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.

Fangyuan Shen | Soil-Plant | Best Researcher Award

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Dr. Fangyuan Shen | Soil-Plant | Best Researcher Award

Xi’an University of Technology | China

Dr. Fangyuan Shen, Ph.D., is a distinguished researcher at Xi’an University of Technology specializing in agricultural water-saving irrigation technology, soil microbiology, and efficient utilization of water and soil resources. His pioneering work has focused on the challenges of sediment-laden water in the Yellow River Basin, where he developed and applied muddy water film hole irrigation technology to enhance agricultural productivity in semi-arid regions. Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China. Dr. Shen has contributed significantly to sustainable water and soil management practices. He has published extensively in leading international journals, including Plant and Soil and Scientia Horticulturae, advancing global understanding of water-soil-plant interactions. His research contributions have been recognized with strong academic impact, reflected in an h-index of 12, more than 45 peer-reviewed documents, and over 620 citations across Scopus and Web of Science databases. In addition to his scholarly publications, Dr. Shen actively engages in collaborative projects that bridge science and practical agricultural applications, providing technical support to local farmers and policymakers. His dedication to innovation and excellence continues to drive forward the field of agricultural water management, ensuring sustainable solutions to global food and water security challenges.

Profiles:  Scopus | Orcid

Featured Publications

  • Long-term impacts of stand density on soil fungal and bacterial communities for targeted cultivation of large-diameter Larix olgensis

  • Effects of thinning on absorptive root functional traits of Pinus koraiensis

Rajkumar Manickam | Soil Biology | Soil Biodiversity Conservation Award

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Dr. Rajkumar Manickam | Soil Biology | Soil Biodiversity Conservation Award

Rajkumar Manickam | Karpagam Academy of Higher Education | India

Dr. Rajkumar Manickam is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biotechnology at Karpagam Academy of Higher Education, India. His research spans nanotechnology, molecular biology, and biomedical applications, with a focus on the green synthesis and characterization of biopolymer-based nanocomposite biomaterials for therapeutic use in neurodegenerative diseases. He has expertise in advanced material characterization, in vitro and in vivo experimental models, and in silico molecular docking studies. Dr. Rajkumar has earned multiple research awards and recognition for his contributions to functional materials and biomedical science.

Profile

Orcid

Google Scholar

Summary:

Dr. Rajkumar’s eco-friendly nanomaterial research holds significant potential for soil biodiversity conservation through reduction of harmful agrochemicals and development of biocompatible soil amendments. His interdisciplinary background positions him well to bridge the gap between material science and soil ecology. With strategic alignment of his work toward soil microbial conservation and ecosystem restoration, his contributions could have a meaningful impact on sustainable agriculture and soil health.

Education

Dr. Manickam Rajkumar holds a Doctor of Philosophy in Zoology from Periyar University, along with an M.Phil., M.Sc., and B.Sc. in Zoology. He has completed his Post-Doctoral Fellowship in Chemistry at SSN College of Engineering, Anna University, and currently serves as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biotechnology at Karpagam Academy of Higher Education, Tamil Nadu, India.

Experience

His expertise spans nanotechnology, molecular biology, in vivo experimentation, and biomedical applications. In nanotechnology, his work focuses on synthesizing nanocomposite biomaterials from organic and inorganic compounds and studying their properties using advanced characterization techniques including UV-visible spectrophotometry, FT-IR, XRD, FE-SEM-EDX, and HR-TEM, alongside physical property assessments such as swelling behavior and in vitro drug release studies. His molecular biology research encompasses in vitro, in vivo, and in silico investigations, emphasizing cell culturing, drug treatment, cell viability assays, MTT analysis, western blotting, SDS-PAGE, AGE, and fluorescent microscopy for cell apoptosis, ROS detection, and mitochondrial staining. His in vivo experimental experience includes animal handling, behavioral assessments using Morris water maze, passive avoidance, and Y-maze tests, as well as biochemical and histopathological analyses. In biomedical applications, he has explored antibacterial, antioxidant, anticholinesterase, anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic, and wound-healing activities.

