sultan acun | Agriculture | Best Researcher Award

Published on by Soil Scientist

Assist. Prof. Dr. sultan acun | Agriculture | Best Researcher Award

Assist. Prof. Dr. Sultan acun, Amasya University, Turkey

Assist. Prof. Dr. Sultan Acun is a faculty member at Amasya University, Turkey, specializing in food science and engineering. She holds a Ph.D. in Food Science from Suleyman Demirel University, where her research focused on the use of propolis extracts and microencapsulated honey powder in cakes. Her expertise includes food quality enhancement, natural antioxidants, and functional food production. Dr. Acun has extensive academic and administrative experience, having served as a lecturer and department head. She has published numerous research papers in peer-reviewed journals and actively contributes to scientific conferences.

Profile

Scopus

Summary:

Assist. Prof. Dr. Sultan Acun is a distinguished researcher in food science with a strong publication record, innovative research on functional foods, and significant contributions to academia. Her work on propolis, natural antioxidants, and food quality improvement has positioned her as a leading figure in her field. While she has demonstrated outstanding research capabilities, expanding international collaborations and securing more research grants would further enhance her impact.

🎓 Education

Sultan Acun completed her Ph.D. in Food Science in February 2021 at the Graduate School of Natural and Applied Sciences, Department of Food Engineering, Suleyman Demirel University, Turkey. Her doctoral research focused on using different propolis extracts and honey powder produced by the microencapsulation technique in cake. She obtained her M.Sc. in Food Science in June 2011 from the same university, where she studied the effects of grape wine waste pomace and grape seed on biscuit quality. She earned her B.Sc. in Food Engineering in June 2008, graduating with the highest GPA (93.11/100) among her peers.

💼Experience

Dr. Sultan Acun has extensive academic and administrative experience in food engineering and food science education. She has been a Lecturer Ph.D. at Amasya University, Suluova Vocational School, since 2021. Before that, she served as a Lecturer at the same institution from 2012 to 2021. She also worked as a Visiting Lecturer at Suleyman Demirel University, teaching at Gelendost and Şarkikaraağaç Vocational Schools between 2009 and 2012. In addition to her academic roles, she held administrative positions as Deputy Director of Suluova Vocational School from 2015 to 2020 and as Head of the Food Processing Department from 2014 to 2015.

🔬Research Focus

Her research interests lie in food science, with a specific focus on food quality enhancement, the use of natural antioxidants, and the incorporation of by-products in food production. She has worked on projects involving the use of propolis and microencapsulated honey in cakes, the determination of wheat quality, the evaluation of bakeries, and the use of grape pulp as a natural antioxidant in bread production. Her studies also explore the quality characteristics of traditional and gluten-free bakery products.

🛠️Skills

Dr. Acun possesses strong technical skills in food analysis, including the use of instruments such as protein analyzers, centrifuges, colorimeters, spectrophotometers, rotary evaporators, texture analyzers, and atomic absorption spectrophotometers. She is proficient in statistical analysis, including randomized and incomplete block design, ANOVA, multivariate analysis, and regression analysis. Additionally, she has expertise in Microsoft Office, Design Expert, and SPSS for data analysis.

🏆Awards

Dr. Acun has published numerous research papers in international and national peer-reviewed journals. She has presented her findings at various conferences, both as oral and poster presentations. She has contributed significantly to the study of food technology and has been recognized for her research on the nutritional and functional properties of different food ingredients. She also holds multiple certifications in quality management systems, HACCP, and risk-based process management.

📚 Publications

Title: The effect of propolis as a functional product on health
Author(s): Acun, S., & Gül, H.
Year: 2021
Journal: Uludag Aricilik Dergisi

Conclusion:

Dr. Sultan Acun is a strong candidate for the Best Researcher Award due to her valuable contributions to food science and functional food development. With continued efforts in global research engagement and industry partnerships, she can further solidify her position as a leading researcher in her domain.

Md. Ariful Islam | Soil Fertility | Best Researcher Award

Published on by Soil Scientist

Dr. Md. Ariful Islam | Soil Fertility | Best Researcher Award

Dr. Md. Ariful Islam, Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute, Bangladesh

Dr. Md. Ariful Islam is a Senior Scientific Officer at the Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (BARI), specializing in conservation agriculture, soil fertility, and sustainable cropping systems. He holds a Ph.D. in Environmental Science from Murdoch University, Australia, with research focusing on conservation agriculture in rice-based systems. With over 15 years of experience, he has contributed significantly to agronomic research, integrated nutrient management, and on-farm trials. Dr. Islam has received multiple awards, including the Best Scientist Award (2024), and has published extensively in national and international journals. His expertise includes field experimentation, data analysis, and farmer-oriented technology development.

