Scientific Committee

Camelia is a Senior Lecturer in the Environmental Engineering and Geology Department at the University of Petrosani, Romania. She holds a PhD in Environmental Engineering, an MSc in Environmental Impact Assessment, and a BSc in Environmental Engineering in Mining from the same university. She has robust international working experience as an Environmental Scientist in the consultancy sector and as an International Headhunter & Human Resources Director, finding great people for great jobs, growing dreams, and growing teams. Camelia is a self-motivated, analytical, enthusiastic, and results-oriented professional with strong managerial experience and versatility to adapt and excel in any multidisciplinary and multinational environment, specializing in geo-environmental engineering, mainly contaminated land risk assessment. Her expertise goes even further, as she has been involved in four research grants as Project Director & Research Team Leader within the University of Petrosani. Camelia is an author and co-author of peer-reviewed scientific papers and technical reports.

Stefano is an Associate Professor at the University of Bologna since 2021, he carries out his research in the field of numerical modeling of georesources and occupational safety with particular reference to excavation works. cultural. He currently focuses his research on the theme of optimizing the extraction of ornamental rocks. Engaged in national and international research projects, he collaborates with various European and non-European institutes. The research activity was mainly carried out on the following topics: Geostatistics and its applications in the mining and environmental fields; Characterization and numerical modelling of high, medium and low enthalpy geothermal reservoirs; Software tools for discretization with the integral finite difference method (finite volumes), visualization, pre-and post-processing of numerical simulations; Calculation of pathlines and streamlines for finite volume grids; Use of Ground Penetrating Radar for the characterization of rock masses in mining activities; Optimization of extraction activity in ornamental rock quarries with the use of algorithms specifically developed in-house.

Professor Sorin Mihai RADU is a distinguished academic and the current Rector of the University of Petrosani, Romania. A graduate of the Petrosani Mining Institute, he earned his PhD in Engineering in 1998. Over his career, he has held numerous leadership roles, including Director of European Projects, Research Department Director, and Deputy Dean, contributing significantly to the university's growth and development. Professor Sorin Mihai RADU is a recognised member of several prestigious academies, including the Academy of Natural Sciences of the Russian Federation, the Academy of Mines of Ukraine, and the Transportation Academy of Ukraine. Since 2020, he has served as the President of the mining and oil section of the Technical Sciences Academy of Romania, and in 2022, he became a member of Balkanmine. In addition to his academic roles, he is actively involved in various professional-scientific committees, such as the European Association for International Education and the International Waterjet Association. He also serves as a permanent expert evaluator for the Romanian Agency for Quality Assurance in Higher Education and as a member of the Romanian Council for Doctoral Studies and Titles in Higher Education. Professor Radu's academic contributions include authoring or co-authoring 41 books and over 200 scientific papers. He has led over 70 national and international research projects and holds nine patents. His work has been recognized with numerous awards, including the Silver Gilt Medal from the Société d'Encouragement au Progrès, Paris, and medals from various universities and international organisations. He has been invited as a visiting professor at prestigious universities in France, Poland, Italy, Hungary, and Slovakia and serves on the boards of international congresses and conferences. He is also a reviewer for nine international journals and a member of nine national and international professional associations.

Dr. Emmanouil Varouchakis is an Assistant Professor at the School of Mineral Resources Engineering, Technical University of Crete. Trained as a Chemical Engineer, his expertise lies in geostatistics and environmental modeling, with a strong focus on the quantitative analysis of hydrogeological systems. His research addresses hydrogeological characterization, groundwater resources management, and the integration of sustainable practices in the mining sector. Through advanced geostatistical methods, he contributes to improving decision-making processes related to natural resource management and environmental protection. Dr. Varouchakis has authored numerous scientific publications in the fields of environmental geostatistics and natural resource management. He is actively involved in international research projects and academic collaborations, fostering interdisciplinary approaches to sustainable development in mineral and environmental engineering.

Graduated from the Petrosani Mine Institute in 1986, currently university professor and PhD supervisor at the University of Petrosani. Areas of expertise: mining engineering, slope stability, reclamation of lands degraded by mining. Author of 14 books published in the country and abroad and of over 130 scientific articles published in specialized journals. Manager of several national and international grants and projects.

Prof. Marek Borowski is a university professor at the AGH University of Krakow, affiliated with the Department of Environmental Engineering. His interdisciplinary research focuses on environmental engineering, mining, and energy efficiency, with a particular emphasis on ventilation systems for underground mines, road tunnels, and energy-efficient buildings. A key area of his work involves methane hazard management, developing innovative strategies for methane capture and emission reduction in coal mines. He coordinates the AGH Methane Research Centre and is a member of the UNECE Group of Experts on Coal Mine Methane. He has authored over 300 publications and led numerous international research projects aimed at improving safety and sustainability.

