Ibukunolu Udemba | Crop Science | Best Researcher Award

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Dr. Ibukunolu Udemba | Crop Science | Best Researcher Award

Institute of Agricultural Research and Training, Obafemi Awolowo University, Moor Plantation, Ibadan | Nigeria

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🌟  Suitable for this Best Researcher Award

Dr. Ibukunolu Oluwadamilola Udemba stands out as a highly suitable candidate for a Best Researcher Award, given her robust academic background, impactful research contributions, and extensive engagement in scientific development activities. With a Ph.D. in Agronomy from the University of Ibadan and a stellar academic record including a First-Class Honours undergraduate degree and a CGPA of 6.6/7 at the Master’s level, her trajectory reflects consistent excellence. Her academic achievements have been recognized through numerous awards and scholarships, such as the University of Ibadan Postgraduate College Scholarship and multiple departmental and national accolades.

🎓 Education 

Dr. Ibukunolu Oluwadamilola Udemba’s academic journey in agronomy is marked by excellence. She earned her Ph.D. in Agronomy from the University of Ibadan in 2023, following an M.Sc. in Horticulture with a CGPA of 6.6/7 in 2015. Her foundational B.Agric. degree, also from the University of Ibadan, was awarded with First Class Honours in 2011. Complementing her agricultural expertise, she obtained a Diploma in Computer Techniques and Application in 2011. Her early education includes attendance at Command Day Secondary School and Bodija International School.

 💼  Professional Experience

Dr. Udemba’s professional career is distinguished by roles in research and education. Since 2023, she has been a Research Fellow at the Institute of Agricultural Research and Training in Ibadan. Her previous roles include Teaching and Research Assistant at the University of Ibadan’s Department of Agronomy (2019-2023), Examiner for the West African Examination Council in 2015, and Consultant for the National Youth Service Corps in Borno State (2012-2013). She also served as a Research Assistant to Prof. M.O. Akoroda and held teaching positions in various educational institutions.

🏅 Awards and Recognition 

Dr. Udemba’s contributions have been recognized through numerous awards. In 2024, she received the Best Oral Presentation Award (3rd Place) at the Symposium on Agriculture and Environment Sustainability in West and Central Africa. Her academic excellence earned her the University of Ibadan Postgraduate College Scholarship Award (2019-2023) and multiple undergraduate honors in 2011, including the Pfizer Prize in Agronomy and the Dr. H.O. Ayeni Weeds Science Prize. She was also listed on the Dean’s Roll of Honour in 2007 and 2008.

🌍Research skills On Crop Science

Dr. Udemba’s research expertise encompasses crop yield optimization, postharvest quality assessment, and sustainable agricultural practices. Her Ph.D. research focused on the variability in storage root yield and gari quality of yellow root cassava varieties. She has conducted significant studies on the postharvest qualities of tomatoes under different storage conditions and explored the response of okra and amaranth to various urine-water dilutions. Her work contributes to improving food security and agricultural sustainability in Nigeria.

📖Publications

Variation among gari samples of some yellow cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) varieties for change in color during storage

  • Authors: I.O. Udemba, B. Olasanmi, P. Iluebbey

  • Journal: Global Journal of Ecology

  • Year: 2022

 

Bunmi Olasanmi | Plant Breeding | Best Researcher Award

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Dr. Bunmi Olasanmi | Plant Breeding | Best Researcher Award

Dr. Bunmi Olasanmi | Nigeria

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🌟  Suitable for this Best Researcher Award

The Best Researcher Award recognizes exceptional contributions in plant breeding, honoring individuals whose work has significantly advanced the field. Open to researchers at any career stage, there are no age restrictions. Applicants should submit an abstract summarizing their key research contributions, along with supporting documents such as publications, patents, and letters of recommendation.

🎓 Education 

Dr. Bunmi Olasanmi embarked on her academic journey at the University of Ibadan, Nigeria, earning a B.Sc. in Agronomy (2001), an M.Sc. in Agronomy (2005), and a Ph.D. in Agriculture (2010). Her doctoral research focused on enhancing cassava’s nutritional value and disease resistance, laying a strong foundation for her future contributions to plant breeding.

