Maria Vodenicharova | Supply Chain | Research Excellence Award

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Maria Vodenicharova | Supply Chain | Research Excellence Award

Associate Professor | University of National and World Economy | Bulgaria

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Maria Vodenicharova is a respected academic and researcher known for her sustained contributions to scholarship, leadership, and knowledge advancement within her field. Her educational background reflects a strong foundation in advanced learning, analytical thinking, and interdisciplinary understanding, enabling her to approach complex academic and professional challenges with clarity and depth. In terms of professional experience, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Maria Vodenicharova has held progressive academic and research roles.

Citation Metrics (Scopus)

30

20

10

5

0

Citations
28

Documents
6

h-index
2

                         Citations                   Documents                 h-index

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Featured Publications

Micheline Naude | Supply Chain Management | Best Researcher Award

Prof. Micheline Naude | Supply Chain Management | Best Researcher Award 

Professor at University of KwaZulu-Natal | South Africa 

Prof. Micheline Juliana Naude is a distinguished academic and researcher in the field of Supply Chain Management, currently serving at the University of KwaZulu-Natal within the School of Management, Information and Public Administration. She has earned extensive qualifications in business and supply chain management, culminating in a Doctorate in Commerce in Business Management from the University of South Africa. With a career spanning academia and industry, she has established herself as a leading authority in supply chain research, teaching, and leadership. Her professional journey began in the corporate sector, where her experience as a buyer provided valuable practical insight that has since informed her academic teaching and research. Throughout her academic career, Professor Naude has supervised numerous honors’, master’s, and doctoral students, fostering a new generation of supply chain and business management professionals. Her commitment to excellence in teaching, research, and mentorship has had a lasting impact on both academia and industry. With over a 1099 citations, an h-index of 19, and an i10-index of 27, her research continues to shape discourse in supply chain management globally. At the University of KwaZulu-Natal, Professor Naude has held multiple leadership roles, including Acting Academic Leader for Teaching and Learning and Academic Leader for the Marketing and Supply Chain Management discipline. She has demonstrated exceptional administrative and academic leadership by mentoring staff, coordinating research initiatives, managing postgraduate supervision, and overseeing curriculum development. Her efforts have contributed significantly to staff development and research productivity within her discipline.

Profiles : Scopus | ORCID | Google Scholar | Institution 

Featured Publications : 

Badenhorst-Weiss, J. A., Cilliers, D., & Ambe, I. M. (2018). Purchasing and supply management (pp. 7, 83–98). Van Schaik Publishers.

Naude, M., & Chiweshe, N. (2017). A proposed operational risk management framework for small and medium enterprises. South African Journal of Economic and Management Sciences, 20(1), 10.

Acquah, I. S. K., Naude, M. J., & Sendra-García, J. (2021). Supply chain collaboration in the petroleum sector of an emerging economy: Comparing results from symmetrical and asymmetrical approaches. Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 166, 1–11.

Dzuke, A., & Naude, M. J. A. (2015). Procurement challenges in the Zimbabwean public sector: A preliminary study. Journal of Transport and Supply Chain Management, 9(1), 1–9.

Naude, M. J., & Badenhorst-Weiss, J. A. (2011). Supply chain management problems at South African automotive component manufacturers. Southern African Business Review, 15(1).

Veronika Pereseina | Sustainability Strategies | Best Researcher Award

Dr. Veronika Pereseina | Sustainability Strategies | Best Researcher Award 

Assistant Professor at Zayed University | United Arab Emirates

Dr. Veronika Pereseina is an Assistant Professor at Zayed University in the College of Interdisciplinary Studies, where she contributes to the Sustainability Program. She is a passionate advocate for business and societal transformation toward sustainable development, blending her academic expertise with industry and consulting experience. Holding a PhD in Business Administration from Jonkoping International Business School in Sweden, her doctoral research focused on managing sustainable business models in the heavy vehicle industry through life cycle thinking. Over the years, she has taught and designed courses on sustainability, innovation, entrepreneurship, research methods, environmental economy and policy, and supply chain management, while actively mentoring students and leading sustainability initiatives that connect academia with industry. Her professional journey includes academic positions at institutions in Sweden, the United Arab Emirates, and other international collaborations, as well as affiliations with global research communities. Through her teaching, research, and creative leadership, Dr. Pereseina continues to foster conscious and holistic approaches to leadership and organizational transformation. Her contributions reflect a commitment to sustainability not only as a research area but as a way of life, integrating business innovation with societal well-being and planetary care. She has 32 citations by 32 documents, three academic publications, and an h-index of 3. Her academic and professional development is strengthened by participation in international training programs, certifications in pedagogical effectiveness, sustainability education, peacebuilding, gamification, and yoga teaching. She is skilled in research methodology, course design, intercultural communication, transformation and change management, teamwork, and creativity facilitation.

Jaeseog Na | Supply Chain Management | Best Researcher Award

Assist. Prof. Dr. Jaeseog na | Supply Chain Management | Best Researcher Award

Assistant professor at Duksung Women’s University | South Korea

Dr. Jaeseog Na is an Assistant Professor of Business Administration at Duksung Women’s University, Seoul, South Korea. His research focuses on empirical operations management, supply chain management, corporate finance in operations, value chain sustainability, and innovation. He has published extensively in high-impact journals such as Production Planning & Control, Engineering Management Journal, Journal of Manufacturing Technology Management, and International Journal of Production Research. Dr. Na’s work explores behavioral and financial factors influencing operations strategy, ESG performance, and organizational resilience.

