical training, and applied methodology, forming a strong foundation for innovative research in behavioral science, mindfulness, and predictive modeling in mental health.

💼 Professional 

Dr. Katzenelenbogen’s clinical and research experience is rich and multidimensional. He has completed residencies in psychiatric hospitals and youth villages, including “Hillel Yaffe” Medical Center and “Talpiot” Youth Village, where he delivered psychological interventions to diverse populations. Since 2022, he has served as a clinical evaluator at “Metiv”—Israel’s Center for the Treatment of Psychotrauma—and contributed to MDMA-assisted psychotherapy trials for the MAPS organization. His research experience includes collaborations with Prof. Telma Handler on trauma neuroscience and interventions for seniors. He led mindfulness groups during his MA and postdoctoral research and was a visiting scholar at the REACH Lab, USC. His service in the Israeli Army included roles focused on education and inclusion of special populations. This blend of academic rigor, clinical sensitivity, and social outreach defines his forward-thinking, impact-driven professional profile.

🔬 Research Focus

Dr. Katzenelenbogen’s research lies at the intersection of dyadic psychology, cognitive intervention, and ecological mental health modeling. His doctoral work investigated how goal interdependence affects relational outcomes and motivation in couples, offering empirical insights into daily behavior coordination. He has since broadened his focus to include mindfulness-based interventions for seniors, cognitive functioning, and mental distress regulation. Currently, as a postdoctoral fellow, he is pioneering the development of predictive, data-driven models for adolescent mental health, using real-time ecological assessment tools. This approach is designed to enable personalized, transdiagnostic mental health care, moving beyond traditional static diagnoses. His research integrates behavioral data, psychological constructs, and digital delivery methods to promote adaptive functioning across the lifespan. His work is distinguished by methodological rigor, cross-cultural relevance, and a commitment to accessible, scalable interventions that respond to real-world psychological challenges.

📚 Publication Top Notes

  1. 👩‍👧 The Moderating Effect of Maternal Modeling on Age-Related Decline in Children’s Physical Activity

  2. 🧘‍♂️ Brief Mindfulness-Based Intervention for Seniors—An Exploratory Semi-Randomized Examination of Decentering Effects on Cognitive Functions and Psychological Distress