Mr. Norman Burua Adriko | Soft Materials | Best Researcher Award

Mr. Norman Burua Adriko | Soft Materials | Best Researcher Award

Southwest Jiaotong University | Uganda

Mr. Norman Burua Adriko is a seasoned civil and structural engineer from Uganda with more than a decade of professional experience in construction supervision, design, and project management. He holds a Master’s degree in Civil Engineering from Tianjin University, China, and is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Roads and Railway Engineering at Southwest Jiaotong University, where his research focuses on geotechnical analysis, numerical simulation, and sustainable infrastructure design. Over his career, he has served in various engineering and leadership roles, including Director and Resident Engineer at Usindi Consults Ltd, Highway Design Engineer at China Railway 18th Group, and Project Engineer at Getachew Bekele Consultant. His experience spans road and bridge design, construction quality assurance, materials testing, and contract management. Mr. Adriko has authored several academic works, including “An Investigation into the Pull-Out Resistance of Fill Material Reinforced with Steel Bars” and “Study on Combined Application of Theoretical, Numerical, and Experimental Methods of Analysis in the Design of High-Rise Structures.” His technical expertise includes proficiency in software such as AutoCAD, SAP2000, PLAXIS, FLAC3D, and ABAQUS for structural and geotechnical modeling. He is an active member of professional organizations such as ISSMGE GeoWorld and ITA-AITES, demonstrating his commitment to global engineering collaboration. Known for his focus on cost optimization, safety management, and sustainable construction, Mr. Adriko has contributed to major road rehabilitation and infrastructure projects in Uganda, South Sudan, and China. His multilingual proficiency in English, Swahili, and Chinese enhances his ability to collaborate in diverse international environments. Dedicated, analytical, and results-driven, Mr. Adriko represents a new generation of engineers integrating academic research with real-world civil infrastructure development, advancing innovative and efficient engineering solutions across global contexts.

Profile: Orcid

Featured Publications

Adriko, N. B., & Solomon, O. (2025, April 14). An investigation into the pull-out resistance of fill material reinforced with steel bars

Adriko, N. B. (2025, April 14). Study on combine application of theoretical, numerical and experimental methods of analysis in design of high rise structures

Results and analysis (Midas Tunnel Pile set up.rar) [Dataset]. figshare.

Mrs Agnieszka Kalwasinska | Polymer Science | Best Researcher Award

Mrs Agnieszka Kalwasinska | Polymer Science | Best Researcher Award

🌱 Mrs. Agnieszka Kalwasińska is an experienced Assistant Professor at Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń, Poland 🏛️, specializing in environmental microbiology and microbial ecology 🔬. With over 20 years of academic service, she explores plant-microbe interactions, biodegradation, and urban microbiota 🧪🌿. Her research addresses global issues such as soil restoration, sustainable agriculture, and ecological resilience 🌍. She has published in top journals like Scientific Reports and Frontiers in Plant Science 📚. Known for her interdisciplinary collaboration, she bridges biotechnology, ecology, and environmental health, making her a vital contributor to sustainable science and conservation 🧬🤝.

Mrs Agnieszka Kalwasinska, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Torun, Poland

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🎓 Education 

Mrs. Agnieszka Kalwasińska earned her Ph.D. in Environmental Microbiology from Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń, Poland, in 2008 🧪📘. Her doctoral studies focused on microbial interactions and their ecological applications. She previously completed her Master of Science (M.Sc.) in Biology at the same institution in 2000, where she developed a strong foundation in microbial and environmental sciences 🌿🔬. Her education spans over a decade of rigorous academic training, equipping her with expertise in biodegradation, plant-microbe symbiosis, and microbial ecology, which now underpin her impactful interdisciplinary research in environmental sustainability 🌍📖.

👩‍🏫 Experience 

Mrs. Agnieszka Kalwasińska has been serving as an Assistant Professor at Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń, Poland, since 2001 🏛️. Based in the Department of Environmental Microbiology and Biotechnology, she has over two decades of experience in academic research, teaching, and student mentorship 🎓. Her focus is on supporting student learning through innovative instructional tools, promoting student engagement, and ensuring academic success 📚✨. As a dedicated researcher, she actively contributes to microbial ecology and environmental sustainability projects, integrating research with real-world applications 🌍🔬. Her long-term academic service reflects deep commitment to both science and education 🧪📖.

