Khalil Tamersit is an associate professor at the National School of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology of Algiers, Algeria, where he teaches electronics, nanoelectronics, nanosensors, device modelling, and advanced computational methods for nano-scale systems. He received a Bachelor of Science degree in medical instrumentation (2008), Master of Science degree in biomedical electronics (2010), and PhD in medical electronics (2018) from Batna University, Algeria. His recent work includes nano-actuators, nano-optoelectronic devices, and quantum transport modelling in advanced nanoscale transistors. He has published more than 70 scientific papers in international journals and conferences, most of them as first and corresponding author. He has served as secretary general of the IEEE Algeria Section, and as chair of the IEEE Sensors and Nanotechnology Council Algeria Chapters. He currently serves as an editor at Scientific Reports Journal. For his scientific contributions, he received the Royal Society Rising Star Africa Prize (UK) in 2022, the TWAS Young Arab Scientist Prize in 2021, and the 2021 Best Paper Award at the 44th IEEE International Semiconductor Conference.

Sabrina Moriom Elias is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Life Sciences at the Independent University, Bangladesh. Her teaching focuses on genomics, bioinformatics, biostatistics and plant biotechnology. She holds a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in biochemistry and molecular biology from the University of Dhaka, Bangladesh. She earned a PhD focusing plant genomics and quantitative genetics from the University of Dhaka. Her research interests are focused on functional genomics studies using gene editing and cloning technologies for development of climate-resilient crops. She worked as a postdoctoral fellow in a continuation of the PhD project and was chosen for the Beachell Borlaug International Scholar impact award from Bayer in 2020. She worked as a researcher in National Jute genome project, Plant Biotechnology Laboratory at Australian National University, as a guest faculty in University of Dhaka, and cBLAST—an online bioinformatics course platform. She is a member of the Global Young Academy and current Secretary of the National Young Academy of Bangladesh.

Carla Eloisa Fernández Espinoza is a Bolivian biologist specializing in freshwater ecology, with a focus on plankton dynamics and high-altitude Andean lakes. Since 2018, she has been a researcher at the Unit of Limnology and Aquatic Resources at the Higher University of San Simón (Universidad Mayor de San Simón, UMSS), Bolivia. She earned her PhD in aquatic resources engineering from Lund University, Sweden, in 2018, supported by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida). Her doctoral research explored the adaptive strategies of daphnids to ultraviolet radiation. Additionally, she holds a Master in environmental sciences, a Diploma in ecology and environment, and a Bachelor in biology, all from UMSS. Her research explores the relationship between plankton dynamics and water quality in extreme environments. For her scientific contributions, she has been awarded with the 2022 Marie Curie Award from the National Academy of Sciences of Bolivia, the 2022 TOYP Cochabamba-Bolivia Award for Leadership and Academic Achievements, and has been selected to represent Bolivia at the 2022 UNESCO-Al Fozan International Prize for the Promotion of Young Scientists.

Natalia Montellano Duran is the director of the Biotechnology Department at the Bolivian Catholic University San Pablo in Santa Cruz, Bolivia, where she teaches solutions chemistry, and industrial biotechnology. She holds a degree in biotechnology and earned her PhD in biological sciences from the National University of Rosario, Argentina, with a focus on the structural and functional properties of quinoa proteins. Her research interests include bioactive compounds from plant-based sources, protein structure-function relationships, enzyme applications, STEM education, and science communication. She is actively involved in the promotion of women in STEM and has led national initiatives to strengthen scientific networks and outreach in Bolivia. In recognition of her contributions, Montellano Duran received the Plurinational Prize for Science and Technology, in 2023, and was selected as a member of the Global Young Academy, in 2025. She is also a founding member and leader of the Bolivian chapter of the Organization for Women in Science for the Developing World, making significant strides in education and research capacity-building across Latin America.

