Announcements

We are delighted to welcome you to the webinar “Cultural Heritage Mapping and Monitoring”, organized under the framework of the COASTLINE project (HORIZON-MSCA-2022-SE). This workshop brings together a diverse community of experts from universities, research centers, and SMEs, all actively engaged in the documentation, analysis, and preservation of cultural heritage through advanced mapping and monitoring techniques.

The program features presentations on Earth Observation applications, geophysical prospection, coastal bathymetry, and multi-source geoinformatics workflows. It also highlights innovative visualization tools, including drone-based imaging, virtual reality (VR), and augmented reality (AR), offering immersive experiences for cultural heritage interpretation.

A dedicated dissemination session will provide valuable insights into the MSCA Staff Exchanges and the integration of Open Science practices in research projects.

We look forward to your active participation in this collaborative and knowledge-rich event.

Date: 5 June 2025 at 9:30 a.m. CEST | 3:30 p.m. CST Asia
Webinar ID: 879 4605 8203
Website: https://sciforum.net/event/Topics-36

Register now for free!

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information on how to join the webinar. Registrations with academic institutional email addresses will be prioritized.

Unable to attend? Register anyway, and we will let you know when the recording is available to watch.

Webinar Chair and Keynote Speakers:

• Dr. Apostolos Papakonstantinou, Department of Civil Engineering and Geomatics, School of Engineering and Technology, Cyprus University of Technology, Cyprus;
• Dr. Athos Agapiou, Department of Civil Engineering and Geomatics, School of Engineering and Technology, Cyprus University of Technology, Cyprus;
• Dr. Nikos Papadopoulos, Institute for Mediterranean Studies (IMS), Foundation for Research & Technology Hellas (FORTH), Greece;
• Dr. Dimitrios Skarlatos, Department of Civil Engineering and Geomatics, School of Engineering and Technology, Cyprus University of Technology, Cyprus;
• Dr. Alessandra Capolupo, Department of Civil, Environmental, Land, Construction and Chemistry (DICATECh), Politecnico di Bari, Italy;
• Mr. Savvas Varitimiadis, Aegean Solutions S.S., Greece.

 Relevant Special Issue:

“Innovative UAV and Satellite Technologies and Applications for Spatiotemporal Analysis”
Guest Editors: Dr. Apostolos Papakonstantinou, Prof. Eufemia Tarantino, Dr. Alessandra Capolupo and Dr. Athos Agapiou

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 November 2025

From 27 April to 2 May 2025, MDPI joined the European Geosciences Union (EGU) General Assembly in Vienna, Austria, welcoming over 20,984 attendees from 120+ countries at booth 02 in the Entrance Hall. This landmark event featured 18,934 presentations across 1,102 sessions, with 56% of abstracts contributed by Early Career Scientists (ECSs)—a testament to the vibrant future of geosciences.

Academic Engagement: Dialogue and Collaboration

Meet the Editors-in-Chief
We hosted two insightful sessions with editorial leaders from top journals:

• April 28: Prof. Dr. Stephen Macko (Editor-in-Chief of Nitrogen) and Prof. Dr. Zhong Lu (Editor-in-Chief of GeoHazards);
• April 29: Dr. Tommaso Caloiero (Section Editor-in-Chief of Hydrology) and Prof. Dr. Rui A. P. Perdigão (Section Editor-in-Chief of Climate).

These discussions fostered meaningful connections between attendees and editors, strengthening our commitment to supporting scholarly exchange.

Environmental and Earth Sciences Journals Editorial Board Meeting

Award Ceremonies: Honoring Innovation

Remote Sensing Travel Award
On April 30, Dr. Nicola Nocentini (University of Padua and University of Florence) received the award from Associate Editor Prof. Dr. Fabio Tosti. Following the ceremony, Dr. Nocentini shared insights into an exclusive booth interview.

Geosciences Best Paper Award

Prof. Dr. Olivier Lacombe (Section Editor-in-Chief of Geosciences) presented the award for the paper “Improving the Estimation of the Occurrence Time of an Impending Major Earthquake Using the Entropy Change of Seismicity in Natural Time Analysis”—a groundbreaking study on earthquake prediction.

