Ezequiel Larraburu | Agricultural | Editorial Board Member

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Prof. Dr. Ezequiel Larraburu | Agricultural | Editorial Board Member

Prof. Dr, Ezequiel Larraburu | National Scientific and Technical Research Council | Argentina 

Ezequiel Enrique Larraburu is a biologist whose research has significantly advanced the understanding of plant–bacteria interactions and their role in enhancing stress tolerance across woody, horticultural, and agriculturally important species. His scientific expertise integrates physiological, biochemical, and histological approaches to unravel key mechanisms that influence plant health, productivity, and resilience under challenging environmental conditions. Through investigations involving beneficial microorganisms, in vitro propagation techniques, salinity tolerance strategies, and the application of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria, he has contributed impactful knowledge supporting sustainable plant improvement and biotechnology-driven solutions. His scholarly influence is reflected in 251 citations, 20 published documents, and an h-index of 9, underscoring his sustained contributions to plant physiology and microbial biotechnology. Beyond research, Ezequiel Enrique Larraburu plays a vital role in academic development through the direction of undergraduate and doctoral theses, participation in multiple funded projects, and leadership in program coordination and science and technology management. His integrated approach to plant science, focus on stress mitigation, and commitment to advancing research capacity position him as a valuable contributor to modern plant physiology, microbe-assisted plant enhancement, and innovative strategies for improving species of ecological and agricultural relevance.

Profile: Scopus

Featured Publications

Jiyoung Lee | Soil Plant | Best Researcher Award

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Dr. Jiyoung Lee | Soil Plant | Best Researcher Award

Jiyoung Lee | Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology | South Korea 

Jiyoung Lee, Ph.D., is a distinguished principal researcher whose career reflects consistent scientific contribution and leadership in biotechnology. Over the course of her research journey, she has authored 72 scholarly documents that demonstrate strong productivity and relevance across her field. Her work has accumulated 811 total citations, with these citations distributed across 774 citing documents, underscoring both the visibility and utility of her research outputs within the global academic community. With an h-index of 15, she has established a balanced record of sustained impact, indicating that at least 15 of her publications have each been cited 15 or more times. This metric highlights the depth and consistency of her influence rather than just the volume of her publications. Her role as a professor and senior-level researcher further amplifies her contributions through mentorship, collaboration, and scientific advancement. The combination of publication volume, citation reach, and h-index performance illustrates her ability to generate research that is not only high in quality but also meaningful to peers and practitioners. Her academic footprint reflects enduring engagement with innovative research themes and evolving scientific priorities, and she continues to contribute to the advancement of bioscience and biotechnology with a record that balances productivity, influence, and professional leadership.

Profiles:  Scopus | Orcid 

Featured Publications

Peng, Y., Lee, J. H., Kim, C. Y., & Lee, J. (2025). Halophyte-derived Kushneria strains enhance salt tolerance and rhizosphere dynamics in cabbage. Plant, Cell & Environment.

Kim, B. R., Jeong, Y. J., Kim, S., Kim, S. B., Lee, J., Lee, O. R., Kim, K. D., Jeong, J. C., Yang, B. W., & Kim, C. Y. (2025). Elicitor-mediated enhancement of rosmarinic acid biosynthesis in cell suspension cultures of Lavandula angustifolia and in vitro biological activities of cell extracts. Plant Physiology and Biochemistry.

Cho, D. H., Peng, Y., Humaira, Z., Park, Y. L., Kim, H. J., Jeong, R.-D., Kim, C. Y., & Lee, J. (2024). Flavobacterium capsici sp. nov., isolated from the rhizospheric soils of bell pepper (Capsicum annuum L.). International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology.

Sng, B. J. R., Jeong, Y. J., Leong, S. H., Jeong, J. C., Lee, J., Rajani, S., Kim, C. Y., & Jang, I.-C. (2024). Genome-wide identification of cannabinoid biosynthesis genes in non-drug type Cannabis (Cannabis sativa L.) cultivar. Journal of Cannabis Research.

Peng, Y., Jiang, L., Jeon, D., Cho, D., Kim, Y., Kim, C. Y., Lee, J. H., & Lee, J. (2024). Pseudoxanthomonas sp. JBR18, a halotolerant endophytic bacterium, improves the salt tolerance of Arabidopsis seedlings. Plant Physiology and Biochemistry.

Peng, Y., Jiang, L., Jeon, D., Jeong, J. C., Kim, Y., Kim, C. Y., Lee, J. H., & Lee, J. (2023). Mitigation of salt stress in plants by the salt-tolerant bacterium Pantoea ananatis JBR3-16 isolated from sand sedge (Carex pumila Thunb.). Plant Growth Regulation.

Stefania Fortunato | Soil Plant | Best Researcher Award

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Dr. Stefania Fortunato | Soil Plant | Best Researcher Award

Stefania Fortunato | University of Bari Aldo Moro | Italy 

Stefania Fortunato is a Senior Laboratory Technician for research and teaching in Plant Biology and Physiology at the Department of Biosciences, Biotechnologies and Environment of the University of Bari Aldo Moro, where she has built a solid scientific profile grounded in multidisciplinary expertise. She earned her PhD in Agricultural Biodiversity and Environment in 2018 with a focus on Agricultural Genetics, conducting research on nitrogen metabolism in durum wheat, and complemented her academic path with a Master’s Degree in Cellular and Molecular Biology and a professional qualification as a Biologist. Her international experience includes a visiting researcher position at the Estación Experimental del Zaidín, Spanish National Research Council (EEZ-CSIC) in Granada, where she worked on ROS and nitric oxide signaling and peroxisomal dynamics in plants. Her research activity spans Plant Physiology, Agricultural Genetics, and Food Science and Technology, addressing cellular redox mechanisms, nitrogen use efficiency, thermal stress response, oxidative processes in food products, and green analytical techniques. She has authored 28 documents that collectively garnered 564 citations across 627 citing sources, reflecting the impact of her contributions, and she holds an H-index of 11. A member of the Italian Society of Plant Biology since 2021, she actively contributes to advancing plant science through both laboratory innovation and academic collaboration.

Profile: Scopus 

Featured Publications

Di Silvestre, N. J., Domingo, G., Vannini, C., Marsoni, M., Fortunato, S., de Pinto, M. C., Tamborrino, A., Negroni, Y. L., Zottini, M., Tran Hong, L., Lomagno, A., Mauri, P., Pesaresi, P., & Tadini, L. (2025). A holistic investigation of Arabidopsis proteomes altered in chloroplast biogenesis and retrograde signalling identifies PsbO as a key regulator of chloroplast quality control. Plant Cell and Environment.

Fortunato, S., Domingo, G., Davide, E., Lasorella, C., Bracale, M., Vannini, C., & de Pinto, M. C. (n.d.). Dual function plant cryptic nucleotide cyclases.