Vllaznim Mula | Sensor Construction | Best Researcher Award

Vllaznim Mula | Sensor Construction | Best Researcher Award

Mr. Vllaznim Mula | Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje | Macedonia

Vllaznim Mula is a dedicated chemist, researcher, and academic from Kosovo specializing in environmental and analytical chemistry, with a strong commitment to education and applied scientific research. He earned his Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry Engineering at the University of Prishtina “Hasan Prishtina” in 2010 with a thesis on Beer Technology, followed by a Master of Science in Chemistry in 2014, focusing on environmental analytical chemistry through electrochemical sensors based on ruthenium nanoparticles, and since 2020 has been pursuing a Ph.D. in Chemistry at Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje, North Macedonia, where his research explores the assessment and characterization of volatile organic compounds in indoor and outdoor air. Since 2018, he has served as a full-time Assistant at the University “Fehmi Agani” in Gjakova, teaching courses such as Fundamentals of Natural Sciences with Methodology I and II and Environmental Education, while also contributing as a part-time Assistant at the Faculty of Social Sciences since 2022, lecturing on Social Ecology and Environmental Protection and Introduction to Nutrition – Food Culture. His professional experience includes roles as an Environmental Expert with Artech Sh.P.K., Bioinvest Institute, and MOL Institute on asbestos and MPA treatment projects in Pristina, contributions to a PCB decontamination pilot project in Skopje, service as an Analytical Chemist at the Food and Veterinary Agency in Kosovo, teaching chemistry at Zenit School, and working as a Quality Control Analyst at pharmaceutical manufacturer Trepharm. He has further enhanced his expertise through international training and workshops on electrochemical sensor construction, pedagogical design, scientific publication, fluorescence microscopy, and FRET analysis, supported by EU-funded projects. Actively engaged in academic governance, he has contributed to faculty and university councils, ethics and quality assurance committees, and self-assessment working groups, and he currently serves as a Board Member of the Association of Chemists of Kosovo. Recognized with DAAD research scholarships in Kosovo and Romania as well as a merit-based scholarship from the University of Prishtina, Mula continues to advance environmental chemistry, sustainable education, and scientific innovation in Kosovo and the wider Balkan region.

Profile: Scopus | Orcid 

Featured Publications 

Mula, V., Bogdanov, J., Petreska Stanoeva, J., Zeneli, L., Mehmeti, V., Gelmini, F., Daci, A., Berisha, A., Zdravkovski, Z., & Beretta, G. (2025). Semi-quantitative characterization of volatile organic compounds in indoor and outdoor air using passive samplers: A case study of Milan, Italy. Atmosphere, 16(9), 1088.

Mehmeti, V., Mula, V., Maiga, M. D., Seydou, M., Dagdag, O., Berisha, A., & Kaya, S. (2025). DFT analysis of fenethylline (Captagon): Investigating its interaction with graphene as a potential adsorbent. Macedonian Journal of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, 44(2), 3098.

Mula, V., Bogdanov, J., Petreska Stanoeva, J., Zeneli, L., & Zdravkovski, Z. (2024). Monitoring volatile organic compounds in air using passive sampling: Regional cross-border study between North Macedonia and Kosovo. Aerosol and Air Quality Research, 24(3), 170.

Mula, V., Bogdanov, J., Petreska Stanoeva, J., Zeneli, L., Berisha, A., & Zdravkovski, Z. (2024). Assessment of volatile organic compounds in indoor environments across North Macedonia and Kosovo using passive sampling. Macedonian Journal of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, 43(2), 2953.

Osmani, I., Mula, V., Hashani, Z., Bajraktari, D., & Zeneli, L. (2023). Heavy metals levels in raw cow’s milk and health risk implication from thermal power plants emission in Obilic, Kosova. Agriculture and Forestry, 69(4), 225–236.

Januzaj, V., Mula, V., Turdean, G. L., & Muresan, L. M. (2015). Composite electrodes with carbon supported Ru nanoparticles for H₂O₂ detection. Acta Chimica Slovenica, 62(1), 72–79.

Dong Yang | Fiber-Optic Sensing | Innovation Excellence Award

Dong Yang | Fiber-Optic Sensing | Innovation Excellence Award

Prof. Dong Yang, Yangtze University, China.

Prof. Dong Yang 🛢️ is a distinguished petroleum engineering expert and a Level-2 Professor at Yangtze University. He leads the Oil & Gas Drilling and Production Hubei Key Laboratory and is a globally recognized innovator in digital and intelligent oilfields, fiber-optic sensing, and downhole monitoring. With extensive industry experience at Schlumberger and Halliburton, he has contributed to over 21 major projects worth $20M+. He holds 60+ patents (12 international), has authored 30+ English papers, and won prestigious awards such as the TAPPI Best Paper Award and DOE Green Energy Award. He actively bridges academia and industry through pioneering research. 🌍🔬

Publivation Profiles

Googlescholar

Education and Experience

📌 Education:

  • 🎓 1994–1998: B.Sc. in Aerospace Propulsion Theory & Engineering, Beihang University
  • 🎓 2001–2002: M.Sc. in Aerospace Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology
  • 🎓 2003–2006: Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology

📌 Work Experience:

  • 🔬 1998–2001: Assistant Researcher, Aircraft Engine Lab, Beijing
  • 🛩️ 2001–2006: Research Assistant, Georgia Tech (Aerospace, Bio, Mechanical Engineering)
  • 🛢️ 2006–2014: Senior Project Manager, Schlumberger HCS R&D Center, Houston
  • 🔬 2014–2018: Lead Technologist & Principal Researcher, Halliburton Global Tech Center
  • 🏢 2018–Present: R&D & Management Roles at Sinopec, CNPC, Huaneng, Huatuo
  • 🎓 2021–Present: Professor & Lab Director, Yangtze University (Petroleum & Mechanical Eng.)

Suitability summary for best researcher Award

Professor Dong Yang, a distinguished Tier-2 Professor and Doctoral Advisor at the School of Petroleum Engineering, Yangtze University, is a highly deserving recipient of the Innovation Excellence Award for his groundbreaking contributions to intelligent oil and gas exploration, fiber-optic sensing, and real-time petroleum monitoring technologies. As the Director of the Hubei Key Laboratory of Oil and Gas Drilling and Production, he has led pioneering advancements in digital oil fields, intelligent downhole equipment, and high-temperature, high-pressure instrumentation, significantly shaping both academia and industry.

Professional Development

Prof. Dong Yang is a globally recognized leader in oil & gas innovation, specializing in intelligent oilfields, fiber-optic sensing, and downhole monitoring. His pioneering research has been instrumental in the development of cutting-edge technologies for high-temperature, high-pressure environments. He has led and participated in major research projects with DOE, Schlumberger, and Halliburton, securing over $20 million in funding. With 60+ patents, 30+ international publications, and multiple awards, his work bridges academia and industry. A key contributor to global conferences, he mentors future engineers while driving technological advancements that revolutionize the petroleum sector. 🏆🌏🔍

Research Focus

Prof. Dong Yang’s research focuses on intelligent oil & gas technologies, including digital oilfields, smart downhole equipment, and fiber-optic sensing. His expertise spans permanent fiber-optic monitoring, stress corrosion, fatigue analysis, pipeline integrity, and real-time downhole intervention. He has developed novel CO₂ monitoring systems, microseismic detection tools, and extreme-condition sensors. His research contributes to H2S-resistant metallic materials and high-temperature, high-pressure instrumentation. By integrating AI and big data into oilfield operations, he advances sustainable energy exploration. His work significantly improves safety, efficiency, and environmental impact in petroleum engineering. 🌍⚡💡

Awards and Honors

📌 National & International Recognitions:

  • 🏅 2023: National Leading Talent (Long-term Innovation)
  • 🏅 2022: Hubei Provincial Science & Technology Expert
  • 🏅 2020: Overseas High-Level Talent (Hubei)
  • 🏅 2019: Top 100 “Innovative China” Figures
  • 🏅 2015: U.S. National Outstanding Talent (Distinguished Professor/Researcher)
  • 🏅 2015: U.S. DOE Green Energy Technology Award
  • 🏅 2014: U.S. National Interest Waiver (NIW) for Exceptional Ability

📌 Industry & Research Awards:

  • 🥇 2023: Hubei Provincial Outstanding Young & Middle-Aged Innovation Team
  • 🥇 2023: Zhuhai Science & Technology Progress Award
  • 🏅 2020: Unicorn Seed Company Recognition
  • 🏆 2012: Schlumberger Technology Innovation Award
  • 🏅 2006: TAPPI Best Paper Award

📌 Team & Enterprise Achievements:

  • 🚀 2022: Founded High-Tech Enterprise
  • 🏆 2019: National Champion, Black Horse Entrepreneurship Competition

Publication Top Noted

  • Film breakdown and anodic dissolution during stress corrosion cracking of carbon steel in bioethanol
    • Year: 2009
    • Cited by: 62
  • Thermo-mechanical responses of a surface-coupled AFM cantilever
    • Year: 2005
    • Cited by: 17
  • Understanding the Stress Corrosion Cracking of X-65 Pipeline Steel in Fuel-Grade Ethanol
    • Year: 2010
    • Cited by: 16
  • A study on impact force detection method based on piezoelectric sensing
    • Year: 2022
    • Cited by: 9
  • Initiation and propagation of stress-assisted corrosion (SAC) cracks in carbon steel boiler tubes
    • Year: 2007
    • Cited by: 8
  • Stress Assisted Corrosion in Boiler Tubes-Failure Analysis
    • Year: 2007
    • Cited by: 7
  • Initiation and Propagation of Stress Assisted Corrosion (SAC) in Carbon Steel Boiler Tubes
    • Year: 2006
    • Cited by: 7
  • Effect of boiler water chemistry on corrosion and corrosion fatigue of carbon steels
    • Year: 2005
    • Cited by: 7