Li Sui | Fungal Ecology | Research Excellence Award

Prof. Dr. Li Sui | Fungal Ecology | Research Excellence Award

Institute of Plant Protection, Jilin Academy of Agricultural Sciences | China

Dr. Li Sui is a distinguished Researcher at the Institute of Plant Protection, Jilin Academy of Agricultural Sciences, where he has contributed to plant–microbe interactions, fungal endophytes, and biological control for over 15 years. He earned his PhD in Ecology from Northeast Normal University (2019), following a Master’s degree in Biophysics and a Bachelor’s in Biotechnology from Jilin Agricultural University. His research focuses on endophytic entomopathogenic fungi, elevated CO₂–plant–microbe interactions, microbial biocontrol mechanisms, and eco-friendly pest management. Dr. Sui has led multiple national and provincial research projects, including major grants from the National Natural Science Foundation of China and the Ministry of Science and Technology. He has published impactful studies in Pest Management Science, BioControl, Frontiers in Microbiology, Virulence, and Biological Control, contributing significantly to maize, soybean, and sunflower protection strategies. His research record includes h-index: 10, citations: 296, and documents: 34. Dr. Sui has received prestigious recognitions, including the Jilin Provincial Science and Technology Progress Awards (First Class, 2017; Second Class, 2021) for innovations in green pest management. He continues to advance sustainable agriculture by integrating fungal symbiosis and biocontrol technology for improved crop resilience.

Profiles: Scopus | Orcid

Featured Publications

Chang, Y., Lin, X., Sui, J., Li, Q., Zhao, Y., Sui, L., & Zhang, Z. (2025). Endophytic Beauveria spp. enhance tomato growth and resistance to Botrytis cinerea via transcriptomic regulation. Journal of Fungi.

Guo, W., Lu, Y., Du, S., Li, Q., Zou, X., Zhang, Z., & Sui, L. (2024). Endophytic colonization of Beauveria bassiana enhances drought stress tolerance in tomato via “water spender” pathway. International Journal of Molecular Sciences,

Yu Peng | Plant Ecology | Research Excellence Award

Prof. Dr. Yu Peng | Plant Ecology | Research Excellence Award

Minzu University | China

Yu Peng is an Associate Professor of Ecology at the College of Life & Environmental Science, Minzu University of China, Beijing. He earned his Ph.D. in Ecology from the Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences (2005), followed by a post-doctoral appointment at Tsinghua University. His teaching spans courses such as Landscape Ecology, Biodiversity Conservation, Remote Sensing and GIS, and Plant Biology. Dr. Peng leads research in landscape ecology, biodiversity conservation, and vegetation remote sensing, with a strong focus on plant-diversity estimation using UAV and hyperspectral techniques. He has presided over multiple national research projects and published about 80 research papers, including 49 in SCI-indexed journals, along with authoring three monographs. His Google Scholar profile reports an h-index of 18 and over 978 citations, and his ResearchGate profile lists 75 scientific documents, reflecting his substantial scholarly output. Dr. Peng also holds several invention patents and contributed to formulating China’s national standard for estimating plant diversity using UAV remote sensing. His achievements have earned him distinctions such as the Wiley China Open Science High Contribution Author, teaching awards, and recognition as Best Reviewer by Acta Ecologica Sinica. He additionally serves in key academic roles, including Deputy Secretary-General of the Long-term Ecology Committee of the Chinese Ecological Society and Director of the Beijing Biodiversity Research Association. His work continues to integrate advanced remote sensing technologies with practical conservation strategies, reinforcing his commitment to ecological restoration and sustainable biodiversity management.

Profiles: Scopus | Orcid

Featured Publications

Xin, J., Li, J., Zeng, Q., Peng, Y., Wang, Y., Teng, X., Bao, Q., Yang, L., Tang, H., Liu, Y., et al. (2024). High-precision estimation of plant alpha diversity in different ecosystems based on Sentinel-2 data. Ecological Indicators.

Cao, Y., Peng, Y., Li, J., Yuan, J., Wang, C., Bao, Q., & Li, G. (2024). Landscape connection and patch complexity explain plant community similarity in sandy grasslands better than habitat amount and landscape heterogeneity via network analysis. Community Ecology.

Xin, J., Peng, Y., Peng, N., Yang, L., Huang, J., Yuan, J., Wei, B., & Ren, Y. (2024). Both class- and landscape-level patterns influence crop yield. European Journal of Agronomy.

Peng, Y., Xin, J., Peng, N., Li, Y., Huang, J., Zhang, R., Li, C., Wu, Y., Gong, B., & Wang, R. (2024). Global patterns and drivers of spatial autocorrelation in plant communities in protected areas. Diversity and Distributions.

Jin, H., Xu, J., Peng, Y., Xin, J., Peng, N., Li, Y., Huang, J., Zhang, R., Li, C., Wu, Y., et al. (2023). Impacts of landscape patterns on plant species diversity at a global scale. Science of The Total Environment.

Kaori Shiojiri | Plant-Animal Interactions | Women Researcher Award

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,

Baocheng Zhang | Invasive Plant Species | Best Researcher Award

Mrs. Baocheng Zhang | Invasive Plant Species | Best Researcher Award

Moutai Institute | China

Dr. Zhang Baocheng is a distinguished researcher and science policy expert specializing in ecological restoration, invasive species management, and arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi. He earned his Ph.D. in Environmental Science and Ecology from the University of Oklahoma in 2012, where he served as a visiting scholar from 2008 to 2012. His academic journey includes key roles in science and technology policy: appointed as a Science and Technology Special Envoy by the Guizhou Provincial Department of Science and Technology in 2014, and as a Municipal Science and Technology Commissioner by the Municipal Science and Technology Bureau in 2016. In 2017, he was selected for the city’s “15851 Talent Project,” recognizing his contributions to scientific innovation. Dr. Zhang’s research focuses on the interactions between AM fungi and invasive plant species, particularly Alternanthera philoxeroides, exploring how soil substrates influence these relationships. His work has been published in reputable journals, including Scientific Reports, and has garnered significant attention in the field. Dr. Zhang’s contributions have been instrumental in advancing ecological restoration practices and invasive species management strategies. His academic impact is reflected in his h-index of 11, with over 854citations across 16 publications, highlighting his significant influence in his research domain.

Profile: Scopus 

Featured Publications

Zhang, B., Shen, L., Pan, Z., & Zeng, G. (2025). Effects of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and soil substrate on invasive plant Alternanthera philoxeroides.