We are pleased to announce that Prof. Dr. Viorel-Puiu Paun has been appointed Associate Editor of Fractal and Fractional (ISSN: 2504-3110). His term began in August 2022.

Prof. Dr. Viorel-Puiu Paun is a full-time university professor of physics at the “Politehnica” University of Bucharest, Faculty of Applied Sciences, Physics Department, and corresponding member of the Academy of Romanian Scientists.

His background (education and training) comprises:

• Postgraduate Diploma in Biomedical Engineering, EPFL Lausanne, Switzerland (1997);
• Diplôme Approfondi de Langue Française (1996);
• Doctor of Sciences (Ph.D. in Physics) from the Atomic Physics Institute of Bucharest (1992);
• Faculty of Mathematics, University of Bucharest (1985 – 1990);
• Master’s Degree in Solid-State Physics, Faculty of Physics, University of Bucharest (1979);
• Faculty of Physics, University of Bucharest (1974 – 1978).

Areas of Scientific Interest:
His main areas of scientific interest include nonlinear dynamics and chaos theory, and their applications in different physico-chemical systems such as nanostructures, polymers and composites. Moreover, he is also interested in biological systems and the human organs, such as the brain, lungs and liver. More precisely, he is an expert in biophysical modelling and fractal interpretation of common diagnostic medical imaging tests (X-rays, CT scan, MRI, etc.). Furthermore, he is preoccupied with learning about and using new composite materials, which he has successfully used in oral rehabilitation. He is interested in their physico-chemical properties, compatibility with human tissue and their validity over time in operations. He has extensive research experience in all the abovementioned fields, including in time series methods, fractal analyses, image processing and diffusion processes. Prof. Dr. Viorel-Puiu Paun has published more than 150 papers in national and international journals, 111 ISI journal papers, 50 communications in national and international meetings (more than 30 on invitation), 536 citations without self-citations, and 20 books, chapters in books and monographs. His Hirsch factor value is currently 20.

Visiting professor at nine prestigious European universities
He was a guest/visiting professor at nine prestigious universities in Europe, including the University of Cambridge, UK (2015), École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Switzerland (1996-1997, 2014), University of Florence, Italy (2011), ENSICA Toulouse, France (2007), School of Physical Sciences, Kent University, Canterbury, UK (2004, 2006), Université de Technologie de Compiègne, France (2005), University of Padova (INFN), Italy (2001), etc.

Editor and Vice-Editor-in-Chief of ISI journals
Prof. Dr. Viorel-Puiu Paun has been active for decades in the management of international scientific journals. Here, his current involvement in ISI journals is listed:

1. Materiale Plastice, Vice-Editor-in-Chief (until May 2018);
2. Control Engineering and Applied Informatics, CEAI, Executive Editor;
3. Romanian Journal of Oral Rehabilitation, Vice-Editor-in-Chief;
4. Frontiers in Bioscience-Landmark, Editor Board Member;
5. Fractal and Fractional, Associate Editor.

The following is a short Q&A with Prof. Dr. Viorel-Puiu Paun, who shared his vision for the journal with us, as well as his views regarding the research area and open access publishing:

1. What appealed to you about the journal that made you want to take on the role as its Associate Editor?

2. What is your vision for the journal?

3. What does the future of this field of research look like?

4. What do you think of the development of open access in the publishing field?

The editorial team warmly welcomes Prof. Dr. Viorel-Puiu Paun as an Associate Editor, and looks forward to his contribution to the continued success of Fractal and Fractional.