Jing Guo | Plant Ecology | Excellence in Plant Ecology

Published on by Plant Scientist

Dr. Jing Guo | Plant Ecology | Excellence in Plant Ecology

Zhejiang A&F University | China

Dr. Jing Guo is a lecturer at the College of Landscape Architecture, Zhejiang A&F University, specializing in community ecology, biodiversity conservation, and plant–microbe interactions. She earned her Ph.D. in Ecology from Northeast Normal University in 2019, completing part of her doctoral research at Pennsylvania State University as a Joint Ph.D. Candidate, after receiving her bachelor’s degree from the same institution. Prior to her current appointment, she conducted postdoctoral research at Zhejiang University, where she investigated plant–soil–microbe feedbacks and forest ecosystem processes. Dr. Guo has contributed to several major national and provincial research programs, including the National Key R&D Program, the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Young Scientists Fund), and the Zhejiang Provincial Science and Technology Exploration Program, serving both as principal investigator and collaborator. She has published extensively in high-impact journals such as Communications Biology, Plants, Forests, Plant and Soil, and Ecological Engineering, contributing to an estimated. With growing recognition for her research in fragmented forest ecosystems and microbial ecology, Dr. Guo continues to advance ecological theory and applied conservation, aiming to support sustainable forest management and biodiversity resilience.

Profile: Orcid

Featured Publications

Guo, J., Chu, L., Ye, X., King, W. L., Shao, J., Wang, Z., Liu, J., Chen, C., & Yu, M. (2025). Low soil phosphorus and high symbiotic fungal richness inhibits plant aboveground biomass in fragmented forests in China. Communications Biology.

Liu, J., Liu, W., Wu, J., Wei, B., Guo, J., Zhong, L., & Yu, M. (2023). Responses of plant species diversity and biomass to forest management practices after pine wilt disease. Forests,.

Guo, J., Wei, B., Liu, J., Eissenstat, D. M., Yu, S., Gong, X., Wu, J., He, X., & Yu, M. (2023). Linkages between plant community composition and soil microbial diversity in Masson pine forests. Plants.

Guo, J., Gong, X., Yu, S., Wei, B., Chu, L., Liu, J., He, X., & Yu, M. (2023). Response of soil microbial diversity to forest management practices after pine wilt disease infection. Forests.

Yates, C. F., Guo, J., Bell, T. H., Fleishman, S. M., Bock, H. W., Trexler, R. V., Eissenstat, D. M., & Centinari, M. (2021). Tree-induced alterations to soil properties and rhizoplane-associated bacteria following 23 years in a common garden. Plant and Soil

Yu Peng | Plant Ecology | Research Excellence Award

Published on by Plant Scientist

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.

Babar Iqbal | Plant Physiology | Editorial Board Member

Published on by Plant Scientist

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

Urjashi Bhattacharya | Agronomic Practices | Best Researcher Award

Published on by Plant Scientist

Assist. Prof. Dr. Urjashi Bhattacharya | Agronomic Practices | Best Researcher Award

The Neotia University | India

Dr. U. Bhattacharya is an agronomy scholar and educator with a doctoral degree specializing in conservation agriculture, climate-smart farming, and integrated nutrient management. Over four years as a university research scholar, she has conducted intensive research on rice–pulse cropping systems, focusing on enhancing ecosystem services (soil, air, and water) in the Gangetic Plains through sustainable agronomic practices. Her M.Sc. work examined the effects of nitrogen levels on a heat-tolerant potato variety, while her Ph.D. thesis explored the management of rice followed by lentil under conservation tillage and varying nutrient doses. She participated in the SRFSI project (in collaboration with ACIAR) in the Eastern Gangetic Plains, gaining experience in resilient farming system intensification. Dr. Bhattacharya is proficient in experiment planning, statistical analysis, instrument handling, and scientific communication, and has presented her research at several national and international seminars on soil health, sustainable agriculture, agrochemicals, climate resilience, and biodiversity. She has published multiple peer-reviewed papers in crop science and agronomy, holds an h-index of 4 with six publications and 294 citations, and has received certificates of excellence in peer review along with a design patent for a portable crop diagnostic spectrometer. Passionate about advancing agricultural education and research, she aspires to excel as a faculty member in plant science academia, inspiring students through innovative teaching and pursuing high-impact interdisciplinary research in sustainable agriculture.