Research Focus

His primary research focus lies in the green synthesis and characterization of biopolymer-based nanocomposite biomaterials with therapeutic applications for neurodegenerative diseases. His work integrates in vitro studies on neuroblastoma cell lines, in vivo validation in animal models, and in silico molecular docking studies to investigate protein interactions, aiming to attenuate amyloid-beta aggregation, reduce neurotoxicity, and combat oxidative stress.

Skills

He possesses strong skills in nanocomposite biomaterials synthesis, advanced material characterization, cell culture techniques, molecular biology assays, animal handling and behavioral testing, histopathological and immunohistochemical analysis, and the design and execution of in vitro, in vivo, and in silico experiments. He is also proficient in assessing a wide range of biomedical activities, including antimicrobial, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory effects.

Awards

He has been honored with the University Research Fellowship from Periyar University and has received multiple recognition awards, including the Best Oral Presentation Award at the DST-SERB Sponsored Third International Conference on Functional Materials for NextGen Applications, the Best Poster Presentation Award at the International Conference on Nano Structured Materials and Nanocomposites, and the Best Oral Presentation Award at the International Conference on Multifunctional Advanced Materials.

Publications

Title: Eco-friendly synthesis of zinc oxide nanoparticles using Caralluma adscendens stem extract: Characterization, antibacterial, antioxidant, and cytotoxic effects of breast cancer cells
Authors: Chinnasamy Ragavendran, Chinnaperumal Kamaraj, Mir Waqas Alam, Manickam Rajkumar
Year: 2025
Journal: Inorganic Chemistry Communications

Title: Unrevealing biosynthesis of zinc oxide nanoparticles using Laggera alata leaf extract: Evaluation of antioxidant, anticholinergic, and anti-diabetic properties
Authors: Periyasamy Visvanathan, Dharmalingam Kirubakaran, Manickam Rajkumar, Alagarsamy Shanmugarathinam, Magudeeswaran Sivanandam
Year: 2025
Journal: Biomedical Materials & Devices

Title: Magnetic nanoparticles of Fe₃O₄ biosynthesis using Anacardium occidentale fruit extract: Evaluation of in vitro antioxidant, antibacterial, antidiabetic, anti-cholinesterase and cytotoxic activities
Authors: Manickam Rajkumar, S.I. Davis Presley, M. Yasmin Begum, Ali Alamri, Adel Al Fatease, Prabha Govindaraj, Krishnan Meenambigai, Chinnasamy Ragavendran
Year: 2025
Journal: Inorganic Chemistry Communications

Title: Biosynthesis of cerium oxide nanoparticles using Alternanthera sessilis leaf extract and evaluation of their antioxidant, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic and cytotoxic activities
Authors: Manickam Rajkumar, S.I. Davis Presley, Prabha Govindaraj, Krishnan Meenambigai, Thandapani Gomathi, Musab Mohammad Al-Essa, Farid Menaa
Year: 2025
Journal: Biomedical Materials & Devices

Title: Analyze and assess the spectral, DFT, and medicinal characteristics through targeted pharmacological investigation of 2-(3-(5-(4-chlorophenyl)furan-2-yl)acryloyl)-3,4-dihydro-2H-naphthalen-1-one (CHFADN)
Authors: J. Irshad Ahamed, S.I. Davis Presley, Jothi Ramalingam Rajabathar, V.O. Sangeetha, Venkatadri Babu, Manickam Rajkumar, Manjunath S. Kamath
Year: 2025
Journal: Journal of Molecular Structure

Title: A comprehensive review on the green synthesis of nanoparticles: Advancements in biomedical and environmental applications
Authors: Dharmalingam Kirubakaran, Jamith Basha Abdul Wahid, Natchimuthu Karmegam, Ravisankar Jeevika, Latha Sellapillai, Manickam Rajkumar, K.J. SenthilKumar
Year: 2025
Journal: Biomedical Materials & Devices

Conclusion:

Dr. Rajkumar Manickam is a promising candidate for the Soil Biodiversity Conservation Award, particularly for his commitment to green synthesis and plant-based nanotechnological innovations. While further direct application to soil biodiversity restoration would strengthen his candidacy, his scientific excellence, eco-friendly methodologies, and global research visibility make him a strong contender who could significantly contribute to sustainable soil management and biodiversity preservation.

