Settimo Mariangela | Astrophysics | Best Researcher Award

Published on 09/07/202509/07/2025 by Physicist Particle

Dr. Settimo Mariangela | Astrophysics | Best Researcher Award

Senior researcher at Centre national de la recherche scientifique, France

Mariangela Settimo is an accomplished Italian physicist whose research spans subatomic physics, dark matter, cosmic rays, and neutrino science. With a Ph.D. from the University of Salento and an HDR from the Université de Nantes, she has advanced through prestigious positions across Italy, Germany, and France. As a CNRS researcher at SUBATECH, she leads international projects including DAMIC-M and JUNO, coordinating efforts in dark matter detection and neutrino astrophysics. 📡 She has authored over 140 publications, delivered numerous plenary talks, and played a pivotal role in large collaborations like Pierre Auger. 💡 Her leadership extends to grant acquisition, academic juries, and mentoring future physicists. 🎓 A decorated scientist, she received national awards and international fellowships, and is active in outreach to promote science among youth and girls. 🧒🌌 With sharp scientific insight and international impact, Mariangela continues to influence the frontier of experimental physics. 🌍🧪

Professional Profile

🎓 Education 📚

Mariangela Settimo’s academic journey began with outstanding achievements in physics at the University of Lecce, where she earned both her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees with the highest honors — 110/110 e lode. 🏅 Her passion for subatomic phenomena led her to a Ph.D. in Physics at the University of Salento and INFN, Italy, which she completed in 2010 with an “excellent” distinction. 📖 She later earned the prestigious Habilitation à Diriger des Recherches (HDR) from Université de Nantes in 2021, solidifying her credentials to lead advanced research. 🧑‍🔬 Her strong academic foundation, coupled with postdoctoral training in Germany and France, laid the groundwork for a high-impact scientific career. Her qualifications also include recognition in both France and Italy for university-level professorial roles, showcasing her international academic stature. 🧑‍🏫🎓 Her educational path blends rigor, recognition, and a dedication to scientific exploration. 🔬✨

💼 Professional Experience 🏛️

Dr. Settimo currently holds the position of Chargée de recherche CNRS (CR1) at SUBATECH in Nantes since 2016, where she actively leads national and international scientific efforts. 🧪 Her previous roles include postdoctoral fellowships at the University of Siegen (Germany) and the Institut Lagrange de Paris, where she contributed to frontier research in astroparticle physics and detector development. 🛰️ Across her professional roles, she has managed large-scale experiments such as DAMIC-M (dark matter search), JUNO (neutrino detection), and contributed significantly to Pierre Auger (cosmic rays). 🌌 Her leadership spans technical system coordination, data acquisition, electronics validation, and collaborative governance. 💡 As a scientific advisor, reviewer, and mentor, she continues to shape the future of particle physics. Her role also includes active contributions to CNRS networks like GDR DI2I and DUPhy, further underlining her influence in national research policy and collaboration. 🔗🔭

🔬 Research Interests 🌌

Mariangela’s core research interests revolve around the elusive constituents of the universe: dark matter, neutrinos, and ultra-high energy cosmic rays. 🕳️ Her expertise spans from designing sensitive CCD-based detectors for low-energy dark matter interactions (DAMIC/DAMIC-M) to coordinating supernova neutrino physics (JUNO). 🚀 She has worked extensively on multi-messenger astrophysics, rare event detection, and large photomultiplier systems. Her physics insight is balanced with robust computational knowledge, overseeing national computing resources for major experiments. 💻⚛️ Her role in hardware and software design, DAQ systems, and data analysis in high-energy physics is pivotal. Mariangela’s multidisciplinary efforts blend engineering, programming, and physics theory, enabling her to contribute meaningfully to multi-national scientific collaborations. 🧬 She is also deeply engaged in advancing the technology behind experimental detection — pushing the frontier of instrumentation for rare event physics. 🔭⚙️ Her work lies at the crossroads of innovation and fundamental discovery. 🌠

