Aimé Peláiz Barranco | Materials Science | Best Researcher Award

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Prof. Dr. Aimé Peláiz Barranco | Materials Science | Best Researcher Award

Faculty of Physics, University of Havana, Cuba

Aimé Peláiz Barranco is a distinguished Cuban physicist born on June 25, 1972, in La Habana, Cuba. She currently serves as the Dean and Full Professor at the Faculty of Physics, University of Havana, where she also leads the Ferroic Materials Group. With a prolific academic and research career, she is widely recognized for her contributions to ferroelectric, piezoelectric, antiferroelectric, and multiferroic materials. Dr. Peláiz Barranco has played crucial roles in academic leadership, including serving as Deputy Dean and Secretary of the Scientific Council. Internationally active, she has coordinated the Latin-American Network of Ferroelectric Materials and held invited professorships in prestigious institutions across Mexico, Brazil, Spain, France, Portugal, and China. A full member of the Academy of Sciences of Cuba, she has made significant contributions to teaching, research supervision, and academic development. With over 140 international publications, multiple book chapters, and extensive participation in scientific conferences, she has profoundly impacted the field of materials science. Her outstanding research has earned her several international and national awards, including the TWAS-ROLAC Award, the Sofia Kovalieskaya Award, and the Best Researcher recognition from the University of Havana. Her multilingual proficiency further amplifies her global academic collaborations.

Professional Profile

Education

Aimé Peláiz Barranco pursued all her higher education degrees at the University of Havana, Cuba. She earned her B.Sc. in Physics in 1995, followed by a Master’s degree in Physics Sciences in 1996. She later obtained her Doctorate in Physics Sciences in 2001, cementing her academic foundation in the field of material sciences. Her education has been deeply rooted in the Cuban academic system, particularly at the Faculty of Physics, University of Havana, where she has remained an integral part of the academic community both as a student and later as a faculty leader. Her advanced training provided the essential theoretical and practical framework for her subsequent pioneering research in ferroelectric, piezoelectric, antiferroelectric, and multiferroic materials. Throughout her educational journey, she demonstrated a strong commitment to physics education and material sciences, which laid the groundwork for her international collaborations and leadership roles. Her comprehensive education has not only equipped her with deep expertise in material characterization but also fostered her ability to lead research groups, mentor students, and contribute to scientific advancements globally.

Professional Experience

Aimé Peláiz Barranco has accumulated an extensive professional history at the University of Havana since 1995. She began as a teaching trainee and steadily advanced to become an instructor, assistant professor, auxiliary professor, and eventually a full professor in 2014. Since 2019, she has served as the Dean of the Faculty of Physics, where she also leads the Ferroic Materials Group. Her teaching portfolio includes more than 70 undergraduate and postgraduate courses, with significant involvement in thesis evaluations at the licentiate, master’s, and doctoral levels. Dr. Peláiz Barranco has also held various academic positions such as Deputy Dean, Secretary of the Scientific Council, and Member of the National Physics Commission. She actively participates in scientific organization, having served on committees for over 20 national and international conferences. Internationally, she has been invited as a professor to universities in Mexico, Brazil, Spain, France, Portugal, and China, enhancing global academic exchanges. Her coordination of the Latin-American Network of Ferroelectric Materials between 2000 and 2019 exemplifies her leadership in fostering regional research collaboration. Her broad professional journey showcases her dedication to education, research, and scientific advancement.

Research Interests

Dr. Peláiz Barranco’s research primarily focuses on the preparation and characterization of ferroelectric, piezoelectric, antiferroelectric, and multiferroic materials in the form of ceramics, thin films, and composites. She specializes in the study of phase transitions, relaxors, dielectric relaxation, electrical conductivity, and impedance spectroscopy. Her research extends to bioimpedance, pyroelectricity, piezoelectricity, multiferroics, energy storage, and the electrocaloric effect. These areas contribute significantly to the advancement of modern material science, with applications in sensors, actuators, energy systems, and smart materials. She has led numerous national and international research projects, including three grants awarded by the Third World Academy of Science. Her deep exploration into ferroic materials has resulted in over 140 publications in international journals, four book chapters, and more than 200 presentations at scientific meetings. Dr. Peláiz Barranco’s research activities are globally recognized, positioning her as a leading expert in the field. Through her leadership in the Ferroic Materials Group and the Latin-American Network of Ferroelectric Materials, she has created substantial regional and international research synergies.