Mihaela Toderas is a Professor at the University of Petrosani, Faculty of Mining, Romania, and a PhD supervisor in Mines, Oil, and Gas (Dr. habil.). Her research expertise lies in the exploitation of underground and quarry mineral resources, stability and reliability of underground mining works, geomechanics, rock mechanics, and rock rheology. Professor Toderas has authored 16 books, including three published by international publishing houses and ten international book chapters. She has published 140 scientific papers in international journals and conferences. She has managed international and national grants and participated in numerous research projects, including 91 research contracts with economic partners. Recognised as an Expert Engineer in the Technical, Economic, and Management of Mining Companies, she earned this title from the National Polytechnic Institute of Loraine, Nancy, France. She is an active member of several professional organisations, including the International Association of Engineering Geology (IAEG) and the International Society for Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering (ISSMGE). In addition to her research, Professor Toderas is a reviewer and member of scientific committees for various international conferences and journals, including several MDPI journals and the Proceedings of the Romanian Academy. She has also been awarded two article-type research results awards for her contributions to the field.

Francesco is Associate Professor of Mining Engineering and Geostatitcs at University of Bologna. He holds a PhD in Geoengineering, Georesources and Geotechnical Engineering. His main research activity deals with Georesources Exploration, Modeling and Exploitation, with special focus on geothermal energy and critical raw materials. He has worked on several projects of international cooperation, among which the EIT RawMaterials Project INCO-Piles 2020, aimed to analyse techniques for the recovery of critical raw materials from stockpiles and tailings, the Horizon H2020 Project GEOTeCH, aimed to develop and test innovative shallow geothermal energy solutions and the Erasmus+ Project GEB, a didactics project with the target to boost geothermal energy University curricula in Egypt. Currently, he teaches Mining Engineering, Blasting and Geostatistics at the Master Degree of Environmental Engineering at University of Bologna and he is involved in the Horizon Europe Projects MINEYE and MINERVA, both on the topic of mining engineering. Author and co-author of various scientific publications, of which 56 indexed in Scopus (February 2026).

Csaba R. Lorint, PhD Eng., is an Associate Professor and Dean of the Mining Faculty at the University of Petroșani, Romania. With over two decades of experience in education, scientific research, and academic management, his expertise lies at the intersection of geosciences, environmental protection, and the management of protected natural areas. Between 2017 and 2020, he served as Head of the Department of Environmental Engineering and Geology within the same faculty. Since 2016, he has also been the President of the Scientific Council of Grădiștea Muncelului-Cioclovina Natural Park, actively contributing to the conservation and sustainable management of this protected area. His research and teaching activities primarily focus on geosciences and their applications in environmental protection, and natural protected area’s management. Over the years, he has authored or co-authored several books and published more than 100 scientific papers in international journals and conference proceedings. His major fields of interest include Geology, Environmental Geology, Applied Geology, Economic Geology, Natural Risks, and Geo- and Biodiversity Conservation. In addition to his academic contributions, he has played a key role in organizing numerous national and international scientific events, serving as a member or chair of organizing committees for workshops, seminars, and conferences in Geology and Environmental Science.

Gelu is a seasoned professional with over three decades of experience in Civil, Mining, and Environmental Engineering. His career spans academic, design, and consulting roles, focusing on geomechanical and geotechnical design. He specializes in numerical methods and probabilistic approaches for underground structures, adept at working with diverse ground conditions, from jointed rock masses to frozen ground. His project experience covers North and South America, Europe, and Africa.

Currently, he serves as the Technical Director at ECO-ROCCA Engineering, a Romanian consultancy specializing in Mining, Geomechanics, and Environment. Gelu also holds a position as a Research Associate at the University of Petrosani. Previously, he was a Professor of Geomechanics at the Polytechnic of Namibia.

As the Scientific Coordinator for the "Artificial Intelligence and Combined Survey Techniques for Stone Quarries Optimization" project, he focuses on implementing Discrete Fracture Networks in Computational Geomechanics. Known for his exceptional interpersonal and communication skills, Gelu excels at collaborating with diverse teams across various disciplines, companies, and nationalities.

Professor Erkan Ülker is a prominent researcher and academic in the field of Computer Science. He holds a PhD from Selçuk University and currently serves as a professor at Konya Technical University in Türkiye. His research interests encompass artificial intelligence, machine learning, data mining, information systems and computer graphics, with a particular focus on approximation, modeling, data analyzing, decision support systems, image processing, pattern recognition, object recognition, human computer interactions, virtual reality, mixed reality, simulations, CAD/CAM/CAE. He has an extensive publication record, including numerous articles in high-impact journals and conference proceedings. His work is highly regarded for its contributions to innovations, advanced algorithms, heuristic algorithms, deep learning, data analytics techniques, software engineering, intelligent systems and artificial intelligence. He is also known for his collaborations with industry partners and his role in advancing knowledge engineering. In addition to his research, Professor Ülker is dedicated to teaching and mentoring students. His commitment to academic excellence and innovation has earned him recognition within the academic community and beyond.

