Hayet Soltani | Finance | Best Researcher Award

Published on by Shen Awards

Dr. Hayet Soltani | Finance | Best Researcher Award

University of Sfax, Tunisia

Dr. Hayet Soltani, a Tunisian scholar, is an accomplished researcher in finance, business engineering, and digitalization of companies, with expertise spanning financial stress, investor sentiment, stock market dynamics, clean energy, and sustainable investments. She earned her Ph.D. in Finance (2020), Master’s in Finance (2016), and Bachelor’s in Finance (2013) from the Faculty of Economics and Management of Sfax, Tunisia, later enhancing her qualifications with a Ma   ter’s in Business Engineering and Digitalization of Companies (2023). She also undertook international research training, including a doctoral internship at Sorbonne Nouvelle University, Paris III (2019), and specialized courses in bibliometric analysis, Zotero, and soft skills certification. Professionally, Dr. Soltani has held multiple lecturer positions at leading Tunisian institutions, including the Higher Institute of Management of Gabes (2021–2024), the Higher Institute of Business Administration of Sfax (2025), and others, where she has contributed significantly to finance and management education. Her research interests include financial market integration, digital banking strategies, ESG investment forecasting, and the spillover effects between financial, cryptocurrency, and commodity markets, particularly during crises. She has authored 9 peer-reviewed Scopus-indexed publications with 61 citations and an h-index of 5, with works published in high-impact journals such as Quality & Quantity, Asia-Pacific Financial Markets, EuroMed Journal of Business, and the Journal of the Knowledge Economy, alongside several works under review. Her research skills include econometric modeling, bibliometric analysis, machine learning applications in finance, and advanced statistical software proficiency (EVIEWS, STATA, RATS, Bibliometrix, Zotero). She has actively participated in international conferences, presenting research on finance, AI, sustainability, and ethical investment. Recognized for her academic contributions, she has earned visibility in the International Research Awards on Science, Health, and Engineering, reflecting her rising impact in the global research community. In conclusion, Dr. Soltani’s strong academic foundation, professional teaching experience, international collaborations, and growing publication record highlight her as an emerging leader in financial economics and digitalization research, with promising potential to shape innovative frameworks that bridge finance, technology, and sustainability on a global scale.

Profile: Scopus | ORCID | Google Scholar

Featured Publications

  1. Soltani, H., Taleb, J., & Boujelbène Abbes, M. (2025). The directional spillover effects and time-frequency nexus between stock markets, cryptocurrency, and investor sentiment during the COVID-19 pandemic. European Journal of Management and Business Economics, 34(1), 23–46.

  2. Soltani, H., Aloulou, A., & Boujelbène Abbes, M. (2017). The impact of political instability on investor sentiment and market performance: Evidence from Tunisian Revolution. IUP Journal of Applied Finance, 23(4), 7–23.

  3. Soltani, H., & Boujelbène Abbes, M. (2023). The predictive power of financial stress on the financial markets dynamics: Hidden Markov model. Journal of Economics and Finance, 47(1), 94–115.

  4. Soltani, H., & Boujelbène Abbes, M. (2023). The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the nexus between the investor’s sentiment and the financial market dynamics: Evidence from the Chinese market. Asia-Pacific Journal of Business Administration, 15(5), 673–694.

  5. Soltani, H., & Boujelbène Abbes, M. (2025). Regime-specific spillover effects between financial stress, GCC stock markets, Brent crude oil, and the gold market. Journal of the Knowledge Economy, 16(2), 8840–8866.

Md. Shoriful Islam | Econometrics and Finance | Best Researcher Award

Published on by Shen Awards

Mr. Md. Shoriful Islam | Econometrics and Finance | Best Researcher Award

Zhengzhou University, China

Mr. Md. Shoriful Islam, a Bangladeshi academic and researcher, is currently a Ph.D. candidate in Applied Economics at the Business School of Zhengzhou University, China, where his doctoral thesis focuses on the multidimensional effects of microfinancing on sustainable development, particularly poverty alleviation, unemployment reduction, and environmental sustainability. He holds both BBA and MBA degrees in Finance and Banking from Rajshahi University, where he graduated with top honors, securing first position in his BBA batch and second in MBA, alongside a strong academic foundation from Pabna Zilla School and Govt. Edward College. Professionally, he has accumulated more than 15 years of teaching and academic leadership experience, serving as Lecturer, Senior Lecturer, and Assistant Professor at Northern University Bangladesh before joining Zhengzhou University, with additional responsibilities as Program Coordinator for BBA, MBA, and Internship & Placement Programs. His research interests lie in development economics, social entrepreneurship, renewable energy consumption, and sustainable finance, integrating advanced econometric modeling with policy-relevant insights. Islam is skilled in data analysis software such as STATA, R, Python, EViews, and proficient in curriculum design, student mentorship, program coordination, and academic event management. His scholarly work has appeared in high-impact international journals such as Sustainable Development (Wiley), Journal of Knowledge Economy (Springer), Innovation and Green Development (Elsevier), and Environmental Science & Pollution Research (Springer Nature), contributing to debates on social enterprises, poverty alleviation, and environmental sustainability, with 6 Scopus-indexed publications, 23 citations, and an h-index of 2. He has presented at international conferences and forums, engaging with scholars and practitioners on finance, social enterprises, and sustainability. Among his honors, he received a Gold Medal from Rajshahi University for his outstanding BBA performance. In conclusion, Md. Shoriful Islam exemplifies a dedicated scholar whose academic excellence, impactful research, teaching contributions, and international collaborations position him as a future leader in applied economics and sustainable development.

Profile: Scopus

Featured Publications

Ayoungman, F. Z., Islam, M. S., Chishti, M. Z., & Shawon, A. H. (2024). A pathway towards sustainable development: Analysing the influential role of microfinancing on environmental quality in developing nations. Sustainable Development. Wiley. (SSCI indexed, Impact Factor: 8.2, CiteScore: 14.5, JCR Q1).

Ayoungman, F. Z., Islam, M. S., Zhang, F. L., et al. (2024). Social enterprise’s initiatives for socioeconomic sustainability: Appraisal based on morphogenetic/morphostatic approach and opportunity co-creation theory. Journal of Knowledge Economy. Springer Nature. (ABS 1 indexed, JCR Q1).

Ayoungman, F. Z., Islam, M. S., Masukujjaman, M., Shawon, A. H., & Mahmud, A. A. (2024). Financial factors influencing investment willingness in environment-friendly business: Empirical study on an emerging economy. Innovation and Green Development, 4(1). Elsevier.

Islam, M. S. (2024). Nongovernmental organizations transforming into social enterprises in the process of institutionalizing solutions to major social crises for ensuring sustainable social development. Zakaria Journal of Social Science, 4(1), 41–55. ISSN: 2957-4897.

Ayoungman, F. Z., Shawon, A. H., Ahmed, R. R., Khan, M. K., & Islam, M. S. (2023). Exploring the economic impact of institutional entrepreneurship, social innovation, and poverty reduction on carbon footprint in BRICS countries: What is the role of social enterprise? Environmental Science and Pollution Research. Springer Nature. (SCIE and Scopus indexed Q1 journal, Impact Factor: 6.18).