Frienson Pradhan | Invasive Plant Species | Young Researcher Award

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Mr. Frienson Pradhan | Invasive Plant Species | Young Researcher Award

Kathmandu University | Nepal

Frienson Pradhan is a biotechnology undergraduate at Kathmandu University with strong training in molecular biology, microbiology, and sustainable biotechnology. His academic and research experience includes molecular diagnostics, miRNA biomarker analysis in dengue infection, phytochemical extraction, bio-pesticidal research, and nature-based enterprise projects. He has gained hands-on exposure through internships in clinical data analysis, immunological techniques, and biotechnology product development. Actively engaged in science communication and mentoring, he has represented Nepal at international research platforms. Frienson is a DAAD-funded global award recipient, winner of Falling Walls Lab Nepal, and an Asian Scientist 100 Honoree, aspiring to bridge scientific research with societal impact.

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Featured Publications

Paloma Moncalean | Plant Biotechnology | Excellence in Plant Research

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Dr. Paloma Moncalean | Plant Biotechnology | Excellence in Plant Research

NEIKER | Spain

Dr. Paloma Moncaleán Guillén is a leading plant biotechnologist specializing in in vitro tissue culture, somatic embryogenesis, and forest biotechnology, with an extensive research career at NEIKER-BRTA, where she currently serves as Principal Investigator. She holds a PhD in Biological Sciences (Premio Extraordinario, 2000) from the University of Oviedo, where she also obtained her Licenciatura in Biological Sciences. Dr. Moncaleán pioneered the in vitro culture and plant physiology research line at NEIKER, developing advanced protocols for somatic embryogenesis and organogenesis in Pinus species, alongside molecular, physiological, and morphological marker applications in juvenile and mature tissues. Her current work focuses on epigenetic modulation under abiotic stress to enhance stress tolerance in somatic plants. She has accumulating an estimated h-index of 22, over 1421 citations, and more than 73 research documents. Dr. Moncaleán has led competitive national and international projects, contributed to major technology-transfer initiatives in Spain, Chile, and Argentina, and serves on editorial boards of top journals including Frontiers in Plant Science, PLANTS, FORESTS, and Plant Cell Tissue and Organ Culture. Recognized for her leadership, she coordinates the IUFRO Unit 2.09.02 and continues advancing forest biotechnology for sustainable and resilient forestry systems.

Profiles: Scopus | Orcid

Featured Publications

Hurtado, M., Suarez-Álvarez, S., Castander-Olarieta, A., Montalbán, I. A., Goicoechea, P. G., López de Heredia, U., Marino, D., & Moncaleán, P. (2025). Physiological and molecular response to drought in somatic plants from Pinus radiata embryonal masses induced at high temperatures. Plant Physiology and Biochemistry.

Ochatt, S. J., Akin, M., Chan, M. T., Dolgov, S. V., Eimert, K., Flachowsky, H., Guo, W. W., Jiménez, V. M., Lambardi, M., Moncaleán, P., et al. (2025). Research is rendering the recalcitrant woody plants amenable to biotechnological approaches. Plant Cell, Tissue and Organ Culture.

Montalbán, I. A., Castander-Olarieta, A., Marques do Nascimento, A. M., Suárez-Álvarez, S., Herrán, A., Polesi, L. G., Back, F., Steiner, N., Guerra, M. P., & Moncaleán, P. (2024). Genetic stability, amino acid, and polyamine profile analyses in radiata pine somatic embryos maturated at high temperatures. Plant Cell, Tissue and Organ Culture.

Montalbán, I. A., Castander-Olarieta, A., Marques do Nascimento, A. M., Suárez-Álvarez, S., Herrán, A., Polesi, L. G., Steiner, N., Guerra, M. P., & Moncaleán, P. (2023). Genetic stability, amino acid and polyamine profile analyses in radiata pine somatic embryos maturated at high temperatures.

Ayala, L. P. E., Luna, C. V., Brugnoli, E. A., Espasandin, F. D., Duarte, M. J., González, A. M., Gauchat, M. E., Moncaleán Guillén, P., & Sansberro, P. A. (2023). Cryopreservation of mature zygotic embryos, shoot bud regeneration, and field establishment of Pinus elliottii var. elliottii × Pinus caribaea var. hondurensis in vitro-derived plants. Trees.

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