Janet Leandro Marmolejo | Soil Biology | Research Excellence Award

Prof. Janet Leandro Marmolejo | Soil Biology | Research Excellence Award

College of Postgraduates | Mexico

Janet Leandro Marmolejo is an accomplished agricultural and livestock professional with strong expertise in health, microbiology, parasitology, and animal production systems. Her background spans hands-on roles in cattle, buffalo, sheep, turkey, and swine management, where she has applied biosecurity measures, disease prevention strategies, and reproductive evaluation techniques to enhance productivity. She has contributed significantly to silvopastoral systems, dairy and meat operations, and reproductive studies, including work with andrological examinations in buffalo. Janet has overseen the implementation of good livestock practices, feed formulation, monitoring of productive and reproductive indicators, and the development of animal health protocols. Her experience managing dual-purpose cattle, native turkeys, and buffalo herds demonstrates strong diagnostic, behavioral assessment, and disease-control capabilities. As an advisor in sheep production, she has managed vaccination schedules, reproductive monitoring, herd performance, and resource planning. In swine units, her responsibilities have included clinical sampling, nutritional adjustments, sanitary procedures, and growth monitoring. Janet’s academic foundation in genetic resources, livestock productivity, agricultural engineering, and zootechnics complements her extensive field experience, enabling her to integrate scientific knowledge with practical livestock management. Her diverse expertise positions her as a versatile professional capable of contributing to research, industrial, livestock, and agronomic sectors.

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Featured Publications

Leandro Marmolejo, J., Crosby Galván, M. M., Crosby Galván, E. M., Vallejo Hernández, L. H., Sánchez-Torres Esqueda, M. T., Cortez Romero, C., & Améndola Massiotti, R. D. (2025). The metabolism of Streptomyces avermitilis isolated from agricultural soils during the four seasons of the year. Applied Microbiology, 5(4), 138.

Marmolejo, J., & Ahedo, A. (2023). Métodos de rotación de calendarios sanitarios en corrales de engorda de ovinos de la raza Suffolk [Design]. Universidad Autónoma Chapingo.

Leandro, J. M. (2023, June 30). Determinación de los indicadores morfométricos reproductivos en machos de búfalo de agua (Bubalus bubalis) mediante examen andrológico con el uso del electro-eyaculador en Costa Rica [Conference poster]. 4º Congreso Nacional Estudiantil en Biología, Educación Ambiental y Agricultura Orgánica.

Leandro, J. M. (2023, June 28). Evaluación etológica en dos tipos de ambiente y su respuesta productiva en pavos doble pechuga (Meleagris gallopavo Linn) [Conference poster]. 4º Congreso Nacional Estudiantil en Biología, Educación Ambiental y Agricultura Orgánica.

Xiaobo Zhong | Soil Biology | Distinguished Soil Science Achievement

Dr. Xiaobo Zhong | Soil Biology | Distinguished Soil Science Achievement

Dr. Xiaobo Zhong | Institut Pasteur | France 

Dr. Xiaobo Zhong is a microbiologist whose research explores the structural and molecular mechanisms that govern bacterial morphogenesis and intercellular interactions. His work focuses on the bacterial cell wall, a multifunctional structure critical for maintaining shape, division, and environmental adaptability. Through advanced techniques such as cryo-electron tomography, he investigates how bacterial cell surface architectures enable microbial communication and phenomena like microbial hitchhiking, where non-motile species utilize motile counterparts for dispersal. His studies have revealed key molecular players in cell wall biosynthesis, including cellulose synthase complexes and stomatin-like proteins that organize membrane microdomains under stress conditions. His research contributions, published in leading journals such as Nature Communications, Trends in Microbiology, and mBio, have expanded understanding of cell envelope biology and stress adaptation in filamentous actinobacteria. His work bridges structural biology, microbiology, and biochemistry, advancing insight into microbial physiology and antibiotic resistance. In addition to research, he has supervised and mentored graduate and undergraduate students and contributed to several international conferences through oral and poster presentations. His ongoing investigations at the Pasteur Institute continue to advance integrative structural cell biology with applications in microbial biotechnology and antibiotic discovery.

Profile:  Orcid 

Featured Publications

Zhong, X., & Claessen, D. (2025). Cellulose biosynthesis and function in Streptomyces. Trends in Microbiology.