Interactive Highlights: Fun and Engagement

Raffle Games
Attendees enjoyed lively prize draws, with customized gifts adding a playful touch to scientific networking.

Quick Q&A Sessions
Topic-based quizzes sparked friendly competition, turning academic curiosity into interactive fun—even hesitant scholars joined the excitement!

Looking Ahead: Advancing Open Science

Participating in the EGU General Assembly constituted a profoundly enriching experience. Through this engagement, we engaged in profound dialogues not only with authors, reviewers, and members of the Editorial Boards associated with MDPI, but also were afforded the invaluable opportunity to disseminate our institutional mission to emerging scholars.
As an entity steadfastly committed to fostering open scientific exchange across all academic disciplines, MDPI reaffirms its unwavering dedication to advancing global scholarship. We earnestly look forward to prospects of connecting with researchers from around the world, collaborating in unison to expand the frontiers of knowledge and advocate for the practices of open science.

We are delighted to share the highlights from our recent participation at EGU 2025 from 27 April to 2 May 2025. MDPI held a successful exhibition at the conference, and one of the most exciting events was the Remote Sensing Travel Award Ceremony held at our booth #02, during which the Associate Editor of our journal and the Director of the UWL Faringdon Research Centre, Prof. Dr. Fabio Tosti, presented the Travel Award to Dr. Nicola Nocentini. This interview took place while Dr. Nocentini attended the conference, and our journal was exhibiting at the conference.

Prof. Dr. Fabio Tosti and Dr. Nicola Nocentini (from left to right).

Remote Sensing Travel Award
The Remote Sensing Travel Award was launched in 2017, and it is presented every year to encourage junior scientists to present their latest research at academic conferences in the remote sensing technology field, which helps to increase their influence. Applications are open from April to October, and winners are announced at the end of December every year.

We are honored to present an interview with the winner, Dr. Nicola Nocentini:

Could you briefly introduce yourself to our readers and tell us a little bit about your field of interest?
I am a post-doctoral researcher at the University of Florence. My background is in geology. My research mainly focuses on landslide forecasting using statistical methods, rainfall thresholds, as well as more rigorous physically based models and innovative machine learning algorithms. Currently, I'm also focused on designing tools and approaches for supporting landslides early warning systems.

What do you think is significant about this award for your research career and your participation in this conference?
This award is a great honor and a very strong encouragement for my research. It validates the efforts I put into my research. With this Travel Award, I was able to participate in this conference. It gave me the possibility to meet other researchers, do networking, and present my work. As a younger researcher, I really need this kind of encouragement right now.

As a result of our journal award, what are your thoughts on the role our journal plays in the academic community, especially supporting scholars like you?
In my opinion, the role of Remote Sensing, and MDPI in general, is really important for disseminating high-quality and open access research. It's very supportive for young researchers like me. The awards and other activities offered by the journal and MDPI, such as the opportunity to become an early career editor, are unique in the field compared to other journals. The efforts and help that the journal offers to younger researchers are very important.

Which research topic do you think will be of particular interest to the research community in the coming years?
In the coming years, I believe research will increasingly focus on the integration of machine learning and multi-source data for multi-hazard forecasting, especially in areas made more vulnerable by climate change and unplanned urbanization. Key priorities will include the development of scalable, interpretable, and real-time adaptive models capable of accurately forecasting hazards such as landslides, floods, and wildfires, and supporting both early warning systems and resilient urban planning.

What connections or conversations have you had at the conference that might spark new collaboration, even ones that might be unexpected?
Although I arrived late and didn't have much time for networking up to the time of this interview, I attended a poster session this morning and found many interesting works on the effects of haphazard urbanization in triggering landslides and floods. I think this is a very important topic for future research. Tomorrow, I'll have my oral presentation and present a poster. I'll have the opportunity to meet other researchers and exchange ideas.

We want to thank Dr. Nocentini for sharing his thoughts with us, and congratulate him again on his award.

MDPI is excited to collaborate with Toronto Metropolitan University to host an engaging Scientific Publishing Workshop aimed at empowering scholars with the knowledge and tools needed to succeed in academic publishing. This workshop will delve into the key aspects of MDPI’s open access publishing framework, offering an in-depth exploration of journal selection, the editorial workflow, and the essentials of publication ethics. Participants will also gain practical advice on improving their scientific writing and effectively addressing reviewer comments, with guidance from an experienced professional. This session promises to equip attendees with valuable skills to elevate their publishing journey.

Workshop Highlights:

• Learn How to Better Write and Structure a Research Article;
• How to Choose Where to Publish Academic Work;
• How to Respond to Reviewer Comments;
• Reasons for Rejection During Pre-Check;
• How to Navigate Through Ethics and AI Use.

Date: 15 May 2025
Time: 12:00–1:30 p.m.
Venue: Toronto Metropolitan University

Program:

On the International Day of Plant Health, we recognize the vital role that healthy plants play in securing food, sustaining livelihoods, and protecting biodiversity. Plant health is fundamental to global food security, environmental sustainability, and economic development. As the world faces the increasing threat of plant pests and diseases, exacerbated by climate change, global trade, and unsustainable practices, this day serves as a call to action for stronger phytosanitary systems and international collaboration.

Aligned with this year’s theme of “The Importance of Plant Health in One Health”, we invite you to explore selected articles, Special Issues, and journals that span fields such as biology, biosciences, agriculture, and plant science. Healthy plants are the foundation of food security, ecosystems, and global biodiversity. By sharing research that addresses plant pests and diseases, we aim to inspire action and foster collaboration to strengthen plant protection, ultimately supporting a healthier, more sustainable future for all.

Keynote speakers:

Prof. Dr. Horacio Heinzen University of the Republic, Uruguay	Dr. Azucena González Coloma Institute of Agricultural Sciences, CSIC, Spain
Prof. Dr. Assunta Bertaccini Alma Mater Studiorum - University of Bologna, Italy	Prof. Dr. Hikmet Budak Arizona Western College, United States

Feel free to register for the webinar here!

“Phytochemical Profile, Antioxidant and Antimicrobial Activity of Two Species of Oak: Quercus sartorii and Quercus rysophylla”
by Elizabeth Coyotl-Martinez, Juan Alex Hernández-Rivera, José L. Arturo Parra-Suarez, Sandra Raquel Reyes-Carmona and Alan Carrasco-Carballo
Appl. Biosci. 2025, 4(1), 13; https://doi.org/10.3390/applbiosci4010013

“Flavonoids as Insecticides in Crop Protection—A Review of Current Research and Future Prospects”
by Verónica Pereira, Onofre Figueira and Paula C. Castilho
Plants 2024, 13(6), 776; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13060776

“The Function of Root Exudates in the Root Colonization by Beneficial Soil Rhizobacteria”
by Lin Chen and Yunpeng Liu
Biology 2024, 13(2), 95; https://doi.org/10.3390/biology13020095

“A New Gonolobus Species (Apocynaceae, Asclepiadoideae) from Sinaloa, Mexico”
by Leonardo O. Alvarado-Cárdenas, Juan F. Pío-León, Gilberto Morillo and Carla Sofía Islas-Hernández
Taxonomy 2024, 4(1), 1-9; https://doi.org/10.3390/taxonomy4010001

“Zamia magnifica (Zamiaceae, Cycadales): A New Rupicolous Cycad Species from Sierra Norte, Oaxaca, Mexico”
by Miguel Angel Pérez-Farrera, José Said Gutiérrez-Ortega, Mauricio Gerónimo Martínez-Martínez and Michael Calonje
Taxonomy 2023, 3(2), 232-249; https://doi.org/10.3390/taxonomy3020017

“Manipulation of the Cellular Membrane-Cytoskeleton Network for RNA Virus Replication and Movement in Plants”
by Rongrong He, Yinzi Li, Mark A. Bernards and Aiming Wang
Viruses 2023, 15(3), 744; https://doi.org/10.3390/v15030744

“Tissue Culture—A Sustainable Approach to Explore Plant Stresses”
by Akila Wijerathna-Yapa and Jayeni Hiti-Bandaralage
Life 2023, 13(3), 780; https://doi.org/10.3390/life13030780

“Geometric Morphometric Versus Genomic Patterns in a Large Polyploid Plant Species Complex”
by Ladislav Hodač, Kevin Karbstein, Salvatore Tomasello, Jana Wäldchen, John Paul Bradican and Elvira Hörandl
Biology 2023, 12(3), 418; https://doi.org/10.3390/biology12030418

“Identification and Characterization of Neofusicoccum stellenboschiana in Branch and Twig Dieback-Affected Olive Trees in Italy and Comparative Pathogenicity with N. mediterraneum”
by Giuliano Manetti, Angela Brunetti, Valentina Lumia, Lorenzo Sciarroni, Paolo Marangi, Nicola Cristella, Francesco Faggioli, Massimo Reverberi, Marco Scortichini and Massimo Pilotti
J. Fungi 2023, 9(3), 292; https://doi.org/10.3390/jof9030292

“Plants as Biofactories for Therapeutic Proteins and Antiviral Compounds to Combat COVID-19”
by Corbin England, Jonathan TrejoMartinez, Paula PerezSanchez, Uddhab Karki and Jianfeng Xu
Life 2023, 13(3), 617; https://doi.org/10.3390/life13030617

“Epichloë Endophytes Shape the Foliar Endophytic Fungal Microbiome and Alter the Auxin and Salicylic Acid Phytohormone Levels in Two Meadow Fescue Cultivars”
by Suni Anie Matthew, Marjo Helander, Kari Saikkonen, Radomira Vankova, Petre I. Dobrev, Serdar Dirihan and Benjamin Fuchs
J. Fungi 2023, 9(1), 90; https://doi.org/10.3390/jof9010090

“Molecular Basis of Seed Germination and Dormancy” Guest Editors: Dr. Yifeng Wang, Prof. Dr. Jiezheng Ying, Dr. Xiaohong Tong and Dr. Yu Cheng Submission deadline: 31 August 2025	“Diversity and Taxonomy of Scarabaeoidea” Guest Editor: Dr. Frank-Thorsten Krell Submission deadline: 31 October 2025
“The Silent Players of Forest Ecosystems: Viruses, Viroids, and Beyond” Guest Editor: Dr. Leticia Botella Sánchez Submission deadline: 31 December 2025	“Plant–Insect Interactions—3rd Edition” Guest Editor: Dr. Francisco Rubén Badenes-Pérez Submission deadline: 31 December 2025

MDPI will be attending the Japan Geoscience Union Meeting 2025 in Chiba, Japan, which will take place from 25 to 30 May 2025. The conference will focus on the theme of “Earth and planetary sciences”.

The annual meeting held in May is a major event related to Earth and planetary sciences in Japan. It is a valuable opportunity to develop various fields in Earth and planetary sciences through presentations and discussions, and to promote interdisciplinary and inter-researcher exchanges. The hybrid format is a mechanism that allows for diverse forms of convention participation. The conference will continue with the hybrid format this year with some revisions. International research exchanges, which had been temporarily stagnant, have become much more active, and the number of overseas participants in the JPGU Meeting has been increasing. If you are attending the conference, please visit our booth; our delegates look forward to meeting you in person and answering any questions you may have.

The following MDPI journals will be represented at the conference:

• Quaternary (leading);
• Geotechnics;
• Geomatics;
• Geographies;
• Atmosphere;
• Climate;
• Geosciences;
• GeoHazards;
• Remote Sensing;
• Mining;
• Land;
• Earth;
• Minerals;
• IJGI;
• Fossil Studies.

A message from the webinar Chair:

Vegetation cover maps, whether they focus on structural attributes, ecological aspects, or biomass content, are invaluable for understanding Earth’s ecosystems in a spatial context.

The advent of Earth Observation data has transformed vegetation mapping and trend analysis, delivering datasets with various spatial and spectral resolutions on a global scale. Vegetation mapping and analysis provide critical insights into the distribution and density of vegetation, while also highlighting the impact of environmental changes on biodiversity and ecosystems. The accurate interpretation of this remote sensing data necessitates sophisticated analytical techniques to manage their complexity and vastness.

Join us for an insightful webinar that explores cutting-edge machine learning methodologies and their role in vegetation analysis using Earth Observation (EO) data. This webinar features four scholars presenting their latest research on how machine learning and EO data can enhance vegetation monitoring and mapping. This will facilitate the exchange of insights and ideas among participants while fostering opportunities for future collaboration.

We are privileged to welcome esteemed research scientists and academics from recognized research institutions and universities in Australia. They will share their expertise and findings on the effective application of machine learning technology in Earth Observation data in obtaining essential information related to climate change, land use planning, ecosystem conservation, weed management, and agricultural management.

Webinar: EO&GEO Series: Investigating State-of-the-Art Machine Learning Approaches in Vegetation Analysis through Earth Observation Data
Date: 15 May 2025
Time: 3.00 p.m. AEST | 1.00 p.m. CST | 7.00 a.m. CEST
Webinar ID: 854 2945 1681
More information: https://sciforum.net/event/topics-34

This is a free webinar. After registration, you will receive a confirmation email on how to join the webinar. Registrations with academic institutional email addresses will be prioritized.

Unable to attend? Register anyway, and we will let you know when the recording becomes available for viewing.

Register for free:

Program:

Webinar Chairs and Speakers:

• Dr. Arnick Abdollahi, University of Technology Sydney, New South Wales, Australia;
• Dr. Chandrama Sarker, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), Australia;
• Dr. Catherine Ticehurst, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), Australia;
• Dr. Sanjeev Kumar Srivastava, University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia;
• Dr. Roozbeh Valavi, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), Australia);
• Dr. Kate Giljohann, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), Australia.

Relevant Special Issue:

“Investigating State-of-the-Art Machine Learning Approaches in Vegetation Analysis through Earth Observation Data”
Guest Editors: Dr. Arnick Abdollahi and Dr. Chandrama Sarker
Deadline for submission: 25 May 2025

Relevant Papers:
“Retrieval of Crop Canopy Chlorophyll: Machine Learning vs. Radiative Transfer Model”
by Mir Md Tasnim Alam, Anita Simic Milas, Mateo Gašparović and Henry Poku Osei
Remote Sens. 2024, 16(12), 2058; https://doi.org/10.3390/rs16122058

“A Robust Dual-Mode Machine Learning Framework for Classifying Deforestation Patterns in Amazon Native Lands”
by Julia Rodrigues, Mauricio Araújo Dias, Rogério Negri, Sardar Muhammad Hussain and Wallace Casaca
Land 2024, 13(9), 1427; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13091427

“Evaluating Land Surface Temperature Trends and Explanatory Variables in the Miami Metropolitan Area from 2002–2021”
by Alanna D. Shapiro and Weibo Liu
Geomatics 2024, 4(1), 1-16; https://doi.org/10.3390/geomatics4010001

“A GIS-Based Framework to Analyze the Behavior of Urban Greenery During Heatwaves Using Satellite Data”
by Barbara Cardone, Ferdinando Di Martino, Cristiano Mauriello and Vittorio Miraglia
ISPRS Int. J. Geo-Inf. 2024, 13(11), 377; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijgi13110377

“UAV-Based Wetland Monitoring: Multispectral and Lidar Fusion with Random Forest Classification”
by Robert Van Alphen, Kai C. Rains, Mel Rodgers, Rocco Malservisi and Timothy H. Dixon
Drones 2024, 8(3), 113; https://doi.org/10.3390/drones8030113

Conference: Dreiländertagung 2025 (Trinational Conference 2025 of the Swiss, German, and Austrian Societies for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing)
Organization: University of Applied Sciences Northwestern Switzerland
Date: 3–5 June 2025
Place: Muttenz, Switzerland

MDPI journals will be attending Dreiländertagung 2025 as an exhibitor. This meeting will be held in Muttenz, Switzerland, from 3 to 5 June 2025.

The objectives of Dreiländertagung 2025 are to bring together the photogrammetry, remote sensing, and geoinformation societies of Switzerland, Germany, and Austria. The conference aims to showcase the current state of research and technology in the German-speaking world. It focuses on leveraging spatial image data and artificial intelligence as key drivers of future developments, while also providing a platform for sharing current experiences and promoting the creation of sustainable habitats.

The conference topics will include, but are not limited to, the following: photogrammetric methods and innovations, remote sensing technologies and applications, artificial intelligence in geospatial data processing, 3D modeling and digital twins of urban and natural environments, UAV and satellite-based data acquisition, Geographic Information Systems (GISs) for smart cities, climate monitoring and environmental change analysis, sustainable land use and habitat planning, spatial data infrastructures and interoperability, education and training in geoinformation sciences, and cross-border geospatial collaboration in the DACH region.

