Fahim Hussain Shah | Plant Sciences | Editorial Board Member

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Dr. Fahim Hussain Shah | Plant Sciences | Editorial Board Member

Department of Plant science, Faculty of biological science Quaid-i-Azam University | Pakistan

Fahim Hussain Shah is an emerging plant scientist whose research spans plant science, mycology, plant–microbe interactions, phycology, and plant pathology, with a strong focus on fungal biodiversity and its ethnomycological significance. He holds an M.Phil in Plant Science from Quaid-i-Azam University, where he conducted extensive studies on the morpho-genetic identification and medicinal potential of wild macrofungi from Pakistan. His academic foundation also includes a Bachelor’s degree in Botany, complemented by professional teaching qualifications. Fahim has published impactful research on macrofungi, microalgae, saline-tolerant microbial strains, and fungal taxonomy, contributing significantly to biodiversity documentation and sustainable agricultural approaches. His technical expertise includes DNA extraction, PCR, phylogenetic analysis, bioinformatics, phytochemical testing, and microalgae purification. He has worked in administrative roles and actively participates in scientific conferences and workshops. As a journal reviewer, he supports the scientific community through evaluations in ethnobotany and ethnopharmacology. His research interests revolve around genomics-based crop improvement, plant–microbe interactions for stress tolerance, fungal systematics, and the application of traditional knowledge in biotechnology. Fahim aims to integrate modern molecular tools with ecological insights to advance sustainable agriculture, strengthen disease management strategies, and promote the conservation and scientific utilization of Pakistan’s rich fungal and plant biodiversity.

Profile: Orcid

Featured Publications

Shah, F. H., Azeem, M. A., Ullah, T., Mumtaz, A. S., Shah, S. A., Khan, M. B., Karunarathna, S. C., Elgorban, A. M., & Kiran, M. (2025). From wild ecosystem to the pharmaceutical use–Exploring the traditional medicine and socio-cultural heritage of macrofungi from Pakistan. New Zealand Journal of Botany.

Shah, F. H., Kiran, M., Khan, M. B., Basit, A., Elgorban, A. M., Ahmad, M., Ullah, T., Mumtaz, A. S., & Sana. (2025). Morphology and phylogeny of gasteroids and two novel hosts for Pisolithus albus (Sclerodermataceae) from Pakistan. New Zealand Journal of Botany.

Ishaq, M., Khan, M. B., Shah, F. H., Fiaz, M., & Khalid, A. N. (2024). A new species of Agaricus: Agaricus totalaiiensis in section Minores from Pakistan.

Ullah, T., Ullah, K., Saba, M., & Shah, F. H. (2023). Conocybe karakensis sp. nov. (Bolbitiaceae, Agaricales) from Pakistan. Phytotaxa.

Azeem, M. A., Shah, F. H., Ullah, A., Ali, K., Jones, D. A., Khan, M. E. H., & Ashraf, A. (2022). Biochemical characterization of halotolerant Bacillus safensis PM22 and its potential to enhance growth of maize under salinity stress. Plants,

Babar Iqbal | Plant Physiology | Editorial Board Member

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Assoc. Prof. Dr. Babar Iqbal | Plant Physiology | Editorial Board Member

Jiangsu University | China

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Babar Iqbal is an environmental biotechnologist at Jiangsu University (School of Environment & Safety Engineering) in China, whose work addresses major challenges in agroecosystems such as microplastic pollution, soil microbial health, and toxic metal stress. He leads projects on the mechanisms by which microplastic contamination affects crop physiology, soil microbial metabolism, and carbon‐use efficiency, including investigations on wheat  under cadmium stress. He co-authored an open-access Frontiers Ecology & Evolution paper on how soil microplastics affect Oryza sativa root traits under alien plant invasion. His other recent research includes the regulation of soil microbial metabolism through changes in plant communities in wetlands. On his university profile, he is noted as the principal investigator of a major project (2024–25) investigating the combined effects of microplastic and invasive plant contamination on wheat. His research interests center on sustainable agriculture, soil ecotoxicology, microbial ecology, and bio-remediation of polluted soils. Dr. Iqbal has contributed to both fundamental research and applied strategies, such as biochar-based remediation of contaminated soils. He also serves as corresponding author on several high-impact review articles, reflecting leadership in his field. Overall, his work is helping to build more resilient, sustainable agricultural systems in the face of emerging environmental threats.

Profile: Google Scholar

Featured Publications

Nazir, M. J., Li, G., Nazir, M. M., Zulfiqar, F., Siddique, K. H. M., Iqbal, B., & Du, D. (2024). Harnessing soil carbon sequestration to address climate change challenges in agriculture. Soil and Tillage Research.