Zhong, X., Baur, S. S. M., Ongenae, V. M. A., Guerrero Egido, G., Shitut, S., Du, C., Vijgenboom, E., van Wezel, G. P., Carrion Bravo, V., Briegel, A., & Claessen, D. (2025). The stomatin-like protein StlP organizes membrane microdomains to govern polar growth in filamentous actinobacteria under hyperosmotic stress. Nature Communications.

Zhong, X., Nicolardi, S., Ouyang, R., Wuhrer, M., Du, C., van Wezel, G. P., Vijgenboom, E., Briegel, A., & Claessen, D. (2024). CslA and GlxA from Streptomyces lividans form a functional cellulose synthase complex. Applied and Environmental Microbiology, 90(4), e02087-23.

Wenying Qu | Soil Microbial ecology | Best Researcher Award

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Wenying Qu | Soil Microbial ecology | Best Researcher Award

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Wenying Qu, Shihezi University, China

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Wenying Qu is an Associate Professor and Master’s supervisor at the College of Water Conservancy and Architectural Engineering, Shihezi University, China. She holds a Doctor of Engineering degree in Environmental Science and Engineering from the Harbin Institute of Technology. Her research focuses on soil microbial ecology, microalgae biomass energy, and wastewater treatment technology. Dr. Qu has made significant contributions to enhancing agricultural productivity and wastewater treatment efficiency through microbial and microalgal innovations. She has published extensively, holds multiple patents, and has received various recognitions, including high-level talent titles from Shihezi City and Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

Profile

Scopus

Summary:

Dr. Wenying Qu is a dynamic researcher whose interdisciplinary work combines agricultural improvement and environmental sustainability. Her track record includes impactful publications, patented innovations, funded projects, and formal recognitions, making her one of the emerging leaders in her field.

🎓 Education

Wenying Qu holds a Doctor of Engineering degree in Environmental Science and Engineering from the Harbin Institute of Technology, which she completed between September 2017 and January 2022. Prior to that, she earned a Master of Science in Marine Sciences from the School of Marine Science and Technology at Harbin Institute of Technology (2015-2017), and a Bachelor of Science in Biotechnology from the College of Life Sciences at Northeast Forestry University (2011-2015).

đź’ĽExperience

Since February 2022, Wenying Qu has been serving as an Associate Professor and Master’s supervisor at the College of Water Conservancy and Architectural Engineering, Shihezi University, China. Before this role, she undertook significant academic research and training, which led to her receiving various honors, such as the high-level talent introduction title from Shihezi City and the “Tianchi Talents” recognition in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

🔬Research Focus

Wenying Qu’s research focuses primarily on soil microbial communities, microalgal cultivation technologies, and their applications in wastewater treatment. Her work has demonstrated how microbial communities and algae can be integrated into agricultural systems to improve crop yield and soil health. A key achievement includes enhancing cotton productivity through improved soil quality and microbial nitrogen cycling. She has also explored the use of microalgae to remove nutrients from swine wastewater and convert them into bioenergy.

🛠️Skills

Her expertise spans soil microbial ecology, microalgae biomass energy, and wastewater treatment technology. Her research has provided advancements in improving soil quality and enhancing agricultural productivity through microbial cycling and microalgal cultivation technologies. She has also made significant contributions to the treatment of wastewater using microalgae and optimizing biomass for bioenergy production.

🏆Awards

Wenying Qu has been recognized with various prestigious titles. She was awarded the “Tianchi Talents” honor in Xinjiang and has received recognition from Shihezi University for her research contributions. Additionally, her research has been recognized through numerous patents, including a method for producing carbohydrates using swine wastewater, and her publications have been cited widely in scientific journals.

📚 Publications

  • Title: Long-term mulched drip irrigation enhances cotton yield by improving soil quality, microbial community structure, and N conversion
    Year: 2025
    Authors: W. Li, S. Gao, W. Qu, S. Ho, Z. Wang
    Journal: Agricultural Water Management

  • Title: Revealing real impact of microalgae on seasonal dynamics of bacterial community in a pilot-scale microalgal-bacterial consortium system
    Year: 2025
    Authors: P. Xie, Q. Wang, W. Qu, N. Ren, S.H. Ho
    Journal: Water Research

Conclusion:

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Wenying Qu fully meets and exceeds the core expectations for the Best Researcher Award. Her research has both scientific depth and societal relevance. With continued development of international collaborations and scientific leadership roles, she is not only deserving of this award but is also poised to make even greater contributions to global scientific progress.