Research Skills

Aimé Peláiz Barranco possesses exceptional research skills in experimental design, material synthesis, and advanced characterization techniques. Her expertise spans ceramics, thin films, and composite materials, particularly in the domains of ferroelectric, piezoelectric, antiferroelectric, and multiferroic substances. She is adept at using impedance spectroscopy, dielectric relaxation analysis, and pyroelectric and piezoelectric measurements to explore the functional properties of advanced materials. Additionally, she is skilled in bioimpedance analysis and electrocaloric effect evaluation, essential for emerging applications in biophysics and energy storage. Dr. Peláiz Barranco’s ability to lead large, multi-institutional research projects, both nationally and internationally, underscores her project management and scientific coordination capabilities. Her involvement as an editor and contributor to scientific books further highlights her ability to synthesize complex information and contribute to scientific literature. Furthermore, her supervisory experience, mentoring over 30 undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral theses, demonstrates her leadership and instructional strengths in guiding research teams and developing new scientific talent. Her fluency in Spanish, English, and Portuguese enhances her global research communication and collaboration skills.

Awards and Honors

Aimé Peláiz Barranco has received numerous prestigious awards and recognitions at both national and international levels. Among her international accolades, she won the First Prize at the First Iberoamerican Concourse of Laboratory Classes in Materials Science (1999) and the TWAS-ROLAC Award for Young Scientists in Physics (2011). She has been honored with the Young Scientist Award by CAS-TWAS (2012) and the TWOWS Award for Young Women Scientists (2010), signifying her influence across the Latin America and Caribbean region. Nationally, she has been repeatedly awarded by the Cuban Academy of Sciences, with multiple recognitions spanning from 1999 to 2023. The University of Havana has acknowledged her as Best Researcher in several years, alongside departmental and faculty awards for scientific excellence and educational innovation. She also received the distinguished Carlos J. Finlay Medal for her significant scientific contributions. These honors highlight her sustained commitment to research, education, and academic leadership. Her continuous recognition within Cuba and abroad underscores her remarkable impact on materials science and the broader scientific community.

Conclusion

Aimé Peláiz Barranco is an accomplished physicist whose career exemplifies excellence in teaching, research, and academic leadership. Her extensive expertise in ferroic materials has contributed significantly to the advancement of materials science in Cuba and internationally. Through her roles as Dean, research group leader, and international project coordinator, she has demonstrated exceptional leadership and organizational skills. Her research is widely published, and she has been recognized with numerous prestigious awards for her scientific achievements and educational contributions. Dr. Peláiz Barranco’s commitment to fostering regional and international collaborations, along with her dedication to mentoring the next generation of scientists, highlights her as a key figure in the scientific community. Fluent in multiple languages and having held various visiting professorships, she continues to build global partnerships that enrich both her work and the institutions she serves. Her professional journey reflects a harmonious balance of research excellence, impactful teaching, and significant service to the academic and scientific ecosystem, positioning her as a highly deserving candidate for the Best Researcher Award.

Publications Top Notes

1. Phase transitions in ferrimagnetic and ferroelectric ceramics by ac measurements

  • Authors: A. Pelaiz-Barranco, M.P. Gutierrez-Amador, A. Huanosta, R. Valenzuela

  • Year: 1998

  • Citations: 163

2. Ionized oxygen vacancy-related electrical conductivity in (Pb₁₋ₓLaₓ)(Zr₀.₉₀Ti₀.₁₀)₁₋ₓ/₄O₃ ceramics

  • Authors: A. Peláiz-Barranco, J.D.S. Guerra, R. Lopez-Noda, E.B. Araujo

  • Year: 2008

  • Citations: 141

3. Ferroelectric ceramic materials of the Aurivillius family

  • Authors: A. Peláiz-Barranco, Y. González-Abreu

  • Year: 2013

  • Citations: 69

4. Dielectric relaxation related to single-ionized oxygen vacancies in (Pb₁₋ₓLaₓ)(Zr₀.₉₀Ti₀.₁₀)₁₋ₓ/₄O₃ ceramics

  • Authors: A. Peláiz-Barranco, J.D.S. Guerra

  • Year: 2010

  • Citations: 65

5. Atomic‐scale imaging and quantification of electrical polarisation in incommensurate antiferroelectric lanthanum‐doped lead zirconate titanate

  • Authors: I. MacLaren, R. Villaurrutia, B. Schaffer, L. Houben, A. Peláiz‐Barranco

  • Year: 2012

  • Citations: 63

6. Raman spectroscopy study of the La‐modified (Bi₀.₅Na₀.₅)₀.₉₂Ba₀.₀₈TiO₃ lead‐free ceramic system

  • Authors: Y. Mendez‐González, A. Peláiz‐Barranco, A.L. Curcio, A.D. Rodrigues, et al.

