Yousra Mukhtar | Agricultural | Best Researcher Award

Published on by Soil Scientist

Dr.Yousra Mukhtar | Agricultural | Best Researcher Award

Dr. Yousra Mukhtar | Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology | India

Dr. Yousra Mukhtar is a dedicated entomologist specializing in Integrated Pest and Pollinator Management (IPPM) and pollinator ecology, with significant expertise in insect biodiversity assessment and sustainable pest control strategies. Her research has documented 75 non-Apis bee species, including over 30 first records from the northwestern Himalayas of India, enriching knowledge on native pollinator diversity and ecosystem services. She has authored more than 30 peer-reviewed publications focusing on pest dynamics, pollinator behavior, and eco-friendly pest management approaches that enhance agroecosystem resilience. As a researcher and educator, she has contributed to advancing understanding of the interlinkages between pollination ecology and integrated pest management, promoting environmentally sustainable agricultural practices. Her scholarly contributions are recognized through 13 research documents, 19 citations, and an h-index of 2, reflecting her growing academic impact. Beyond research, she has actively engaged in scientific communities through leadership roles, conference presentations, and peer-review activities for reputed international journals. Dr. Mukhtar’s work exemplifies a strong commitment to pollinator conservation, biodiversity monitoring, and the development of sustainable IPM strategies that align with global goals for agricultural sustainability and environmental stewardship.

Profiles: Scopus  | Orcid

Featured Publications

Mukhtar, Y., & Shankar, U. (2025). Pest management practices impact Helicoverpa armigera infestation and foraging behaviour of pollinators in sunflower. International Journal of Pest Management.

Mukhtar, Y., & Shankar, U. (2025). Expanding Megachile diversity: First record of nine Megachile species (Hymenoptera: Megachilidae) from Jammu, India and the broader North-Western Himalayas. Oriental Insects.

Mukhtar, Y., & Shankar, U. (2025). Non-Apis bee diversity in Jammu, India, with first records from the region and the northwestern Himalayas. National Academy Science Letters.

Mukhtar, Y., & Shankar, U. (2024). Harmonizing pest control and beneficial organism conservation in sunflower ecosystems through integrated pest management. Journal of Plant Diseases and Protection.

Anis Bensadi | Agriculture | Best Researcher Award

Published on by Soil Scientist

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Anis Bensadi | Agriculture | Best Researcher Award

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Anis Bensadi | Shenzhen Technology University | China

Dr. Anis Bensadi is an accomplished academic and researcher in Economics and Finance, currently serving as Associate Professor at Shenzhen Technology University, China. His scholarly work integrates risk management, investment banking, and sustainable finance, with a strong emphasis on the intersection of digital transformation and energy transition. His research explores innovative financial models that promote renewable energy integration and sustainability across global economies, including studies on the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, e-governance, and green financing for agricultural development in BRICS nations. With extensive experience in academia and the banking sector, he has contributed to advancing financial risk assessment frameworks and sustainable investment strategies. His research has been featured in reputed journals such as Nature Scientific Reports and Energy Policy. Actively engaged in international academic collaboration, he has presented at leading conferences on green and sustainable finance in Hong Kong, Sydney, Macau, and Singapore. Through his teaching and professional engagements, he fosters critical understanding of economic policy, market risk, and sustainable development practices, bridging the gap between theory and financial innovation to support resilient, low-carbon economic systems.

Profiles:  Orcid | Google Scholar

Featured Publications

Bensadi, A. (2025, October 29). Subnational heterogeneity in climate-smart agriculture green finance and irrigation efficiency across seven African nations. Scientific Reports.

Bensadi, A., & Liu, Z. (2025, October 14). Assessing sustainable energy transition pathways in the Philippines: An integrated TAM-TOE-TPB approach. Asian Journal of Water, Environment and Pollution.

Bensadi, A. (2024, November 26). Assessing the impact of renewable energy integration on energy efficiency within the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). Scientific Reports.

Upma Bhatt | Agricultural | Young Scientist Award

Published on by Soil Scientist

Dr. Upma Bhatt | Agricultural | Young Scientist Award

Upma Bhatt | Case Western Reserve University | India

Dr. Upma Bhatt is a dedicated Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Plant Physiology and Stress Biology at IIT Delhi under the DBT-RA program, recognized for her outstanding contributions to abiotic stress research, chlorophyll fluorescence analysis, and desiccation tolerance mechanisms in plants. With a strong academic foundation culminating in a Ph.D. in Botany from Mohanlal Sukhadia University (MLSU), Udaipur, she has built an impressive research portfolio comprising 22 publications, 249 citations, and an h-index of 9, reflecting her growing influence in the field of plant science. Her expertise spans plant stress physiology under drought, salinity, and submergence conditions; photosynthetic efficiency analysis using advanced JIP-test and Triple JIP techniques; and developmental studies on embryo physiology and seed priming. Dr. Bhatt’s commitment to sustainable plant biotechnology and nanoparticle phytotoxicity studies further enhances the applied relevance of her work. She has been honored with several prestigious awards, including the Best Researcher and Young Scientist Awards, underscoring her excellence in innovative plant research. With a passion for developmental physiology and collaborative research, Dr. Bhatt continues to explore the intricate mechanisms underlying plant adaptation and resilience, contributing significantly to advancing stress biology and agricultural sustainability.

Profile:  Scopus

Featured Publications

Bhatt, U.,(2025). Veterinary medicines: An emerging threat to soil, water, and plants. Water, Air, and Soil Pollution.

Bhatt, U.,(2025). Impact of synthetic and herbal dyes on photosynthesis and ROS scavenging enzyme activities in Spirodela polyrhiza. Scientific Reports.