🏅 Awards and Honors 🏆

Dr. Settimo’s career is adorned with distinguished awards and prestigious grants reflecting her international excellence. 🌍 She won the Bruno Rossi National Prize in 2011 for the best Ph.D. thesis in Astroparticle and Neutrino Physics in Italy — a mark of national scientific distinction. 🎖️ Her contributions earned her international fellowships, including from the Betty and Gordon Moore Foundation (USA) and ILP (France). She has led several major PI-level projects, such as CNRS-University of Chicago collaborations and the France-China FCPPN project (2025), securing competitive funding. 💰 She is a sought-after reviewer for international journals, a jury member for Ph.D. theses, and a member of research evaluation panels for institutions like the Italian Ministry of Research. 📋 As co-director of national GDR research groups and elected to governance roles, she’s not just a brilliant physicist but also a respected leader in European scientific circles.👩‍🔬

📚 Publications Top Note

1. Search for very-short-baseline oscillations of reactor antineutrinos with the SoLid detector

Authors: Not listed
Year: 2025
Source: Physical Review D
Summary:
This study explores very-short-baseline neutrino oscillations using the SoLid detector placed near a nuclear reactor. The experiment is likely designed to test anomalies in reactor antineutrino flux, investigating possible sterile neutrinos.

2. Prediction of energy resolution in the JUNO experiment

Authors: Not listed
Year: 2025
Citations: 2
Source: Chinese Physics C
Summary:
The paper predicts the energy resolution performance of the Jiangmen Underground Neutrino Observatory (JUNO). The analysis likely involves simulations or analytical models of light yield, photomultiplier performance, and system noise.

3. JUNO sensitivity to invisible decay modes of neutrons

Authors: Not listed
Year: 2025
Citations: 1
Source: European Physical Journal C
Summary:
This article evaluates JUNO’s ability to detect or constrain hypothetical invisible decay channels of neutrons, which may hint at physics beyond the Standard Model, such as baryon number violation or dark sector interactions.

4. Ultra-High-Energy Photons: New Horizons Ahead? (Editorial, Open Access)

Author: Not listed
Year: 2025
Source: Not listed
Summary:
An editorial likely discussing the prospects, challenges, and experimental approaches for detecting ultra-high-energy photons, which could provide insight into cosmic rays and extreme astrophysical phenomena.

5. The design and technology development of the JUNO central detector

Authors: Not listed
Year: 2024
Source: European Physical Journal Plus
Summary:
This technical article details the design and technological innovations in constructing JUNO’s central detector, including photomultiplier arrays, scintillator formulation, mechanical supports, and calibration systems.

6. The DAMIC-M Low Background Chamber

Authors: Not listed
Year: 2024
Citations: 1
Source: Journal of Instrumentation
Summary:
Focuses on the development and performance of a low-background chamber for the DAMIC-M dark matter experiment, aiming to minimize environmental radiation and improve sensitivity to low-mass dark matter particles.

7. The DAMIC-M experiment: scientific results from prototype detector and development status (Conference Paper)

Authors: Not listed
Year: Not specified
Citations: 0
Source: Not listed
Summary:
Presents preliminary results and technical progress from the DAMIC-M prototype, a CCD-based experiment for detecting dark matter. Likely covers background suppression, signal detection, and calibration.

8. Model-independent Approach of the JUNO 8B Solar Neutrino Program

Authors: Not listed
Year: 2024
Citations: 5
Source: Astrophysical Journal
Summary:
Proposes a model-independent methodology for analyzing JUNO’s solar neutrino data, especially from ⁸B decay. This can help reduce theoretical uncertainties and extract robust oscillation parameters.

9. The DAMIC-M experiment: status and first results (Conference Paper)

Authors: Not listed
Year: Not specified
Citations: 1
Source: Not listed
Summary:
An update on the current state and initial findings from the DAMIC-M experiment, emphasizing early data from CCD detectors and the readiness of future runs.

10. Confirmation of the spectral excess in DAMIC at SNOLAB with skipper CCDs (Open Access)

Authors: Not listed
Year: 2024
Citations: 4
Source: Physical Review D
Summary:
Confirms previous observations of a low-energy excess in the DAMIC experiment, using Skipper CCDs at SNOLAB. This could point to unidentified background sources or potential dark matter interactions.

