Announcements

Following from our two previous successful editions, we invite you to submit your abstracts and participate in the 3rd International Conference on AI Sensors and Transducers, taking place from 2 to 7 August 2026 in Jeju, South Korea.

Organized by MDPI and the open access journals Sensors, Micromachines, AI Sensors, Micro and Remote Sensing, this in-person conference will once again bring together experts and participating researchers who will share insights and innovations in sensors, sensing technology, transducers and artificial intelligence.

Start preparing your abstracts:
Don’t miss this opportunity to showcase your work to peers and leading experts in AI-enhanced sensing systems and transducers. We will be announcing the session topics at AIS 2026 soon.

Find out more about the instructions for authors: https://sciforum.net/event/AIS2026?section=#instructions.

Find out more about the publication opportunities available for authors: https://sciforum.net/event/AIS2026?section=#Publicationopportunities.
Please feel free to share the information about this conference to your colleagues and students.

We look forward to welcoming you in Jeju!

The organizing committee of the 3rd International Conference on AI Sensors and Transducers (AIS 2026).

Article: “Implementing an Analytical Model to Elucidate the Impacts of Nanostructure Size and Topology of Morphologically Diverse Zinc Oxide on Gas Sensing”
by Sanju Gupta and Haiyang Zou
Chemosensors 2025, 13(2), 38; https://doi.org/10.3390/chemosensors13020038