Profile

Google Scholar

Summary:

Dr. Md. Ariful Islam has made notable contributions to agricultural research, particularly in conservation agriculture, soil management, and plant health. His interdisciplinary expertise, significant research impact, and collaboration with international experts make him a strong candidate for the Best Researcher Award. However, enhancing leadership in funded projects, expanding international collaborations, and increasing policy engagement could further elevate his research profile.

 

🎓 Education

Dr. Md. Ariful Islam holds a Ph.D. in Environmental Science from Murdoch University, Australia, specializing in conservation agriculture. His doctoral research focused on the effects of conservation agriculture on crops and soil in rice-based cropping systems in Bangladesh. He earned his Master of Science in Agronomy from Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh, where he studied the effects of variety and fertilizer management on wheat performance. His undergraduate degree, a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture (Honours), was also completed at Bangladesh Agricultural University, with coursework covering agronomy, soil science, horticulture, genetics, and agricultural economics.

💼Experience

Dr. Islam is currently a Senior Scientific Officer at the On-Farm Research Division of the Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (BARI) in Pabna, where he has been serving since June 2020. His role involves designing and executing research programs focusing on integrated plant nutrient management, cropping system improvements, and adaptive trials in drought-prone areas. Before this, he worked as a Scientific Officer at BARI’s Pulses Research Centre from 2007 to 2020, where he contributed to farmer-centered research, soil analysis, crop yield evaluation, and training programs for agricultural professionals and farmers.

🔬Research Focus

Dr. Islam’s research primarily revolves around conservation agriculture, soil fertility, nutrient management, and sustainable cropping systems in rice-based agriculture. His work aims to improve soil health, crop productivity, and farmer livelihoods through integrated and resource-efficient farming practices. His research has significantly contributed to understanding the effects of tillage and residue management on soil organic carbon sequestration, nitrogen cycling, and weed control.

Awards

Dr. Islam has received numerous awards for his contributions to conservation agriculture and agronomic research. In 2024, he was honored with the Best Scientist Award in the Mid-career Scientist category at BARI. He received multiple Best Paper Presentation Awards, including at the 21st Bangladesh Society of Agronomy Conference (2022) and international conferences such as the Smart Agriculture for Resource Conservation Conference (2021) and the 2nd Asian Web Conference on Managing Hill Resources (2021). Additionally, he was recognized for his research on conservation agriculture at the 2nd Conference on Conservation Agriculture for Smallholders (2017). He also received the ACIAR John Allwright Fellowship for his Ph.D. and travel grants for international conferences.

Skills

Dr. Md. Ariful Islam has extensive experience in scientific and experimental research, covering planning, design, execution, and reporting. His expertise includes conservation agriculture, soil fertility management, and integrated plant nutrient management. He is proficient in various analytical and statistical software, including MS Excel, MS Word, MS PowerPoint, MSTAT, Statistix 10, STAR, R-program, and GenStat, which he applies in data analysis and research.

Publications

  • Minimum tillage unpuddled transplanting: An alternative crop establishment strategy for rice in conservation agriculture cropping systems

    • Authors: ME Haque, RW Bell, MA Islam, MA Rahman
    • Journal: Field Crops Research
    • Year: 2016

  • Conservation agriculture for rice-based intensive cropping by smallholders in the eastern Gangetic plain

    • Authors: RW Bell, ME Haque, M Jahiruddin, MM Rahman, M Begum, MAM Miah, …
    • Journal: Agriculture
    • Year: 2018

  • Study of seed health, germination and seedling vigor of farmers produced rice seeds

    • Authors: A Haque, MAH Akon, MA Islam, KM Khalequzzaman, MA Ali
    • Journal: Not specified
    • Year: 2007

  • Soil nitrogen storage and availability to crops are increased by conservation agriculture practices in rice–based cropping systems in the Eastern Gangetic Plains

    • Authors: MK Alam, RW Bell, ME Haque, MA Islam, MA Kader
    • Journal: Field Crops Research
    • Year: 2020

  • Responses of rice to green manure and nitrogen fertilizer application

    • Authors: MS Islam, NK Paul, MR Alam, MR Uddin, UK Sarker, MA Islam, SU Park
    • Journal: OnLine Journal of Biological Sciences
    • Year: 2015

 

Conclusion:

Dr. Md. Ariful Islam is a deserving candidate for the Best Researcher Award due to his significant contributions to sustainable agriculture and conservation practices. Strengthening his research leadership, global collaborations, and policy impact will further solidify his standing as a leading researcher in his field.