Luisa Maria Diele-Viegas is a postdoctoral researcher in the Department of Biology at the University of Mississippi, United States of America, and the chair of the Brazilian Association of Ecological Science and Conservation, in Brazil. She is also a permanent professor with the graduate program in ecology at the Federal University of Bahia, Brazil, where she teaches ecology and transdisciplinary courses, including ecological niche modelling and environmental problem solving. She holds a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Science degree in zoology from the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro and the Federal University of Pará, respectively, both in Brazil. She earned a PhD in ecology and evolution from the State University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Her research interests include the impacts of human activities on natural and human systems, science governance and diplomacy, and ethnobiology. She is a member of the Global Young Academy, where she co-leads the addressing systemic discrimination committee. She is also the chair of the Brazilian chapter of the Organization for Women in Science for the Developing World.

Diego Marques is a professor in the Department of Mathematics at the University of Brasilia, Brazil. At the same university, he teaches elementary and advanced courses on number theory for undergraduate and graduate students. He earned a Bachelor in Mathematics and a Master in Mathematics from the Federal University of Ceara, Brazil, and his PhD in mathematics from the University of Brasilia. Then, he worked as a postdoctoral fellow at the University of British Columbia, in Canada. With over a decade of experience, Marques has supervised more than ten doctoral theses, focusing mainly on transcendental number theory and its techniques. His research interests include transcendental number theory, the arithmetic behaviour of transcendental functions, Diophantine approximation, Diophantine equations, recurrence sequences, and elementary number theory. In 2010, for his contributions to research, he was bestowed the Young Researcher Award from the Federal District Research Support Foundation, in the Federal District, Brazil. In the same year, he was elected as the youngest affiliated member of the Brazilian Academy of Sciences, strengthening his position in the academic community.

Serge Theophile Soubeiga is an associate research professor in the Department of Biomedical and Public Health at the Institute for Health Sciences Research (IRSS) in Burkina Faso. Prior to joining IRSS in 2018, he worked as a biologist in the Molecular Biology Laboratory at Saint Camille Hospital from 2013 to 2018. He holds a Master of Science degree in molecular biology and genetics from the University Joseph Ki-Zerbo in Burkina Faso. He was an ADDRF fellow (cohort 2016) and earned a PhD in molecular biology/virology from the same university. He teaches courses in genomics, genetics, proteomics, and epigenetics at universities in Burkina Faso and supervises students in these fields. His research interests include infectious diseases (mainly HIV, hepatitis viruses, dengue virus, and SARS-CoV-2), antimicrobial resistance, cancer, metabolic disorders, and, more recently, nutriepigenetics and the gut microbiota. Soubeiga is a member of the International AIDS Society, the African Society for Laboratory Medicine, and the African Society of Genetics (Burkina Faso section).

Samnang Nguon serves as the dean of the graduate school and director of the Ecosystem Services and Land Use Research Center at the Royal University of Agriculture, in Cambodia. He earned his PhD in agriculture in tropics and subtropics in 2014 from the Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Czech Republic, and holds an Master of Science in food science from the University of the Philippines Los Baños. Since 2006, his career has steadily advanced from a research assistant to a senior academic leader; he now chairs several doctoral boards and has mentored over 30 students. His research focuses on food safety, agroecology, and the ethnopharmacology of neglected crops. He has led and co-led 25 projects funded by donors like the European Union and the World Bank. In 2026, he received the Monisaraphon Medal and the 2020 Labor Gold Medal from the Royal Government of Cambodia. As a 2025–2030 TWAS Regional Young Affiliate and a 2019 Borlaug Fellow, he is dedicated to connecting young scientists across East and Southeast Asia to drive sustainable food security and improve community well-being. He has authored 20 peer-reviewed papers and presented at 40 international conferences.