1. Could you please briefly introduce yourself to our readers and share your current research focus, including any recent developments in your research?
   I’m an experimental condensed matter materials physicist; the materials of interest are novel functional and emerging materials systems for a range of applications. Specifically, the materials systems include two-dimensional layered graphene and TMDCs for electrochemical energy and sensing technology, quantum materials for electrocatalysis, ferroelectrics for microelectronics, diamond and other nanocarbons for neuromorphic computing and semiconducting oxides for UV and gas sensing. My role is also to mentor and advise young generations of scientists, solve problems, generate ideas, analyze information, and communicate more effectively across a wide range of fields.
   My current capabilities reflect ongoing advances in areas such as multimodal understanding, improved reasoning, more reliable information retrieval, and better collaboration with users on complex tasks. Recent developments in AI research have focused on making models more accurate, helpful, and transparent, while reducing errors and improving safety. There is also significant work being done on enabling AI systems to use external tools, process different types of information, including text, images, and data, and assist with increasingly sophisticated research and professional workflows. Currently, we are working on Pd-based alloys with Ag for enhancing the surface-catalyzed reactions on ZnO and other semiconducting oxide such as SnO₂ for improved sensitivity and selectivity besides reaction modeling for development of methane as well as hydrogen gas sensing.
2. Could you briefly introduce the key research focus and main findings of this study?
   This study focuses on understanding how the size, shape, and topology of zinc oxide (ZnO) nanostructures influence the performance of metal-oxide semiconductor gas sensors. While ZnO is widely used in gas-sensing applications, the relationship between its morphology and sensing behavior has not been fully clarified. The authors therefore developed an analytical model to investigate how different ZnO nanostructures affect key sensing parameters. The research examined morphologically diverse ZnO nanostructures such as ZnO nanorods and nanoscale tetrapods and analyzed the effects of structural features such as particle size, surface characteristics, and topology on gas-sensing performance. By combining theoretical modeling with experimental insights, this study provided a framework for explaining why certain nanostructured morphologies exhibit optimally enhanced sensitivity and response characteristics.
   The main finding is that gas-sensing performance is strongly governed by nanostructure geometry and dimensions, which influence surface-catalyzed reactions, charge transport, and the interaction between target gases and the sensing material. The proposed analytical model helps explain these relationships and offers guidance for the rational design of next-generation ZnO-based gas sensors with improved sensitivity, selectivity, stability, and efficiency for environmental monitoring of methane gas as the second most green-house gas emission and industrial safety applications.
3. Looking ahead, what impact do you hope your research will have on the field, and what do you consider to be the most significant innovation presented in your paper?
   Looking ahead, I hope this research will contribute to a more systematic and predictive approach to the design of potential semiconducting metal-oxide gas sensors. Traditionally, the development of nanostructured sensing materials has relied heavily on experimental trial and error. By providing an analytical framework such as in this work that links ZnO nanostructure size, morphology, and topology to gas-sensing performance, hopefully, our work would help researchers better understand the fundamental mechanisms governing sensor behavior and guide the optimization of sensing materials targeting specific applications. The most significant innovation presented in this paper is the implementation of an analytical model capable of quantitatively elucidating how morphological characteristics of ZnO nanostructures affect sensing performance. Rather than focusing solely on experimental observations, the model provides a theoretical basis for interpreting and predicting the influence of nanostructure geometry on surface reactions and charge transport processes. This offers a valuable tool for the rational design of next-generation gas sensors with enhanced sensitivity, selectivity, and efficiency. Ultimately, we hope that this approach will accelerate the development of high-performance gas-sensing technologies for environmental monitoring, industrial safety, healthcare diagnostics, and other applications where reliable detection of gaseous species is essential.
4. Could you share some of the major challenges in your research area, as well as any recent breakthroughs that you find particularly exciting?
   One of the major challenges in gas-sensor research is achieving the optimal balance between sensitivity, selectivity, stability, and power consumption. While nanostructured metal-oxide semiconductors such as ZnO can exhibit excellent sensitivity, distinguishing a target gas from interfering species remains difficult, particularly under practical conditions where temperature and humidity fluctuate. Another challenge is establishing reliable structure–property relationships that can accurately predict sensor performance based on material morphology and other structural characteristics, since gas-sensing behavior is governed by complex interactions among surface chemistry, charge transport, and nanostructure geometry. In recent years, several breakthroughs have made this field particularly exciting. Advances in nanomaterial synthesis now allow researchers to precisely control the size, shape, and hierarchical architecture of sensing materials, leading to significant improvements in performance. At the same time, the integration of theoretical modeling, data-driven approaches, and machine learning has opened new possibilities for predicting sensor behavior and accelerating material design. The emergence of hybrid and functionalized nanomaterials has also allowed to enhance selectivity and lowered limit of detection for many target gases as well as response/recovery times. From my perspective, one of the most exciting developments is the shift from empirical optimization toward predictive design. Instead of relying primarily on trial-and-error experimentation, researchers are increasingly able to use analytical and computational/theoretical models to understand the fundamental sensing mechanisms that govern their high performance. This trend has the potential to significantly accelerate the development of next-generation gas sensors and enable more efficient solutions for environmental monitoring, industrial safety, and healthcare diagnostics.
5. In your view, how does open access publishing contribute to the dissemination of knowledge and the advancement of research in your area?
   Open access (OA) publishing plays a crucial role in accelerating scientific progress by making research findings immediately and freely available to the global scientific community. In a multidisciplinary field such as gas-sensor research, where advances draw upon at the interface of chemistry, materials science, physics, engineering, and environmental science, unrestricted access to published work could enable researchers from different backgrounds and institutions to share knowledge, build upon existing results, and foster new collaborations. OA is particularly valuable because it removes financial barriers that may limit access to the scientific literature, especially for researchers, students, and institutions with limited resources. This broader accessibility increases the visibility and impact of research findings, promotes transparency and reproducibility, and helps ensure that scientific advances can be evaluated and utilized by a wider audience.
   Specifically, in the area of nanostructured gas sensing, rapid dissemination of new discoveries is essential because the field evolves quickly and has important practical implications for environmental monitoring, industrial safety, and healthcare applications. OA publishing facilitates the exchange of innovative ideas, experimental methodologies, and theoretical models, thereby accelerating the development of more effective sensing technologies. More broadly, I believe that OA strengthens the connection between scientific research and society. By making research accessible not only to specialists but also to stakeholders, policymakers, industry professionals, and the taxpayer public, it helps maximize the societal impact of scientific discoveries and supports the advancement of knowledge at-large on a global scale.
6. Do you have any advice for young researchers who aspire to produce high-impact research results?
   My advice to young researchers is to focus first on developing a strong foundation and understanding of the fundamental principles of their field alongside familiarizing with the topic at hand by reading the literature. High-impact research is often built on a solid grasp of the underlying science rather than simply following current trends. Curiosity, critical thinking, and a willingness to ask important questions are the most essential qualities. Identifying the right question is half the solution for conducting meaningful research problems I would also encourage young researchers to be patient and persistent/persevere. Research rarely progresses in a straight line, and the process is invariably nonlinear, setbacks, unexpected results, and failed experiments are a natural part of the scientific process. Even the unsuccessful attempts albeit challenging, often provide valuable insights and can lead to new directions and discoveries. Another important recommendation is to embrace interdisciplinarity and some collaboration. Many of today's most significant scientific advances occur at the intersection of multi-disciplines. Engaging with researchers from diverse backgrounds can provide a new perspective and help address complex problems rather more effectively.
   In addition, once again it is important to balance innovation(s) with rigor. Novel ideas are valuable, but they should be supported by careful experimental design, thorough analysis, and transparent reporting of results. Reproducibility and scientific integrity are fundamental to producing research that has lasting impact.
   Finally, I would encourage young researchers to focus on solving meaningful problems rather than solely pursuing publications or citation metrics. Research that addresses important scientific questions or real-world challenges is more likely to make a lasting contribution to the field and society. By maintaining curiosity, perseverance, and a commitment to excellence, young researchers can position themselves to produce impactful and influential work.