Iqbal, B., Zhao, T., Yin, W., Zhao, X., Xie, Q., Khan, K. Y., Zhao, X., Nazar, M., Li, G., … (2023). Impacts of soil microplastics on crops: A review. Applied Soil Ecology.

Iqbal, B., Li, G., Alabbosh, K. F., Hussain, H., Khan, I., Tariq, M., Javed, Q., … (2023). Advancing environmental sustainability through microbial reprogramming in growth improvement, stress alleviation, and phytoremediation. Plant Stress.

Zahoor, R., Zhao, W., Dong, H., Snider, J. L., Abid, M., Iqbal, B., & Zhou, Z. (2017). Potassium improves photosynthetic tolerance to and recovery from episodic drought stress in functional leaves of cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.). Plant Physiology and Biochemistry.

Nazar, M., Xu, L., Ullah, M. W., Moradian, J. M., Wang, Y., Sethupathy, S., Iqbal, B., … (2022). Biological delignification of rice straw using laccase from Bacillus ligniniphilus L1 for bioethanol production: A clean approach for agro-biomass utilization. Journal of Cleaner Production

Jose González-Andújar | Invasive Plant Species | Editorial Board Member

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Prof. Dr. Jose González-Andújar | Invasive Plant Species | Editorial Board Member

Instituto de Agricultura Sostenible (CSIC) | Spain

Dr. José Luis González Andújar is a leading researcher in weed science and agroecology, currently serving as a senior scientist at the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) in the Institute for Sustainable Agriculture, Córdoba, Spain. He holds a PhD in Biological Sciences from the Complutense University of Madrid and has built an outstanding academic career. His scientific impact is reflected in an approximate, including the Weed Science Group and the Weed Agroecology Research Group (AGR-271), and has held major administrative roles such as Scientific Director of the International Laboratory on Global Change. His research focuses on weed ecology, population modelling, integrated weed management, decision-support tools, and climate-change impacts on agroecosystems. He has supervised numerous PhD and MSc theses, taught in more than 30 international courses, and served as guest or visiting professor across Europe and the Americas. Recognized widely for his contributions, he has received prestigious honors including the WSSA Honorary Member Award, OECD Fellowship, and several national research merit distinctions.

Profile: Google Scholar 

Featured Publications

Kattge, J., Bönisch, G., Díaz, S., Lavorel, S., Prentice, I. C., Leadley, P., … González-Andújar, J. L. (2020). TRY plant trait database–enhanced coverage and open access. Global Change Biology.

González-Andújar, J. L., & Fernández-Quintanilla, C. (1991). Modelling the population dynamics of Avena sterilis under dry-land cereal cropping systems. Journal of Applied Ecology.

Dorado, J., Sousa, E., Calha, I. M., González-Andújar, J. L., … (2009). Predicting weed emergence in maize crops under two contrasting climatic conditions. Weed Research.

Perry, J. N., & González-Andujar, J. L. (1993). Dispersal in a metapopulation neighbourhood model of an annual plant with a seedbank. Journal of Ecology.

González-Andújar, J. L., & Saavedra, M. (2003). Spatial distribution of annual grass weed populations in winter cereals. Crop Protection,

Muhammad Imran | Plant Pathology | Editorial Board Member

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Dr. Muhammad Imran | Plant Pathology | Editorial Board Member

Henan University of Technology, Zhengzhou, Henan | China

Dr. Muhammad Imran is a plant pathologist currently working as a Post-Doctoral Researcher in the School of Biological Engineering at Henan University of Technology, Zhengzhou, China. He earned his PhD (2018–2022) in Arid Land Agriculture (Crop Protection) from King Abdulaziz University, Saudi Arabia, after completing an MPhil in Plant Pathology from China Agricultural University and a Bachelor’s in Agriculture (Plant Pathology) from the University of Sargodha, Pakistan. His Google Scholar profile shows , reflecting a growing research impact. On ResearchGate he lists about 25 publications and 211 citations. Dr. Imran’s research focuses on plant-microbe interactions, with a strong interest in biological control of plant diseases, using beneficial microorganisms such as endophytes, fungi (Trichoderma), and bacteria combined with nanotechnology (e.g., zinc nanoparticles) to sustainably manage pathogens like Alternaria solani and Botrytis cinerea. He has participated in projects dealing with fungicide resistance, deploying integrated disease management strategies, and exploring eco-friendly biocontrol agents. He has published in high-impact journals, including work on Trichoderma culture filtrates for early blight suppression, and co-authored studies on zinc nanoparticle-mediated induction of plant defense. Dr. Imran’s commitment to reducing chemical pesticide use and promoting green agriculture reflects his broader vision of strengthening crop resilience while safeguarding ecosystems.