✅ Conclusion 🔚

Mariangela Settimo emerges as a powerful force in the landscape of experimental physics, known for her scientific rigor, leadership, and international collaborations. 🌐 Her interdisciplinary skills—from detector technology to particle astrophysics—are matched by her commitment to mentoring, outreach, and institutional development. 🌟 She seamlessly integrates academic excellence, technical innovation, and societal contribution through initiatives like promoting women in science and primary school engagement. 👩‍🚀📣 With 140+ papers, a host of honors, and leadership in major physics experiments, her career is a stellar example of 21st-century scientific endeavor. 🌌 As both an innovator and educator, Mariangela continues to break barriers in understanding the universe’s most profound mysteries. 🧭 Her journey inspires both the current scientific community and the next generation of researchers, affirming her as a deserving candidate for prestigious research awards and international recognition. 🏆🔬

Abdul Kabir | Nuclear astrophysics | Young Scientist Award

Published on 28/04/202528/04/2025 by Physicist Particle

Assist. Prof. Dr. Abdul Kabir | Nuclear astrophysics | Young Scientist Award

Assistant Professor at Institute of Space Technology Islamabad, Pakistan

Dr. Abdul Kabir Khan 🎓, born on 11 March 1991 🇵🇰, is an Assistant Professor of Physics at the Institute of Space Technology (IST), Islamabad. He specializes in Theoretical Nuclear Astrophysics 🔭 and is an HEC-approved Ph.D. supervisor. His research bridges nuclear physics and astrophysics, focusing on nuclear properties under extreme conditions 🌌. He earned his Ph.D. and MS from GIK Institute 🏛️, with multiple Gold Medals 🥇. Dr. Khan has published and reviewed for leading journals 📖 and has also contributed significantly to curriculum development 📚 and project management 🛠️ at IST.

Professional Profile:

Orcid

Scopus

Google Scholar

🎓 Education & Experience

Education:

🎓 Ph.D. in Theoretical Nuclear Astrophysics — GIK Institute (2018-2021)
🎓 MS in Theoretical Nuclear Astrophysics — GIK Institute (2016-2018) 🥇
🎓 M.Sc. in Theoretical Physics — Abdul Wali Khan University, Mardan (2014-2016) 🥇
🎓 B.Sc. (Physics, Maths-A, Electronics) — Abdul Wali Khan University, Mardan (2011-2013) 🥇
🎓 F.Sc. (Pre-Engineering & Biology) — BISE Mardan (2008-2010)
🎓 SSC (Sciences) — BISE Peshawar (2005-2007)

Experience:

👨‍🏫 Assistant Professor, Department of Space Science, IST Islamabad (2021–Present)
👨‍🏫 Lecturer, Govt Post Graduate College Mardan (2021)
👨‍🔬 Research & Graduate Assistant, GIK Institute (2016–2021)
👨‍🏫 Teaching Assistant, GIK Institute (2016–2018)
👨‍🏫 Lecturer, Govt Degree College Mardan (2015–2016)
🚀 Co-PI, Space and Astrophysics Research Lab (2023–Present)

🧠 Professional Development

Dr. Abdul Kabir Khan has actively participated in academic and administrative roles alongside his teaching 📚. He has contributed to curriculum design 🛠️, managed program specifications 🧩, and supervised BS/MS/Ph.D. Self-Assessment Reports 📄 at IST. As a scholarship and social media focal person 🎯, he has enhanced outreach and student engagement 📢. He has also managed Final Year Projects 🏆, showing commitment to research mentoring. His professional growth is evident from his multiple academic appointments, conference participation 📜, and his role as a reviewer for esteemed journals 🔍. Dr. Khan remains devoted to bridging education and research excellence 🌟.

🔬 Research Focus

Dr. Abdul Kabir Khan’s research domain is Theoretical Nuclear Astrophysics 🚀. His focus lies in studying nuclear properties under extreme conditions 🌋, radiative capture reactions, nuclear weak interaction rates, and stellar evolution 🔥. He develops and applies models like the relativistic mean field, R-matrix approach, and potential models to investigate nucleosynthesis processes (r-, s-, p-, rp-processes) 🌌. His work extends from low-energy nuclear reactions to stellar explosion mechanisms 🌟. Dr. Khan aims to bridge fundamental nuclear physics and astrophysical phenomena, thus contributing crucial insights into cosmic element formation and the behavior of matter under extreme astrophysical environments 💫.

