Awouminassi Marcellin ATAKOUN | Soil Conservation | Young Scientist Award

Published on by Soil Scientist

Mr. Awouminassi Marcellin ATAKOUN | Soil Conservation | Young Scientist Award

 Mr. Awouminassi Marcellin ATAKOUN ,West African Sciences Services Center on Climate Change and Adapted Land Use (WASCAL), Benin

Awouminassi Marcellin Atakoun is a dedicated PhD candidate at the West African Sciences Services Center on Climate Change and Adapted Land Use (WASCAL) in Benin. With a strong academic background in soil, water, and environmental sciences, his research focuses on sustainable agricultural systems, agroecological transitions, and greenhouse gas mitigation. A recipient of prestigious awards, including the CLIFF-GRADS and IPCC scholarships, Marcellin contributes significantly to advancing climate-smart agricultural practices in West Africa.

Profile

Scopus

Summary:

Marcellin Atakoun is a highly promising researcher with a strong foundation in environmental sciences and a focus on addressing climate change challenges through sustainable agricultural practices. His receipt of internationally recognized scholarships underscores his potential and contribution to the field.

 

🎓 Education

Marcellin is a PhD candidate in Climate Change and Land Use at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Ghana. He holds a Master’s degree in Soil-Water-Environment and Modeling and a Bachelor’s degree in Plant Production Sciences from the University of Parakou, Benin. His educational foundation includes a high diploma in Biology and Geology.

 

💼Experience

Awouminassi Marcellin Atakoun has diverse professional experiences spanning research, teaching, and project management in climate action and sustainable agriculture. He served as a United Nations Volunteer in Benin, contributing to the prevention of violent extremism. His research assistantships include working on biochar studies under the ProSol Project with GIZ, and at the Permanent Experimentation Center for soil and water conservation. Additionally, he has held roles in crop production management and scientific communication.

 

🔬Research Focus

His research is centered on sustainable agricultural systems, including agroecological transitions, soil and water conservation, greenhouse gas mitigation in cropping systems, and the modeling of production systems for sustainability.

 

Awards

Marcellin has received several prestigious awards, including the CLIFF-GRADS Scholarship for research in soil nitrogen fluxes, the IPCC Scholarship for climate change research, and the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Scholarship. He also holds a WASCAL PhD scholarship in Climate Change and Land Use and earned accolades for academic excellence in his Master’s program.

 

Skills

He is proficient in various software tools, including R Commander, ArcGIS, Microsoft Office Suite, SPSS, and Python, among others. His expertise encompasses modeling, climate data analysis, and agroecological tools like DSSAT and QGIS.

 

Publications

  • Publication: GENDER ROLE IN FOOD RIGHTS AND SOVEREIGNTY IN WEST AFRICA: A RAPID REVIEW
    Authors: Addo, P., Djekic-Ivankovic, M., Abdu, A., Naïm, S., Marquis, G.S.
    Citation: African Journal of Food, Agriculture, Nutrition and Development, 2024, 24(10), pp. 24725–24773.

 

  • Publication: Evaluation of cover crop contributions to conservation agriculture in northern Benin
    Authors: Atakoun, A.M., Tovihoudji, P.G., Diogo, R.V.C., Hougni, A., Tittonell, P.
    Citation: Field Crops Research, 2023, 303, 109118.

 

Conclusion:

Marcellin’s contributions, particularly in advancing climate-smart agricultural practices in West Africa, make him a strong candidate for the Best Researcher Award. However, enhancing his research profile through additional high-impact publications, broader collaborations, and leadership roles will further solidify his position as an influential figure in his field.

Dr. Jamal Nasar | Soil Science | Best Researcher Award

Published on by Soil Scientist

Dr. Jamal Nasar | Soil Science | Best Researcher Award

 Dr. Jamal Nasar ,Guizhou University, China

Dr. Jamal Nasar is a soil scientist at Guizhou University, China. He specializes in soil fertility, plant nutrition, cropping systems, and agricultural sustainability. His work integrates research on soil-plant-microbial interactions, soil remediation, and environmental science. He holds a PhD in Soil Science from Jilin Agricultural University, China, and has received multiple academic awards, including the CSC Chinese Government Scholarship.

 

Profile

Google Scholar

Summary:

Dr. Jamal Nasar is a distinguished soil scientist whose research in soil fertility, plant nutrition, and agricultural sustainability has contributed significantly to the advancement of agricultural sciences. His interdisciplinary focus and strong publication record make him a competitive candidate for the Best Researcher Award.

 

🎓 Education

Jamal Nasar holds a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Soil Science from Jilin Agricultural University, China, completed in 2021. He earned his Master of Philosophy (MPhil) in Soil and Environmental Sciences from The University of Agriculture, Peshawar, Pakistan, in 2015. His Bachelor of Science (Hons) in Soil and Environmental Sciences was awarded by Gomal University, Dera Ismail Khan, Pakistan, in 2012. He completed his Higher Secondary School Certificate in 2007 and his Secondary School Certificate in 2005 from the Board of Intermediate & Secondary Education, Saidu Sharif Swat, Pakistan.