  • Year: 2019

  • Citations: 57

7. AC behaviour and conductive mechanisms of 2.5 mol% La₂O₃ doped PbZr₀.₅₃Ti₀.₄₇O₃ ferroelectric ceramics

  • Authors: A.P. Barranco, F.C. Pinar, O.P. Martinez, J.D.L.S. Guerra, I.G. Carmenate

  • Year: 1999

  • Citations: 57

8. Effects of MnO₂ additive on the properties of PbZrO₃–PbTiO₃–PbCu₁/₄Nb₃/₄O₃ ferroelectric ceramic system

  • Authors: A.P. Barranco, F.C. Piñar, O.P.M.P. Martínez, E.T. García

  • Year: 2001

  • Citations: 50

9. Thermal and structural characterization of the ZrO₂₋ₓ(OH)₂ₓ to ZrO₂ transition

  • Authors: E. Torres-García, A. Peláiz-Barranco, C. Vázquez-Ramos, G.A. Fuentes

  • Year: 2001

  • Citations: 39

10. Piezo-, pyro-, ferro-, and dielectric properties of ceramic/polymer composites obtained from two modifications of lead titanate

  • Authors: A. Pelaiz-Barranco, P. Marin-Franch

  • Year: 2005

  • Citations: 38

Likun Qian | Materials Science | Best Researcher Award

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Mr. Likun Qian | Materials Science | Best Researcher Award

School of Future Technology, China University of Geosciences (Wuhan), China

Qian Likun is an emerging researcher in the field of automation and control systems, currently pursuing his undergraduate degree at China University of Geosciences (Wuhan). With a solid foundation in electronic technologies, embedded systems, and automation instrumentation, Qian has displayed strong technical proficiency and innovative thinking across various academic and practical projects. He has independently designed and developed motion controllers, control platforms, and monitoring systems, showcasing his ability to integrate software and hardware seamlessly. His projects range from motion trajectory control to subsurface conductor detection and RGBD salient object detection using convolutional neural networks. In addition to his technical skills, Qian has demonstrated outstanding leadership capabilities by serving as the class monitor and contributing to his college’s new media promotion initiatives. He has actively led his classmates to achieve multiple awards at the college level, earning personal recognition as an excellent Communist Youth League cadre. His work ethic, problem-solving ability, and teamwork have set him apart as a student leader and aspiring researcher. With his growing expertise in control systems, programming, and intelligent instrumentation, Qian Likun is positioning himself as a promising researcher with the potential to make significant contributions to the field of automation and intelligent systems in the near future.

Professional Profile

Education

Qian Likun is currently enrolled at China University of Geosciences (Wuhan), where he has been studying Automation since September 2018. His undergraduate education has provided him with comprehensive knowledge of automation systems, control theory, embedded technologies, and sensor applications. Throughout his studies, he has maintained a GPA of 3.01 and successfully completed a diverse range of technical courses such as analog electronic technology, digital logic circuit design, digital signal processing, system analysis, embedded programming, and object-oriented software development. These courses have helped him build a solid theoretical foundation and practical skill set. Qian’s education has also included specialized training in big data processing technologies for manufacturing and advanced system control strategies. His participation in several project-based learning modules has further enhanced his engineering abilities and problem-solving skills. His academic journey reflects not only his dedication to learning but also his ability to apply knowledge effectively to real-world scenarios. Qian has also achieved English proficiency certifications, having passed CET-4 and CET-6, and earned a Computer Level 2 certification in C++, which complements his automation expertise with solid programming capabilities. His educational background has fully equipped him to contribute meaningfully to complex research in automation and intelligent control systems.

Professional Experience

Although Qian Likun is in the early stages of his professional journey, he has accumulated substantial project-based experience that closely mirrors industry applications. He has led and contributed to multiple innovative projects during his time at China University of Geosciences. Notably, Qian successfully designed and implemented a cascade control system for a water tank and pipeline pressure monitoring, using PID control and Ethernet communication to achieve multi-machine interaction with an impressive 85% control precision. He independently built an integrated motion control experimental platform capable of simple three-dimensional relief processing and developed a modular CNC control interface. His hands-on experience also includes controlling servo motors via 51 microcontrollers, designing circuits for microvoltage signal acquisition, and applying LABVIEW software for upper computer visualization. Additionally, he utilized C++ and QT to create a multifunctional human-machine interaction calculator capable of performing both basic arithmetic and complex trigonometric operations. His graduation project focuses on RGBD salient object detection using convolutional neural networks and bifurcation backbone strategies. Qian’s practical experience demonstrates his ability to handle multidisciplinary engineering tasks, from hardware design to embedded system development and intelligent control applications, making him a well-rounded and capable early-career researcher.