Ciprian graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Geology, specializing in Mining Geology, from the University of Petrosani in 2003. He completed a Master's in "Environmental Impact Assessment and Ecological Rehabilitation of Affected Areas" in 2005, followed by a PhD in "Mines, Oil, and Gas" in 2010, focusing on the geomechanical characterization of magmatites in the Southern Apuseni Mountains. Ciprian has furthered his professional expertise through an 84-hour Project Manager specialization in 2009 and Mining Construction courses in 2017. Through ERASMUS+ scholarships, he has broadened his knowledge of teaching and research methodologies at European universities, including institutions in Spain, Malta, Greece, Turkey, and Italy. Since joining the university, Ciprian has focused extensively on scientific research, contributing to the field by publishing books and articles in Clarivate Analytics ISI-rated journals and participating in national and international conferences. His work has earned him recognition nationally and internationally, and he is an active member of several professional and scientific societies, facilitating the exchange of ideas and expertise at the highest levels.

Sara Kasmaee is a mining engineer and Research Fellow at UNIBO. She has got her PhD (2017) from University of Bologna- DICAM in Geostatistics. Since 2017 she is a researcher working in various European projects. She has started working on GEOTeCH H2020, and since 2018, she is working on Raw Materials topics. She is an active member of RawMatCop group working on stockpiles/tailings characterisation, Exploration of minerals, Geological mapping of critical raw material, using optic satellite images, funded by EIT Raw Material.  COP-Piles, Brico-Piles and Inco-Piles are recent projects she worked on. She is manager and one of the  trainers of RawMatCop-Advanced course (Funded by EIT-RawMaterials) since 2023. Recently she has started MINEYE horizon project covering the whole mining life cycle.  

Ioan BUD is a Professor in the Faculty of Mineral Resources and Environment at the North University Center of Baia Mare, part of the Technical University of Cluj-Napoca, Romania. He holds a PhD in Engineering and is a highly respected Expert Engineer in the field. Professor Bud specialized in mining security and environmental protection at the prestigious National Mining School of Ales, France. With extensive experience as an expert consultant, his areas of expertise include mining safety, geotechnical engineering, geological hazard assessment, mine closure processes, and the physical and technical stability of tailing dams. Professor Bud has authored and co-authored over 50 scientific publications, contributing significantly to the field. His work is recognized by the National Agency for Mineral Resources (ANRM), where he serves as a technical expert. His professional accomplishments reflect a deep commitment to advancing safety and sustainability in the mining industry.

Dr. Zoran Levnajic is an Associate Professor of computer science and informatics at the The Faculty of Information Studies in Novo Mesto, Slovenia. His expertise includes data science, optimization, complex networks, statistical/computational modeling, and diverse aspects of machine learning. He serves as the Head of Complex Systems & Data Science Lab, which now includes 2 PhD students and 1 postdoc. They seek to understand the mechanisms underpinning the processes of interest not just in fields such as geology and physics, but also neuroscience and social sciences. On one end, they use data mining to extract novel information from the empirical or experimental data. On the other end, they are trying to create simple models not from the data but from the sound hypotheses about the underlying system. In addition to his research, he is teaching several courses at undergraduate and postgraduate level and serves as the Head of faculty's doctoral school.

Ph.D. in Geophysics, MSc in Mathematics Laurentiu Asimopolos is a Senior Researcher in the Geological Institute of Romania, Surlari National Geomagnetic Observatory. (BrainMap ID: U-1700-028W-3845, ORCID: 0000-0001-5657-7077, Scopus Author ID: 36661921000, ResearcherID: C-4542-2019). Areas of research interest cover applied mathematics in geophysics, electromagnetism, data processing & interpretation & complex analysis in geophysics. He is also an expert and reviewer in projects applications at NCBR Poland and UEFISCDI Romania. He has published 4 books and more than 50 papers and participated in numerous national and international projects as director or key person.

Ph.D. in Geophysics, MSc in Law. Natalia-Silvia Asimopolos is a Senior Researcher at the Geological Institute of Romania, Regional Department of Geology. (BrainMap ID: U-1700-033N-9450, ORCID: 0000-0002-2855-8546, Scopus Author ID: 36661923200, ResearcherID: B-3372-2014). Areas of research interest cover geodesy, gravity, remote sensing, data processing and interpretation in geophysics. Also, she is an expert and reviewer in the projects applications of national and European legislation in project management at the European Commission and UEFISCDI Romania. She has published 4 books and more than 50 papers (in international databases) and participated in many national and international projects as a key person.

Dorel is an Assistant Professor and Lecturer at the Faculty of Engineering at the North University Center of Baia Mare, part of the Technical University of Cluj-Napoca, Romania. He holds a PhD in Geomechanics and Numerical Computing from the Freiberg Academy of Mining, Germany, and specializes in mining exploitation. With a distinguished international career, Professor Gusat has contributed to 13 major international projects in countries such as Romania, Germany, China, Bosnia, and Switzerland. He is the author of over 40 scientific publications and is recognized as a technical expert by the National Agency for Mineral Resources (ANRM). His research and practical expertise span across geomechanics, mining engineering, and the use of numerical methods in mining, making significant contributions to both academic and industrial fields.