We are pleased to share that Chemosensors (ISSN: 2227-9040) has received an increased CiteScore of 8.1 in June 2026. The CiteScore ranks the journal 41 out of 194 titles (Q1) in the “Physical and Theoretical Chemistry” category, an impressive achievement for a journal running in Volume 14.

You can find more statistics on our website.

The current CiteScores measure the average number of citations within a journal over a four-year window (2022–2025). The Scopus database provides a comprehensive suite of metrics that support informed publishing strategies, research evaluation and enable benchmarking of journal performance.

This achievement reflects the collective efforts of our authors, reviewers, and editors. Together we will continue to track the progress of Chemosensors and its growing impact in the science and technology of chemical sensors and related analytical methods and systems.

As food systems become increasingly complex, the need for rapid, sensitive, and reliable monitoring tools is more important than ever. (Bio)chemical sensors and spectroscopic techniques are revolutionizing food safety practices by enabling the fast and accurate detection of contaminants, additives, pathogens, toxins, etc. In conjunction with World Food Safety Day 2026, it is timely to highlight the pivotal role of sensing and analytical technologies in safeguarding food safety and quality.

1. “A Comprehensive Review of Non-Destructive Monitoring of Food Freshness and Safety Using NIR Spectroscopy and Biosensors: Challenges and Opportunities”
by Nama Yaa Akyea Prempeh, Xorlali Nunekpeku, Felix Y. H. Kutsanedzie, Arul Murugesan and Huanhuan Li
Chemosensors 2025, 13(11), 393; https://doi.org/10.3390/chemosensors13110393
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9040/13/11/393

2. “Spectroscopy-Based Methods and Supervised Machine Learning Applications for Milk Chemical Analysis in Dairy Ruminants”
by Aikaterini-Artemis Agiomavriti, Maria P. Nikolopoulou, Thomas Bartzanas, Nikos Chorianopoulos, Konstantinos Demestichas and Athanasios I. Gelasakis
Chemosensors 2024, 12(12), 263; https://doi.org/10.3390/chemosensors12120263
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9040/12/12/263

3. “Fast Monitoring of Quality and Adulteration of Blended Sunflower/Olive Oils Applying Near-Infrared Spectroscopy”
by Magdalena Klinar, Maja Benković, Tamara Jurina, Ana Jurinjak Tušek, Davor Valinger, Sandra Maričić Tarandek, Anamaria Prskalo, Juraj Tonković and Jasenka Gajdoš Kljusurić
Chemosensors 2024, 12(8), 150; https://doi.org/10.3390/chemosensors12080150
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9040/12/8/150

4. “Biosensors for Food Mycotoxin Determination: A Comparative and Critical Review”
by Aurelia Magdalena Pisoschi, Florin Iordache, Loredana Stanca, Elena Mitranescu, Liliana Bader Stoica, Ovidiu Ionut Geicu, Liviu Bilteanu and Andreea Iren Serban
Chemosensors 2024, 12(6), 92; https://doi.org/10.3390/chemosensors12060092
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9040/12/6/92

5. “The Developments on Lateral Flow Immunochromatographic Assay for Food Safety in Recent 10 Years: A Review”
by Peng Wang, Jinyan Li, Lingling Guo, Jiaxun Li, Feng He, Haitao Zhang and Hai Chi
Chemosensors 2024, 12(6), 88; https://doi.org/10.3390/chemosensors12060088
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9040/12/6/88

6. “Machine Learning-Assisted Raman Spectroscopy and SERS for Bacterial Pathogen Detection: Clinical, Food Safety, and Environmental Applications”
by Md Hasan-Ur Rahman, Rabbi Sikder, Manoj Tripathi, Mahzuzah Zahan, Tao Ye, Etienne Gnimpieba Z., Bharat K. Jasthi, Alan B. Dalton and Venkataramana Gadhamshetty
Chemosensors 2024, 12(7), 140; https://doi.org/10.3390/chemosensors12070140
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9040/12/7/140

The 2025 CiteScore metrics have been officially released by Scopus, and the results confirm what has become a consistent pattern for MDPI's journal portfolio: broad recognition across disciplines, steady improvement across the majority of ranked titles, and a growing presence at the top of subject category rankings.

CiteScore, published annually by Elsevier's Scopus database, measures the average citations received by articles published in a journal over a four-year window. As a complement to the Journal Impact Factor, which uses a two-year window based on the Web of Science database, CiteScore provides an alternative, long-term perspective on citation performance.