🏅 Awards & Honors

🥇 Gold Medalist in M.S. — GIK Institute
🥇 Gold Medalist in M.Sc. — Abdul Wali Khan University
🥇 Gold Medalist in B.Sc. — Abdul Wali Khan University
🏆 Best Final Year Project Award (2021–2022) — IST Islamabad
🏆 Best Final Year Project Award (2022–2023) — IST Islamabad
🏆 Best Final Year Project Award (2023–2024) — IST Islamabad
🏅 Young Scientist Award (AI & Robotics) — 2023
🎖️ Secured First Position in SSC (Science Group) — 2007
🏅 Research Assistantship (Ph.D. and MS) — GIK Institute
📜 HEC Approved PhD Supervisor — Since June 2022
🧪 Reviewer for leading journals like Nuclear Physics A, Scientific Reports, Physica Scripta, Advances in Space Research, and Chinese Physics

Publication Top Notes

1. Investigation of ground state and the β-decay properties of 156−162Nd

Journal: Nuclear Physics A
Publication Date: May 2025
Type: Journal Article
DOI: 10.1016/j.nuclphysa.2025.123057
Source: Crossref
Summary: This study explores the ground-state structures and β-decay behaviors of neodymium isotopes $^{156-162}$ Nd. It likely involves theoretical nuclear models and experimental comparisons relevant to nuclear structure physics.

2. Investigation of 14C(p, γ)15N at low energies

Journal: Modern Physics Letters A
Publication Date: January 20, 2025
Type: Journal Article
DOI: 10.1142/S0217732324502080
Source: Crossref
Summary: Focuses on the proton capture reaction $14C(p,γ)15N^{14}\text{C}(p,\gamma)^{15}\text{N}$ at low energy ranges, which is important for astrophysical processes like stellar nucleosynthesis and primordial element formation.

3. Arbitrary amplitude electron-acoustic solitary waves in magnetoplasma with Kaniadakis distributed electrons

Journal: AIP Advances
Publication Date: December 1, 2024
Type: Journal Article
DOI: 10.1063/5.0240816
Source: Crossref
Summary: Studies electron-acoustic solitary waves in magnetized plasma considering Kaniadakis statistics (a generalized statistical framework), possibly useful for understanding space and astrophysical plasma behaviors.

4. Effect of ions anisotropy pressure on the ion-acoustic cnoidal waves in electron–positron–ion magnetoplasmas

Journal: AIP Advances
Publication Date: September 1, 2024
Type: Journal Article
DOI: 10.1063/5.0232570
Source: Crossref
Summary: Analyzes how anisotropic ion pressures affect ion-acoustic cnoidal waves in plasmas containing electrons, positrons, and ions under magnetic fields. Cnoidal waves are periodic solutions of nonlinear wave equations.

5. Re-investigation of Neutron Capture by $^{84}$ Kr and $^{86}$ Kr in the s-Process Nucleosynthesis

Journal: Brazilian Journal of Physics
Publication Date: June 2024
Type: Journal Article
DOI: 10.1007/s13538-024-01455-5
Source: Crossref
Summary: Re-evaluates the neutron capture cross-sections of krypton isotopes $^{84}$ Kr and $^{86}$ Kr, which are important for modeling the slow neutron capture (s-process) in stellar environments.

Conclusion

Dr. Abdul Kabir Khan demonstrates the perfect blend of scientific excellence, leadership ability, innovation, and community service required for a Young Scientist Award. His contributions in theoretical nuclear astrophysics significantly advance understanding in a challenging frontier of physics. His academic record, research depth, leadership in institutional development, and recognition by the scientific community make him a highly deserving and outstanding candidate for the award.