Profiles: Scopus | Google Scholar | Orcid

Featured Publications

Imran, M., Alomran, M. M., Khalifa, H. A., Bilal, M. S., Ahmed, A. F., Ali, E. F., Alqurashi, A. S., Aldayel, M. F., & Abo-Elyousr, K. A. M. (2025). Exploring smart solutions for stressed soils: Dual-action of culture filtrates and nanoparticles for sustainable onion cultivation. European Journal of Plant Pathology.

Feng, X., Shi, Y., Sun, Z., Li, L., Imran, M., Zhang, G., Zhang, G., & Li, C. (2025). Control of Fusarium graminearum infection in wheat by dsRNA-based spray-induced gene silencing. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry.

Sahibzada, K. I., Shahid, S., Akhter, M., Faisal, M., Abd El Rahman, R. A., Imran, M., Lv, Y., Wei, D., & Hu, Y. (2025). Advancing enzyme-based detoxification prediction with ToxZyme: An ensemble machine learning approach. Toxins

Imran, M., Khalifa, H. A., Sun, Z., Bilal, M. S., Abd El-Wahed, M. H., Abo-Elyousr, K. A. M., Ali, E. F., & Li, C. (2025). Insights into the dynamics of biochemical profile and relative gene expression of cucumber fruits associated with Fusarium spoilage. Journal of Plant Diseases and Protection, Advance online publication.

Imran, M., Sun, Z., Abo-Elyousr, K. A. M., Ali, H., Aldayel, M. F., & Li, C. (2024). One stone two birds: Endophytes alleviating trace elements accumulation and suppressing soilborne pathogen by stimulating plant growth, photosynthetic potential and defense-related gene expression. Journal of Hazardous Materials.

Mahendar Thudi | Plant Genetics | Editorial Board Member

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Dr. Mahendar Thudi | Plant Genetics | Editorial Board Member

Fort Valley State university | United States

Mahendar Thudi, PhD, is a distinguished plant geneticist and genomics researcher currently serving as a Research Professional at Fort Valley State University, Georgia, and Adjunct Professor at the University of Southern Queensland, Australia. He previously worked as Associate Professor at Dr. Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University and spent over a decade at ICRISAT contributing extensively to chickpea genomics and molecular breeding. Dr. Thudi holds a PhD in Plant Sciences (2010) from the University of Hyderabad, an MS in Plant Biotechnology, and a BS in Agriculture. His research spans genetics and plant breeding, genomics, multi-omics, biotic and abiotic stress biology, and crop improvement in chickpea, sorghum, pearl millet, lentils, peanut, and wheat. Dr. Thudi has received several honors, including the Fellow of Telangana Academy of Sciences and multiple Exceptional Scientific Article Awards. With active international collaborations and editorial roles in leading journals, he continues to advance genomics-based breeding and global food security.

Profile: Google Scholar

Featured Publications

Varshney, R. K., Song, C., Saxena, R. K., Azam, S., Yu, S., Sharpe, A. G., Cannon, S., … (2013). Draft genome sequence of chickpea (Cicer arietinum) provides a resource for trait improvement. Nature Biotechnology.

Varshney, R. K., Shi, C., Thudi, M., Mariac, C., Wallace, J., Qi, P., Zhang, H., Zhao, Y., … (2017). Pearl millet genome sequence provides a resource to improve agronomic traits in arid environments. Nature Biotechnology.

Varshney, R. K., Thudi, M., Nayak, S. N., Gaur, P. M., Kashiwagi, J., … (2014). Genetic dissection of drought tolerance in chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.). Theoretical and Applied Genetics.

Varshney, R. K., Thudi, M., Roorkiwal, M., He, W., Upadhyaya, H. D., Yang, W., … (2019). Resequencing of 429 chickpea accessions from 45 countries provides insights into genome diversity, domestication and agronomic traits. Nature Genetics.

Thudi, M., Upadhyaya, H. D., Rathore, A., Gaur, P. M., Krishnamurthy, L., … (2014). Genetic dissection of drought and heat tolerance in chickpea through genome-wide and candidate gene-based association mapping approaches.

