Sema Demirci Uzun | Bio Sensing | Best Researcher Award

Published on by Academic Awards

Dr. Sema Demirci Uzun | Bio Sensing | Best Researcher Award

Izmir Katip Celebi University | Turkey

Dr. Sema Demirci Uzun is an accomplished Assistant Professor at İzmir Kâtip Çelebi University, Faculty of Engineering and Architecture, Department of Engineering Sciences, and currently serves as Vice Dean and Vice Chair of her department. She earned her Ph.D. in Polymer Science and Technology from Middle East Technical University, focusing on novel immobilization matrices for glucose biosensors, and completed postdoctoral research at the University of Massachusetts Amherst and İzmir Institute of Technology. Her research expertise encompasses polymer and organic materials for biosensing, electrochemical and optical biosensors, conducting polymers, electrospun and biodegradable nanofibers, nanomaterials, aptamer-based sensors, and AI/machine learning–driven modeling for biosensor design. Dr. Sema Demirci Uzun has authored numerous high-impact publications in journals such as ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, Journal of the American Chemical Society, and Microchemical Journal, and has presented her work at multiple international conferences. She has supervised graduate theses, led TÜBİTAK-funded research projects on biomaterials, nanostructures, and sensor technologies, and received the prestigious TÜBİTAK 2219 International Postdoctoral Fellowship for her contributions to polymer-based biosensing.

Profile: Google Scholar

Featured Publications

  • Demirci Uzun, S., Kayaci, F., Uyar, T., Timur, S., & Toppare, L. (2014). Bioactive surface design based on functional composite electrospun nanofibers for biomolecule immobilization and biosensor applications. ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, 6(7), 5235–5243.

  • Soylemez, S., Kanik, F. E., Demirci Uzun, S. D., Hacioglu, S. O., & Toppare, L. (2014). Development of an efficient immobilization matrix based on a conducting polymer and functionalized multiwall carbon nanotubes: Synthesis and its application to ethanol biosensors. Journal of Materials Chemistry B, 2(5), 511–521.

  • Demirci, S., Emre, F. B., Ekiz, F., Oğuzkaya, F., Timur, S., Tanyeli, C., & Toppare, L. (2012). Functionalization of poly-SNS-anchored carboxylic acid with Lys and PAMAM: Surface modifications for biomolecule immobilization/stabilization and bio-sensing applications. Analyst, 137(18), 4254–4261.

  • Uzun, S. D., Ünlü, N. A., Sendur, M., Kanik, F. E., Timur, S., & Toppare, L. (2013). A novel promising biomolecule immobilization matrix: Synthesis of functional benzimidazole containing conducting polymer and its biosensor applications. Colloids and Surfaces B: Biointerfaces, 112, 74–80.

  • Gonzalez Arellano, D. L., Burnett, E. K., Demirci Uzun, S., Zakashansky, J. A., … (2018). Phase transition of graphene-templated vertical zinc phthalocyanine nanopillars. Journal of the American Chemical Society, 140(26), 8185–8191.

Wei Li | Biosensing | Best Researcher Award

Published on by Academic Awards

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Wei Li | Biosensing | Best Researcher Award

Associate professor, Nanjing Tech University, China

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Wei Li is an expert in biomedical imaging 🏥, fluorescent probe design 🌈, and nano-functionalization ⚛️. He earned his Ph.D. (2020) and completed a postdoc (2023) at Hunan University under Prof. Lin Yuan. Currently, he is an Associate Professor at Nanjing Tech University. His research focuses on optical imaging platforms, biomolecular recognition, and chemical sensors for disease diagnostics 🏥. He has published 16+ SCI papers in top journals like JACS and Angew. Chem. 📜 and leads multiple national research projects 🎯. Dr. Li also serves as a peer reviewer for renowned journals.

