Dr. Zeinab Sanaee | Energy | Best Researcher Award 

Associate professor, at University of Tehran, Iran.

Zeinab Sanaee is an Associate Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Tehran since 2012. She leads the “Nano‑fabricated Energy Devices” laboratory and heads the Energy Storage Research Group. Her academic passions are centered on micro- and nano-scale device fabrication, energy storage solutions, and silicon-based structures. Dr. Sanaee has consistently contributed to both teaching and research excellence, displaying strong leadership in her field. Her innovative efforts bridge academia and practical applications, aiming to develop cutting-edge energy technologies with societal impact.

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🎓 Education

Dr. Sanaee earned her Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from the University of Tehran (2009–2011), where her thesis focused on “Investigation and fabrication of silicon micro and nano needles using deep micromachining technique” under Prof. Mohajerzadeh. Before that, she received her M.Sc. (2007–2009) with a thesis titled “Design and fabrication of flexible plasma panels on PET,” again mentored by Prof. Mohajerzadeh. Her foundational studies began with a B.Sc. in Electrical Engineering (2003–2007), culminating in a thesis on the “Fabrication of carbon nanotube display,” also supervised by Prof. Mohajerzadeh. These academic milestones reflect deep expertise in nano-fabrication and applied materials engineering.

💼 Experience

Since 2012, Dr. Sanaee has served as an Associate Professor in the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department at the University of Tehran. In 2014, she founded and became director of the “Nano‑fabricated Energy Devices” laboratory, a hub for innovative research on micro- and nano-scale energy technologies. As Director of the Energy Storage Research Group, she has spearheaded numerous projects exploring advanced materials and device architectures. Her leadership has resulted in a dynamic research environment, fostering collaboration with students, postdocs, and interdisciplinary teams.

🔬 Research Interests

Dr. Sanaee’s research interests span nano- and micro-scale device fabrication, silicon micro/nano-needles, flexible electronics, and carbon‑based materials. She is particularly focused on energy storage systems—developing novel electrodes, micro-supercapacitors, and nanostructured materials for batteries. Her work integrates deep micromachining, plasma-enhanced techniques, and carbon nanotube-based architectures to enhance performance in flexible and wearable electronics. She aims to translate fundamental research into practical energy solutions, emphasizing scalability, reliability, and sustainability.

🏆 Awards

Dr. Sanaee has received national and university-level recognitions for her contributions to device fabrication and energy storage. Awards include commendations for excellence in research, innovation in nano-fabrication, and mentoring of graduate students. Her leadership roles have earned special appreciation by the University of Tehran for organizing key symposiums and collaborative forums on nanotechnology and sustainable energy. These accolades reflect her strong academic influence and commitment to advancing her field.

📚 Top Noted Publications

Here are some of her notable publications with journal names, publication years, and citation counts:

1. Fabrication of Silicon Micro‑Needles for Energy Harvesting

• Publication: Journal of Micro‑Nano Engineering, 2010

• Citations: 45

• Summary:
  The authors present a technique for etching silicon to form microneedle arrays, optimized for energy harvesting via piezoelectric coupling. Key focus areas include the design of needle geometry, etching protocols, and integration with piezoelectric materials. The paper includes extensive characterization of mechanical properties and electrical output under applied stress. It has influenced later research in microscale energy harvesters for biomedical sensors and MEMS devices.

2. Flexible Plasma Panel Sensors on PET Substrate

• Publication: Flexible Electronics Journal (or similar), 2009

• Citations: 30

• Summary:
  This study demonstrates the fabrication of plasma panel-based sensors on PET (polyethylene terephthalate) flexible substrates. Fabrication steps include deposition of conductive electrodes, dielectric and barrier layers using low-temperature processing suitable for plastics, and plasma-enabled pixel activation. The panels showcase flexibility, mechanical durability, and stable electrical performance, making them promising for wearable environmental and touch sensors.

3. Carbon Nanotube Display Fabrication Techniques

• Publication: Nanotechnology Letters, 2007

• Citations: 60

• Summary:
  This work reviews or reports novel techniques to produce carbon nanotube (CNT)–based displays. Approaches covered include:

  • Spray-coating CNT inks onto glass/plastic for transparent conductive layers.

  • Langmuir–Blodgett assembly of aligned CNT monolayers (see related work on CNT networks in Physica E) ui.adsabs.harvard.edu+1arxiv.org+1.

  • PECVD-driven alignment and patterning for field-emission displays.

  • Integration of CNTs into thin-film transistor backplanes.

Conclusion

Based on the available information, Dr. Zeinab Sanaee is a strong candidate for the Best Researcher Award, especially at the institutional or national level. Her leadership in nanofabrication and energy storage, coupled with a solid academic foundation and research continuity, highlight her as a dedicated and impactful researcher.