Ding-fang Zeng | Black Hole Physics | Excellence in Innovation

Published on 25/01/202529/01/2025 by Physicist Particle

Dr. Ding-fang Zeng | Black Hole Physics | Excellence in Innovation

Professor at Beijing University of Technology

Short Bio

Dr. Dingfang Zeng is an Associate Professor at the School of Physics and Electronic Engineering, Beijing University of Technology. He earned his Ph.D. in Physics from the Institute of Theoretical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, where he laid the groundwork for his pioneering research in black hole physics and gravitational theory.

Over the years, Dr. Zeng has developed groundbreaking methods to address fundamental challenges in black hole complementarity, entropy quantization, and gravitational waveform analysis. His work bridges theoretical and computational physics, providing novel insights into phenomena such as Hawking radiation and binary black hole mergers. As a visiting professor at the Niels Bohr Institute, he continues to advance research on the frontiers of string theory and field theory.

Professional Profile

Orcid
Scopus

Educational Background

Bachelor of Science (BS) in Physics – Beijing Normal University, 1995–1999
Master of Science (MS) in Physics – Peking University, 1999–2002
Ph.D. in Physics – Institute of Theoretical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 2003–2007

Professional Experience

2007–Present: Faculty, School of Physics and Electronic Engineering, Beijing University of Technology
2023–2024: Visiting Professor, Niels Bohr Institute, Copenhagen

Research Interests

Dr. Zeng’s research focuses on the following areas:

Black Hole Physics: Investigating the structure and dynamics of black holes, including their entropy and inner mass distribution.
Gauge/Gravity Duality: Exploring connections between gauge theories and gravitational systems.
Computational Multi-Body Physics: Developing methods for simulating and understanding complex gravitational interactions.
He has made significant contributions to the understanding of black hole complementarity, the Bekenstein-Hawking entropy, and gravitational waveforms of binary mergers. His research integrates theoretical insights with computational approaches, offering novel perspectives on foundational problems in physics.

Honors and Achievements

Recipient of the 2019 Honorable Prize in the Gravitational Research Essay Competition, organized by the International Gravitation Foundation.

Author Metrics

Dr. Zeng is an active researcher with publications indexed in major repositories such as INSPIRE-HEP. His works have gained recognition for their innovative approaches to theoretical physics and computational modeling.

Publication Top Noted

Neural-Network Quantum State of Transverse-Field Ising Model

Publication: Communications in Theoretical Physics
Year: 2019
DOI: 10.1088/0253-6102/71/11/1379
Source: Scopus – Elsevier
Focus on applying neural-network techniques to describe quantum states of the transverse-field Ising model.

Schwarzschild Fuzzball and Explicitly Unitary Hawking Radiation

Publication: Nuclear Physics B
Year: 2018
DOI: 10.1016/j.nuclphysb.2018.03.012
Investigates the fuzzball paradigm as a resolution to the Schwarzschild black hole singularity, addressing unitary evolution of Hawking radiation.

Phase Structure and Quasinormal Modes of a Charged AdS Dilaton Black Hole

Publication: Physical Review D
Year: 2018
DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevD.97.026014
Source: Scopus – Elsevier
Discusses phase transitions and quasinormal modes in charged AdS dilaton black hole spacetime.

Resolving the Schwarzschild Singularity in Both Classic and Quantum Gravity

Publication: Nuclear Physics B
Year: 2017
DOI: 10.1016/j.nuclphysb.2017.02.005
Examines approaches to resolving Schwarzschild singularities using both classical and quantum gravity frameworks.

d<sub>ℓ</sub>(z) and BAO in the Emergent Gravity and the Dark Universe

Publication: arXiv
Year: 2017
Source: Scopus – Elsevier
Discusses the distance-redshift relation and baryon acoustic oscillations (BAO) in the context of emergent gravity theories.

Conclusion

Dr. Ding-fang Zeng is a highly qualified candidate for the Best Researcher Award in Excellence in Innovation due to his groundbreaking contributions to black hole physics, computational methods, and theoretical advancements. His work demonstrates deep originality, theoretical rigor, and computational innovation, making him a strong contender. However, expanding his experimental collaborations and achieving greater global recognition through leadership roles and major grants could further strengthen his case.