Profiles: Scopus | Google Scholar

Featured Publications

Bhattacharya, U., & Sarkar, S. (2018). Conservation agriculture: A climate-smart approach to achieve zero hunger. Current Advances in Agricultural Sciences, 18(2), 78–83.

Bhattacharya, U., Saha, A., & Saha, A. (2019). Response of heat tolerant variety (Kufri Surya) of potato (Solanum tuberosum) under different levels of nitrogen. Current Journal of Applied Science and Technology, 37(1), 1–7.

Bhattacharya, U., Sarkar, S., & Dewanjee, S. (2019). Bio-efficacy evaluation of oxyfluorfen 23.5% EC for controlling weeds in potato crop. Journal of Crop and Weed, 15(3), 201–208.

Maitra, S., Hossain, A., Brestic, M., Skalicky, M., Ondrisik, P., Gitari, H., Brahmachari, K., Shankar, T., Bhadra, P., Palai, J. B., Jena, J., Bhattacharya, U., Duvvada, S. K., Lalichetti, S., & Sairam, M. (2021). Intercropping—A low input agricultural strategy for food and environmental security. Agronomy, 11(2), 1–28.

Bhattacharya, U., Naskar, M. K., Venugopalan, V. K., Sarkar, S., Bandopadhyay, P., Maitra, S., Gaber, A., Alsuhaibani, A. M., & Hossain, A. (2023). Implications of minimum tillage and integrated nutrient management on yield and soil health of rice-lentil cropping system – being a resource conservation technology. Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems, 7, Article 1225986.

Kpanoga Kolombia | Forestry Economics | Best Researcher Award

Published on by Plant Scientist

Assist. Prof. Dr. Kpanoga Kolombia | Forestry Economics | Best Researcher Award

University of Alberta | Canada

Kpanoga Kolombia is a Development Economist specializing in renewable energy, environmental and natural resource economics, with over five years of academic and policy research experience across Canada, France, Germany, and West Africa. He holds a Ph.D. in Economics from the University of Sherbrooke, with a focus on non-market valuation and climate economics, and advanced degrees from Aix-Marseille University and the University of Lome. His work includes extensive empirical research on willingness to pay for carbon emission reduction, forest restoration, and ecosystem services in Quebec and Togo. Currently, he is an Assistant Teaching Professor at the University of Alberta, a lecturer at ENAP, and a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Quebec in Outaouais. His research interests span development economics, climate change, forest economics, and public policy. Kolombia has published in peer-reviewed journals like the African Journal of Ecology, and has several articles under review in journals including Ecological Economics and Plos One. He has received multiple scholarships including the Mitacs, FRQ, and Affaires Mondiales Canada Fellowships. Kolombia continues to advance inclusive and evidence-based environmental policy through interdisciplinary and applied economic research.

Profile:  Orcid

Featured Publications

Kolombia, K., & Yovo, K. (2025). Willingness to pay for forest restoration in Togo: Comparison of estimates from choice experiment, contingent valuation and travel cost methods. African Journal of Ecology. https://doi.org/10.1111/aje.70102

Kolombia, K. (2024). Economic evaluation of Mont-Bellevue Park in Sherbrooke using the individual travel cost method. Manuscript submitted for publication, Discover Cities.

Kolombia, K. (2024). Effect of policy consequentiality on willingness to pay for renewable energy in transport in Quebec. Manuscript submitted for publication, Journal of Cultural Economics.

Dupras, J., & Kolombia, K. (2024). Willingness to pay for the forestation of agricultural coulees: A choice experiment and contingent valuation study in Quebec. Manuscript submitted for publication, PLOS ONE.

Kolombia, K. (2024). Willingness to pay for renewable energy: A choice experiment and contingent valuation study in Quebec. Manuscript submitted for publication, Ecological Economics.