Muhammad Asad Ullah | Agricultural | Best Researcher Award

Published on by Soil Scientist

Mr. Muhammad Asad Ullah | Agricultural | Best Researcher Award

Mr. Muhammad Asad Ullah, University of the Punjab, Pakistan

Muhammad Asad Ullah is an MSc (Hons.) student in Plant Breeding and Genetics at the University of the Punjab, Pakistan. His research at the National Institute for Genomics and Advanced Biotechnology (NIGAB) focuses on integrating UAV-based high-throughput phenotyping with genome-wide association studies (GWAS) to enhance wheat breeding for drought tolerance. He has expertise in fieldwork, laboratory techniques, bioinformatics, and computational statistics. His work contributes to precision breeding and crop resilience under abiotic stress. He has published research on plant genomics and actively participates in international conferences and scientific discussions.

Profile

Orcid

Summary:

Mr. Muhammad Asad Ullah is a strong contender for the Best Researcher Award, given his diverse contributions to crop genetics, plant stress tolerance, and sustainable agriculture. His publications in high-quality journals and collaboration with international researchers make him a valuable asset to the scientific community. However, improving research funding, citation impact, conference engagement, and policy-oriented contributions could further strengthen his profile.

🎓 Education

Muhammad Asad Ullah is currently pursuing an MSc (Hons.) in Plant Breeding and Genetics at the University of the Punjab, Lahore, with a CGPA of 3.40/4.00. His master’s research focuses on unraveling genetic factors associated with early-stage drought tolerance in wheat using multispectral imaging. He previously earned a BSc (Hons.) in Agriculture with a specialization in Plant Breeding and Genetics from Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan, achieving a CGPA of 3.50/4.00. His undergraduate thesis explored the responsiveness of wheat genotypes to zinc application under drought conditions.

💼Experience

Muhammad Asad Ullah is currently conducting his MSc research at the National Institute for Genomics and Advanced Biotechnology (NIGAB), NARC, Pakistan, where he specializes in UAV-based high-throughput phenomics and genomic research. His work integrates multispectral imaging, machine learning models, and genomic analyses such as genome-wide association studies (GWAS) to identify key QTLs and potential candidate genes regulating important traits. Previously, he was involved in breeding and evaluating exotic tomato genotypes in the arid climate of Layyah, sourcing germplasm from the Netherlands Genebank and crossing them with local varieties to enhance adaptation.

🔬Research Focus

His research primarily focuses on integrating advanced high-throughput phenomics and genomics approaches to improve crop breeding. He employs UAV-based high-throughput phenotyping techniques combined with GWAS to accelerate breeding and enhance genomic selection accuracy, particularly in wheat. His work contributes to understanding plant responses to abiotic stress and improving crop resilience through precision breeding.

🏆Awards

Muhammad Asad Ullah has received several accolades, including a Certificate of Appreciation for being the best Class Representative during his BSc (Hons.) studies in 2023. He won the college sports gala badminton tournament in 2018 and was awarded a merit-based solar panel by the Punjab Provincial Government in 2014. In 2012, he secured first position in the English speech competition at the Punjab Youth Festival.

🛠️Skills

He possesses extensive expertise in laboratory techniques, including DNA and RNA extraction, PCR, gel electrophoresis, and microplate spectroscopy. His field experimentation skills include digital phenotyping through UAV-based imaging, root system analysis, and floral trait assessment. He is proficient in R, Python, MATLAB, SAS, and Origin Lab for statistical and genomic data analysis, along with software such as PiX4D mapper, Agisoft Metashape, and GIS for UAV-based phenotyping. His experience extends to machine learning regression models and genomic analysis tools like Structure, Tassel, and TB tools.

Publications

  • Screening and Assessment of Genetic Diversity of Rice (Oryza sativa L.) Germplasm in Response to Soil Salinity Stress at Germination Stage

    • Journal: Agronomy
    • Authors: Alia Anwar, Javaria Tabassum, Shakeel Ahmad, Muhammad Ashfaq, Adil Hussain, Muhammad Asad Ullah, Nur Shuhadah Binti Mohd Saad, Abdelhalim I. Ghazy, Muhammad Arshad Javed
    • Year: 2025

  • Comprehensive Identification of GASA Genes in Sunflower and Expression Profiling in Response to Drought

    • Journal: BMC Genomics
    • Authors: Muhammad Asad Ullah, Muhammad Awais Ahmed, Latifa AlHusnain, Muhammad Abu Bakar Zia, Muneera D. F. AlKahtani, Kotb A. Attia, Mohammed Hawash
    • Year: 2024

  • Genetically Modified Crops Global Regulation: Implications for Food Security and Environmental Sustainability

    • Journal: Not Specified
    • Authors: Muhammad Asad Ullah
    • Year: 2024

  • Unveiling Genetic Threads: Phenotypic Exploration of Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) Germplasms for Heritability and Trait Associations

    • Journal: Journal of Physical, Biomedical and Biological Sciences
    • Authors: Muhammad Asad Ullah
    • Year: 2024

  • Morphological Characterization of Diverse Wheat Genotypes for Yield and Related Traits Under Drought Condition

    • Journal: International Journal of Natural and Engineering Sciences
    • Authors: Muhammad Asad Ullah
    • Year: 2023

  • Physiological Response of Wheat Genotypes Toward Zinc Regimens

    • Journal: International Journal of Natural and Engineering Sciences
    • Authors: Muhammad Asad Ullah
    • Year: 2023

Conclusion:

Mr. Muhammad Asad Ullah is an outstanding researcher with significant contributions to plant sciences, his chances of winning the Best Researcher Award would be further enhanced by securing grants, improving citation impact, and increasing international visibility. If these areas are addressed, he would be an excellent choice for the award.