 

 

💼Experience

Jamal served as a Postdoctoral Fellow at Guangxi University, Nanning, China, from 2021 to 2023. He gained extensive research experience during his PhD (2016-2021) and one-year research roles at Agriculture Research Institutes in Mingora Swat and Tarnab Peshawar, Pakistan. His teaching journey includes positions as a science teacher at Axiom School, Green Valley Public School, and Islamia Public School in Swat, Pakistan, between 2012 and 2016.

🔬Research Focus

His research interests span plant nutrition, stress physiology, cropping systems, organic farming, agricultural sustainability, nutrient utilization, and soil fertility. He is dedicated to exploring soil-plant-microbial interactions, enzymatic activities, and environmental sciences, with a special focus on soil remediation and metagenomics.

 

Awards

Jamal has been recognized as an Outstanding Graduate Student by Jilin Agricultural University in 2021. He received the prestigious CSC Chinese Government Scholarship from 2016 to 2021. Additionally, he was awarded the Prime Minister and Naway Sahar laptops with fee waivers in 2014 and 2012, respectively.

 

 

Skills

Jamal is proficient in soil and plant sampling, lab analysis, and advanced lab equipment such as Kjeldahl analyzers, spectrophotometers, and flame photometers. He excels in microbial cultivation, soil DNA extraction, and the use of portable photosynthesis systems. His data analysis skills encompass software like SPSS, MS Office, Origin, GraphPad Prism, and STAMP. He is multilingual, fluent in English, Urdu, Pashto, and moderately proficient in Chinese.

 

Publications

  • Photosynthetic activities and photosynthetic nitrogen use efficiency of maize crop under different planting patterns and nitrogen fertilization
    Authors: J Nasar, W Khan, MZ Khan, HI Gitari, JF Gbolayori, AA Moussa, …
    Journal: Journal of Soil Science and Plant Nutrition 21 (3), 2274-2284
    Citations: 87
    Year: 2021

 

  • Interactive effects of melatonin and nitrogen improve drought tolerance of maize seedlings by regulating growth and physiochemical attributes
    Authors: S Ahmad, GY Wang, I Muhammad, YX Chi, M Zeeshan, J Nasar, XB Zhou
    Journal: Antioxidants 11 (2), 359
    Citations: 66
    Year: 2022

 

  • Nitrogen fertilization coupled with iron foliar application improves the photosynthetic characteristics, photosynthetic nitrogen use efficiency, and the related enzymes of maize
    Authors: J Nasar, GY Wang, S Ahmad, I Muhammad, M Zeeshan, H Gitari, …
    Journal: Frontiers in Plant Science 13, 988055
    Citations: 60
    Year: 2022

 

  • The effect of maize–alfalfa intercropping on the physiological characteristics, nitrogen uptake and yield of maize
    Authors: J Nasar, Z Shao, A Arshad, FG Jones, S Liu, C Li, MZ Khan, T Khan, …
    Journal: Plant Biology 22 (6), 1140-1149
    Citations: 48
    Year: 2020

 

  • Root Contact between Maize and Alfalfa Facilitates Nitrogen Transfer and Uptake Using Techniques of Foliar 15N-Labeling
    Authors: Z Shao, X Wang, Q Gao, H Zhang, H Yu, Y Wang, J Zhang, J Nasar, …
    Journal: Agronomy 10 (3), 360
    Citations: 39
    Year: 2020

 

  • Effect of iron and molybdenum on yield and nodulation of lentil
    Authors: J Nasar, Z Shah
    Journal: ARPN Journal of Agricultural and Biological Science 12 (11), 332-339
    Citations: 33
    Year: 2017

 

  • Maize-alfalfa intercropping induced changes in plant and soil nutrient status under nitrogen application
    Authors: J Nasar, Z Shao, Q Gao, X Zhou, S Fahad, S Liu, C Li, J Banda SK, …
    Journal: Archives of Agronomy and Soil Science 68 (2), 151-165
    Citations: 29
    Year: 2022

 

  • Maize productivity, economic returns and phosphorus use efficiency as influenced by lime, Minjingu Rock Phosphate and NPK inorganic fertilizer
    Authors: RP Cheptoek, HI Gitari, B Mochoge, OM Kisaka, E Otieno, S Maitra, …
    Journal: Renu Publishers 8 (1), 47-60
    Citations: 29
    Year: 2021

 

  • Maize-soybean intercropping at optimal N fertilization increases the N uptake, N yield and N use efficiency of maize crop by regulating the N assimilatory enzymes
    Authors: J Nasar, CJ Zhao, R Khan, H Gul, H Gitari, Z Shao, G Abbas, I Haider, …
    Journal: Frontiers in Plant Science 13, 1077948
    Citations: 28
    Year: 2023

 

  • Physiological and transcriptomic study reveal SeNPs-mediated AsIII stress detoxification mechanisms involved modulation of antioxidants, metal transporters, and transcription factors
    Authors: M Zeeshan, YX Hu, XH Guo, CY Sun, A Salam, S Ahmad, I Muhammad, …
    Journal: Environmental Pollution 317, 120637
    Citations: 27
    Year: 2023

 

Conclusion:

Based on his research achievements, academic recognitions, and contributions to soil science, Dr. Jamal Nasar is highly suitable for the Best Researcher Award. Strengthening international collaborations and increasing his involvement in grant-funded projects could further elevate his research stature and solidify his candidacy for future recognitions.