Koloko Brice Landry is a senior lecturer in molecular biology at the University Institute of Technology, University of Douala, Cameroon, where he earned his BSc and MSc degrees in animal biology. He received his PhD in molecular biology at the Centre of Excellence in Molecular Biology (CEMB), University of the Punjab, Pakistan, under the CEMB-TWAS Postgraduate Fellowship (2016–2020). In 2017, he received the Elsevier Foundation–TWAS Sustainability Case Studies Competition Prize. For his achievements as a young promising scientist, TWAS nominated him to attend the 72nd Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting (in physiology and medicine) in 2023, in Germany. In 2024, he was awarded a fellowship offered by the Committee for International Cooperation and Development from the University of Pavia, Italy. He recently received the 2024 TWAS-DFG Cooperative Visits Programme award from TWAS and DFG (German Research Foundation) to pursue a research collaboration in Germany. His research interests cover the molecular and therapeutic aspects of chronic liver diseases, including viral hepatitis, steatosis, fibrosis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma, using plant-based natural compounds.

Nathalie Casanova-Morales is an assistant professor in the Faculty of Liberal Arts, Adolfo Ibáñez University in Santiago, Chile since 2020. She is specializing in experimental physics with an interdisciplinary approach, playing a pivotal role in establishing the local Interdisciplinary Physics Laboratory, easing and promoting access to physics tools from different areas. She holds a bachelor's degree in applied physics from the University of Santiago, Chile and a degree in engineering physics, both from the same institution. In 2012, she obtained a PhD from the University of Montpellier, France. She has implemented her academic competencies by working in several postdoctoral positions in Chile. Through the application of an interdisciplinary lens to physics, biology, and chemistry, she leverages her experimental expertise to employ physics techniques and innovative processes. This enables her to comprehend crucial parameters in bioprocesses within an interdisciplinary framework. Committed to expanding her expertise, she concentrates on biophysics, microbiology, parasitology, nanotechnology, and biochemistry, all disciplines that are vital for interdisciplinary research.

Yuhong Huang is a professor with the Institute of Process Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, in China. She earned a Bachelor of Science in biochemical engineering from Huazhong Agricultural University and a PhD in environmental sciences from the Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences. She also earned a PhD from Aalborg University, Denmark, and then completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the Technical University of Denmark. In 2019, she returned to China to continue her career. Her research interests are in the development of novel processes using ionic liquids to enhance the efficiency of enzymatic catalysis. The advanced ionozyme she developed was applied to the efficient production of a compound called cadaverine and the bioconversion of CO2. Currently, a pilot-scale facility for cadaverine production has been established. In recognition of her contributions to science and development, Yuhong Huang received the Hou Debang Chemical Youth Award, and the Min Enze Energy and Chemical Industry Award – Youth Progress Award.

Chenglai Wu is a professor with the International Centre for Climate and Environment Sciences at the Institute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS). He also serves as a graduate student supervisor at the University of CAS. He earned a Bachelor of Science in atmospheric science from Nanjing University, China, and a PhD in meteorology from the Institute of Atmospheric Physics (CAS) and the University of CAS. His research focuses on the development and application of earth system models by improving the dust emission, aerosol processes and aerosol-climate interactions, as well as adopting models for climate prediction and future projection to mitigate the impact of climate change and meteorological disasters. He is one of the key developers of the Chinese Academy of Sciences earth system model. In 2022, he was awarded as a young talent in computational geosciences by the Tsinghua University–Inspur Group. He has published more than 60 papers in peer-reviewed journals.

Jiajun Xu is the associate professor and principal investigator of the Public Development Finance Research Programme at Peking University, China. Xu earned a PhD from the University of Oxford, and master's and bachelor’s degrees from Tsinghua University. Her research focuses on public development finance, ageing finance, and global governance. She is the initiator of the first global database on public development financial institutions worldwide, and has published her original research in peer-reviewed journals. In recognition of her intellectual contributions to finance and development, she was invited to join the Executive Committee of the Finance in Common Summit as well as the International Commission of Experts on Financing for Development at the United Nations. She serves at the editorial board of the leading journal World Development. Her academic monograph Beyond US Hegemony in International Development was published by Cambridge University Press in 2017. The book won the 8th Peikang Chang Development Economics Outstanding Achievement Award in 2020, and was listed by the Bretton Woods Project’s selection of the best books on the World Bank and IMF from 2016.