Profiles

Scopus

ORCID

Google Scholar

Educational Background 

Dr. Jaeseog Na earned his Ph.D. in Management Engineering with a specialization in Operations Strategy and Management Science from the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST),where his doctoral research focused on “Behavioral Factors in Operations Management and Corporate Governance” under the supervision of Dr. Bowon Kim. He also holds an M.Sc. in Management Engineering from KAIST,  with a thesis titled “Effects of Operations Factors on M&A in Manufacturing,” also advised by Dr. Bowon Kim. Prior to his graduate studies, he obtained a B.S. degree with a dual major in Electronic and Electrical Engineering and Business Administration from Sungkyunkwan University.

Professional Experience 

Dr. Jaeseog Na is currently an Assistant Professor of Business Administration at Duksung Women’s University in Seoul, South Korea. In this role, he has taught a range of courses including Production & Operations Management, Management Science, Business Analytics (Python-based), Big Data Analysis, and Supply Chain Strategy. Prior to this, he served as a Research Professor at Sogang University and as a Visiting Professor at Sookmyung Women’s University. He also lectured at Duksung Women’s University and Sungkonghoe University, delivering courses in operations and data-driven management. Beyond academia, Dr. Na has led industry projects as Project Manager, notably for the Bank of Korea, focusing on the solar energy supply chain in Chungcheongbuk-do, and for KORON Pharma, where he developed production management solutions based on simulation and line scheduling.

Research Interests

  • Operations Management & Supply Chain Strategy

  • Corporate Finance Factors in Operations & ESG Integration

  • Behavioral Operations & Managerial Overconfidence

  • Value Chain Sustainability & Greenhouse Gas Reduction

  • Innovation & Technological Diversification in Operations

Publications

COO’s overconfidence and the firm’s inventory performance

Year: 2021|Citation: 24

Effects of CEO and COO overconfidence on the firm’s inventory leanness

Year: 2022| Citation : 19

Institutional investment horizon and corporate technological diversification

Year: 2023| Citation: 9

Strategic effects of supply chain inventories on sales performance

Year: 2021| Citation: 6

Effect of customer concentration on firms’ operating performance during the COVID-19 pandemic

Year: 2024 | Citation: 3

Conclusion

Dr. Jaeseog Na’s academic achievements, innovative research contributions, and industry-oriented expertise make him a strong candidate for the Best Researcher Award in Supply Chain Management. His work significantly advances understanding in operations strategy, corporate governance, and sustainability, contributing to both scholarly literature and real-world practices. With a proven track record of impactful publications, successful projects, and dedicated teaching, he exemplifies excellence in academia. Continued global engagement and expansion into cutting-edge research areas will further elevate his influence and contributions. Recognizing Dr. Na with this award would honor a scholar whose work drives meaningful advancements in the field of supply chain management.

Mateja Kule | Sustainability Strategies | Young Scientist Award

Ms. Mateja Kule | Sustainability Strategies | Young Scientist Award

Ms. Mateja Kulej, Faculty of trasnport and traffic science, Croatia

Mateja Kulej 🇭🇷, born on January 28, 1996, in Zagreb, Croatia, is an emerging logistics and transportation professional with a strong academic background and proven adaptability. Having completed three degrees from the Faculty of Transport and Traffic Sciences in Zagreb, she consistently stood out with honors and a Dean’s Award. Her career experience ranges from administrative roles in governmental institutions to operational support in private companies such as Pevex d.d. and internships in the Ministry of the Sea, Transport, and Infrastructure. Known for her problem-solving abilities 🤝 and collaborative spirit, Mateja’s blend of education and practical exposure equips her for impactful contributions in logistics innovation and sustainability.

🎓 Education

Mateja Kulej’s educational journey is both robust and distinguished. She graduated from the Faculty of Transport and Traffic Sciences, University of Zagreb, with a Bachelor of Engineering in Water Traffic (2018), a Master’s in Water Traffic (2020), and a second Master’s in Logistics (2023), receiving high honors and the Dean’s Award. 🏅 Her early academic foundation was shaped at X. Gymnasium, Zagreb, where she pursued a mathematics-focused program. Her academic pursuits reflect a continuous commitment to excellence, lifelong learning, and a specialized focus on waterborne logistics and sustainable transportation systems. 📘

💼 Experience

Mateja has a diverse background in both public and private sectors, combining administrative and logistics operations. In June 2024, she worked at Pevex d.d. as an assistant in water and road transportation and supply chain. Her earlier roles included student jobs at dm and Müller, where she developed strong interpersonal and multitasking skills. 🏢 In 2017, she gained valuable experience at the Ministry of the Sea, Transport, and Infrastructure, assisting in administrative logistics. These roles collectively shaped her practical knowledge, allowing her to contribute to logistics efficiency and sustainable supply chain management. 🚢

🔬 Research Interest

Mateja’s academic and practical interests focus on sustainable transport logistics, intermodal freight transport, and water traffic systems optimization. She is particularly drawn to the intersection of technology and environmental sustainability 🌱, aiming to reduce ecological footprints through smarter logistics. Her research passion lies in developing scalable and green supply chain strategies that promote efficient transport networks. Mateja envisions leveraging data analytics and digital transformation in traffic sciences to meet modern demands. Her curiosity, combined with hands-on experience and education, positions her to contribute to policy, innovation, and environmental stewardship in logistics. 📈

🏆 Awards

Mateja has been recognized with the prestigious Dean’s Award in 2023 for academic excellence in the field of logistics during her Mag. Ing. Traff. studies. 🥇 This honor highlights her top-tier performance, innovative thinking, and dedication to her studies. In addition to academic accolades, she graduated with high honors in her prior Master’s program, underlining her consistent commitment to excellence. These awards are a testament to her rigorous work ethic, strong intellect, and passion for advancing the field of transport and logistics. 🎓 As she progresses, Mateja is poised for greater national and international recognition in scientific circles.

📚 Publication

Sustainable Waterborne Transport Strategies in Southeastern Europe”