Maryam Heidarian | Environmental Economics | Young Researcher Award

Assist. Prof. Dr. Maryam Heidarian | Environmental Economics | Young Researcher Award

Faculty Member at Economic Affairs Research Institute, Iran

Dr. Maryam Heidarian,  Iran, is a distinguished economist specializing in energy economics, public sector policy, and environmental sustainability. She currently serves as an Assistant Professor and Faculty Member at the Economic Affairs Research Institute, Ministry of Economic Affairs and Finance, Tehran. With an academic journey spanning from a Bachelor’s in Business Economics to a Ph.D. in Public Sector, Urban, and Regional Economics at Razi University, and a postdoctoral fellowship at Al-Zahra University, she has established herself as a leading scholar in fiscal stress, environmental economics, and regional development. Dr. Heidarian has authored numerous ISI-indexed articles in high-impact journals, contributing to fields such as governance, innovation, environmental quality, and green growth. She has taught extensively across universities including Razi University, Kermanshah University of Technology, and Al-Zahra University. Recognized for her excellence in both research and teaching, she is actively engaged in national projects, policy consulting, and peer reviewing in top-tier academic journals.

Professional Profile

Scopus Profile

Education 

Dr. Maryam Heidarian educational path reflects deep specialization in economic sciences. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Business Economics  from Razi University, Kermanshah, where she built strong foundations in economic theory and applied analysis. She then pursued a Master’s degree in Energy Economics , producing a thesis on the impacts of fuel efficiency in the transportation sector, awarded top distinction. Advancing further, she completed her Ph.D. in Economic Sciences  with a focus on the spatial and threshold effects of fiscal stress on regional growth and employment, achieving outstanding results. Her postdoctoral research at Al-Zahra University, Tehran expanded into the intersection of fiscal stress, environmental quality, and the knowledge-based economy. Alongside formal degrees, she has obtained certifications in business, entrepreneurship, and banking services. This educational trajectory, combined with her excellence as an outstanding student researcher, has equipped her with advanced expertise in econometrics, fiscal policy, and sustainable economic development.

Experience 

Dr. Maryam Heidarian has extensive academic and professional experience spanning teaching, research, and policy advisory roles. At Razi University, she taught microeconomics, economic thought, tourism economics, and energy economics, while also mentoring Olympiad students in econometrics. She later joined Kermanshah University of Technology, teaching econometrics, macroeconomics, and general economics, before moving to Al-Zahra University, where she continues to lecture on economics and management-related courses. Professionally, she holds the position of Assistant Professor and Faculty Member at the Economic Affairs Research Institute, Ministry of Economic Affairs and Finance, contributing to national-level economic research and policymaking. She has collaborated on projects for the Tax Office, Social Security Organization, Governorate, Cultural Heritage Organization, and Management and Planning bodies. Additionally, she serves as a peer reviewer for several leading journals, including Journal of the Knowledge Economy, Innovation and Green Development, and Quality & Quantity. Her dual expertise bridges academic rigor with applied policy solutions.

Research Interest

Dr. Maryam Heidarian research lies at the intersection of fiscal policy, regional development, energy economics, and environmental sustainability. Her doctoral and postdoctoral research explored fiscal stress and its threshold effects on growth, employment, and environmental quality, reflecting a deep interest in policy-driven economic challenges. She actively investigates the role of governance, innovation indices, and knowledge-based economy components in shaping green growth and sustainable development. Her studies further analyze technology spillovers, human development indicators, and international cooperation, particularly within developing and science-producing countries. She has published in prestigious journals such as Area Development and Policy, Studies in Economics and Econometrics, Social Indicators Research, and Quality & Quantity. Beyond theory, her work focuses on applying econometric and panel regression models to real-world issues like energy efficiency, pollution, and inequality. Overall, her research contributes to advancing evidence-based policymaking and aligning economic systems with long-term sustainability goals.

