Lili Dong | Soil | Best Researcher Award

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Assoc. Prof. Dr. Lili Dong | Soil | Best Researcher Award

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Lili Dong, Shenyang Agricultural University, China

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Lili Dong is a researcher at Shenyang Agricultural University, China, specializing in ecology, biogeochemical cycles, and soil carbon dynamics. She holds a Ph.D. in Ecology from Northeast Forestry University and has conducted extensive research on litter decomposition, soil respiration, and the effects of nitrogen deposition on ecosystems. With experience as a research assistant at the Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, she has led and contributed to multiple national and international research projects. Dr. Dong has received prestigious awards, including the Liang Xi Youth Science and Technology Award, and has published widely in high-impact journals on ecological processes and environmental sustainability.

Profile

Scopus

Summary:

Dr. Lili Dong is a highly accomplished researcher in ecological sciences with a strong publication record, competitive research funding, and international collaborations. Her work has significantly contributed to understanding soil carbon dynamics, nitrogen deposition, and ecosystem processes. She has received prestigious awards and recognition for her research excellence, making her a strong candidate for the Best Researcher Award.

 

🎓 Education

Lili Dong obtained her Bachelor’s degree in Information Engineering from Xinyang Normal University (2004–2008). She then pursued a Master’s degree in Phytochemistry at Northeast Forestry University (2009–2012) and later completed her Ph.D. in Ecology at the same university (2014–2017).

💼Experience

Since July 2017, Lili Dong has been a Postdoctoral Researcher at the Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences. In September 2019, she was appointed as a Research Assistant at the same institute. She also gained overseas experience in 2019 through a research stay at the University of Minnesota.

🔬Research Focus

Her research primarily revolves around the carbon cycle, biogeochemical processes, litter decomposition, soil respiration, and ecological responses to global change. She is particularly interested in the effects of nitrogen deposition, especially organic nitrogen, on ecological processes and soil carbon pools. Her studies involve long-term field experiments in grasslands and forests in China, exploring the impact of different forms of nitrogen on litter decomposition and ecosystem functions. Additionally, she investigates the relationship between forest evolution and species secondary metabolites.

Awards

She has received several prestigious awards, including the Liang Xi Youth Science and Technology Award (Second Prize, 2019), the Science and Technology Award of Heilongjiang Province (Third Prize, 2018), and the First Prize of the Science and Technology Award of Provincial University (2018). She was also recognized with the Outstanding Master’s Thesis Award and Outstanding Graduate Award from Heilongjiang Province and Northeast Forestry University in 2012.

Skills

Lili Dong is skilled in ecological research, soil and litter decomposition analysis, biogeochemical assessments, data interpretation, and scientific communication. She has extensive experience in field experiments, laboratory techniques, and interdisciplinary collaborations within environmental sciences.

Publications

 

  • Title: Deep return of straw improves topsoil health and maize productivity more efficiently than shallow return
    Authors: J. Li, X.X. Jin, J. Li, L. Dong, H. Zou
    Year: 2024
    Journal: Soil Use and Management

 

  • Title: Patterns and controlling factors of decomposition in distal shoot systems by branch order across 10 temperate tree species
    Authors: W. Gu, B. Berg, L. Dong, F.J. Yang, T. Sun
    Year: 2024
    Journal: Plant and Soil

 

Conclusion:

 Dr. Lili Dong is a highly suitable candidate for the Best Researcher Award. Enhancing her leadership in large-scale projects, mentoring activities, and policy-oriented research could further strengthen her profile. However, her current track record already places her among top researchers in her field.

Soumaya Boukrouh | Soil Mapping | Young Scientist Award

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Dr. Soumaya Boukrouh | Soil Mapping | Young Scientist Award

Dr. Soumaya Boukrough, Mohammed VI Polytechnic University, Morocco

Dr. Soumaya Boukrouh is a postdoctoral researcher at Mohammed VI Polytechnic University, Morocco. She specializes in forage production, livestock farming under water stress, and climate change. With a Ph.D. from the University of Liège and INRA Tangier, her research focuses on the ecological and zootechnical characterization of feed resources for sustainable livestock systems. Dr. Boukrouh is skilled in data analysis, remote sensing, and feed evaluation, and has extensive teaching and project management experience. She has contributed to international research projects and received the Best Poster Award at the 2024 International Conference on Camelids.

Profile

Scopus

Summary:

Dr. Soumaya Boukrouh’s qualifications, skills, and achievements make her an excellent contender for a Research for Young Scientist Award. Her expertise in sustainable agriculture, animal nutrition, and remote sensing aligns well with current global challenges in food security, climate change, and resource management. Her technical and managerial skills, coupled with her teaching and mentoring contributions, demonstrate her potential as a rising star in agricultural and environmental sciences.

