Peng Teng | Biotechnology | Best Researcher Award

Assist. Prof. Dr. Peng Teng | Biotechnology | Best Researcher Award

Principal Investigator at Zhejiang University, China 

Dr. Peng Teng is an an accomplished scientist specializing in medicinal chemistry, drug discovery, and bioorganic chemistry. Currently serving as an Assistant Professor (Tenure-Track) at Zhejiang University, he has made significant contributions to the field of peptidomimetics, protein-protein interactions, and antimicrobial drug development. With an H-index of 29, he has authored numerous high-impact publications. Before joining Zhejiang University, Dr. Teng held research positions at the University of Wisconsin–Madison and the University of South Florida. His expertise spans synthetic chemistry, carbohydrate chemistry, and bioconjugation strategies for targeted therapeutics. Dr. Teng’s work has earned international recognition, influencing novel approaches in protein degradation and antibacterial drug design. His research is dedicated to developing next-generation therapeutic agents to combat bacterial resistance and improve human health.

Professional Profiles📖

ORCID

Education 🎓

Dr. Teng pursued his Ph.D. in Medicinal Chemistry at Nanjing University, where he worked under Prof. Jianxin Li at the State Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Life Science. Concurrently, he earned an M.S. in Chemistry from Lanzhou University, guided by Prof. Yongmin Liang. He further honed his research skills as a Postdoctoral Associate at the University of South Florida under Prof. Jianfeng Cai, exploring peptidomimetics and bioorganic chemistry. His academic journey continued at the University of Wisconsin–Madison as an Assistant Scientist, collaborating with Prof. Weiping Tang in drug discovery and protein degradation. His diverse educational background provided a strong foundation in synthetic chemistry, drug design, and biochemical applications, setting the stage for his pioneering contributions to antimicrobial and anticancer therapeutics.

Work Experience💼

Dr. Teng’s professional journey spans academia and industry. At Zhejiang University, he leads research at the Institute of Drug Discovery and Design, focusing on novel therapeutics for bacterial infections and protein interactions. Prior to this, he was an Assistant Scientist at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, where he worked on targeted protein degradation strategies. His postdoctoral tenure at the University of South Florida involved developing antimicrobial peptidomimetics. Earlier, he gained industry experience at WuXi AppTec as a Senior Organic Chemist, working on medicinal chemistry projects under Dr. Yang Zhang. His interdisciplinary experience bridges synthetic chemistry, bioorganic chemistry, and pharmaceutical applications, contributing to the advancement of innovative therapeutic strategies.

Awards and Honors 🏆

Dr. Teng has received numerous accolades for his groundbreaking research. His publications have been featured in high-impact journals like JACS, Angewandte Chemie, and ACS Med. Chem. Lett. He was recognized for his contributions to antimicrobial drug discovery, with a cover feature in JACS. His research has been highlighted by the USF Chemistry News and other prestigious scientific platforms. Additionally, he has been invited to speak at international conferences on medicinal chemistry and drug development. His innovative work on peptidomimetic antibiotics has earned funding and collaborative opportunities with global research institutions.

Skills💡

Dr. Teng is a highly skilled chemist with expertise spanning synthetic, medicinal, and bioorganic chemistry. With a strong foundation in organic synthesis, peptide synthesis, and peptidomimetics, they have contributed to the development of novel molecules with therapeutic potential. Their work in medicinal chemistry focuses on drug discovery and structure-activity relationship (SAR) studies, optimizing lead compounds for enhanced efficacy and selectivity. Additionally, their research in bioorganic chemistry involves bioconjugation, enzyme inhibition, and carbohydrate chemistry, facilitating the design of innovative biochemical tools and therapeutics. A key area of interest is protein-protein interactions, where aims to disrupt or modulate critical biological pathways for therapeutic applications. They have also made significant contributions to antimicrobial drug design, working on the development of novel antibiotics and resistance modulators to combat emerging bacterial threats. Their expertise in computational chemistry, including molecular modeling, docking, and structure-based drug design, complements their experimental work by guiding rational drug development strategies, is proficient in a range of analytical techniques, including NMR, mass spectrometry, X-ray crystallography, and HPLC, ensuring precise characterization of chemical and biological entities. With a strong background in leadership and collaboration, they have successfully led interdisciplinary research projects and international partnerships, fostering innovation at the intersection of chemistry and biomedical sciences.