The 365 MDPI journals in Scopus (as of May 2026) are indexed across a wide range of subject categories, ensuring that open access research remains highly discoverable to a global readership through one of the most widely used platforms in academic publishing.

Data Summary (2025 CiteScores)

• New Additions: 41 MDPI journals received a CiteScore for the first time.
• Trending Upward: 234 of 322 previously ranked journals (73%) saw an increase in their CiteScore compared to last year.
• High Visibility: 314 journals (86%) rank in Q1 or Q2 in at least one subject category.
• Elite Performance: 42 journals rank in the top 10% of their subject categories.

Portfolio Performance

Among the 322 journals that held a CiteScore in 2024, 234 saw an increase this year. Quartile improvements outnumbered declines across the portfolio, with 52 journals moving to a higher quartile and only 20 seeing a decline. Furthermore, no previously ranked journals were removed. The 42 journals now ranked in the top 10% of their subject categories are drawn from a strong foundation of 178 journals holding a Q1 position.

With the large majority of our indexed portfolio ranked in the top half of research fields, researchers can confidently choose MDPI to meet funder mandates for high-quality, fully compliant Open Access publishing.

Exceptional Achievements for Foods and Life

Notably, both Foods and Life achieved a 99th percentile ranking in their respective subject categories for the 2025 CiteScores. This outstanding placement positions them as leading journals in their fields and highlights the high visibility and global impact of the open access research they publish.

Journal Metrics and Beyond

Journal-level metrics describe outlets, not individual articles. An increasing number of funders and institutions—including signatories of DORA and the Coalition for Advancing Research Assessment—now explicitly encourage evaluation at the article level rather than by the journal in which research appears. MDPI supports this direction: we report CiteScore alongside the Journal Impact Factor, Journal Citation Indicator, and article-level usage data because no single number captures the full reach and contribution of published research.

Thank You

These results reflect the sustained effort of thousands of editors-in-chief, editorial board members, reviewers, and authors across every field MDPI serves. The metrics are the outcome; the work is yours.

We are honored to announce that Dr. Alina Vasilescu and Prof. Dr. Michele Penza have been selected as the winners of the Chemosensors 2025 Editor of Distinction Award.

The following is an interview with Dr. Alina Vasilescu:

1. Could you briefly introduce your academic background and current research focus?

My background is in analytical chemistry; I am a graduate of the University of Bucharest, Romania, where I have obtained both my BSc and MSc degrees. During my MSc, I was introduced to the field of biosensors, having the privilege to attend courses held by renowned specialists in the field, including Prof. Giuseppe Palleschi, Jean-Louis Marty, Lo Gorton, and Nabil El Murr, among others. I continued in this field with a joint PhD thesis at the University of Bucharest and the University of Perpignan, France, and later with a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Toronto, Canada. I lived for almost 10 years in Canada, where, besides the postdoctoral fellowship, I worked in analytical research and development in the pharmaceutical industry. A Marie Curie International Reintegration Grant that I obtained in 2011 gave me the opportunity to return to the biosensor research field at the International Centre of Biodynamics in Bucharest, where I presently work as Head of Electrochemistry and SERS laboratory. My research themes are centered around biosensors, and I have developed analytical tools to investigate protein aggregation, wine quality, disease biomarkers, and environmental contaminants. I was very lucky to collaborate with strong groups specialized in nanomaterials, microbiology, laser-assisted deposition, and electrode manufacturing. My recent focus is on coupling electrochemistry with optical methods such as surface plasmon resonance or surface-enhanced Raman scattering, in the aim to understand the mechanisms providing increased detection sensitivity, boosting specific over non-specific recognition in biosensors, and exploring specific binding events.

2. How was your experience being an editor for Chemosensors? What motivated you to participate actively in the editorial process, and what do you find most rewarding about it?

I think this question can be answered from several perspectives. One would be that it gave me the opportunity to stay updated with the latest research in the field of chemical- and biosensors, and inspired me with regard to the direction the scientific research is headed in.

At the same time, as a member of the Editorial Board, I felt a responsibility to ensure fair, constructive, and thorough peer review. Moreover, I valued the opportunity to design Special Issues around subjects related to sensors and biosensors for food safety, environmental monitoring, and medical diagnostics.

I can say that it was particularly fulfilling to see how the manuscripts’ quality improved during the review process based on the suggestions and guidance I provided. This gave me a sense of contributing to the scientific field not just by my own research.