Fabrice-Gilles Ndombi Avouba is an affiliated researcher with the Laboratory of Economic and Social Research and Studies, and a CAMES assistant professor at Marien Ngouabi University, where he teaches introductory econometrics, introductory research, and the economics of networks and solidarity. He holds a bachelor's degree in quantitative economics and a master's degree in applied economics from the Interuniversity Postgraduate Program in economics, as well as a doctorate in economics from Marien Ngouabi University. His research focuses on financial inclusion, governance, brain drain, SME efficiency, and family solidarity. In 2022, at the end of the international phase of the 3rd edition of the CAMES University Olympiad, he received the second prize in the economics section in Ivory Coast. In recognition of his academic excellence and contribution to science, the African Economic Research Consortium invited him to the technical training workshop on Panel and Time Series Econometrics in Kenya.

Lobna A. Said (Senior Member IEEE 2020) is a full-time Professor at the Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science, Nile University (NU). She is the director of the Microelectronics System Design Master Program (MSD) and the former Co-director of the Nanoelectronics Integrated System Design Research Center (NISC) (2021-2024). She received her B.Sc., M.Sc., and PhD in electronics and electrical communications from Cairo University, Egypt, in 2007, 2011, and 2016, respectively. She has over 230 publications distributed between high-impact journals, conferences, and book chapters. She has an H-index of 37, according to the Scopus database. Her interdisciplinary research interests include smart systems, hardware accelerators, data encryption, energy harvesting, fractional-order circuits and systems, non-linear analysis, and chaos theory. She was involved in many national/international research grants as a PI, Co-PI, or Senior Researcher/ Member. She is the Vice-Chair of the technical Chapters of the IEEE Egypt Section and the Chair of the IEEE Computational Intelligence Egypt Chapter. She is Vice Chair of the IEEE System Council Egypt Chapter. She has been the Counselor of the IEEE NU

Eman O. Taha is an associate professor at the Petroleum Applications Department of the Egyptian Petroleum Research Institute in Cairo, Egypt. She is a member of the Polymer Nanocomposite Center of Excellence and the Nanotechnology Unit at the same institute. She earned her Bachelor of Science from Al-Azhar University, followed by a Master of Science and a PhD in solid state physics from Cairo University. Her academic background is enriched by international research fellowships at the University of New Mexico, USA, and at the National Institute of Applied Sciences in Lyon, France. Her research focuses on advanced polymer nanocomposites, fiber-reinforced polymers, and shape-memory materials for sustainable applications in energy, construction, and radiation shielding. Her achievements include the 2024 Dr. Mohamed Amin Lotfy prize in physical sciences from the Egyptian Academy of Scientific Research and Technology. She is an associate member and trusted reviewer of the Institute of Physics, United Kingdom. She is also a full member of Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Honor Society, and a member of the Organization for Women in Science for the Developing World.

Elías Peraza has been the Technological and Educational Prospective Manager of Salvadoran Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, since 2022. He conducts studies in science, technology and innovation (STI), prioritizing those of interest to the education system, including emerging technologies. He graduated in business administration from the University of El Salvador in 2010 and earned a master’s degree in business management for innovation and internationalization from the University of Basque Country, Spain, in 2011. In 2019, Peraza received a PhD in economics with cum laude distinction from Universities of Burgos, Valladolid and Salamanca, Spain. He studied both his master’s and doctorate thanks to scholarships from the European Union. Peraza has published academic and diffusion articles about systems of innovation, STI policies, business innovation behaviour, and economic policy. He has participated in more than 15 international conferences, the most recent: Globelics 2023 (virtual) and "Nobel Prize Dialogue Rio and São Paulo 2024" (in person). As for awards, he received the Central American Rubén Darío Award for Academic Excellence in 2009.

