Prof. Dr. Javad Foroughi | Smart materials | Best Researcher Award

Prof. Dr. Javad Foroughi , University of New South Wales, Australia

Dr. Javad Foroughi 🧠 is a globally recognized expert in smart materials, serving as a Visiting Professor at the University of Essen 🇩🇪 and a Senior Research Fellow at UNSW 🇦🇺. He is a DECRA Fellow 🎓 of the Australian Research Council and renowned for pioneering torsional carbon nanotube artificial muscles 🧵, featured in Science (2011). With a PhD in Material Engineering from the University of Wollongong 🇦🇺, Dr. Foroughi’s innovative work spans artificial muscles, wearable tech 👕, and soft robotics 🤖. He has led multidisciplinary collaborations in biomedical innovation 🏥 and secured over $7M in competitive research grants 💰.

Professional Profile:

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✅ Summary of Suitability for Best Researcher Award

Dr. Javad Foroughi is a world-class researcher at the forefront of smart materials, wearable technologies, and biomedical devices. With a research career spanning over two decades and institutions in Australia, Germany, the U.S., South Korea, and Iran, he has made outstanding contributions to polymer science, soft robotics, and artificial muscles. As a senior research fellow and leader at UNSW and IHMRI, his work has translated advanced material innovations into clinical and industrial applications. His achievements, including high-impact publications, multiple prestigious awards, and successful supervision of PhD candidates, make him a leading authority in his field and an ideal recipient for a Best Researcher Award.

🔹 Education & Experience

📘 Education:

🎓 PhD in Material Engineering, University of Wollongong (2006–2009)
🎓 BSc & MSc in Polymer Materials Science, Isfahan University of Technology, Iran (1991–1997)

💼 Employment/Experience:

👨‍🏫 Visiting Professor, University of Essen, Germany (2020–Present)
🧪 Senior Research Fellow, UNSW (2021–Present)
🏥 Lead, Diagnostics & Therapeutics Program, IHMRI
🧵 Senior Research Fellow, Intelligent Polymer Research Institute, UOW (2016–2020)
🔬 ARC DECRA Fellow, ARC Centre of Excellence for Electromaterials Science (2013–2016)
🌏 Visiting Fellow, Hanyang University (South Korea), University of Texas at Dallas (USA)
👨‍🔬 Postdoctoral Fellow and Research Associate, UOW (2009–2011)

🔹 Professional Development

Dr. Foroughi’s professional journey reflects a deep commitment to innovation and interdisciplinary research 🌐. His collaborative leadership spans top institutions across Germany, Australia, South Korea, and the U.S. 🤝. He has supervised 15 PhD candidates 🎓 and mentored researchers in cutting-edge projects involving artificial muscles, biomedical devices 🦾, and smart textiles 👚. Through roles at UNSW, UOW, and IHMRI, he has played a central role in translating lab-scale innovations into real-world applications 💡. His research leadership has contributed to health monitoring systems, drug delivery devices 💊, and soft robotics, earning him a reputation as a pioneer in smart materials 🚀.

🔹 Research Focus

Dr. Foroughi’s research focuses on smart materials with applications in soft robotics 🤖, artificial muscles 🧵, and wearable technology 👕. He explores advanced functional materials like carbon nanotubes and hydrogels to engineer responsive systems for biomedical devices 🏥, drug delivery 💊, and ventricular assist devices ❤️. His interdisciplinary work integrates polymer science 🧪, nanotechnology 🔬, and mechatronic engineering ⚙️, fostering innovation in next-gen electronics and healthcare. His collaborative efforts across academia and industry have produced high-impact publications 📚 and breakthrough technologies that are redefining possibilities in health monitoring and smart textile applications 📈.

🔹 Awards & Honors

🏆 Major Awards & Recognitions:

🥇 ARC DECRA Fellowship (2013–2016)
🧠 Emerging Research Fellow, IHMRI
📘 Top Cited Paper, Advanced Materials Technologies (2020–2021)
✍️ Editor’s Choice Article, MDPI Fibers (2019)
🌟 Best of Advanced Materials Technologies (2020)
🧵 IEEE Award for “Smart Fabrics and Networked Clothing” (2017)
🧬 Asia Nanotech Camp Fellowship (2009, Taiwan)
🥇 Winner, UOW Pitch Competition – Nerve Reconstruction (2014)
🥇 Gold Award, R&D 100 – Artificial Muscles from Fishing Line (2015)
🏅 Commercialisation Training Scheme Scholar, UOW
🎓 Australian Research Scholarship for Advanced Materials (2008)
🥈 Finalist, Trailblazer Award, UOW (2008)
🥇 First Rank, BSc in Polymers Department, Isfahan University

Publication Top Notes:

Title: Advanced Energy Harvesters and Energy Storage for Powering Wearable and Implantable Medical Devices
Citations: 21
Title: Highly stretchable nanocomposite piezofibers: a step forward into practical applications in biomedical devices
Citations: 3
Title: Contactless vital sign monitoring systems: a comprehensive survey of remote health sensing for heart rate and respiration in internet of things and sleep applications
Citations: 1
Title: Manufacturing Ulvan Biopolymer for Wound Dressings
Citations: 3
Title: Ab initio calculations of structural, electronic, optical, and magnetic properties of delafossite SMoO₂ (S = Na, K, Rb, Cs) for spintronics
Citations: 1

Dr. Narjes Rashidi, University College London, United Kingdom

Dr. Narjes Rashidi is a distinguished biomaterials scientist specializing in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. Her groundbreaking research focuses on osteochondral scaffolds, aiming to regenerate both bone and cartilage simultaneously. With an academic background from Oxford and Imperial College London, she has made significant contributions to biomimetic materials and hydrogels for medical applications. Dr. Rashidi’s interdisciplinary expertise in chemical engineering and biomedical sciences has driven advancements in stem cell therapy and extracellular matrix design. Actively engaging in global research collaborations and conferences, she remains committed to pioneering solutions for musculoskeletal disorders.

Suitability for Best Researcher Award

Dr. Narjes Rashidi is a highly accomplished biomaterials scientist with an impressive background in tissue engineering, regenerative medicine, and biomimetic materials. Her groundbreaking research on osteochondral scaffolds for simultaneous bone and cartilage regeneration makes her an excellent candidate for the Best Researcher Award. With academic credentials from Oxford and Imperial College London, interdisciplinary expertise, and global research collaborations, she has made significant contributions to biomedical science.

🎓 Education & Experience:

Ph.D. in Biomaterials (2013-2018) 🎓 – University of Oxford

📝 Thesis: Design and Fabrication of Novel Osteochondral Plug for Bone & Cartilage Regeneration

MSc in Biomedical Engineering (2010-2011) 🎓 – Imperial College London

📝 Thesis: New Bioactive Glass Scaffold for Bone Regeneration

MSc in Chemical Engineering (2002-2005) 🏗️ – Tarbiat Modares University

📝 Thesis: Software Package for Conceptual Design of Chemical Processes

BSc in Chemical Engineering (1997-2002) 🏭 – Sharif University of Technology

📝 Thesis: Plant Design for Palm Waste Utilization

Postdoctoral Research Fellow (2022-2023) 🧪 – University of Brighton

Postdoctoral Research Associate (2020-2021) 🔬 – Tehran University of Medical Sciences & UCL Collaboration

Part-time Researcher (Feb-Apr 2021) 🏥 – ChitoTech (Medical Device Company), Tehran

Business Development Manager (2011-2013) 💼 – Avalin Pharma, Tehran

📚 Professional Development:

Dr. Rashidi is dedicated to continuous learning and innovation in biomaterials and tissue engineering. She actively participates in workshops, training programs, and international conferences to stay at the forefront of regenerative medicine and scaffold fabrication techniques. Her interdisciplinary collaborations have enriched her approach to hydrogel and stem cell research, ensuring clinical relevance in biomedical applications. Dr. Rashidi frequently engages in scientific symposiums, sharing her expertise on biomimetic scaffolds and extracellular vesicles. Her passion for scientific discovery and technological advancements drives her to develop pioneering solutions for musculoskeletal and orthopedic disorders.

🔬 Research Focus:

Dr. Rashidi’s research revolves around biomimetic materials and regenerative medicine, particularly in tissue engineering. She specializes in hydrogel-based scaffolds that closely mimic the extracellular matrix, enhancing cell differentiation and tissue regeneration. Her osteochondral scaffold research focuses on simultaneous bone and cartilage repair, addressing major challenges in orthopedic medicine. She also investigates plant-based extracellular vesicles for osteoarthritis treatment, expanding her contributions to stem cell therapy and bioactive materials. Her interdisciplinary approach merges biomedical engineering, materials science, and chemical engineering, ensuring her work bridges laboratory research with clinical applications.

Publication Top Notes:

🦠 “Isolation, Characterization, and In Vitro Cell Studies of Plant-Based Exosome-like Nanovesicles for Treatment of Early Osteoarthritis”

🧬 “A novel, microfluidic high-throughput single-cell encapsulation of human bone marrow mesenchymal stromal cells”

🧪 “Polymerization of chondroitin sulfate and its stimulatory effect on cartilage regeneration; a bioactive material for cartilage regeneration”

🦴 “A Bilayer Osteochondral Scaffold with Self‐Assembled Monomeric Collagen Type‐I, Type‐II, and Polymerized Chondroitin Sulfate Promotes Chondrogenic and Osteogenic Differentiation of Mesenchymal Stem Cells”