Atikilt Alemayehu | Sustainable Agriculture | Best Researcher Award

Published on by Plant Scientist

Mr. Atikilt Alemayehu | Sustainable Agriculture | Best Researcher Award

Agricultural research | Ethiopia

Atikilt Abera Alemayehu is a soil and water conservation researcher at the Amhara Agricultural Research Institute (ARARI), Gondar, Ethiopia, with extensive expertise in watershed management, soil erosion control, hydrological modeling, and sustainable land use practices. He earned his M.Sc. in Soil and Water Conservation Engineering from Hawassa University and his B.Sc. in Natural Resources Management from Bahir Dar University. His research addresses critical challenges in soil and water resource management, including sediment yield reduction, carbon sequestration, agroforestry interventions, runoff and moisture measurement, and geospatial modeling using tools such as GIS, RS, SWAT, and InVEST. Atikilt has authored more than 4 scientific documents, published in peer-reviewed journals such as Environmental Challenges, Journal of Soils and Sediments, Journal of Agriculture and Food Research, and Turkish Journal of Agriculture – Food Science and Technology. His academic contributions have earned him over 37 citations, with an h-index of 3. In addition to publishing, he has presented at national and international conferences, trained stakeholders, and coordinated research projects that bridge science and practice. Committed to advancing sustainable agriculture and environmental resilience, his work continues to make significant impacts on soil and water conservation in Ethiopia and beyond.

Profiles: Scopus | Orcid

Featured Publications

Alemayehu, A. A., Desalegn, M., & Hunie, M. (2024). Introduction of a siphon pump for large-scale irrigation in East Belesa district, Ethiopia. International Journal on Food, Agriculture and Natural Resources.

Alemayehu, A. A., Getu, L. A., Addis, H. K., Samuel, T., Ayalew, B., Addis, A., Feyisa, T., Hunie, M., Getu, E., Adane, M., et al. (2024). Spatial assessment of soil resources on different land uses and slope gradient as a planning tool in Ferenjua watershed, Ethiopia. Environmental Challenges.

Alemayehu, A. A., Getu, L. A., Samual, T., Ayalew, B., Addis, H. K., Feyisa, T., Worku, T., Tahir, M., & Getu, E. (2023). Effects of tillage practices and planting techniques on crop yield and soil properties in northwestern lowlands of Ethiopia. Journal of Agriculture and Food Research.

Addis, H. K., Ayalew, B., Gebretsadik, M., Abera, A., Getu, L. A., & Addis, A. K. (2023). Cross-correlation of soil moisture and stone content and their spatial pattern across the different slope aspects and soil depth. Turkish Journal of Agriculture – Food Science and Technology.

Alemayehu, A. A., Muluneh, A., Moges, A., & Kendie, H. (2020). Estimation of sediment yield and effectiveness of level stone bunds to reduce sediment loss in the Gumara-Maksegnit watershed, Nile Basin, Ethiopia. Journal of Soils and Sediments.

Jean-Baptiste Thomas | Climate Change | Best Researcher Award

Published on by Plant Scientist

Dr. Jean-Baptiste Thomas | Climate Change | Best Researcher Award

KTH Royal Institute of Technology | Sweden

Dr. Jean-Baptiste E. Thomas is a bilingual and multinational researcher with expertise spanning France, the UK, the USA, and Sweden, specializing in industrial ecology, marine sustainability, and the blue bioeconomy. He earned a PhD in Industrial Ecology from KTH Stockholm in 2018, following an MSc in Sustainable Technology and a BSc in Geography from King’s College London. With a strong academic and professional trajectory, he has worked as a postdoctoral researcher at Kristineberg Marine Research Station and currently serves as a Researcher at KTH Stockholm, while also engaging in consultancy for life cycle and sustainability assessments. His research primarily addresses seaweed aquaculture, circular economy applications, nutrient loop closure, and environmental life cycle analysis. Dr. Thomas has published extensively in high-impact journals, achieving an h-index of 15 with over 24 peer-reviewed documents and more than 562 citations (Scopus). He has been invited as keynote and plenary speaker at major international conferences, including the International Seaweed Symposium (2025), and has led and co-led several Formas and EU-funded projects. Passionately involved in teaching and supervising students, he actively integrates sustainability and biodiversity into education. His contributions continue to shape sustainable marine biomass utilization, with global recognition as a leading voice in blue bioeconomy research.

Profiles: Scopus | Google Scholar | Orcid

Featured Publications

“Exploring the contribution of multi-use approach in fostering local blue economy: Insights from the Global South”

“Integrating biodiversity impacts into seafood life cycle assessments: pathways for improvement”

“Governance hurdles for expansion of low trophic mariculture production in Sweden”

“Life cycle environmental impacts of kelp aquaculture through harmonized recalculation of inventory data”

“Two decades of research on ocean multi-use: achievements, challenges and the need for transdisciplinarity”

“Life Cycle Assessment of a large commercial kelp farm in Shandong, China”

“Comparative life cycle assessment of conventional and novel microalgae production systems and environmental impact mitigation in urban-industrial symbiosis”