Award and Honor

Dr. Maryam Heidarian  academic journey is marked by significant honors and recognitions. she secured admission to the Ph.D. program at Razi University under the brilliant talents quota, a testament to her exceptional performance. she was honored as the Outstanding Student Researcher by the Faculty of Social Sciences at Razi University for her innovative contributions. Earlier, she earned recognition from the National Elite Foundation during the academic year, highlighting her status among Iran’s most promising scholars. Throughout her studies, she achieved top scores in her theses, including a perfect  in her Master’s research. Her research excellence has been further validated through the acceptance of multiple ISI-indexed articles derived from her doctoral and postdoctoral projects. In addition, she has received certifications in entrepreneurship, business skills, and banking services, demonstrating her broad commitment to academic excellence, professional development, and applied economic impact at national and international levels.

Research Skill

Dr. Maryam Heidarian possesses advanced research skills that integrate theoretical economics with applied econometric analysis. She is proficient in using econometric software such as Stata, Matlab, IViews, Macrofit, and Microsoft Office, enabling her to conduct rigorous quantitative modeling and policy simulations. Her skills encompass panel data econometrics, regression analysis, spatial econometrics, and threshold modeling, which she applies to study fiscal stress, governance, and environmental economics. Beyond methodological expertise, she has a strong track record in data-driven policy research, having contributed to provincial and national projects addressing taxation, social security, labor, tourism, and planning. She is also adept at translating complex findings into practical recommendations for decision-makers. With experience in writing and publishing in ISI and Scopus-indexed journals, she demonstrates strong academic communication and peer-reviewing capabilities. Combined, these skills position her as a versatile researcher, bridging academic inquiry with practical solutions for sustainable economic and environmental challenges.

Publication Top Notes

Title: “Cogitating the role of technological innovation and institutional quality in formulating the sustainable development goal policies for E7 countries: Evidence from quantile regression”
Authors: Ahsan Anwar, Summaira Malik, Paiman Ahmad
Journal: Global Business Review (abbreviated as Glob. Bus. Rev.)
Year: 2022

Conclusion

Dr. Maryam Heidarian highlights the crucial role of governance in promoting green growth across both emerging (E-7) and advanced (G-7) economies. Using panel quantile regression, the results confirm that the quality of governance measured through institutional effectiveness, regulatory capacity, and control of corruption exerts heterogeneous impacts across the distribution of green growth. For lower-performing countries, stronger governance serves as a foundational driver to overcome structural barriers to sustainability, while in higher-performing economies, good governance reinforces technological innovation and environmental policy effectiveness.

Dr . SamiraZafarnak | Hydrogenation | Best Researcher Award

Dr .SamiraZafarnak | Hydrogenation | Best Researcher Award

Dr . Samira Zafarnak , Shiraz University , Iran

A passionate and driven researcher 🎓, this individual holds a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering 🧪 from Shiraz University, with specialized expertise in catalysis, materials science, and sustainable energy 🌱. With academic and industrial experience in both Iran 🇮🇷 and the United Kingdom 🇬🇧, they bring a global, interdisciplinary approach 🌍 to research. Their current postdoctoral role at the Methanol Institute involves pioneering catalytic processes for methanol synthesis and CO₂ conversion 🔬. Renowned for their adaptability, collaboration 🤝, and critical problem-solving skills 💡, they contribute impactful knowledge in clean energy technologies and environmentally responsible engineering 🌐.

Professional Profile

SCOPUS

ORCID

Education & Experience

This accomplished researcher earned their Ph.D. 🎓 in Chemical Engineering from Shiraz University (2019–2023), with a dissertation on biogas reforming using nano clay catalysts 🔍. They also completed an M.Sc. (2014–2017) in the same field, focusing on ethane to ethylene conversion 🔬, and a B.Sc. (2009–2013) from Islamic Azad University 📘. Their academic journey is complemented by hands-on research in catalytic design and plasma systems during postdoctoral appointments in Iran 🇮🇷 and the UK 🇬🇧. Their current role involves catalyst fabrication, reactor design 🏗️, and gas chromatography-based evaluation at the Methanol Institute 🔧.