Le Jiao | Soil Quality | Best Researcher Award

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Dr. Le Jiao | Soil Quality | Best Researcher Award

Dr. Le Jiao, Agro-Environmental Protection Institute, China

Dr. Le Jiao is an Assistant Researcher at the Agro-Environmental Protection Institute, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, China. Her research focuses on soil environmental monitoring technologies and the analysis of agricultural pollution sources. With a Ph.D. in Environmental Science from Beijing Normal University, Dr. Jiao has published extensively on topics such as heavy metal contamination, biochar remediation, and ecological risk assessment. She also serves on the youth editorial board of Agricultural Environment and Sustainability, contributing to advancements in sustainable agriculture and environmental protection.

Profile

Scopus

Summary:

Dr. Le Jiao is a dedicated environmental scientist making substantial contributions to the understanding and mitigation of agricultural pollution. Her applied research is both scientifically rigorous and socially relevant, particularly in addressing soil contamination using innovative remediation technologies. Her publication record, technical skills, and institutional affiliation position her as a promising and impactful researcher in the field.

🎓 Education

Le Jiao holds a Doctoral degree in Environmental Science from Beijing Normal University (2016–2022). Prior to that, Jiao earned a Master’s degree in Agricultural Entomology and Pest Control (2011–2014) and a Bachelor’s degree in Plant Protection (2007–2011), both from Shandong Agricultural University.

💼Experience

Le Jiao currently serves as an Assistant Researcher in the Agriculture Environment Monitoring and Early Warning Innovation Team at the Agro-Environmental Protection Institute, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs. Jiao began this role in July 2022 and has since contributed to national efforts in agricultural environmental monitoring and pollution analysis.

🔬Research Focus

Le Jiao’s research primarily focuses on developing and applying technologies for monitoring soil environmental health and analyzing pollution sources in agriculture. This includes studying the remediation of contaminated soils using biochar, the ecological risks of heavy metals, and the application of machine learning models in predicting soil contamination. Jiao also explores plant-pollinator dynamics and plant population ecology in response to habitat changes and soil feedback, contributing to both agricultural sustainability and ecosystem conservation.

🛠️Skills

Jiao’s expertise spans soil environmental monitoring technologies, source analysis of agricultural pollution, ecological modeling, and the application of biochar in soil remediation. The work demonstrates a strong command of field-based data collection, machine learning techniques for pollution prediction, and plant-soil ecological interactions.

🏆Awards

While the resume does not list formal awards, Jiao’s appointment to the youth editorial board of the journal “Agricultural Environment and Sustainability” reflects recognition within the academic community.

📚 Publications

Title: Ecological risk evaluation of heavy metals based on hyperspectral: a case study of rice paddy soil in Xiangtan County, China
Authors: Tsogtbaatar, Undrakhtsetseg; Huo, Lili; Jiao, Le; Dalantai, Sainbayar; An, Yi; Batsaikhan, Bayartungalag; Jugnee, Unurnyam; Natsagdorj, Boldbaatar; Batsaikhan, Tsogtjargal; Munkhchuluun, Baasantsog
Year: 2025
Journal: Environmental Monitoring and Assessment

Conclusion:

Dr. Le Jiao is highly suitable for the Research for Best Researcher Award. Her achievements in environmental monitoring, sustainable agriculture, and ecological modeling represent the qualities celebrated by this award. With continued growth in research leadership and international visibility, she is poised to become a leading figure in agro-environmental sciences.