Dr. Hiroki Konno | Nanoelectronics & Nanomaterials | Research Excellence Award

Associate Prof | Nano Life Science Institute (WPI Nano-LSI)/Kanazawa University | Japan

Dr. Hiroki Konno, Associate Professor at the Nano Life Science Institute of Kanazawa University, is a leading expert in single-molecule biophysics, high-speed atomic force microscopy, and nanoscale biomolecular analysis. He holds a doctoral degree from the Tokyo Institute of Technology with specialization in biochemical and biophysical mechanisms of protein molecular motors, followed by advanced postdoctoral training in the same field. His professional career includes academic appointments in chemical and biophysical research laboratories, where he contributed to major projects on ATP synthase regulation and nanoscale protein imaging, and he currently leads innovative research programs on protein structural dynamics, lipid–protein interactions, and ubiquitin-related molecular mechanisms. Dr. Konno’s research focuses on elucidating protein structure–function relationships using high-speed AFM and developing advanced methodologies for visualizing dynamic molecular processes, resulting in a substantial body of publications and impactful scientific contributions. His work includes collaborative projects with domestic and international research groups across multiple domains of nanoscience and molecular biology. He has achieved notable recognition through memberships in the Biophysical Society of Japan, the Japanese Biochemical Society, and the Molecular Biology Society of Japan, reflecting his professional standing and commitment to advancing nanoscale science. His publication record, collaborative leadership, and contributions to advancing nanoscale biomolecular imaging underscore his strong candidature for this award.

Profile: ORCID

Featured Publications

Hiroki Konno, Flexible Fitting to Infer Atomistic-Precision Models of Large-Amplitude Conformational Dynamics in Biomolecules from High-Speed Atomic Force Microscopy Imaging. ACS Nano., Accepted.*

Hiroki Konno, Seesaw protein: Design of a protein that adopts interconvertible alternative functional conformations and its dynamics. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA., Accepted.*

Hiroki Konno, ALZ-801 prevents amyloid β-protein assembly and reduces cytotoxicity: A preclinical experimental study. FASEB J., Accepted.*

Hiroki Konno, High-Speed Atomic Force Microscopy Reveals Fluctuations and Dimer Splitting of the N-Terminal Domain of GluA2 Ionotropic Glutamate Receptor-Auxiliary Subunit Complex. ACS Nano., 2024, Accepted.

Hiroki Konno, Structural Dynamics of E6AP E3 Ligase HECT Domain and Involvement of a Flexible Hinge Loop in the Ubiquitin Chain Synthesis Mechanism. Nano Lett., Accepted.

Dr. Habib Ullah | Material and Enviroemntal Chemistry | Best Researcher Award

Research Profesor | Chungnam National University | South Korea

Dr. Habib Ullah is a Research Professor at the Research Institute of Nano Science and Engineering, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Chungnam National University, South Korea, specializing in inorganic and materials chemistry. He earned his Ph.D. in Materials Science from Wuhan University of Technology, China, an M.Phil. in Chemistry from Islamia College University, Peshawar, and both M.Sc. and B.Sc. degrees in Chemistry from Kohat University of Science and Technology, Pakistan. His professional experience includes serving as Assistant Professor of Chemistry at the University of Sialkot, where he taught undergraduate and graduate courses, supervised numerous master’s students, and contributed to curriculum design and research leadership. Dr. Ullah’s research focuses on the synthesis and application of covalent and metal–organic frameworks, single-atom catalysts, and hybrid nanomaterials for CO₂ capture, conversion, hydrogenation, and renewable energy catalysis. He has authored more than twenty peer-reviewed publications in high-impact journals and reviewed multiple manuscripts in leading journals such as the Journal of CO₂ Utilization and Fuel. His awards include a Distinguished Publication Award from Wuhan University of Technology and a prestigious Chinese Government Scholarship (CSC Fellowship). He serves on the editorial board of the Journal of Chemistry and Environment and is a senior member of the International Association for Carbon Capture. Dr. Ullah’s academic contributions and leadership exemplify excellence in sustainable catalysis and advanced materials research.

Profile: ORCID

Featured Publications

Habib Ullah*, Solvent-free ambient pressure CO₂ cycloaddition catalyzed by cobalt-impregnated 2D-nanofibrous COFs. ChemSusChem, 2024, Accepted.

Habib Ullah*, Mechanistic insight into bifunctional thermocatalytic CO₂ hydrogenation by oxide-supported palladium. Chem. Eng. J., 2024, 489, 146542.

Habib Ullah, Ambient conversion of CO₂ and epoxides to cyclic carbonates using 3D amide-functionalized MOFs. Catal. Sci. Technol., 2024, 14(3), 567–580.

Habib Ullah, Formation of value-added cyclic carbonates by coupling of epoxides and CO₂ using ruthenium pincer hydrazone complexes under atmospheric pressure. ACS Energy Fuels, 2023, 37(8), 9564–9578.