 

Publication Profile

Orcid

🎓 Educational Background

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Wei Li has a strong academic foundation in chemistry and chemical engineering ⚛️. He earned his B.S. (2015) from the Hubei University of Technology 🏫, followed by a Ph.D. (2020) from Hunan University 🎓, where he conducted research under the guidance of Prof. Lin Yuan 🧪. Continuing his pursuit of scientific excellence, he completed a postdoctoral fellowship (2023) at the State Key Laboratory of Chemo/Biosensing and Chemometrics, Hunan University 🔬. His studies have been instrumental in advancing biomedical imaging, biosensing, and molecular probe design 🏥, laying a strong foundation for his academic and research career.

 

🏅 Professional Experience

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Wei Li has made significant contributions to chemical and molecular engineering ⚛️. Since December 2023, he has been serving as an Associate Professor at the School of Chemical and Molecular Engineering, Nanjing Tech University 🏫, where he continues his research on biomedical imaging and biosensing 🧪. Prior to this, he worked as an Associate Research Fellow (May–October 2023) at the College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Hunan University 🎓. His expertise in nanotechnology and molecular probe design has positioned him as a key researcher in the field of diagnostic and imaging innovations 🏥.

 

🔬 Research Focus

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Wei Li specializes in biomedical imaging 🏥 and in vitro diagnostics 🧪. His research integrates dye structure regulation, biomolecular recognition strategies, and nano-functionalization to develop high-specificity and high-sensitivity biological probes 🔍. His key areas include: designing optical imaging platforms (fluorescence, afterglow) for novel biomarkers 🌟, nano-functionalization of optical probes for imaging-based diagnosis 🧫, and developing rapid chemical and biological sensors for real-time detection ⚡. His innovations provide powerful tools for biomolecule detection, advancing medical diagnostics and therapeutic applications 🚑.

 

🏆 Academic Achievements

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Wei Li has published over 16 SCI papers as first author, coauthor, or corresponding author 📝. His work appears in top chemistry journals 🧪, including J. Am. Chem. Soc., Angew. Chem. Int. Ed., Coord. Chem. Rev., Adv. Funct. Mater., Chem. Sci., Anal. Chem. (3), ACS Sens., TrAC Trends Anal. Chem., and Chinese Chem. Lett. (2). He also serves as a reviewer for prestigious journals like Anal. Chem., Theranostics, and BBA – Molecular Basis of Disease, contributing significantly to the scientific community 🌍.

Research Focus

Dr. Wei Li’s research focuses on molecular imaging, fluorescent probe design, and bioanalytical chemistry, particularly in the development of near-infrared (NIR) optical probes for biomedical imaging and disease diagnostics. His work spans applications in tumor detection, ferroptosis induction, hepatic inflammation imaging, and liver disease monitoring. He also explores pH-responsive assemblies, enzyme-activated fluorophores, and selective chemical sensors for biological targets.

Publication Top Notes

  • Rational Design of Tunable Near‐Infrared Oxazine Probe with Large Stokes Shift for Leucine Aminopeptidase Detection and Imaging
  • Molecular imaging: design mechanism and bioapplications
  • Molecular Engineering of pH-Responsive NIR Oxazine Assemblies for Evoking Tumor Ferroptosis via Triggering Lysosomal Dysfunction
  • Liver-Targeted Near-Infrared Fluorescence/Photoacoustic Dual-Modal Probe for Real-Time Imaging of <i>In Situ</i> Hepatic Inflammation
  • Engineering a selective fluorescent sensor with a high signal-to-background ratio for microalbumin detection and imaging
  • Evolving an Ultra-Sensitive Near-Infrared β-Galactosidase Fluorescent Probe for Breast Cancer Imaging and Surgical Resection Navigation
  • Recent Advances in Molecular Fluorescent Probes for CYP450 Sensing and Imaging
  • Enhancing the Release Efficiency of a Molecular Chemotherapeutic Prodrug by Photodynamic Therapy
  • Development of Probes with High Signal-to-Noise Ratios Based on the Facile Modification of Xanthene Dyes for Imaging Peroxynitrite during the Liver Ischemia/Reperfusion Process
  • Advances in Optical Imaging of Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease