Prof. John Theodorou | Water Resource Engineering | Best Researcher Award

Prof. John Theodorou | Water Resource Engineering | Best Researcher Award

Prof. John Theodorou | University of Patras | Greece

Prof John Theodorou is an accomplished Associate Professor and Head of the Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture with extensive expertise in aquaculture and fisheries science.  Over his career, he has combined academic research with significant industry experience, serving as National Representative for Aqua Training and Technology and providing scientific advice on quality scheme development, research and development, university-industry collaboration, and European policy support. Prof Theodorou has also participated in numerous international and national projects, including the Blue Jobs Through Blue Careers initiative, where he contributed to designing retraining programs, developing a European collaborative network, and producing deliverables such as policy briefs and expert focus group reports. He has authored 74 documents cited 865 times across 562 publications, with an h-index of 17. Fluent in Greek, English, and proficient in French, Prof Theodorou’s multidisciplinary expertise bridges aquaculture science, fisheries economics, and quality management, reflecting a career dedicated to sustainable aquaculture practices, industry integration, and evidence-based policy development.

Profile: Scopus

Featured Publications

Theodorou, J. (2025). Enhancing social acceptability of aquaculture: Stakeholder engagement in guidelines development for the Mediterranean and Black Sea. Marine Policy.

Theodorou, J. (2025). Novel insights into the phylogeographic patterns of ascidians fouling Greek mussel cultures. Marine Biodiversity.

Theodorou, J. (2025). Influence of key physicochemical factors on the temporal dynamics of invasive and native ascidian settlement. Water, Switzerland.

Theodorou, J. (2025). From shell to sequence: Optimizing DNA extraction and PCR for pen shell identification. Water, Switzerland.

Theodorou, J. (2025). Mytilus galloprovincialis’s role in integrated multi-trophic aquaculture (IMTA): A comprehensive review.

Theodorou, J. (2024). Exploring aquaculture professionals’ perceptions of artificial intelligence: Quantitative insights into Mediterranean fish health management. Water, Switzerland.

Theodorou, J. (2025). Historical dataset details the distribution, extent and form of lost Ostrea edulis reef ecosystems.

Dr. Mohamadreza Najarzadegan | Sustainable Engineering | Best Researcher Award

Dr. Mohamadreza Najarzadegan | Sustainable Engineering | Best Researcher Award

Dr. Mohamadreza Najarzadegan | Isfahan University | Iran

Dr. Mohamadreza Najarzadegan is a dedicated environmental and civil engineer from Iran with a strong academic and research background in water and wastewater engineering. He earned his Master’s degree from the University of Isfahan, where he graduated top of his class with a thesis focused on optimizing water supply networks using advanced algorithms. His research integrates artificial intelligence techniques, such as the Artificial Bee Colony and Dragonfly algorithms, to improve sensor placement and water quality monitoring. With several high-impact journal publications and ongoing collaborative research, he is committed to advancing sustainable water resource management and enhancing public health through engineering innovation.

Professional Profile

Scopus

Education and Experience

Dr. Mohamadreza completed his Master of Science in Environmental Engineering – Water and Wastewater at the University of Isfahan. His thesis addressed the hydraulic analysis of water supply networks for optimal sensor placement. He also holds a high school diploma in Mathematics and Physics from Imam Bagher School, Isfahan. In addition to his academic qualifications, he has actively conducted and published research in the fields of hydraulic optimization, water quality monitoring, and network performance enhancement.

Summary Suitability

Dr. Mohamadreza Najarzadegan is an exemplary nominee for the Best Researcher Award, recognized for his outstanding contributions to water and environmental engineering. With a deep commitment to innovation, sustainability, and academic excellence, his research focuses on optimizing water distribution networks, sensor placement, and pollution control using advanced metaheuristic algorithms.

Professional Development 

Dr. Mohamadreza has pursued continuous professional development through active research, publication, and academic collaboration. His work emphasizes the application of intelligent algorithms to solve practical challenges in water distribution and environmental engineering. He maintains an active presence on academic platforms such as Google Scholar, ResearchGate, and LinkedIn to share his research findings and connect with the global scientific community. His ongoing projects address real-world problems, including pollution source detection, sensor deployment strategies, and water infrastructure efficiency. By combining theoretical knowledge with computational tools, he strives to deliver sustainable and innovative engineering solutions for the benefit of communities and the environment.

Research Focus 

Mohamadreza’s research focuses on the design and optimization of water distribution systems, environmental sustainability, and contamination risk reduction. He applies artificial intelligence and metaheuristic algorithms, including Artificial Bee Colony, Dragonfly Algorithm, to optimize network performance and sensor coverage. His studies also involve pollution source detection, valve and chlorine booster placement, and the operational efficiency of non-drinking water systems. With multiple publications in high-impact journals, his work contributes to the development of reliable, efficient, and future-resilient water infrastructure. His research aims to ensure safe and sustainable water management practices by leveraging computational models and real-world data analysis.

Awards and Honors

Dr. Mohamadreza Achieved the leading spot in his Master’s program in Environmental Engineering at the University of Isfahan. He authored multiple first-author papers published in internationally recognized and high-impact journals such as Results in Engineering and Water Research. His Master’s thesis was acknowledged for its innovative approach to water sensor optimization. He has been recognized for his advanced use of optimization algorithms in environmental engineering research. Additionally, he has made significant contributions to collaborative and interdisciplinary research, furthering international knowledge exchange in the field of sustainable water management.

Publication Top Notes

1.Title: Optimal Design of Water Distribution Network Using Improved Artificial Bee Colony Algorithm
Year: 2022
Citation: 4

2.Title: Optimal Design of Urban Water Distribution Network Using Improved Artificial Bee Colony Algorithm
Year: 2022
Citation: 2

3.Title: Using the Dragonfly Algorithm to Find the Optimal Sensor Location for Reducing the Volume of Contaminated Water in the Water Distribution Network
Year: 2022
Citation: 6

4.Title: Maximizing the Coverage of Quality Sensors in the Water Distribution Network 
Year: 2025
Citation: 1

Conclusion

Dr. Mohamadreza Najarzadegan has made meaningful contributions to the field of environmental and civil engineering. His work exemplifies the qualities celebrated by the Best Researcher Award—originality, relevance, scientific excellence, and societal benefit. He stands out as a leader among emerging researchers in the global water research community.