 💼  Professional Experience

Dr. Olasanmi began her academic career as a Lecturer II at the University of Agriculture, Makurdi, in 2012. She joined the University of Ibadan in 2013, progressing through the ranks to become a Reader in 2022. Her teaching portfolio includes undergraduate and postgraduate courses in plant breeding, crop husbandry, and field experimentation. She has supervised numerous students, fostering the next generation of plant scientists.

🏅 Awards and Recognition 

Dr. Olasanmi’s excellence has been acknowledged through various awards, including the Kirkhouse Trust Ph.D. Scholarship (2005–2008) and the Cornell University Institute for Genomic Diversity Fellowship (2007). She was the best graduating student in Agronomy at the University of Ibadan (2001) and received the Faculty of Agriculture’s Award of Excellence for her commitment to duty (2021).

🌍Research skills On Plant Breeding

Dr. Olasanmi’s research expertise encompasses marker-assisted selection, genetic improvement of cassava, and sustainable agriculture. She has participated in international training programs, including the UC Davis African Plant Breeding Academy and the Africa Biosciences Challenge Fund Fellowship. Her work has significantly contributed to developing cassava varieties with enhanced beta-carotene content and resistance to mosaic disease.

📖Publications

Quantitative Trait Loci Mapping for Yield and Related Traits in Cowpea

  • Authors: Abdoul Moumouni Iro Sodo, Patrick Ongom, Christian Fatokun, Bunmi Olasanmi, Ibnou Dieng, Ousmane

  • Journal: Genes

  • Year: 2025

Assessing the Effect of Provitamin A on Maize Field Resistance to Aflatoxin and Fumonisin Contamination

  • Authors: Mboup M., Aduramigba-Modupe A.O., Olasanmi B., Mengesha W., Meseka S., Dieng I., Menkir A., Ortega-Beltran A.

  • Journal: Crop Protection

  • Year: 2024

Genetic Diversity and Population Structure of Soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merrill) Germplasm

  • Authors: Silue T., Agre P.A., Olasanmi B., Adewumi A.S., Adejumobi I.I., Abebe A.T.

  • Platform: bioRxiv (Preprint)

  • Year: 2024

Genome Editing in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Game-Changing Strategy for Climate Change Mitigation and Sustainable Agriculture

  • Authors: Amoah P., Oumarou Mahamane A.-R., Byiringiro M.H., Mahula N.J., Manneh N., Oluwasegun Y.R., Assfaw A.T., Mukiti H.M., Garba A.D., Chiemeke F.K., et al.

  • Journal: GM Crops & Food

  • Year: 2024

Variation Among Cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) Genotypes for Storage Root Yield, Yield Components and Response to Cassava Mosaic Disease at the Advanced Breeding Stage

  • Authors: Mahamane A.-R.O., Olasanmi B., Oluwadamilola U.I., Mbanjo E.G.N.

  • Journal: Journal of Applied and Natural Science

  • Year: 2024

 

Lixi Jiang | Crop Science | Excellence in Plant Research

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Prof. Lixi Jiang | Crop Science | Excellence in Plant Research

Zhejiang University | China

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Prof. Lixi Jiang is a distinguished Chinese plant biotechnologist renowned for his groundbreaking work in crop genomics and oilseed research. His extensive contributions have significantly advanced the field of plant science, making him a prime candidate for the “Excellence in Plant Research” award.

🎓 Education 

Prof. Lixi Jiang embarked on his academic journey with a Bachelor of Agricultural Science from Zhejiang Agricultural University in 1986. His passion for plant biotechnology led him to the University of Göttingen in Germany, where he earned his M.Sc. in 1998 and Ph.D. in 2001. During his doctoral studies, he delved deep into the molecular mechanisms influencing seed oil content and nutritional quality in crops. His international education provided him with a robust foundation in plant genetics, molecular biology, and biotechnology, equipping him to tackle complex challenges in crop improvement. This diverse academic background has been instrumental in shaping his research trajectory, focusing on enhancing the nutritional quality and resilience of vital crops.