 

🎓 Education

Soumaya Boukrouh holds a State Engineer degree in Agronomy, specializing in Animal Production and Pastoralism, from the Institut Agronomique & Vétérinaire Hassan II in Rabat, Morocco, obtained in 2017. She pursued further academic excellence by completing a pre-doctoral validation program at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine of the University of Liège from 2018 to 2020, where she defended her research on the agro-morphological and bromatological characterization of local ecotypes of Sulla flexuosa with a distinction of 17/20. From 2020 to 2023, she conducted a doctoral thesis jointly between the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine of the University of Liège and INRA Tangier, focusing on the ecological, phytotechnical, and zootechnical characterization of local feed resources for goats in Northern Morocco as part of the PRD ARES 2017 project. Currently, she is a postdoctoral researcher at the University Mohamed VI Polytechnic (2023-2024), contributing to projects on forage production and livestock farming under water stress and climate change.

 

💼Experience

Soumaya has rich experience in research, development, and teaching. During her postdoctoral work, she has been involved in drafting project proposals, supervising PhD students, and publishing scientific papers. She has also taught animal nutrition courses in collaboration with Prof. Rafat Al Jassim at UM6P and delivered specialized courses on meta-analysis and meta-regression at Wageningen University. Additionally, she has taught biology and chemistry courses for Cambridge IGCSE International Education through the SUPERPROF platform in Luxembourg. Her earlier professional experience includes managing the “One Health” project, where she studied the approach within the Argan ecological system.

 

🔬Research Focus

Her research is centered on ecological, phytotechnical, and zootechnical characterization of feed resources, particularly for goats, under challenging environmental conditions. She has explored forage production and livestock farming practices, with a focus on water stress and climate change. Her work also extends to analyzing the chemical composition, in vitro digestibility, and antioxidant properties of feed, as well as the fatty acid profiles of animal products like milk and meat.

 

Awards

Soumaya received the Best Poster Award at the International Conference on Camelids held in Morocco from October 14 to 16, 2024.

 

Skills

Soumaya possesses advanced skills in data analysis using software like R, SAS, and SPSS, as well as diet formulation with Allix 3. She is proficient in remote sensing technologies such as ArcGIS, ENVI, and QGIS for agricultural and pastoral monitoring. Her technical expertise includes field sampling, feed analysis, experimental protocol development, and the analysis of animal products using tools like Milkoscan, gas chromatography, and HPLC. She has strong managerial abilities, with experience supervising engineering, master’s, and bachelor’s students, organizing scientific events, and maintaining a team-oriented approach. In addition, she has excellent command of multiple languages, including Arabic (native), French, English, and Spanish.

Publications

  • Global camel milk industry: A comprehensive overview of production, consumption trends, market evolution, and value chain efficiency
    • Year: 2025
    • Authors: Ait El Alia, O.; Zine-Eddine, Y.; Chaji, S.; Boutoial, K.; Faye, B.
    • Citations: 0

 

  • Growth performance, carcass characteristics, fatty acid profile, and meat quality of male goat kids supplemented by alternative feed resources: Bitter vetch and sorghum grains
    • Year: 2024
    • Authors: Boukrouh, S.; Noutfia, A.; Moula, N.; Cabaraux, J.-F.; Chentouf, M.
    • Citations: 0

 

  • Characterisation of bitter vetch (Vicia ervilia (L.) Willd) ecotypes: An ancient and promising legume
    • Year: 2024
    • Authors: Boukrouh, S.; Noutfia, A.; Moula, N.; Chentouf, M.; Cabaraux, J.-F.
    • Citations: 1

 

  • Estimation of standing crop biomass in rangelands of the Middle Atlas mountains using remote sensing data
    • Year: 2024
    • Authors: Boukrouh, S.; Bouazzaoui, Y.; El Aich, A.; N’Dorma, O.; Alados, C.L.
    • Citations: 0

 

  • Ecological, morpho-agronomical, and bromatological assessment of sorghum ecotypes in Northern Morocco
    • Year: 2023
    • Authors: Boukrouh, S.; Noutfia, A.; Moula, N.; Cabaraux, J.F.; Chentouf, M.
    • Citations: 3

 

  • Ecological, morpho-agronomical, and nutritional characteristics of Sulla flexuosa (L.) Medik. ecotypes
    • Year: 2023
    • Authors: Boukrouh, S.; Noutfia, A.; Moula, N.; Chentouf, M.; Cabaraux, J.F.
    • Citations: 1

 

  • Effects of Sulla Flexuosa Hay as Alternative Feed Resource on Goat’s Milk Production and Quality
    • Year: 2023
    • Authors: Boukrouh, S.; Noutfia, A.; Moula, N.; Chentouf, M.; Cabaraux, J.-F.
    • Citations: 7

 

Conclusion:

Dr. Soumaya Boukrouh is highly suitable for the Research for Young Scientist Award due to her significant contributions to agricultural research, her impactful scientific communications, and her technical and leadership capabilities. Addressing the identified areas for improvement—such as broadening the visibility and impact of her research and assuming larger leadership roles—could further solidify her standing as an awardee.