3. Do you have any suggestions for improving our editorial process?

With regards to reviewer selection process, I think it would be helpful to further expand the reviewer database and diversify reviewers’ profiles, given that most research nowadays is multidisciplinary and involves teams with complementary expertise. Another thing that could be improved would be to provide more detailed guidelines for reviewers and also for authors. To give an example, many papers which describe new sensors include spike-and-recovery tests as a measure of the sensors’ accuracy and fitness for analyzing real-world samples. However, the number of samples and the spiking procedure vary greatly between reports. Incorrect spiking procedures tend to roll on from one paper or one journal to another, as some authors simply adopt the easiest procedure used in similar works, without questioning its correctness. They argue, during the review process, that if the respective procedure was already published, this means it is absolutely valid. I would strongly support a guideline with descriptions and references of the necessary tests for proving the sensors’ performance. A consistent, correct way of testing will build confidence in the research results and enable relevant comparison between the literature reports.

4. How do you see the role of editors evolving with the advancements in artificial intelligence and automated tools in research publishing?

I believe that AI and automated tools are simply means that support and streamline the human-driven reviewing process, as AI-based tools are trained on published data and are not able to grasp the context of brand new and revolutionary ideas, as opposed to a human editor. I can see an increased percentage of the editor’s time allocated to critically reviewing AI-generated manuscripts and identifying misconduct that automated tools may miss. The editor’s contribution will also be essential in reaching decisions on difficult-to-judge manuscripts. Maintaining the journal's identity will be hard without strong editor involvement.

On the other hand, I believe in a strong role of AI in identifying plagiarism, detecting AI-written content, in the initial screening of manuscripts, and for reviewer selection. Editors would need to be increasingly AI-literate, while at the same time knowing AI’s limitations.

5. Do you have any advice for early career researchers in terms of research or publishing?

It is important to prioritize from the beginning quality over quantity and build a specific, strong competence rather than dissipating research efforts in a broad domain. I strongly encourage early-career researchers to take every opportunity to go to conferences or summer schools and build collaborations with their peers or with more experienced people with complementary expertise. I always considered that a collaborative work where several methods or techniques are used to gather a broader and detailed image of the studied topic is much better than one individual’s work limited by that person’s perspective and accessibility to research and technical means.

I also advise early-career researchers to screen carefully the journals where they want to publish, ensuring that they fit best with their research theme and provide the best visibility and impact for their results. They should integrate all constructive reviewer comments and advice from more experienced colleagues into their work. Moreover, I strongly encourage young researchers to check the clarity of their work by having their manuscript or project application read by people without detailed knowledge of the field (my husband is the most “avid reader” of my manuscripts and applications).

6. In your opinion, which research topics will be of particular interest to the research community in the coming years?

I believe that wearable and implantable sensors, as well as sensors for environmental monitoring, are two big topics where researchers will be focusing on in the future. Obviously, integration of AI and machine learning will support this research, and many advances will come from this. I also think that food safety and point-of-care devices will continue to attract interest and funding. One particularly interesting research area would be in biomimetic sensors with all the implications in medicine and human–machine interactions. Not least, given the renewed efforts for space exploration, sensors that can be integrated in probes, shuttles, or space stations will become increasingly needed.

The following is an interview with Dr. Michele Penza:

1. Could you briefly introduce your academic background and current research focus?

My research interests are focused on materials science and engineering for chemical sensing and environmental monitoring, including sensor-systems, devices, technologies, and measurements for sustainability applications. At this stage, my publication score consists of 180+ peer-reviewed publications, 4 book chapters, 1 book, 13 special issues, 1 topical collection, 2 international reports, and 150+ conference communications, including 40+ invited/keynote speakers, and 3 national patents. H-index (March 2026): 43 (Scopus); 41 (Web of Science); 50 (Google Scholar). Nr. Citations (March 2026): 5450+ (Scopus); 4630+ (Web of Science); 8000+ (Google Scholar). I have peer-reviewed 380+ manuscripts and 200+ editor decisions.

I am honored to be listed (2020–now) as a Top 2% World most-cited Scientist in Analytical Chemistry and Applied Physics as published by Elsevier and Stanford University.

My main career achievements include Prime Researcher (2023–now), Head of Laboratory Functional Materials and Technologies for Sustainable Applications (headcount: 45 persons) at ENEA - Brindisi Research Center (1 July 2015–30 June 2024), and now I am serving as a Direction Office Member at Division Advanced Materials and Technologies for Sustainable Manufacturing Industry in ENEA. Furthermore, I was engaged as Chair of the International Cooperation in Science and Technology (COST) Action TD1105 EuNetAir (2012–2016) - European Network on New Sensing Technologies for Air Pollution Control and Environmental Sustainability - including 250+ researchers and scientists belonging to 150+ teams from 35+ Countries (Europe, USA, China, Australia, Russia, Ukraine, Morocco). Also, I have coordinated (2019–2022) the EIT Raw Materials Hub - Regional Center Southern Italy, devoted to the development of critical raw materials in the Mediterranean eco-system for eco-innovation and environmental sustainability. Moreover, my expertise has been useful as Chairman of the European Sensor Systems Cluster (ESSC), launched by EC DG R&I in November 2014, to define a roadmap for sensors and sensor systems for Horizon 2020 calls.

