Keynotes

Prof. Burak Ülgüt is an Associate Professor in the Department of Chemistry at Bilkent University, Ankara, Turkey, where he leads the Electrochemical Measurement and Modeling Group. He received his PhD from Cornell University in 2007, followed by postdoctoral research at the University of Cambridge.

Before returning to academia, he worked at Gamry Instruments Inc. (2008-2014) developing electrochemical instrumentation, and at İnci Akü (2014-2015) on industrial battery research. His current research centers on impedance-based models of energy storage and conversion systems, instrumentation and in-situ electrochemical techniques, and electrochemical noise measurements.

Education & Industry Experience

Burak Ülgüt earned his PhD from Cornell University in 2007 and completed postdoctoral research at the University of Cambridge (2007-2008). He then spent several years in industry, working at Gamry Instruments Inc. (2008-2014), a leading manufacturer of electrochemical instrumentation, followed by a position at İnci Akü (2014-2015), a major battery manufacturer, before joining Bilkent University.

Research Leadership

At Bilkent University, Prof. Ülgüt leads the Electrochemical Measurement and Modeling Group, which develops new measurement tools and methods centered on electrochemistry, largely motivated by problems in energy storage and conversion systems.

Research Focus

• Impedance-based models of energy storage and conversion systems
• Instrumentation and in-situ electrochemical techniques
• Electrochemical noise measurements
• Ultrafast spectroelectrochemistry

Industry-Academia Bridge

His combined background in instrumentation manufacturing, applied battery research, and academic research gives him a distinctive perspective on signal analysis for electrochemical systems, bridging rigorous measurement theory with the practical constraints of real-world instrumentation.

PD Dr.-Ing. André Weber is Academic Senior Councillor and leads the Batteries, Fuel Cells and Electrolysis group at KIT's Institute for Applied Materials - Electrochemical Technologies (IAM-ET) in Karlsruhe, Germany.

His research focuses on the characterization and modeling of electrochemical energy converters and storage devices across multiple scales - from the electrochemical and microstructural properties of porous electrodes to the performance and lifetime analysis of engineered cells and the dynamic behavior of full systems, covering both high-temperature fuel cells/electrolyzers (SOFC/SOEC) and low-temperature polymer electrolyte systems (PEMFC/PEMEL) as well as lithium-ion and solid-electrolyte batteries.

Position & Research Group

PD Dr.-Ing. André Weber is Academic Senior Councillor at the Institute for Applied Materials - Electrochemical Technologies (IAM-ET), Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), where he heads the Batteries, Fuel Cells and Electrolysis research group.

Research Focus

• Characterization and modeling of electrochemical energy converters and storage devices
• Electrochemical and microstructural properties of porous electrodes
• Performance and lifetime analysis of engineered cells
• Dynamic behavior of complete electrochemical systems

Application Areas

• High-temperature fuel cells and electrolyzers (SOFC, SOEC)
• Low-temperature polymer electrolyte systems (PEMFC, PEMEL)
• Lithium-ion and solid-electrolyte batteries
• Nonlinear Frequency Response Analysis (NFRA) for online lithium plating detection

Impedance-Based Characterization Across Technologies

A central theme of his research is the use of impedance-based methods to characterize and model electrochemical systems consistently across very different operating regimes, allowing direct comparison between high- and low-temperature fuel cells and electrolyzers as well as battery systems.

Prof. Franco Simini is Professor of Biomedical Engineering and Medical Informatics at the Universidad de la República, Uruguay, where in 1985 he founded the Núcleo de Ingeniería Biomédica (NIB), a joint department of the Medical and Engineering Faculties. He trained as an electrical engineer, with studies at the University of Pisa, Italy, and holds a doctorate in electrical engineering.

His research centres on low-cost solutions to clinical problems, including electrical impedance tomography for monitoring pulmonary oedema (IMPETOM), non-invasive reduction of intra-abdominal pressure (ABDOPRE), biomechanics instrumentation, and medical informatics. He is co-designer of the Perinatal Information System (SIP), long used across Latin America and the Caribbean. Named Outstanding Engineer in Uruguay (2022) and a member of the National Academy of Engineering of Uruguay (2025), he is an IEEE Life Senior Member active in technology transfer, university governance, and the organisation of major international biomedical engineering congresses.

