Prof. Hossein Shahbani Zahiri | Biotechnology | Best Researcher Award

National Institute of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology | Iran

Dr. Hossein Shahbani Zahiri is a distinguished microbiologist specializing in applied and environmental biotechnology. He earned his Ph.D. in Applied Microbiology from Gyeongsang National University, South Korea (2006), where he achieved an A+ average and received the prestigious KOSEF (Korea Science and Engineering Foundation) scholarship. Since 2008, he has been a faculty member at the National Institute of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (NIGEB), where he has held key leadership roles, including Head of the Education Department (2008–2012) and Director of the Department of Energy and Environmental Biotechnology (2014–2022). Dr. Zahiri’s research focuses on microbial biotechnology, metabolic engineering, bioemulsifiers, bioenergy production, and environmental applications of genetically engineered microorganisms. His work has contributed to understanding microbial systems for sustainable energy and industrial processes, with numerous publications in high-impact international journals such as Scientific Reports, Microbiology Spectrum, and Applied and Environmental Microbiology. He is particularly recognized for his studies on Escherichia coli engineering and microbial biosurfactants. Through his extensive experience and innovative research, Dr. Zahiri continues to advance the fields of bioengineering and environmental microbiology, fostering scientific innovation for sustainable biotechnological solutions.

Profile: Google Scholar

Featured Publications

Abbasi, H., Hamedi, M. M., Lotfabad, T. B., Zahiri, H. S., Sharafi, H., Masoomi, F., … & Noghabi, K. A. (2012). Biosurfactant-producing bacterium Pseudomonas aeruginosa MA01 isolated from spoiled apples: Physicochemical and structural characteristics of isolated biosurfactant. Journal of Bioscience and Bioengineering.

Lotfabad, T. B., Abassi, H., Ahmadkhaniha, R., Roostaazad, R., Masoomi, F., Zahiri, H. S., … & Noghabi, K. A. (2010). Structural characterization of a rhamnolipid-type biosurfactant produced by Pseudomonas aeruginosa MR01: Enhancement of di-rhamnolipid proportion using gamma irradiation. Colloids and Surfaces B: Biointerfaces.

Ebadi, M., Zolfaghari, M. R., Aghaei, S. S., Zargar, M., Shafiei, M., Zahiri, H. S., … & Noghabi, K. A. (2019). A bio-inspired strategy for the synthesis of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) using the cell extract of cyanobacterium Nostoc sp. EA03: From biological function to toxicity assessment. RSC Advances.

Shourian, M., Noghabi, K. A., Zahiri, H. S., Bagheri, T., Karbalaei, R., Mollaei, M., … & Raheb, J. (2009). Efficient phenol degradation by a newly characterized Pseudomonas sp. SA01 isolated from pharmaceutical wastewaters. Desalination.

Safaei, M., Maleki, H., Soleimanpour, H., Norouzy, A., Zahiri, H. S., Vali, H., … & Noghabi, K. A. (2019). Development of a novel method for the purification of C-phycocyanin pigment from a local cyanobacterial strain Limnothrix sp. NS01 and evaluation of its biological activities. Scientific Reports.

Mr. Junsik Cho | Transformational Leadership | Best Researcher Award

Korea Airports Corporation (KAC) | South Korea

Mr. Junsik Cho is a professional engineer specializing in roads and airports at the Korea Airports Corporation (KAC), where he currently serves in the New Airport Promotion Team. With a strong foundation in civil and transportation engineering, he has developed extensive expertise in airport infrastructure planning, probabilistic safety assessment, and weather-related risk modeling. His academic and professional journey reflects a deep commitment to advancing runway safety systems and optimizing airport operations under uncertain environmental conditions. Mr. Cho’s research focuses on probabilistic runway safety analysis, Runway End Safety Area (RESA) design, and data-driven modeling of aviation risks influenced by meteorological factors. He has contributed to several high-impact studies that support evidence-based decision-making in airport planning and safety management. Recognized for his professional excellence, he has earned distinction as a licensed Professional Engineer in Korea and continues to collaborate with academia and industry experts to improve safety standards and regulatory frameworks in the aviation sector. Through his innovative research and applied expertise, Mr. Cho is contributing to the development of safer, more resilient airport systems in line with global aviation safety initiatives.

Featured Publications

Lee, S. J., Kim, T. Y., Cho, J. S., Kim, J. S., & Yun, H. S. (2025). Hybrid hydropower–PV with mining flexibility and heat recovery: Article 6-ready mitigation pathways in Central Asia. Sustainability, 17(21), 9488.

Cho, J., & Lee, S. (2025). Feasibility analysis of EMAS application on steep-sloped runway ends: A case study of the Daegu–Gyeongbuk integrated airport. Journal of the Korean Society of Civil Engineers, 73(7), 40–49.

Cho, J., Son, J., Jeong, W., & Lim, C. (2023). A study on airport accessibility indices. Journal of the Korean Society of Civil Engineers, 71(3), 54–60.

Lim, C., Cho, J., Jeong, W., Kim, U., & Park, J. (2022). Recommendations for bridge installation within airport areas. Journal of the Korean Society of Road Engineers, 24(4), 15–20.

Cho, J. (2021). Considerations for selecting new airport development areas from the airport operator’s perspective: Why should as much surrounding area as possible be incorporated? Journal of the Korean Society of Civil Engineers, 69(10), 66–71.

Cho, J., & Lim, C. (2021). Recommendations for introducing domestic runway arresting systems considering the current status of aircraft braking devices. Journal of the Korean Society of Civil Engineers, 69(2), 42–47.