Research Focus 🔬

Dr. Teng’s research focuses on medicinal chemistry, bioorganic chemistry, and drug discovery. He specializes in peptidomimetics, targeting protein-protein interactions for novel therapeutic applications. His work involves developing antimicrobial agents, protein degradation strategies, and carbohydrate-based drug designs. He is particularly interested in addressing bacterial resistance through synthetic small molecules and biomimetic approaches. His research integrates chemical synthesis, biophysical characterization, and molecular modeling to engineer effective therapeutics. His contributions to the field of targeted protein degradation and synthetic foldamers have opened new avenues for precision medicine and next-generation drug development.

Conclusion✅

Dr. Peng Teng is a highly deserving candidate for the Best Researcher Award due to his strong publication record, innovative research, and contributions to drug discovery. While there is room for further impact through commercialization and funding acquisition, his scientific achievements position him as a leading researcher in his field.

Publications Top Notes📚

 

N-Heterocyclic Carbene-Catalyzed Highly Enantioselective Macrolactonization to Access Planar-Chiral Macrocycles

Journal: Organic Letters

Year: 2024

DOI: 10.1021/acs.orglett.3c04200

Rational Design of Sulfonyl-γ-AApeptides as Highly Potent HIV-1 Fusion Inhibitors with Broad-Spectrum Activity

Journal: Journal of Medicinal Chemistry

Year: 2023

DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.3c01412

Small Molecular Mimetics of Antimicrobial Peptides as a Promising Therapy To Combat Bacterial Resistance

Journal: Journal of Medicinal Chemistry

Year: 2023

DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.2c00757

The Folding Propensity of α/Sulfono-γ-AA Peptidic Foldamers with Both Left- and Right-Handedness

Journal: Communications Chemistry

Year: 2021

DOI: 10.1038/s42004-021-00496-0

Development of Triantennary N-Acetylgalactosamine Conjugates as Degraders for Extracellular Proteins

Journal: ACS Central Science

Year: 2021

DOI: 10.1021/acscentsci.1c00146

Lipidated α/Sulfono-α-AA Heterogeneous Peptides as Antimicrobial Agents for MRSA

Journal: Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry

Year: 2020

DOI: 10.1016/j.bmc.2019.115241

Molecular Architecture and Charging Effects Enhance the In Vitro and In Vivo Performance of Multi‐Arm Antimicrobial Agents Based on Star‐Shaped Poly( l ‐lysine)

Journal: Advanced Therapeutics

Year: 2019

DOI: 10.1002/adtp.201900147

Orthogonal Halogen‐Bonding‐Driven 3D Supramolecular Assembly of Right‐Handed Synthetic Helical Peptides

Journal: Angewandte Chemie

Year: 2019

DOI: 10.1002/ange.201903259

Development of EGFR-targeted Evodiamine Nanoparticles for the Treatment of Colorectal Cancer

Journal: Biomaterials Science

Year: 2019

DOI: 10.1039/c9bm00613c

Nano-Sized Lipidated Dendrimers as Potent and Broad-Spectrum Antibacterial Agents

Journal: Macromolecular Rapid Communications

Year: 2018

DOI: 10.1002/marc.201800622

De Novo Left‐Handed Synthetic Peptidomimetic Foldamers

Journal: Angewandte Chemie

Year: 2018

DOI: 10.1002/anie.201805184

Bis‐Cyclic Guanidines as a Novel Class of Compounds Potent against Clostridium difficile

Journal: ChemMedChem

Year: 2018

DOI: 10.1002/cmdc.201800240

Lipidated α/α-AA Heterogeneous Peptides as Antimicrobial Agents

Journal: European Journal of Medicinal Chemistry

Year: 2018

DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2018.06.006

Selective Inhibition of Leukemia-Associated SHP2E69K Mutant by the Allosteric SHP2 Inhibitor SHP099

Journal: Leukemia

Year: 2018

DOI: 10.1038/s41375-018-0020-5

Hydrogen-Bonding-Driven 3D Supramolecular Assembly of Peptidomimetic Zipper

Journal: Journal of the American Chemical Society

Year: 2018

DOI: 10.1021/jacs.7b11997

Right-Handed Helical Foldamers Consisting of De Novo D‑AApeptides

Journal: Journal of the American Chemical Society

Year: 2017

DOI: 10.1021/jacs.7b03007

Antimicrobial AApeptides

Journal: Current Topics in Medicinal Chemistry

Year: 2017

DOI: 10.2174/1568026616666161018145945

Membrane-Active Hydantoin Derivatives as Antibiotic Agents

Journal: Journal of Medicinal Chemistry

Year: 2017

DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.7b00847

Novel Bis-Cyclic Guanidines as Potent Membrane-Active Antibacterial Agents with Therapeutic Potential

Journal: Chemical Communications

Year: 2017

DOI: 10.1039/C7CC07285F

γ-AApeptides: Design, Structure, and Applications

Journal: Accounts of Chemical Research

Year: 2016

DOI: 10.1021/acs.accounts.5b00492

Nadeem Zaidkilani | Biotechnology | Best Zoology Research Award

Mr. Nadeem Zaidkilani | Biotechnology | Best Research Award

  PhD Researcher In AI at Rovira I Virgili University, Palestine

Nadeem Zaidkilani is a Palestinian computer science and software engineering professional with extensive experience in business analysis, software design, and quality assurance. He obtained his bachelor’s degree in Computer Science from Birzeit University in 2005 and later pursued a master’s in Software Engineering from the same institution in 2019. Over the years, he has worked in various roles, including Senior Application Specialist at Paltel and Text Mining Engineer, contributing to the enhancement of electronic systems, business portals, and document management solutions. His expertise extends to deep learning, image processing, computer vision, and natural language processing (NLP). Currently, he is pursuing a Ph.D. in Computer Engineering and Mathematics at URV University, Spain, focusing on medical image analysis using artificial intelligence. With strong programming skills in Python, Java, and C++, Nadeem continues to explore AI-driven solutions for healthcare and other domains, leveraging advanced technologies for innovative problem-solving.

Professional Profiles📖

Scopus

Education 🎓

  • Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science (2005) – Birzeit University 🏅
    Nadeem’s undergraduate studies laid the foundation for his expertise in programming, database management, and software development. He gained proficiency in Java, C++, and web technologies, leading to early career opportunities in software engineering.

  • Master’s Degree in Software Engineering (2019) – Birzeit University 🎖️
    His master’s research focused on automatic classification of app reviews for requirements engineering, specifically analyzing user needs for healthcare applications. He mastered agile methodologies, system architecture, and business process modeling.

  • Ph.D. in Computer Engineering & Mathematics (Ongoing) – URV University, Spain 🎓
    Currently, Nadeem is researching computer vision and deep learning for medical image analysis, employing AI-based techniques to enhance diagnostics. His work integrates advanced machine learning, convolutional neural networks (CNNs), and medical imaging technologies to improve healthcare solutions.

Work Experience💼

  • Part-Time Lecturer (2024–Present) – Al-Zaytoonah University of Science and Technology 🎤
    Teaching Python, C++, and HCI, focusing on Agile and Scrum methodologies for UI/UX design.

  • Text Mining Engineer (2023–2024) 🔍
    Developed a biomedical literature classification system using Python, MySQL, INDRA, and PubMed, enhancing researcher workflows.

  • Senior Application Specialist (2012–2022) – Paltel 📡
    Managed portals, electronic payment systems, document management, and vendor systems to optimize business operations.

  • Senior Software Developer (2009–2012) – Hulul Company 💻
    Led the development of donor management and archiving systems, using JEE, Struts 2, and JavaScript.

  • IT Manager (2007–2009) – Ministry of Finance 📊
    Supervised IT projects, project timelines, and reporting structures.

  • Junior Developer (2005–2007) – Palestinian Authority Tax System 💾
    Contributed to tax management software using J2EE, XML, and Oracle 10g.

Awards and Honors 🏆

  • Scholarship for Ph.D. Studies – Received a merit-based scholarship at URV University, Spain, for his research in AI-driven medical image analysis.
  • Best Master’s Research Award – Recognized for his Automatic Classification of App Reviews for Requirements Engineering, focusing on user needs in healthcare applications.
  • AI Research Grant – Secured funding for text mining in biomedical research, supporting advancements in NLP and knowledge extraction.
  • Outstanding Contribution Award (Paltel, 2020) – Honored for enhancing Paltel’s electronic systems, particularly in E-Pay, EDMS, and Business Portals.
  •  Top Software Engineer Recognition – Acknowledged by Hulul Company for leading the development of high-impact enterprise applications.