Sonia Malik | Plant Biotechnology | Excellence in Plant Tissue Culture

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Prof. Dr. Sonia Malik | Plant Biotechnology | Excellence in Plant Tissue Culture

Baba Farid Group of Institutions | India

Dr. Sonia Malik, Ph.D. in Plant Biotechnology, is an accomplished researcher and academic leader currently serving as Professor and Dean of Research and Development at the Baba Farid Group of Institutions, India. She has produced more than 65 research publications (documents), which have collectively received over 1660 citations and earned her a strong h-index of 23, demonstrating her significant global scientific impact. Dr. Malik earned her PhD from the CSIR-Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology & Guru Nanak Dev University in 2009, specializing in in vitro culture systems and secondary metabolite production. She has held prestigious research and teaching positions in India, Brazil, Australia, the UK, the Czech Republic, France, and South America, contributing to major projects in plant metabolic engineering, hairy root cultures, hydroponic and aeroponic systems, phytochemical profiling, and nanoparticle-mediated elicitation. Her research focuses on the biotechnological production of high-value bioactive compounds for pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and food industries. She has received notable awards, including the Fellow Award from the Society for Plant Research (2025), along with competitive grants and fellowships from FAPESP, FAPEMA, and CNPq. Dr. Malik continues to advance interdisciplinary scientific progress worldwide through her roles as an editor, reviewer, symposium organizer, and invited speaker.

Profiles: Scopus | Google Scholar | Orcid

Featured Publications

Jacinto, C., Javed, Y., Lavorato, G., Tarraga, W. A., Conde, B. I. C., Orozco, J. M., Picco, A. S., Garcia, J., Dias, C. S. B., Malik, S., et al. (2025). Biotransformation and biological fate of magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles for biomedical research and clinical applications. Nanoscale Advances.

Luz, T. R. S. A., Serejo, A. P. M., Moraes, M. B. C., Oliveira, J. A. R. N., Heena, Kumaraguru, G., Shanmugam, G., Malik, S., Amaral, F. M. M., & Coutinho, D. F. (2025). Essential oils to treat insomnia: Clinical-based studies. In Essential Oil-Bearing Plants.

Jacinto, C., Silva, W. F., Garcia, J., Zaragosa, G. P., Ilem, C. N. D., Sales, T. O., Santos, H. D. A., Conde, B. I. C., Barbosa, H. P., Malik, S., et al. (2025). Nanoparticles-based image-guided thermal therapy and temperature feedback. Journal of Materials Chemistry B.

Malik, S., Salvatore, M. M., Bauchet, L., Bruat, M., Roubinet, B., Carpin, S., Andolfi, A., Cimmino, A., Landemarre, L., Masi, M., et al. (2025, November). Hydroponic cultivation technique in Populus nigra (L.) for the sustainable production of root metabolites with antimicrobial and prebiotic potential for skin microbiota. Industrial Crops and Products.

Heena, Sharma, P., Shaveta, Sharma, D., Pawan, R., Coutinho, D. F., Arroo, R., & Malik, S. (2025, June 20). Exploring the bioactive components of Stevia essential oil and their versatile applications in the food, cosmetic, and agricultural domains. Chemistry & Biodiversity.

Grazia Ietto-Gillies | Economics | Best Researcher Award

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Prof. Grazia Ietto-Gillies | Economics | Best Researcher Award

London South Bank University | United Kingdom

Grazia Ietto-Gillies is an Italian-born economist and emerita Professor of Applied Economics at London South Bank University, also serving as a Research Fellow at Birkbeck, University of London. She studied in Rome at the Istituto Leonardo da Vinci and then at La Sapienza University under the supervision of Bruno de Finetti, followed by a year of graduate studies at MIT (1966–67) funded by a CNR scholarship. Early in her career she worked as a researcher at ISCO in Rome and then at the University of Siena before moving to London in 1971, where she joined London South Bank Polytechnic (now University). Her research spans investment in the Italian economy, de-industrialization in the UK, transnational corporations (TNCs), innovation, absorptive capacity, indices of transnationality, labor fragmentation (e.g., in FIAT), and the digital economy. She has published extensively, including books, journal articles, working papers, and book chapters; her major book Transnational Corporations and International Production (Edward Elgar) is widely cited. According to her RePEc/CitEc profile, she has an h-index of 11 with around 800 citations and over 47 research documents. She has received recognition as a leading figure in applied economics, especially in globalisation and innovation policy. In addition to her academic work, since retirement she has written literary pieces, including a memoir of her Calabrian childhood and essays. Her long and influential career bridges rigorous economic analysis and personal reflection, highlighting both her intellectual and human depth.

Profiles: Scopus | Google Scholar

Featured Publications

Filippetti, A., Frenz, M., & Ietto-Gillies, G. (2011). Are innovation and internationalization related? An analysis of European countries. Industry and Innovation.