Gang Yang | Soil Ecology | Best Researcher Award

Prof. Dr. Gang Yang | Soil Ecology | Best Researcher Award

Prof. Dr. Gang Yang, Shaanxi university of science and technology, China

Prof. Dr. Gang Yang is a professor at Shaanxi University of Science and Technology, China, specializing in wetland carbon cycles, biogeochemistry, and global change ecology. With over 15 years of research, he has led multiple National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) projects on peatland degradation, carbon sequestration, and greenhouse gas emissions. His work explores the role of semiconductor minerals in carbon cycling and the environmental responses of wetlands. A member of several ecological and environmental societies, he has an H-index of 23 and has published extensively in high-impact journals.

Profile

Orcid

Summary:

Prof. Dr. Gang Yang is a leading researcher in wetland ecology, carbon cycles, and biogeochemistry, with strong academic credentials, numerous high-impact publications, and significant research leadership. His innovative approaches to peatland carbon sequestration and degradation studies, along with his editorial and professional affiliations, make him an outstanding candidate for the Best Researcher Award.

🎓 Education

Gang Yang completed his Master’s degree in 2005 and has since been dedicated to research on soil carbon cycle processes and their environmental responses. His expertise spans soil ecology, ecosystem ecology, biogeochemistry, and global change ecology.

đź’ĽExperience

He is a Professor at Shaanxi University of Science and Technology and has been actively involved in wetland ecosystem carbon cycle research. He has served as the Principal Investigator for multiple National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) projects, focusing on peatland degradation, carbon export mechanisms, and the role of semiconductor minerals in wetland carbon dynamics. His work also includes consultancy for the National Fourth Survey Project of Chinese Medicinal Plants.

🔬Research Focus

His research revolves around wetland carbon cycle mechanisms, wetland conservation and restoration, environmental responses of wetlands, and carbon sequestration in paddy fields. He has conducted extensive studies on peatlands in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, providing critical insights into carbon storage and greenhouse gas emissions in wetland ecosystems.

🛠️Skills

He has expertise in wetland carbon cycles, biogeochemical processes, and environmental impact assessments. His innovative research includes the use of isotope dating to study carbon accumulation in peatlands and the impact of climate change on carbon emissions. He has also proposed the dual effects of semiconductor minerals on the soil carbon cycle.

🏆Awards

Gang Yang has an H-index of 23, reflecting his significant impact in environmental science. He is a member of the Professional Committee on Wetland Environmental Ecological Conservation and Function Development of the Chinese Society for Environmental Sciences, the Shaanxi Ecological Society, the Sichuan Soil Society, and the International Peat Society.

📚 Publications

  • Falling water tables reduce peatland semiconductor minerals’ capacity for preserving carbon
    Year: 2024
    Author(s): Zeng J., Cao Q., Bai Y.P., Chen H., Liu M.X., He Y., He H.C., Hu W.Y., Yang G.*
    Journal: Land Degradation & Development

  • Soil pH and dissolved organic carbon shape microbial communities in wetlands with two different vegetation types in Changdu area, Tibet
    Year: 2023
    Author(s): Zou L., Bai Y.P., Huang J., Xiao D.R., Yang G.*
    Journal: Journal of Mountain Science

  • Water table drawdown increases plant biodiversity and soil polyphenol in the Zoige Plateau
    Year: 2021
    Author(s): Zeng J., Chen H., Bai Y., Dong F., Peng C., Yan F., Cao Q., Yang Z., Yang S., Yang G.*
    Journal: Ecological Indicators

  • Peatland degradation reduces methanogens and methane emissions from surface to deep soils
    Year: 2019
    Author(s): Yang G., Tian J., Chen H., Jiang L., Zhan W., Hu J.
    Journal: Ecological Indicators

  • Tiankeng: an ideal place for climate warming research on forest ecosystems
    Year: 2019
    Author(s): Yang G., Peng C., Liu Y., Dong F.
    Journal: Environmental Earth Sciences

  • Distribution characteristics, resource utilization and popularizing demonstration of crop straw in southwest China: A comprehensive evaluation
    Year: 2018
    Author(s): Yang G.
    Journal: Ecological Indicators

  • Interactive effect of radioactive and heavy-metal contamination on soil enzyme activity in a former Uranium mine
    Year: 2018
    Author(s): Yang G.
    Journal: Polish Journal of Environmental Studies

Conclusion:

 Prof. Dr. Gang Yang is highly deserving of the Best Researcher Award. Addressing broader international collaboration, policy engagement, and public outreach could further strengthen his influence and contributions to environmental science.