Salma Fatnassi | Soil | Soil Health Advocate Award

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Dr. Salma Fatnassi | Soil | Soil Health Advocate Award

National Institute of Research in Rural Eaux and Forets | Tunisia

Salma Fatnassi is a researcher in soil science and environmental geochemistry whose work focuses on understanding the behavior of micronutrients and trace metals in agricultural systems irrigated with treated wastewater, generating important knowledge on soil–water–plant interactions and contaminant mobility. Her research involves designing and managing collaborative studies that assess soil contamination risks, nutrient cycling, and the environmental sustainability of wastewater reuse in agriculture. She is skilled in soil and water sampling, geochemical laboratory techniques, environmental monitoring, and the application of statistical and spatial tools for interpreting complex environmental datasets. With strong expertise in data analysis using R, Excel, ArcGIS, and SPSS, she evaluates metal bioavailability, transport pathways, and ecological impacts with high analytical rigor. Her scientific contributions include 4 published documents, 24 citations, and an h-index of 3, reflecting her growing influence in the field. Salma Fatnassi has also strengthened her methodological foundation through training in bibliographic research, pedagogy, statistical analysis, and innovative water treatment technologies, enabling her to support interdisciplinary and international research collaborations. Overall, her work advances sustainable soil and water management, improves understanding of trace element dynamics, and supports evidence-based environmental protection strategies in agricultural ecosystems.

Profile : Scopus 

Featured Publications

Fatnassi, S., Hörmann, G., Fohrer, N., Navarro-Pedreño, J., & Hachicha, M. (2025). Boron in soil, drainage water and groundwater in long-term irrigated area by treated wastewater in Northeast Tunisia. Soil Systems.

Yanling Li | Soil | Interdisciplinary Soil Research Award

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Dr. Yanling Li | Soil | Interdisciplinary Soil Research Award

Shandong Agricultural University | China 

Dr. Yanling Li is a distinguished scholar whose work integrates agricultural remote sensing, ecological monitoring, and soil–plant–atmosphere interactions to advance sustainable land management. Her research focuses on refining multi-source remote sensing techniques to monitor crop growth, evaluate vegetation dynamics, and assess soil nutrient patterns across diverse landscapes. She has contributed substantially to understanding how soil carbon–nitrogen cycling, land-use changes, and climatic variability influence agricultural productivity and ecological stability. Through innovative analytical frameworks, she has improved the accuracy of yield estimation models and enhanced methods for decoupling natural and human-driven ecological signals. Her work also includes designing practical remote sensing tools and developing teaching innovations that strengthen education in photogrammetry and digital mapping. Dr. Li’s research has supported decision-making in precision agriculture, soil health assessment, and climate-adaptive farming strategies. She collaborates widely across academic, governmental, and industry platforms to translate scientific insights into field-ready applications, ensuring her research benefits both environmental conservation and agricultural development. Her contributions continue to shape modern approaches to remote sensing–based ecological assessment, reflecting a commitment to advancing soil science, sustainable agriculture, and data-driven ecosystem management.

Profile : Orcid

Featured Publications

Wang, X., Li, Y., Fang, S., Dong, C., & Sun, L. (2025). Decoupling anthropogenic and climate impacts on vegetation dynamics in China’s Huaihe River Basin using geodetector. Scientific Reports.

Wang, X., Fang, S., Li, Y., Dong, C., & Sun, L. (2024). Spatiotemporal variability of vegetation NDVI in the Huaihe River Basin, China: Driving force analysis and ecological implications. Preprints.

Lu, Q. Y., Li, Y. L., Yang, Y. T., & Liu, F. J. (2023). Winter wheat identification and area extraction based on hyperspectral/multispectral image fusion. In Proceedings of the 2023 11th International Conference on Agro-Geoinformatics (Agro-Geoinformatics).

Sun, J., & Li, Y.-L. (2022). Remote sensing monitoring of afforestation and its interaction with climate in Saihanba Mechanical Forest Farm in recent 45 years. In Proceedings of the 6th International Conference on Computer Science and Application Engineering.