Moreover, I have achieved the Italian National Scientific Qualification as a Full Professor in Experimental Physics of Matter (02/B1 - ASN 2021-23), valid from 6 February 2023 to 6 February 2035 (Ministry of University and Research Ministerial Decree n. 553/2021 dated on 26 February 2021 and MUR Ministerial Decree n. 589/2021 dated on 05 March 2021); and the Italian National Scientific Qualification as a Full Professor in Applied Physics (02/D1 - ASN 2023-25), valid from 11 November 2025 to 11 November 2037 (Ministry of University and Research Ministerial Decree n. 1796/2023 dated on 27 October 2023);  and currently I serve as Adjunct Professor at University of Salento, Lecce (Italy), teaching the Bachelor’s Program in Engineering for Sustainable Industry, with a course on the Laboratory of Technologies for Sustainable Production (6 CFD/54 hours, Academic Year 2024-2025, 2025-2026) at the Brindisi Teaching Pole.

Currently, I am engaged as an international expert reviewer of research projects funded by national and international research councils and agencies.

Finally, before appointment as Section Editor-in-Chief of “Environmental Sensing” in Sensors, I also served as Associate Editor for MDPI journals (Sensors, Chemosensors) and other international publishers.

2. How was your experience being an editor for Chemosensors? What motivated you to participate actively in the editorial process, and what do you find most rewarding about it?

Chemosensors is a high-quality, open access, and excellent journal with a high impact factor, indexed in many important research archives, to share knowledge on chemical sensors at a global level. My experience as Associate Editor of Chemosensors confirmed that the rigorous peer-review and relatively short timing of acceptance for publication are an optimal basis to corroborate our journal as a top magazine to host outstanding research on sensors for chemical sensing in different applicative sectors. My action as Associate Editor and Guest Editor is challenging because it is beneficial to know continuous updates from worldwide laboratories at the frontiers of knowledge in chemical sensors.

3. Do you have any suggestions for improving our editorial process?

The MDPI editorial process is solid and pays attention to ethics, integrity and originality. A double-check approach is currently carried out in unclear editorial decisions to avoid conflicts of interest. The editorial policy is updated to the state of the art.

4. How do you see the role of editors evolving with the advancements in artificial intelligence and automated tools in research publishing?

AI is a valid tool as an assistant editor for authors and editors to improve the quality of a manuscript. However, the integrity and originality of the publications need to be supervised, including the absence of plagiarism in the artefacts by authors. The role of editors is crucial to check this clean scheme in publications. Software tools to check the duplicate rate are very useful to support editorial decisions.

5. Do you have any advice for early-career researchers in terms of research or publishing?

The engagement of young researchers in Chemosensors is crucial for future sustainable development. They will be encouraged to attend webinars, participate as peer-reviewers, co-author excellent papers and reviews, author a thesis dissertation in the field of applied sensors, environmental sensor technologies and sustainable applications; accomplished grants for best posters and/or best oral presentations should be awarded to boost their scientific interests in innovative chemical sensors. Gender balance between females and males is also supported as much as possible in all agendas of Chemosensors initiatives.

6. In your opinion, which research topics will be of particular interest to the research community in the coming years?

My vision for Chemosensors is to consolidate its editorial position as a top global platform for outstanding research with multidisciplinary and innovative aspects, bridging academia and industry. I am engaged as Associate Editor to expand the journal’s scope to include emerging fields such as green and digital technologies for sustainable applications, AI-supported sensors development, IoT sensor-system integration, novel electronic devices for environmental monitoring and measurements, applied chemical sensors, and advanced functional materials for chemical sensing, taking into account the highest standards of peer-review and open access. The topics and contents will be in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by the United Nations (UN). Through the key involvement of leading scientists, senior experts, and early-stage researchers, I will push Chemosensors as a reference journal for shaping the future of chemical sensing technologies and measurements at a higher impact.

We are honored to announce that Prof. Dr. William Gerwick will serve as the Chair of the 2026 Tu Youyou Award Committee.

