Joseph Ovwemuvwose | Plant Ecology | Research Excellence Award

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Mr. Joseph Ovwemuvwose | Plant Ecology | Research Excellence Award

Imperial College | United Kingdom

Dr. Joseph Ovwemuvwose is a Ph.D. candidate in next-generation global biogeochemical cycle modelling at Imperial College London (2022–2026), supervised by Prof. Ian C. Prentice and Dr. Heather Graven. He holds an MSc in Crop Improvement from the University of Nottingham and a BSc in Plant Biology and Biotechnology from the University of Benin. His research focuses on global carbon flux modelling, land-use change impacts, terrestrial biosphere models, and carbon cycle feedbacks under rising CO₂. He has developed algorithms in Python to classify global vegetation by carbon use, evaluated and compared multiple global models for land-use and CO₂ sensitivity, and is author of a manuscript (under review) on uncertainty in land carbon fluxes simulated by CMIP6 models. Beyond modelling, he has conducted experimental work on plant water uptake and carbon allocation using portable NMR during a post-graduate stint in Montpellier/IRD. His experience spans project coordination (including a pan-African modelling-training initiative), science communication (working with the Science Museum Group), and teaching at Imperial College. He has presented at multiple international conferences and secured funding for collaborative research. Recipient of a fully-funded Chevening MSc scholarship and a Shell Petroleum Development Company undergraduate scholarship, he combines strong academic credentials, interdisciplinary experience, and a passion for bridging science, education, and public engagement.

Profile : Orcid

Featured Publications

Kaori Shiojiri | Plant-Animal Interactions | Women Researcher Award

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Prof. Dr. Kaori Shiojiri | Plant-Animal Interactions | Women Researcher Award

Ryukoku University | Japan

Prof. Dr. Kaori Shiojiri is a distinguished ecologist recognized for her expertise in chemical ecology and plant–insect interactions. She earned her M.S. and Ph.D. in Agriculture from Kyoto University, specializing in Environmental Science and Technology. Following her doctoral training, she completed prestigious JSPS Research Fellowships, including international research work at the University of California, Davis and further research at Kyoto University’s Center for Ecological Research. She later served as an Assistant Professor under the Hakubi Project at Kyoto University’s Institute for Advanced Study before joining Ryukoku University, where she progressed from Lecturer to Associate Professor and currently serves as Professor in the Graduate School of Agriculture. Her research focuses on plant volatile–mediated communication, tritrophic interactions, ecological signaling, and sustainable agricultural systems. According to Google Scholar, she holds an h-index of 28 with 2881 citations, reflecting her strong publication record and scientific impact. She has received multiple honors, including awards from the Ecological Society of Japan, the Japanese Society of Applied Entomology and Zoology, the Japan Prize for Agricultural Science (Young Scientists), the Tachibana Award for Outstanding Women Researchers, the Morita Award, and the Miyadi Award. Her work continues to advance ecological understanding and strengthen environmentally sustainable agricultural innovation.

Profiles: Scopus | Google Scholar

Featured Publications

Shiojiri, K., & Karban, R. (2006). Plant age, communication, and resistance to herbivores: Young sagebrush plants are better emitters and receivers. Oecologia.

Tanaka, T., Ikeda, A., Shiojiri, K., Ozawa, R., Shiki, K., Nagai-Kunihiro, N., … Arimura, G. (2018). Identification of a hexenal reductase that modulates the composition of green leaf volatiles. Plant Physiology.

Shiojiri, K., & Takabayashi, J. (2003). Effects of specialist parasitoids on oviposition preference of phytophagous insects: Encounter–dilution effects in a tritrophic interaction. Ecological Entomology.

Shiojiri, K., Ozawa, R., Matsui, K., Sabelis, M. W., & Takabayashi, J. (2012). Intermittent exposure to traces of green leaf volatiles triggers a plant response. Scientific Reports.

Sukegawa, S., Shiojiri, K., Higami, T., Suzuki, S., & Arimura, G. (2018). Pest management using mint volatiles to elicit resistance in soy: Mechanism and application potential. The Plant Journal,

Hieronim Golczyk | Plant Genetics | Best Researcher Award

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Assoc. Prof. Dr. Hieronim Golczyk | Plant Genetics | Best Researcher Award

The John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin | Poland

Dr. Hieronim Golczyk is an Associate Professor at the Institute of Biological Sciences, The John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin, Poland. He earned his Habilitation in Biological Sciences with a specialization in Cytogenetics and Genetics from Adam Mickiewicz University in 2015. With over two decades of academic experience, including positions at the Jagiellonian University and collaborations with leading European research centers such as IPK Gatersleben and the Max Planck Institute, Dr. Golczyk has established himself as a distinguished figure in molecular cytogenetics. His research focuses on chromosome structure and function, genome evolution, fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) methodologies, and organelle genetics. He has pioneered several innovative cytogenetic techniques, including ImmunoFISH and EC-FISH, and contributed to landmark discoveries on genome transfer and chloroplast competition published in Nature and Plant Cell. Dr. Golczyk has authored over 60 scientific papers with an h-index of 16, more than 830 citations, and over 34 document reads. His achievements have been recognized by multiple Polish Genetic Society Awards and Rector’s Awards. As an active reviewer, educator, and member of advisory scientific boards, Dr. Golczyk continues to advance the understanding of genetic mechanisms underlying plant evolution and genome architecture.

Profiles: Scopus | Orcid

Featured Publications

Golczyk, H. (2025). A new efficient immunoprotocol to detect chromosomal/nuclear proteins along with repetitive DNA in squash preparations of formalin-fixed, long-stored root tips. Plant Methods.

Jach, M. E. (2023). The role of probiotics and their metabolites in the treatment of depression. Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology.

Golczyk, H., Hřibová, E., Doležel, J., Cuadrado, Á., Garbsch, F., Greiner, S., Janeczko, M., Szklarczyk, M., Masłyk, M., & Kubiński, K. (2022). Migration of repetitive DNAs during evolution of the permanent translocation heterozygosity in the oyster plant (Tradescantia section Rhoeo).