Tesfay Gebremariam Tesfahannes is an associate professor and PhD program coordinator at the Department of Physics, Faculty of Natural Sciences. He is also the community engagement coordinator for the Faculty of Natural Sciences at Arbaminch University, Ethiopia. At the same university, he teaches quantum states of light, advanced quantum optics, quantum information, and more. In 2018, he earned a PhD degree in theoretical physics from Dalian University of Technology in China. His research interests are in quantum optomechanics—the quantum features of optomechanical systems, including quantum entanglement and continuous-variable quantum information processing. In February 2020, he was awarded a letter of recognition from the Winter College on Optics: Quantum Photonics and Information at the Abdus Salam International Centre for Theoretical Physics in Italy. In 2021, he won a letter of recognition from the Ethiopian Physical Society Annual Conference. In 2022, he received a letter of appreciation from the Ethiopian Physics Society for his participation in the North America Summer School Program.

Noushin Arfatahery is a dynamic researcher and advocate with a Doctor of Biology (PhD) from Freie Universität Berlin, Germany, in collaboration with the Alfred Wegener Institute and Charité University. She also holds a Master’s in Food Microbiology and a Bachelor’s in Medical Science from Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Iran. Her research focuses on aquaculture, microbiology, antibiotic resistance, and sustainable seafood production. She conducted advanced research on the symbiotic interactions of oysters and sea cucumbers during a fellowship at Vancouver Island University, Canada, with a focus on sustainable aquaculture. She presented her work at major international conferences, including the IAFP 2024 in the USA. Dr. Arfatahery was a John Maddox Prize nominee (2017–2019) and a 2022 Aquaculture Award finalist for environmental impact. She is a member of Aquaculture Europe and has published extensively on sustainable aquaculture and seafood safety. Her multidisciplinary expertise and advocacy for women in STEM and food sustainability make her a key contributor to advancing global scientific collaboration.

Paula Echeverría-Galindo is a scientific researcher at the Institute of Organic Biogeochemistry in Geo-Systems (OBG), RWTH Aachen University, Germany. She earned a magna cum laude recognition for her PhD degree in natural sciences from TU Braunschweig, Germany. Paula holds a bachelor’s degree in biology from the University of San Carlos of Guatemala, and a master’s degree in Limnology and Marine Sciences from the National Autonomous University of Mexico. She has over 10 years of experience as a teacher of biology, geosciences and climate change. Her research interests are in climate change and its impact on aquatic communities. Paula is focusing on modern ecology and paleolimnological reconstructions, using multiple aquatic microorganisms, sedimentology and geochemical approaches to understand how the systems adapt and respond to global warming. Her research work has been carried out in the neotropics and on the Tibetan Plateau. She was awarded with a grant to expand her research in the neotropics examining paleolimnological data from volcanic lakes in Guatemala. She has been involved in activities related to gender equality and scientific outreach.

Mary Amoako (nee Adjepong) is a lecturer and dietician with the Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), in Kumasi, Ghana. At KNUST, she teaches metabolism in health and diseases, nutrition through the human life cycle, and nutrition in emergencies. She holds a Bachelor of Sciences in biochemistry and biotechnology and a Master of Philosophy in human nutrition and dietetics, both from KNUST. She earned a PhD in human nutrition from Michigan State University, East Lansing (US) and a professional certification as a registered dietician with the Allied Health Professions Council, Ghana. She is interested in global nutrition, dietetics, child and maternal nutrition. She received the Borlaug Higher Education in Agricultural Research Development (2014), and the Borlaug Leadership Enhancement in Agriculture Program (2016), both from USAID. She is an early-career fellow of the Organization for Women in Science for the Developing World. In 2023, she received the L'ORÉAL-UNESCO For Women in Science Young Talents Award, for Sub-Saharan Africa, and the Association of Commonwealth Universities Sustainable Development Goals grant.

María Eugenia Cabrera Catalán is a professor with the School of Physical Sciences and Mathematics and a member of the Institute of Physical Sciences and Mathematics, at the University of San Carlos of Guatemala (USAC), in Guatemala City. She earned a bachelor's degree in physics from USAC, and a diploma in High Energy Physics from The Abdus Salam International Centre for Theoretical Physics, in Trieste, Italy. She earned a PhD degree in physics from the Autonomous University of Madrid, Spain. She was a postdoctoral researcher at the Gravitation and Astroparticle Physics Amsterdam, in the Netherlands, and with the Institute of Physics, University of São Paulo, Brazil. Her research interests are in particle physics. She studies theory and phenomenology of physics beyond the Standard Model, collider phenomenology, theory and phenomenology of dark matter searches. In recognition of her contribution to science, Cabrera Catalán was awarded the 2021 OWSD-Elsevier Foundation Awards in Physical Sciences for the Latin American and the Caribbean Region. She is a founding member of the Central American Network of High Energy Physics and Scientific Computing.