A world-renowned authority in marine natural products chemistry and pharmacology, Professor Gerwick is a Distinguished Professor at both the Scripps Institution of Oceanography and the Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences at the University of California San Diego (UCSD). His pioneering work at the intersection of ocean sciences and drug discovery makes him a fitting leader for an award centered on transformative medicinal breakthroughs.

Under Professor Gerwick’s stewardship, the 2026 Tu Youyou Award Committee will focus on recognizing innovative and impactful research in natural products chemistry and medicinal chemistry, particularly work with the potential to drive meaningful advances in both scientific understanding and human health.

To provide further insight into his perspectives, we include below an interview with Professor Gerwick, in which he reflects on his scientific journey, his views on the field, and his vision for the Tu Youyou Award.

A Conversation with the Chair

1. Could you please introduce yourself and your research journey?

My research focuses on the natural products of marine algae and cyanobacteria, their application in medicine, their biosynthesis using genomic approaches, and innovative methods in the structure elucidation of natural products.

I received my BS degree from the University of California at Davis, my PhD from the University of California at San Diego, and conducted postdoctoral work at the University of Connecticut. After a couple of years in a junior faculty position at the Department of Chemistry at the University of Puerto Rico, I spent 21 years as Professor of Pharmacy at Oregon State University. In 2005, I returned to my PhD institution at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography and the Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences at UC San Diego, where I am currently a Distinguished Professor of Oceanography and Pharmaceutical Sciences.

Throughout my career, I have been dedicated to advancing the field through both leadership and mentorship. I have served as president of the American Society of Pharmacognosy, chaired and co-chaired several major research conferences, and served as an associate editor for the Journal of Natural Products. I am a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) and of the American Society of Pharmacognosy. I have trained over 100 doctoral and postdoctoral students, and my research group has published nearly 500 papers and more than 25 patents on topics in the natural product sciences and medicinal chemistry.

2. What motivated you to accept the role of Chair of the 2026 Tu Youyou Award Committee?

Of course, I am a huge supporter of all awards that are given in recognition of excellent scientific research, and especially so in the natural products sciences and medicinal chemistry. However, this award is truly special in that it recognizes scientific excellence as well as impact, and is given in the name of an individual, Tu Youyou, who clearly had many challenges along the path to reach the pinnacle of her success. Not only was she the first Chinese person to win a Nobel prize in this area, but she was also the first Chinese woman to receive a Nobel prize, and this was achieved without graduate education in China or elsewhere. It’s a true testament to what can be achieved by hard work, determination, and vision. To read the history of her extraordinary approach to discovering novel antimalarial compounds from Traditional Chinese Medicine is truly inspirational. It is, therefore, the inspiration provided by the extraordinary life and career of Tu Youyou that motivated me to accept the Chair of the Award Committee for 2026.

3. How do you view the role of natural products chemistry and medicinal chemistry in today’s scientific landscape, and what major advances over the past decade have shaped this field?

A quite remarkable integration of fields is currently transforming natural products science and medicinal chemistry. In natural products, we are seeing integration of different omics methods, from metabolites to proteins to nucleic acids. Sophisticated biological and pharmacological approaches are driving the discovery of exquisitely potent and selective natural products. Advances are being made to integrate molecular-level recognition of natural products with chemical ecological studies, and sophisticated methods of structure determination using Artificial Intelligence or pioneering new tools such as microED are being applied with increasing frequency. High-level synthetic methodologies, such as protecting group-free synthetic routes, are enhancing medicinal chemistry, accelerating the identification of lead molecules with attractive pharmaceutical properties at an increasing pace.

4. How do you consider the balance between fundamental discovery (e.g., new molecules or mechanisms) and practical impact (e.g., therapeutic applications)?

Many individuals are excellent scientists and mentors, and have essential roles in developing our culture that values science and the scientific method. It should also be pointed out that not all scientific discoveries are going to have a broad societal impact, but they are nevertheless critical to the overall body and structure of science. But it is a truly remarkable individual who makes a key scientific discovery, recognizes its potential value to society in general, and then has the skills and determination to bring it forward as a useful product. That was the type of person the Tu Youyou is, and that is the type of person who is honored by the prize in her name.

5. What do you see as the key challenges or opportunities currently facing the field?

We are on the crux of an amazing revolution in many of the sciences, including natural products and medicinal chemistry; the purposeful application of Artificial Intelligence to solving many of the difficulties involved in the search for new pharmaceuticals from Nature. AI is transforming how we select organisms for study, what pharmaceutical targets to go after, rapidly resolving the chemical structures of new compounds, identifying efficient routes to their chemical synthesis, understanding their molecular mechanisms of action, and finally, designing their clinical application. The role of people in these pursuits is changing. Increasingly, the human role will be providing overall vision: what can we do? What should we do? And it is important to remember that AI is providing hypotheses, not truth. Scientists with expert domain knowledge will be critical for discerning the correctness of hypotheses put forth by AI. Altogether, advances in technology, expanding knowledge, and the appropriate use of AI methods are preparing society to be able to address emerging diseases, such as pandemics, as well as conditions that are not effectively treated by currently existing therapeutics.