Professional Development

In their postdoctoral career, this researcher has embraced interdisciplinary growth 🌐 by engaging in high-level catalyst synthesis, plasma engineering ⚡, and reactor design. They contributed to RF-driven plasma jet development at the University of York 🇬🇧, analyzing hydroxyl density using spectrometry 🧫. At the Methanol Institute, they design scaled-up reactors and evaluate novel catalysts for CO₂ hydrogenation and RWGS reactions 🔁. They demonstrate a commitment to safety standards, laboratory excellence 🧪, and continuous learning 📈. These experiences have strengthened their adaptability, analytical thinking, and global collaboration capacity 🤝 in cutting-edge chemical engineering applications.

Research Focus

Their research focus centers on catalysis, sustainable energy conversion, and CO₂ utilization 🌱. By exploring noble/non-noble metal catalysts over nano-structured supports, they aim to make energy processes cleaner and more efficient ♻️. Their work bridges fields such as heterogeneous catalysis, nanomaterials 🧲, and plasma applications in chemical reactions ⚛️. Key areas include biogas reforming, methanol synthesis, and the Reverse Water Gas Shift (RWGS) reaction 🔄. Their research contributes to global efforts in green technology, reducing carbon emissions 🌍, and advancing the next generation of chemical reactors and materials innovation 🔧.

Awards & Honors

This dedicated scientist has earned recognition through competitive academic placements and impactful research appointments 🌟. Their Ph.D. research was praised for its innovation in sustainable energy systems ⚡. They were selected as a Postdoctoral Associate at the prestigious University of York 🇬🇧 and later as a Fellow at the Methanol Institute 🇮🇷, where they lead pivotal reactor design projects 🏗️. Their work has been highlighted in academic presentations and journal submissions 📚. A strong candidate for future research excellence awards 🥇, their contributions to catalytic engineering and green chemistry have marked them as a rising talent in chemical innovation 🧪.

Publication Top Notes

1. Dry reforming of methane for CO₂ conversion using sintering-resistant halloysite-supported Ni catalysts enhanced by alkaline-earth metal oxide promoters

Citation:
Zafarnak, S. (2025). Dry reforming of methane for CO₂ conversion using sintering-resistant halloysite-supported Ni catalysts enhanced by alkaline-earth metal oxide promoters. Fuel, Published: 2025-03-19.
Roles: Writing – review & editing, Data curation, Formal analysis, Methodology, Writing – original draft, Funding acquisition.

2. Design and fabrication of a microchannel plasma reactor for pharmaceutical wastewater treatment

Citation:
Peiravi, M., Zafarnak, S., & Taghvaei, H. (2025). Design and fabrication of a microchannel plasma reactor for pharmaceutical wastewater treatment. Journal of Water Process Engineering, 107007. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jwpe.2025.107007

3. Zeolite and molecular sieves for natural gas dehydration

Citation:
Zafarnak, S., & Rahimpour, M. R. (2024). Zeolite and molecular sieves for natural gas dehydration. In Advances in Natural Gas: Formation, Processing, and Applications. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-443-19221-0.00002-8

4. Membrane technology for syngas production

Citation:
Zafarnak, S., Meshksar, M., Rahimpour, H. R., & Rahimpour, M. R. (2023). Membrane technology for syngas production. In Advances in Synthesis Gas: Methods, Technologies and Applications. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-323-91871-8.00007-6

5. Postdisaster issues and problems

Citation:
Zafarnak, S., Rahmatmand, B., & Rahimpour, M. R. (2023). Postdisaster issues and problems. In Crises in Oil, Gas and Petrochemical Industries. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-323-95163-0.00015-3

Conclusion

Dr. Zafarnak embodies the essence of a “best researcher” through her scientific rigor, innovation, and dedication to sustainable technologies. Her work not only contributes significantly to the scientific community but also addresses critical global challenges in energy, environment, and chemical engineering. The combination of her academic excellence, international impact, and practical contributions makes her a standout candidate for any Best Researcher Award.