🛠️ Core Skills 

Mrs. Kalwasińska possesses a versatile skill set that supports her excellence in both research and academic mentoring. She is proficient in qualitative and quantitative research methodologies 🔍📊, allowing her to conduct in-depth environmental microbiology studies with precision and scientific rigor. As an experienced dissertation supervisor, she guides students through complex scientific projects with clarity and dedication 🎓📘. Her strength in empathetic communication 💬💡 enhances her ability to collaborate across disciplines and teach effectively. These skills reflect her well-rounded academic profile, supporting impactful research, meaningful mentorship, and successful interdisciplinary collaboration.

🔬 Research Focus 

Mrs. Agnieszka Kalwasińska’s research lies at the intersection of environmental microbiology, biotechnology, and sustainability science 🌱🧪. She investigates nitrogen-fixing and salt-tolerant bacteria, plant growth-promoting microbes, and microbial responses in technosoils and urban ecosystems 🧬🏙️. Her studies on biofilms on biodegradable plastics, microbial conservation in polluted soils, and microbiota in mammals emphasize ecological resilience and bioremediation ♻️. By integrating molecular tools like DNA extraction membranes and field ecology, she provides critical insights into soil recovery, crop stress mitigation, and urban biodiversity 🌾🔍. Her interdisciplinary work addresses global challenges in environmental health and sustainable agriculture 🌍.

📚 Publications

Enhanced understanding of nitrogen fixing bacteria through DNA extraction with polyvinylidene fluoride membrane
✍️ Authors: Kalwasińska, A.; Tirkey, S.R.; Szabo, A.; Kumar, S.B.
📚 Journal: Scientific Reports, 2025
🧫 Theme: Nitrogen-fixing bacteria, molecular microbiology, DNA extraction
🔬 Highlights: Introduces an improved method for DNA isolation from diazotrophs using membrane-based technology

Green spaces contribute to structural resilience of the gut microbiota in urban mammals
✍️ Authors: Łopucki, R.; Sajnaga, E.; Kalwasińska, A.; Stępień-Pyśniak, D.; Christensen, H.I.
📚 Journal: Scientific Reports, 2024
🐿️ Theme: Urban ecology, microbiota, biodiversity
🌿 Highlights: Investigates how urban green environments stabilize mammalian gut microbiota

Characterization of salt-tolerant diazotrophs with plant growth-promoting potential isolated from soda industry-affected technosoils
✍️ Authors: Kumar, S.B.; Kalwasińska, A.; Świątczak, J.; Swiontek-Brzezinska, M.; Kęsy, J.M.
📚 Journal: Plant and Soil, 2024
🧪 Theme: Technosols, salt-tolerant bacteria, sustainable agriculture
💧 Highlights: Focuses on nitrogen-fixing bacteria beneficial to plants in saline environments

Characterization of bacterial biofilms developed on the biodegradable polylactide and polycaprolactone polymers containing birch tar in an aquatic environment
✍️ Authors: Richert, A.; Kalwasińska, A.; Felfoldi, T.; Dembińska, K.; Swiontek-Brzezinska, M.
📚 Journal: Marine Pollution Bulletin, 2024
🧫 Theme: Biodegradable plastics, aquatic biofilms, pollution biology
♻️ Highlights: Explores microbial colonization of eco-friendly plastics in water

Using halotolerant Azotobacter chroococcum W4ii from technosoils to mitigate wheat salt stress
✍️ Authors: Kumar, S.B.; Kalwasińska, A.; Swiontek-Brzezinska, M.; Wróbel, M.
📚 Journal: Open Research Europe, 2024
🌱 Theme: Biofertilizers, soil salinity, crop resilience
🧬 Highlights: Demonstrates how beneficial microbes enhance wheat tolerance to salt stress