Education & Early Career

Franco Simini trained as an electrical engineer, with studies at the University of Pisa, Italy, and holds a doctorate in electrical engineering. Early in his career he designed the Perinatal Information System (SIP) for PAHO/WHO, a pioneering record of pregnancies and births used across the Americas from the 1980s onward.

Academic Career & Leadership

In 1985 he founded the Núcleo de Ingeniería Biomédica (NIB) at the Universidad de la República, a joint department of the Medical and Engineering Faculties, which he continues to coordinate. He has directed some 120 biomedical engineering and medical informatics projects and theses, created nine postgraduate courses, and published books on biomedical engineering, bioimpedance, and medical engineering. He was also a founding committee member (2008–2013) of the University's Espacio Interdisciplinario.

Research Focus

• Electrical impedance tomography for lung monitoring (IMPETOM)
• Non-invasive reduction of intra-abdominal pressure (ABDOPRE)
• Biomechanics instrumentation for rehabilitation and sports (DINABANG)
• Medical informatics and software for chronic-condition follow-up
• Low-cost medical device design and technology transfer

Recognition & Professional Activities

He was named Outstanding Engineer in Uruguay (2022) and elected to the National Academy of Engineering of Uruguay (2025). An IEEE Life Senior Member, he has chaired the CLABIO 2015 (bioimpedance), SABI 2020, and 3DAHM 2024 congresses, chairs IEEE-MeMeA 2026 in Uruguay, and is working towards the 2028 World IFMBE Congress in Monterrey, Mexico.

Prof. Bilel Hafsi an Associate Professor at ICAM in Lille, France, and a member of the NCM group. He received his Master's degree from the University of Monastir, Tunisia (2012) and his PhD in micro- and nanoelectronics, acoustics and telecommunications from the University of Lille, France (2016). His research background lies in organic electronics, physics, computer modelling, and self-assembly processes, focused on creating new functional materials as building blocks for novel soft-electronic devices.

During his PhD at the Institute of Electronics, Microelectronics and Nanotechnology (IEMN), under the guidance of Prof. Kamal Lmimouni and Prof. Adel Kalboussi, he developed Nanoparticle Organic Memory Field-Effect Transistors (NOMFETs). His more recent work centres on portable, low-cost impedance spectroscopy platforms built around the AD5933 impedance analyzer for gas sensing (electronic nose) and skin bioimpedance measurements, bridging his organic-electronics background with applied impedance-based sensing.

Education & Research Background

Bilel Hafsi received his Master's degree from the University of Monastir, Tunisia (2012) and his PhD in micro- and nanoelectronics, acoustics and telecommunications from the University of Lille, France (2016). His PhD, carried out at the Institute of Electronics, Microelectronics and Nanotechnology (IEMN) under Prof. Kamal Lmimouni and Prof. Adel Kalboussi, focused on Nanoparticle Organic Memory Field-Effect Transistors (NOMFETs) and, later, memory devices based on gold nanoparticles and reduced graphene oxide.

Academic & Industry Experience

From 2016 to 2018 he was a teaching and research assistant at École Centrale Lille, and has also worked at IMT Lille-Douai and the University of Lille. Within the AIMAN-Films group he worked on phononic-crystal surface acoustic wave (SAW) sensors, and he gained industry experience as a "Dream Consultant" at Techshop Les Ateliers Leroy Merlin, supervising IoT and robotics projects.

Research Focus

• Portable, low-cost impedance spectroscopy platforms (AD5933-based) for gas sensing and bioimpedance
• Organic electronics and organic memory devices (NOMFETs; gold-nanoparticle / reduced graphene oxide memories)
• Functional materials and self-assembly processes
• Phononic-crystal surface acoustic wave (SAW) sensors

Current Position

He is currently an Associate Professor at ICAM in Lille, France, and a member of the NCM group since 2021, where his work bridges functional materials, organic electronics, and impedance-based sensing.