Ms. Maha MILI | Agricultural Economics | Young Scientist Award

PhD student, at LEGI – École Polytechnique de Tunisie, Tunisia.

Ms. Maha Mili is a dedicated PhD student in Environmental and Energy Economics with a keen interest in addressing climate change challenges in water-scarce regions. Based in Tunisia, she brings together academic excellence, technical modeling skills, and practical policy insight to explore sustainable solutions for energy transitions. Her research integrates the fields of economics, environmental science, and development policy, contributing to both national and global dialogues on ecological sustainability.

Professional Profile

Orcid

Google Scholar

🎓 Education

Maha Mili is currently pursuing her PhD in Territories, Migration, and Development with a specialization in Economics from the School for Advanced Studies in the Social Sciences (EHESS) and Faculty of Economics and Management, Nabeul (FSEGN). Her doctoral research focuses on reducing greenhouse gas emissions under water scarcity through integrated modeling approaches. She holds a Master’s degree in Quantitative Economics and Finance from the Polytechnic School of Tunisia, where she specialized in economic and financial optimization and wrote a thesis on water use efficiency. Prior to that, she earned a Bachelor’s in Business Sciences with a focus on Finance from IHEC Carthage, and a Mathematics Baccalaureate with High Honours from the Secondary School of Jammel.

💼 Experience

Maha has gained valuable professional experience through internships in both consulting and financial sectors. At PwC Tunisia, she contributed to economic modeling projects and policy impact analysis using CGE tools. She also worked as a financial analyst at PBR Rating – CFC Partners, conducting client evaluations and preparing financial certification reports. Additionally, her earlier role at Arab Tunisian Bank (ATB) involved managing client financial support and loan risk assessments, offering her a well-rounded view of economic applications in real-world contexts.

🔬 Research Interests

Her research revolves around climate resilience, ecological transitions, and the sustainable use of natural resources. Specifically, she focuses on the Water-Energy-Food (WEF) Nexus, virtual water trade, and the role of green hydrogen in Tunisia’s energy transition. Maha applies Computable General Equilibrium (CGE) models and hybrid approaches to simulate and assess energy and water policies under climate constraints. Through her work with the International Center for Environmental and Development Research (CIRED) and LEGI-EPT, she contributes to the development of decision-support tools aimed at guiding equitable and sustainable policy-making.

🏆 Awards

Maha is a recipient of the prestigious PHC-UTIQUE Hubert Curien Partnership Scholarship (2024–2027), which supports her binational research collaboration between Tunisia and France. Her participation in international workshops such as the GIZ Water Master Class, Energy-Economy Modelling Workshops, and IAEA’s EMPOWER model sessions further underscore her active engagement in global knowledge-sharing platforms.

📚 Top Noted Publications

Title: Climate Change Impacts and Adaptive Strategies for Water Use Efficiency in Tunisia: A Dynamic Computable General Equilibrium Analysis
Authors: Maha Mili, Mohamed Adel Dhif, Houyem Chekki
Journal: Water Economics and Policy
Indexing: Scopus, ESCI (Emerging Sources Citation Index)
Citations: Not yet cited (as of 2025 publication)
Year of Publication: 2025

Conclusion

Maha Mili exemplifies the profile of a promising young researcher—analytically skilled, globally aware, and deeply committed to solving some of the most pressing environmental and economic challenges of our time. With her strong academic foundation, practical experience, and visionary research focus, she is well-positioned to make meaningful contributions to sustainable development and climate adaptation policy.

Mr. Upendra Meesala | Agriculture and Technology | Best Researcher Award |

Student, at Velagapudi Ramakrishna Siddhartha Engineering College , India.

Upendra Meesala is an aspiring researcher and technologist with a strong background in Information Technology, specializing in machine learning, artificial intelligence, and automation. With a keen interest in solving real-world problems, he has contributed to research in computer vision, IoT-based solutions, and hybrid learning applications. His expertise spans multiple domains, including low-code application development, backend services, and frontend technologies. Upendra has demonstrated exceptional academic performance, technical proficiency, and innovation, making significant strides in research and development.

Education 🎓

Upendra is currently pursuing a B.Tech in Information Technology at Velagapudi Ramakrishna Siddhartha Engineering College, Vijayawada, with a stellar CGPA of 9.30 (expected graduation: April 2025). He completed his Senior Secondary education at Sri Viswasanthi College, Vuyyuru, achieving an impressive 95.3%.

Professional Experience 💼

Pega Apprenticeship (June 2024 – Feb 2025, Remote): Gaining hands-on experience in Pega BPM and CRM platforms, application development, system architecture, and automation tools.

Web Development Internship (May – June 2024, Oneable Pvt Ltd, Hyderabad – Virtual): Worked on modern web technologies, backend services, and React-based UI enhancements, integrating Appwrite and Firebase.

Research Interests 🌍

His research primarily revolves around machine learning, computer vision, IoT applications, and automation. Notable projects include the Bird Repeller Using OpenCV, which leverages AI-based object detection to mitigate crop damage, and a Hybrid Learning Application for Rural Education, aiming to bridge educational gaps in underserved regions. His work integrates deep learning, OpenCV, Raspberry Pi, and automation tools to develop impactful technological solutions.

Awards & Honors 🏆

Winner, IIC Innovation Competition (2022): Presented an IoT-based Bird Repellent System to mitigate crop damage.

Academic Excellence: Achieved 5th rank in the 1st semester and 2nd rank in the 3rd semester of his B.Tech program.

Multiple Professional Certifications: Earned prestigious certifications in PEGA (CSA & SSA), Machine Learning, Business & Text Mining (NPTEL), and AI for Everyone (Coursera).

Top Noted Publications 📚

ICDSA – MNIT Jaipur (July 2024): Presented a research paper on “Bridging Educational Gaps in Rural Landscapes with a Hybrid Learning Application.”

ICECMSN – Evolutionary Computing & Mobile Sustainable Networks (Nov 2024): Published a journal titled “Bird Repeller Using OpenCV”, demonstrating AI-driven solutions for agricultural automation.

Project Contributions: Developed a low-code application for pre-owned vehicle purchases using PEGA, integrating OTP-based authentication, automated workflows, and Razorpay payment systems.

Conclusion

Upendra Meesala is a strong candidate for the Best Researcher Award, given his academic achievements, research contributions, and technical expertise. However, to maximize his chances, he should focus on publishing in reputed journals, expanding his research scope, and seeking collaborations in advanced AI applications.