The following MDPI journals will be represented:

• Remote Sensing;
• Geomatics;
• GeoHazards;
• IJGI;
• Land;
• Sensors;
• Sustainability.

If you plan to attend this conference, please feel free to start a conversation with us. Our delegates look forward to meeting you in person and answering any questions you may have. For more information about the conference, please visit the following website: https://www.fhnw.ch/plattformen/dlt2025/.

We are honored to introduce the award committee for the 2024 Tu Youyou Award, composed of distinguished scientists from around the world whose research covers diverse areas of natural product chemistry, pharmacognosy, and drug discovery. Their broad expertise and pioneering contributions have significantly advanced medicinal and natural products research.

Through their collective insights, rigorous evaluation, the committee has carefully selected this year’s award recipients, recognizing exceptional achievements in the field.

We sincerely thank these distinguished scholars for their efforts and dedication to upholding the standards of the Tu Youyou Award.  Below is the list of committee members. For more information about the Tu Youyou Award, please visit https://tuyouyouprize.org/. 

Chair:

Prof. Dr. A. Douglas Kinghorn Ohio State University, USA

Prof. Dr. A. Douglas Kinghorn is a leading expert in pharmacognosy and natural products research. He is recognized for his key contributions to discovering bioactive compounds from plants, especially in anticancer, cancer chemopreventive, and substances with a sweet taste and taste-modifying agents. His prolific contributions include over 590 peer-reviewed works and book chapters and edited or co-edited 40 scientific volumes.

Prof. Angelo Fontana University of Naples “Federico II”, Italy	Angelo Fontana is a Professor of Organic Chemistry at the University of Naples “Federico II” in Italy and serves as Director of the Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry at the National Research Council (CNR). His research focuses on bioactive small molecules derived from marine eukaryotes, with a particular interest on their pharmaceutical applications in immunology and oncology. He also explores their potential as molecular tools for probing and modulating complex biological systems. Prof. Fontana is a co-founder of BioSEArch SRL and has been recognized with numerous grants and honors, including the Apivita Award from the Phytochemical Society of Europe.
Prof. Binghe Wang Georgia State University, USA	Prof. Binghe Wang’s lab works on drug design, drug delivery, click chemistry, chemical biology, new diagnostics, and gaseous signaling molecules such as carbon monoxide and hydrogen sulfide. His interdisciplinary research supports advances in cancer, infectious diseases, organ protection, inflammation, and other areas.
Dr. Diana Pinto University of Aveiro, Portugal	Dr. Diana Pinto, an Associate Professor at the University of Aveiro, specializes in organic synthesis of bioactive heterocyclic compounds, sustainable catalysis (organo-, heterogeneous, and biocatalysis), and natural product research, including isolation, characterization, and total synthesis.
Prof. Hideaki Kakeya Kyoto University, Japan	Prof. Hideaki Kakeya conducts cutting-edge research in chemical biology, high-throughput screening, and biosynthesis of bioactive natural products for system chemotherapy and other therapeutic applications.
Dr. RuAngelie Edrada-Ebel University of Strathclyde, UK	Prof. RuAngelie Edrada-Ebel heads the Natural Products Metabolomics Group (NPMG), specializing in marine natural products discovery and metabolomics-driven drug development. A recognized expert in bioactive metabolites, she collaborates with industry and academia to address antimicrobial resistance and sustainable bioprospecting. She serves on the Editorial Board of Marine Drugs and holds two patents in the field.
Prof. Thomas Prisinzano University of Kentucky, USA	Prof. Thomas Prisinzano combines medicinal and natural product chemistry to explore neurotransmitter systems and develop treatments for drug abuse and pain. He has received several prestigious awards, including the Innovator Award from the College on Problems of Drug Dependence.
Prof. Wei Li University of Tennessee Health Science Center, USA	A distinguished professor and Director of the Drug Discovery Center, Prof. Wei Li is also the founder of SEAK Therapeutics, and the 2025 Chair-Elect of the Drug Discovery and Development Division of the American Society of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics (ASPET). His work focuses on medicinal chemistry and small molecule drug discovery, with over 200 publications and 15 issued US patents.