6. How do you expect the Tu Youyou Award to contribute to the advancement of natural product chemistry, medicinal chemistry, and human health over the coming years?

The Tu Youyou Award is potentially transformative for the broad fields of natural products science and medicinal chemistry as it brings a significantly increased level of visibility to these topics and their contributions to human health. It will be crucial to have excellent communication to news agencies, social media and other communication outlets so that the general public is informed and educated on the high impact of these natural product/medicinal chemistry contributions. This will bring increased funding, attract promising students, and generally enrich the interface of these fields with the health sector.

7. What message would you like to convey to the research community and the public during this open nomination phase?

This prize gives broad societal visibility to the role that natural products have had in shaping a majority of our current medicines, as well as understanding the life forms with whom we share the planet. Further, it recognizes a woman scientist working under sub-optimal conditions who could persevere and make discoveries of global impact. The prize and what it represents, therefore, inspires current and future generations to engage in the study of Nature and its relationship to Human Health, to overcome adversity, and to aspire to making one’s life impactful.

About the Tu Youyou Award

Established in 2016, the Tu Youyou Award seeks to honor those who excel in the fields of natural products chemistry and medicinal chemistry. This award offers a total prize of CHF 100,000, which will be equally divided among the winners if there is more than one, with each recipient receiving an award medal and a certificate.

The 2026 Tu Youyou Award is open for nominations until 31 October 2026. We encourage all eligible candidates to participate in this prestigious recognition, as this award not only honors individual achievement but also encourages further scientific exchange, exploration and discovery in critical areas of medicine.

If you are interested in participating, please visit the Tu Youyou Award website for more information on the nomination requirements.

1. Congratulations on receiving the Best Paper Award. Could you please briefly introduce yourself to our readers and share your current research focus, including any recent developments in your work?
I am Professor Yuan Zhenyu from the College of Information Science and Engineering at Northeastern University in China. My main research areas include micro/nano-semiconductor gas sensors, trace gas detection technology and qualitative and quantitative identification, as well as high-performance electronic noses for robot searches.

2. Could you briefly introduce the key research focus and main findings of your award-winning paper?
This study synthesizes Ni-doped perovskite-structured LaFeO₃ composite materials via a one-step hydrothermal method, characterizes the morphology and structure of the materials, and tests their gas sensing performance. The gas sensor exhibits a response as high as 102 towards 100 ppm of triethylamine at 190 °C, along with better selectivity and stability. The Ni-doped perovskite-structured LaFeO₃ sample can adsorb more oxygen, promoting the reaction between adsorbed oxygen and the target gas and thereby improving the gas sensitivity performance.

3. Looking ahead, what impact do you hope your research will have on the field, and what do you consider to be the most significant innovation presented in your paper?
I hope that my series of work can provide a reference for the construction of high-performance gas sensors and further applications. The innovation of this paper is based on perovskite, which has a molecular formula of ABO₃, where both the A-site and B-site elements are easily replaced by other doping elements, resulting in the strong adaptability and tunability of perovskite oxides’ structure. Meanwhile, doping is an effective method used to improve the performance of gas-sensitive materials. Thus, in this study, spherical LaFeO₃ composite gas-sensitive materials doped with Ni were synthesized using a hydrothermal method. The microstructure was studied through characterizations, and the gas sensitivity performance towards TEA was also tested.

4. Could you share some of the major challenges in your research area, as well as any recent breakthroughs that you find particularly exciting?
I think the starting point for making semiconductor gas sensors is to control sensitive materials with micro/nano-structures to enhance sensitivity, but there are also challenges, which are how to apply high-performance gas sensors. I think one interesting point is that we have applied our self-developed gas sensor to inspection robots, breaking through challenges such as detection limits and stability and achieving olfactory navigation functions.

5. In your view, how does open access publishing contribute to the dissemination of knowledge and the advancement of research in your area?
I think open access publishing can make it more convenient for relevant researchers to access the full text of research results, understand the research details in the paper, and play a very positive role in promoting common research in the field.

6. Do you have any advice for young researchers who aspire to produce high-impact research results?
Persist in your own research and do not rush for quick success. Pay more attention to the research work of domestic and foreign peers to obtain ideas. Encourage cooperation and strive for cross-complementarity.