Mónica Mazariegos is a researcher at the Institute of Nutrition of Central America and Panama (INCAP) Research Center for the Prevention of Chronic Diseases. She obtained a Doctor of Science degree in population nutrition from the National Institute of Public Health in Mexico. She was recently recognized as a Global Health Fellow by the Vanderbilt-Emory-Cornell-Duke Global Health Fellowship Consortium, and as a 2023 Young Scientist Researcher by the Inter-American Network of Academies of Sciences. With over 12 years of experience in nutritional epidemiology, she specializes in the identification and analysis of health challenges from a life-course perspective, applying complex longitudinal data analysis and multilevel approaches in population health. Her research focuses on the epidemiology of all forms of malnutrition, the design and evaluation of nutrition and health policies, maternal and child health, pregnancy and reproductive health across the life-course, and the social and urban determinants of obesity and diabetes. Mazariegos has authored over 25 peer-reviewed publications and continues to contribute to evidence-based solutions for improving the population's health.

Vilma Umanzor is a Honduran periodontist and academic recognized for her contributions to clinical periodontology, implantology and dental education in Latin America. She earned her Doctor of Dental Surgery degree from the Catholic University of Honduras, completed postgraduate training in periodontics and implantology at the Autonomous National University of Honduras, and obtained a Master’s degree in dentistry from the Latinoamericana University. She lectures in periodontology and research methodology at the Autonomous National University of Honduras and coordinates the periodontics specialty at the Catholic University of Honduras, mentoring undergraduate and postgraduate students. She is a member of the International Association for Dental Research, the International Team for Implantology and the Honduran College of Dental Surgeons. She co-authored Latin American consensus and Delphi studies on periodontology and implant dentistry and published peer-reviewed clinical research between 2021 and 2025. Her work advances evidence-based periodontal therapy, academic training and regional scientific collaboration.

Fernando Zorto is a professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering and director of the Research Institute of Applied Science and Technology, Faculty of Engineering at the National Autonomous University of Honduras (UNAH). At UNAH, he teaches heat transfer, design projects, and research methods to engineers. He holds a Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering from UNAH and a Master of Science in project management from the Central American Technological University, also in Honduras. He is a PhD candidate in design, manufacturing, and managing industrial projects with Valencia Polytechnic University, in Spain. His research interests include atmospheric water harvesting, innovative projects, and aerospace systems. Since 2017, he has led the first satellite project in Honduras. He received the Honour of Merit of Engineering of the Pan-American Confederation of Mechanical, Electrical, and Other Fields of Engineering. In 2017, Zorto won the Best Essay about UNAH Scientific Research and Research Management at the XI Conference of Scientific Research UNAH.

Devi is a senior-level scientist at CSIR-Central Scientific Instruments Organisation, India. She completed her studies at the AcSIR, New Delhi, the Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, and Kurukshetra University, India. Her research focuses on applied materials and instrumentation with a focus on catalytic hydrogen production, water and air pollutant degradation, and water quality monitoring. She has published more than 100 research papers, which together have received over 5,000 citations in the academic literature, edited seven books, filed five patents or copyrights, granted four design registrations or patents or trademarks, and developed four new technologies. Her recognitions include the NASI Young Scientist Platinum Jubilee Award (2021) from the National Academy of Sciences, India; INAE Young Engineer Award (2020) from the Indian National Academy of Engineering; and Haryana Yuva Vigyan Ratan Award (2019) from the Government of Haryana, India. She is a member of the Global Young Academy (GYA), NASI, INAE, IASc, and INSA-INYAS. In 2022, she was listed among the eminent 125 women in science by the Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser, Government of India.