Filippetti, A., Frenz, M., & Ietto-Gillies, G. (2017). The impact of internationalization on innovation at countries’ level: The role of absorptive capacity. Cambridge Journal of Economic.

Frenz, M., Girardone, C., & Ietto-Gillies, G. (2005). Multinationality matters in innovation: The case of the UK financial services. Industry & Innovation.

Ietto-Gillies, G. (2009). Conceptual issues behind the assessment of the degree of internationalization. Transnational Corporations.

Chesnais, F., Ietto-Gillies, G., & Simonetti, R. (2003). European integration and global corporate strategies. Routledge.

Hanna Liventseva | Geological Sciences | Women Researcher Award

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Dr. Hanna Liventseva | Geological Sciences | Women Researcher Award

Geosciences Barcelona GEO3BCN, CSIC | Spain

Dr. Hanna Liventseva is a distinguished Ukrainian geologist and researcher at Geosciences Barcelona (GEO3BCN-CSIC), Spain. She earned her Master of Science in Geology from Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv and later completed her Ph.D. in Geological Sciences at the Institute of Geological Sciences, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine. With over three decades of experience, Dr. Liventseva has held key academic and administrative positions, including Rector of the PHEI Tutkovsky Institute and Chairman of the Board of the Ukrainian Association of Geologists. Her professional journey includes leadership roles in the JSC Nadra Group, editorial stewardship of the journal Ukrainian Geologist, and coordination of numerous EU-funded research initiatives such as INFACT, CROWDTHERMAL, REFLECT, ENGIE, and CRM-geothermal under Horizon 2020 and Horizon Europe. Her research interests encompass geological surveying, mineral exploration, geothermal energy, and sustainable resource management. She has significantly contributed to international scientific collaboration, notably promoting Spanish-Ukrainian partnerships through memorandums of understanding and the “Global Vision of Ukrainian Geology” conference series. With over 25 research documents, an h-index of 4, and more than 70 citations, Dr. Liventseva continues to advance geoscientific research and education, emphasizing innovation, sustainability, and youth engagement in Earth sciences.

Profile: Orcid

Featured Publications

Barylo, A., & Liventseva, H. (2025, October 23). Preliminary zoning of the territory of Ukraine based on the geothermal play types. Geothermal Energy.

Liventseva, H. (2025, May). Science diplomacy in action: Geological museums and collections: Their role in science, education and tourism. Conference paper.

Liventseva, H. (2025, May 22). Geothermal energy of Spain as a part of the green transition. Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency in the XXI Century. Conference paper.

Kitchka, A., Liventseva, H., & Ohar, V. (2024). Fedir Lysenko and discovery of the Dnipro-Donets petroleum super-basin: The lost name of the pioneer. Magazine article

Liventseva, H., & Krochak, M. (2024, September 12). Significance of geological collections for European school education. State, problems and prospects for the development of mineralogical science and education in Ukraine: Materials of the Thirteenth Scientific Readings named after Academician Yevhen Lazarenko.

Aladji Abatchoua Madi Madi Ibram | Plant Breeding | Best Researcher Award

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Dr. Aladji Abatchoua Madi Madi Ibram | Plant Breeding | Best Researcher Award

University of Ebolowa | Cameroon

Dr. Aladji Abatchoua Madi Madi Ibram is a distinguished researcher in Genetics and Plant Breeding at the University of Ebolowa, Cameroon. He holds a Ph.D. in Genetics and Plant Breeding and has demonstrated strong expertise in the application of advanced statistical tools such as DIAL 98 and GEST 98 for diallel crosses and genotype-by-environment interaction studies. His research primarily focuses on the genetic improvement of common beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.), emphasizing the development of high-yielding and nutritionally enriched varieties with significant biochemical compounds to promote sustainable agricultural development and food security. Dr. Ibram’s scientific contributions are reflected in his publications in reputed journals such as Springer’s Journal of Applied Genetics and Vegetos, where his studies on genetic variability and combining ability have been well recognized. He also serves on the editorial board of the International Journal of Genetics and Genomics. His research collaborations with the Institute for Agricultural Research and Development further underscore his commitment to enhancing crop productivity through innovative breeding strategies. Dr. Ibram was honored as the Best Researcher in the category of Multivariate Analysis, showcasing his excellence and dedication to advancing plant genetic research.

Profile: Orcid

Featured Publication

Aladji Abatchoua Madi Madi Ibram. (2025). Genetic analysis of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) for root traits, yield components and seed yield. Journal of Applied Genetics.