Fateme Aghamir | Soil Biodiversity | Editorial Board Member

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Assist. Prof. Dr. Fateme Aghamir | Soil Biodiversity | Editorial Board Member

Assist. Prof. Dr. Fateme Aghamir | Shahid Beheshti University | Iran

Dr. Fateme Aghamir is a soil science expert specializing in soil chemistry and plant nutrition, with extensive research and teaching contributions across diverse domains of agricultural and environmental sciences. Her scholarly portfolio reflects strong scientific influence, supported by 23 published documents, over 104 citations, and an h-index of 5, demonstrating the growing impact of her work within the global research community. Her research spans soil mineralogy, soil fertility enhancement, soil–water–plant interactions, nutrient dynamics, environmental pollution mitigation, and sustainable soil and water management. She has conducted notable studies on unsaturated hydraulic functions, soil fertility evaluation using advanced spectroscopic methods, mineral–nutrient thermodynamics, and the role of micronutrients and stress-ameliorating compounds in crop establishment. Her teaching contributions cover soil fertility, fertilizers, pedology, agroecology, and environmental studies. Dr. Aghamir brings strong analytical and technical capabilities, with proficiency in MiniTec, RETC, SPSS, Minitab, MATLAB, EndNote, OPUS, SimaPro, XLSTAT, Google Earth Engine, ARC GIS, and Microsoft Office. Her multidisciplinary expertise supports innovative approaches to soil health, crop nutrition, and sustainable resource management, positioning her as an active contributor to advancing scientific understanding and practical solutions in agricultural and environmental research.

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.

Yanjun Chai | Soil Fertility | Best Researcher Award

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Assoc. Prof. Dr. Yanjun Chai | Soil Fertility | Best Researcher Award

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Yanjun Chai, Zhejiang University of Science and Technology, China

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Yanjun Chai is a faculty member at Zhejiang University of Science and Technology, China. He specializes in the improvement and restoration of degraded and polluted farmland, as well as the resource utilization of agricultural waste. With a PhD from the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Dr. Chai has led over 20 research projects and contributed to national and provincial R&D programs. He has published extensively, holds multiple patents, and has helped formulate key agricultural standards in Zhejiang Province.

Profile

Scopus

Summary:

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Yanjun Chai is an accomplished researcher whose work addresses urgent challenges in sustainable agriculture and environmental management. His record of project leadership, academic contributions, and practical innovations demonstrates both depth and breadth. With a solid portfolio of publications, patents, and applied outcomes, he stands out as a strong candidate for a prestigious research award.

🎓 Education

Chai Yanjun earned his PhD from the Institute of Agricultural Environment and Sustainable Development at the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences. His academic background laid a strong foundation for his career in environmental engineering and sustainable agriculture.

đź’ĽExperience

Dr. Chai currently serves as an Associate Professor at Zhejiang University of Science and Technology (ZUST). In addition to his teaching and research responsibilities, he holds administrative positions as Secretary of the Party Branch of Teachers and Deputy Director of the Department of Environmental Engineering. He is also a supervisor for postgraduate students. Over the years, he has presided over more than 20 significant projects, including those funded by the Zhejiang Province Public Welfare Program, the Zhejiang Natural Science Foundation, and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs. He has also contributed to 5 major initiatives such as the National Key Research and Development Program and provincial-level R&D projects.

🔬Research Focus

His primary research interests lie in the improvement and restoration of degraded and polluted farmland and the resource utilization of agricultural waste. His work significantly contributes to the sustainable development of agricultural practices and environmental protection.

🛠️Skills

Dr. Chai has authored more than 50 academic papers, including over 30 as the first or corresponding author. Among these, 15 papers are indexed in SCI and 4 in EI. He has published one academic monograph and holds 5 authorized invention patents. Furthermore, he has played a key role in formulating 5 agricultural industry and local standards related to biogas slurry in Zhejiang Province. His skills encompass interdisciplinary research, project management, academic publishing, and standard development in environmental engineering and sustainable agriculture.

🏆Awards

Dr. Chai has received multiple accolades for his scientific contributions. These include a Second Prize of Scientific and Technological Progress of Hubei Province, a Second Prize from the China Electric Power Engineering, and a First Prize from the China Construction Enterprise Management Association. Additionally, he has been recognized with the establishment of the Quzhou Doctor Innovation Workstation and the Quzhou Rural Revitalization Expert Workstation.

đź“š Publications

1. Effects of different types of biochar application on dryland yellow-red soil fertility
Authors: Lin, Zhou Yuan; Jiang, Jianfeng; Tong, Wenbin; Z.Y.
Year: 2025
Journal: Nongye Gongcheng Xuebao / Transactions of the Chinese Society of Agricultural Engineering

2. Investigation of high-risk antibiotic resistance bacteria and their associated antibiotic resistance genes in different agricultural soils with biogas slurry from China
Authors: Lu, Yi; Wu, Junhui; Li, Jiwei; Zheng, Guanyu; Shan, Shengdao
Year: 2024
Journal: Journal of Hazardous Materials

Conclusion:

Dr. Yanjun Chai exemplifies the qualities of a Best Researcher Award recipient—innovation, leadership, impact, and academic excellence. While further international engagement could elevate his profile even more, his contributions already signify high distinction in his field. Based on current achievements and future potential, he is highly recommended for the Research for Best Researcher Award.