Research Interest

Qian Likun’s research interests are centered on automation systems, intelligent instrumentation, embedded control, and intelligent perception technologies. He is particularly fascinated by the integration of sensor technologies with embedded systems to achieve precise control in real-time industrial environments. His work has also ventured into the field of intelligent detection, including subsurface conductor identification and salient object detection using RGBD imaging and convolutional neural networks. Qian is deeply interested in the development of intelligent monitoring systems that leverage human-machine interfaces (HMI) and multi-device communication through Ethernet networks. His passion lies in designing practical control systems that are both accurate and efficient, particularly in complex industrial processes. Furthermore, his recent exploration of deep learning methodologies, especially in salient object detection using bottom-up feature extraction and bifurcation backbone strategies, reflects his growing interest in artificial intelligence and machine vision applications. He is motivated to pursue research that blends traditional control theories with modern computational intelligence techniques to solve real-world challenges. Qian aspires to further investigate advanced control algorithms, embedded smart devices, and data-driven decision-making systems in future academic or industry research, aiming to contribute to the advancement of intelligent automation and control engineering.

Research Skills

Qian Likun possesses a diverse and practical set of research skills that span programming, circuit design, motion control, system modeling, and embedded development. He is proficient in programming languages such as C++ and MATLAB, which he has used to design embedded software, motion control systems, and data visualization interfaces. His expertise in control systems includes practical application of PID control algorithms, system modeling, and real-time control implementations. Qian has hands-on skills in building experimental platforms for motion processing, servo motor control using 51 microcontrollers, and data acquisition through differential amplification circuits. He has also demonstrated the ability to develop multi-functional human-machine interaction interfaces using QT and C++ for embedded applications. His hardware knowledge extends to sensor integration, analog and digital circuit design, and microcontroller programming. Additionally, Qian is familiar with machine learning techniques, particularly convolutional neural networks, which he applied in his graduation project for salient object detection. His skill set is further strengthened by his capability to design networked systems that enable multi-device communication using Ethernet protocols. Qian’s combination of software development, hardware control, signal processing, and intelligent algorithm application makes him a versatile researcher capable of addressing complex automation challenges.

Awards and Honors

Throughout his academic journey, Qian Likun has received multiple recognitions for both his leadership and academic contributions. He has served as the class monitor at China University of Geosciences (Wuhan), successfully leading his class to receive the “Excellent Class” award at the college level on several occasions. His dedication and organizational skills were further acknowledged when he was honored with the title of “Outstanding Communist Youth League Cadre” at the university level. Qian also played an active role in the university’s New Media Promotion Department, where he contributed to the management and content creation for the Automation College’s official WeChat platform. These leadership roles have allowed him to develop strong communication, teamwork, and project management skills in parallel with his technical education. His certification achievements include passing the Computer Level 2 examination in C++ and successfully completing both the College English Test (CET-4 and CET-6), demonstrating his competency in programming and his readiness for international collaboration. These awards and recognitions highlight his well-rounded profile, balancing academic performance, research activities, and social engagement, which together showcase his suitability as a dedicated and promising young researcher.

Conclusion

Qian Likun is a highly motivated, technically skilled, and leadership-oriented young researcher with a growing background in automation and intelligent control systems. His solid foundation in embedded technologies, motion control, signal acquisition, and human-machine interface design, combined with his demonstrated ability to lead project teams and manage complex system integrations, positions him as a promising talent in the engineering field. While he is still at the beginning of his research journey, his proactive engagement in hands-on projects and his exploration of cutting-edge technologies like convolutional neural networks reflect his potential for impactful future research contributions. Qian has demonstrated excellent leadership skills, receiving recognition for both academic performance and community engagement. However, to elevate his research profile to the next level, he would benefit from increasing his involvement in peer-reviewed research publications, enhancing his academic output, and expanding his international collaborations. With continued dedication, academic refinement, and professional development, Qian Likun has the potential to grow into a highly capable and innovative researcher who can contribute significantly to the advancement of automation, intelligent systems, and interdisciplinary engineering solutions.

Publications Top Notes

  1. Title: Design of audio to image cross-modal learning and generation based on single-layer CoPt spin-orbit torque devices
    Authors: Likun Qian, Liu Yang, Chao Zuo, Ying Tao, Wendi Li, Fang Jin, Huihui Li, Kaifeng Dong
    Year: 2025
    Journal: Journal of Magnetism and Magnetic Materials

  2. Title: Design of spike-timing-dependent plasticity synapses based on CoPt-SOT device and its application in all-spin spiking neural network
    Authors: Liu Yang, Shuguang Zhang, Likun Qian, Ying Tao, Fang Jin, Huihui Li, Zhe Guo, Rujun Tang, Kaifeng Dong
    Year: 2025
    Journal: Applied Physics Letters