 💼  Professional Experience

Prof. Lixi Jiang illustrious career spans several decades and continents. Starting as an Assistant Researcher at the Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences (1986–1995), he honed his expertise in crop science. Post his doctoral studies, he joined Singapore’s A*STAR institutes, contributing as a Postdoctoral Fellow and later as a Researcher (2001–2005), focusing on molecular biology and agricultural biotechnology. In 2005, he returned to China, taking up a professorship at Zhejiang University. By 2015, he was honored as a “Qiushi Distinguished Professor,” recognizing his significant contributions to plant biotechnology. Currently, he leads the China-Pakistan Belt and Road Crop Genomics Innovation Institute and serves as a Senior Professor at the Institute of Crop Science. His roles have consistently centered around advancing crop genetics, improving oilseed quality, and fostering international research collaborations.

🏅 Awards and Recognition 

Prof. Lixi Jiang groundbreaking work has garnered numerous accolades. In 2003, he was part of the team that received the National Science and Technology Progress First Prize for their work on crop variety resources. His independent research earned him the Ministry of Education’s Natural Science Second Prize in 2015, focusing on the molecular mechanisms of fatty acid and nutritional quality formation in cruciferous oilseeds. In 2017, he was awarded the Zhejiang Provincial Natural Science Second Prize for discovering the negative regulatory mechanisms of the transparent testa gene family on oilseed fatty acid accumulation. Beyond awards, he holds patents, including innovations in foliar fertilizers to increase oil content in rapeseed and transformation methods for gramineous plants. His leadership in international projects, such as collaborations with Germany and Pakistan on oilseed genomics and stress tolerance, underscores his global impact in plant research.

🌍Research skills On Crop Science

Prof. Lixi Jiang possesses a profound expertise in plant biotechnology, with a focus on enhancing oil content and nutritional quality in oilseeds. His research delves into the molecular biology of seed oil biosynthesis, unsaturated fatty acid formation, and glucosinolate optimization. He employs advanced techniques like genome-wide association studies (GWAS), transcriptomics, and CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing to dissect complex traits in crops such as Brassica napus, Arabidopsis thaliana, and Perilla frutescens. His work has led to the development of genomic databases like BnaSNPDB and BnaGVD, facilitating efficient SNP retrieval and analysis in rapeseed. His interdisciplinary approach combines genomics, molecular biology, and bioinformatics, driving innovations in crop improvement and sustainable agriculture.

📖Publications

Deciphering the heterogeneous glucosinolates composition in leaves and seeds: strategies for developing Brassica napus genotypes with low seed glucosinolates content but high leaf glucosinolates content

  • Authors: Mengxin Tu, Wenxuan Guan, Antony Maodzeka, Hongyu Zhou, Zi Zhang, Tao Yan, Shuijin Hua, Lixi Jiang

  • Journal: Molecular Horticulture

  • Year: 2025

Comparative metabolomics elucidates the early defense response mechanisms to Plutella xylostella infestation in Brassica napus

  • Authors: Syed Muhammad Hassan Askri, Wei Fu, Wessam A. Abd El-Rady, Muhammad Faheem Adil, Shafaque Sehar, Abid Ali, Najeeb Ullah, Asim Munawar, Wenwu Zhou, Lixi Jiang et al.

  • Journal: Plant Physiology and Biochemistry

  • Year: 2025

Optimization and application of genome prediction model in rapeseed: flowering time, yield components and oil content as examples

  • Authors: Wenkai Yu, Xinao Wang, Hui Wang, Wenxiang Wang, Hongtao Cheng, Desheng Mei, Lixi Jiang, Qiong Hu, Jia Liu

  • Journal: Horticulture Research (based on DOI: 10.1093/hr/uhaf115)

  • Year: 2025

CRISPR/Cas9-mediated mutagenesis of SEED FATTY ACID REDUCER genes significantly increased seed oil content in soybean

  • Authors: Wenying Liao, Runze Guo, Jie Li, Na Liu, Lixi Jiang, James Whelan, Huixia Shou

  • Journal: Plant And Cell Physiology

  • Year: 2025

Comprehensive Morphological and Molecular Insights into Drought Tolerance Variation at Germination Stage in Brassica napus Accessions

  • Authors: Guangyuan Lu, Zhitao Tian, Peiyuan Chen, Zhiling Liang, Xinyu Zeng, Yongguo Zhao, Chunsheng Li, Tao Yan, Qian Hang, Lixi Jiang

  • Journal: Plants

  • Year: 2024