Skills 💡

  • Nadeem Zaidkilani possesses a diverse and extensive technical skill set, making him proficient in various aspects of software engineering, artificial intelligence, and research. He is well-versed in programming languages such as Python 🐍, Java ☕, C++ 🚀, and JavaScript 🌐, allowing him to develop robust applications across multiple domains. His expertise in machine learning and AI includes frameworks like TensorFlow 🤖, Keras 🧠, PyTorch 🔥, and OpenCV 👀, enabling him to implement deep learning models for image processing and AI-driven applications.
  • In the field of data science and natural language processing (NLP), Nadeem utilizes Scikit-learn 📈, Pandas 🐼, NLTK 🗣️, and SpaCy 🧩 for analyzing datasets, extracting insights, and automating text processing. His software development expertise spans JEE 🌍, Struts 2 🏗️, Hibernate 🏛️, and Spring Boot 🌱, allowing him to build scalable enterprise applications. Additionally, he has hands-on experience in database management, using MySQL 🗄️, PostgreSQL 🛢️, and Oracle DB 🔗 for efficient data storage and retrieval.
  • As an advocate of Agile and Scrum methodologies, Nadeem integrates Jira 📋, Confluence 📑, and Kanban 🚦 to streamline project management and ensure efficient team collaboration. His knowledge in cloud and DevOps technologies includes Docker 🐳, Kubernetes ☁️, and GitHub Actions 🔄, facilitating automated deployment and scalable infrastructure. Moreover, he leverages scientific research tools such as PubMed 🏥, INDRA 🔬, and LaTeX 📖 to support his research in biomedical AI and text mining, further strengthening his role as a technology-driven researcher and innovator. 🚀

Research Focus 🔬

  • Nadeem Zaidkilani’s research focuses on the intersection of computer vision, deep learning, and artificial intelligence (AI) in medical imaging, aiming to develop innovative solutions for healthcare and technology-driven applications. His expertise in medical image analysis enables him to build deep learning-based diagnostic tools for detecting anomalies in MRI, CT, and X-ray images, improving early disease detection and patient outcomes. Additionally, he applies natural language processing (NLP) techniques to biomedical literature, leveraging text mining to extract and classify critical health-related insights, which aids in medical research and decision-making.
  • In the realm of deep learning and AI, Nadeem implements convolutional neural networks (CNNs) and transformer-based models for image segmentation, feature extraction, and classification, enhancing the accuracy and efficiency of automated diagnostic systems. His work in E-health applications focuses on integrating AI-driven solutions into healthcare systems, enabling automated diagnostics and decision support for medical practitioners.
  • Beyond healthcare, Nadeem’s expertise extends to software engineering and business analysis, where he integrates AI technologies into enterprise systems, E-Services, EDMS (Electronic Document Management Systems), and fintech solutions. His research contributes to the development of intelligent, data-driven applications that bridge the gap between AI, healthcare, and enterprise automation, driving innovation in both the medical and technological domains

Conclusion✅

Nadeem Zaidkilani is a strong contender for the Best Researcher Award due to his multi-disciplinary expertise in AI, computer vision, and biomedical informatics. His work in deep learning for medical imaging and text mining for biomedical applications highlights his innovative approach to solving real-world challenges. Enhancing publication output and interdisciplinary collaborations will further solidify his position as a leading researcher in his domain.

Publications Top Notes📚

  • “CoAtUNet: A Symmetric Encoder-Decoder with Hybrid Transformers for Semantic Segmentation of Breast Ultrasound Images”

    • Authors: N. Zaidkilani, M.Á. García, D.S. Puig
    • Journal: Neurocomputing
    • Year: 2025
    • Citations: 0
  • “Arabic Topic Classification Corpus of the Nakba Short Stories”

    • Authors: O. Hamed, N. Zaidkilani
    • Conference: Proceedings of the First International Workshop on Nakba Narratives as Language Resources
    • Year: 2025
    • Citations: Not specified
  • “Exploring Author Style in Nakba Short Stories: A Comparative Study of Transformer-Based Models”

    • Authors: O. Hamed, N. Zaidkilani
    • Conference: Proceedings of the First International Workshop on Nakba Narratives as Language Resources
    • Year: 2025
    • Citations: Not specified