Sito-obong Udofia | Plant Ecology | Research Excellence Award

Ms. Sito-obong Udofia | Plant Ecology | Research Excellence Award

Hartpury University | United Kingdom

Ms. Sito-Obong Udofia is a university lecturer, researcher, and PhD candidate in Agriculture with a strong background in crop science, plant protection, and soil–plant monitoring. She holds advanced degrees in Crop Science and Agricultural Science and is currently pursuing doctoral research focused on vegetation cover and farmland sustainability. Her academic experience includes university teaching, student supervision, curriculum delivery, and international research collaboration. Her research interests span plant and soil monitoring, sustainable agriculture, crop protection, data analysis, and advanced sensing technologies. She has received competitive international scholarships, fellowships, and academic awards. Her work reflects a commitment to research-driven solutions, education, inclusivity, and sustainable agricultural development.

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Featured Publications

Jianglong Li | Plant Physiology | Research Excellence Award

Mr. Jianglong Li | Plant Physiology | Research Excellence Award

College of Horticulture, South China Agricultural University | China

Li Jianglong is a promising early-career researcher currently completing his B.Eng. in Facility Agriculture Science and Engineering at South China Agricultural University. His academic training emphasizes greenhouse cultivation, soilless cultivation, plant physiology, and environmental control technologies in horticulture. He has already published one first-author peer-reviewed paper in the journal Horticulturae, titled “Light-Nutrient Optimization Enhances Cherry Tomato Yield and Quality in Greenhouses”; to date (December 2025). His research interests focus on nutrient optimization strategies, precision hydroponic management, greenhouse seedling production, and sustainable facility agriculture for high-quality horticultural crops. Beyond the lab, he led a provincially funded undergraduate innovation project exploring bioactive compounds in colorful cherry tomatoes and their precise nutrient-solution management, and he captained a “Maker Cup” innovation competition project on multi-target regulation of cherry-tomato sub-health ecosystems. He has earned multiple awards in provincial English writing contests, university-level competitions, and national scholarships, demonstrating both academic versatility and communication skills. Committed, hardworking, and team-oriented, he aspires to contribute to sustainable horticultural production and crop quality improvement through integrated greenhouse technologies.

Profile: Orcid

Featured Publication

Li, J., Xie, Z., Zhao, T., Li, H., Chen, R., Song, S., & Zhang, Y. (2025). Light–nutrient optimization enhances cherry tomato yield and quality in greenhouses. Horticulturae,

Muhammad Usman | Soil Science | Editorial Board Member

Dr. Muhammad Usman | Soil Science | Editorial Board Member

University of Agriculture Faisalabad | Pakistan

Muhammad Usman is a soil scientist and emerging environmental researcher whose work focuses on soil contamination, heavy metal dynamics, nanoparticles in agriculture, salinity tolerance, and sustainable crop production systems. He holds a PhD in Soil Science from the University of Agriculture Faisalabad, where he also earned his MSc (Hons.) and BSc (Hons.) in Agriculture with specialization in Soil Science. with publications appearing in Chemosphere, Environmental Research, Environmental Pollution, Journal of Hazardous Materials, Plants, Phyton, and Arabian Journal of Geosciences. His research contributions include investigating Cd bioavailability, biochar amendments, nano-fertilizers, salinity stress mitigation, and nutrient dynamics in major crops such as wheat, rice, maize, and lettuce. Professionally, he has served as a Teaching Assistant at the Institute of Soil and Environmental Sciences (UAF) and has industry experience as a Technical Fertilizer Advisor with FMC United Pvt. Ltd. He has attended multiple national and international trainings and received the prestigious ICOBTE-ICHMET 2023 Conference Scholarship for Junior Scientists in Germany. Usman actively contributes to scientific publishing as an editorial board member and peer reviewer. He aims to advance sustainable agriculture through innovative soil management solutions and environmentally safe technologies.

Profiles: Scopus | Orcid

Featured Publications

Shaghaleh, H., Akram, T., Zia-ur-Rehman, M., Usman, M., Alhaj Hamoud, Y., Rizwan, M., Alharby, H. F., Alamri, A. M., Alharbi, B. M., & Abdulmajeed, A. M. (2025). Acid-modified biochar mitigates salt stress in maize by enhancing nutrient availability and antioxidant defense system under variable salt-affected soils. Journal of Soil Science and Plant Nutrition.

Muhammad Zia-ur-Rehman, Usman, M., Ahmed, R., Ahmad, A., Akram, T., Maqsood, A., & Aslam, H. (2025). Precision input management for reducing resource wastage and enhancing production efficiency. Agriculture Toward Net Zero Emissions.

Ali, A. A., Lamlom, S. F., El-Sorady, G., Elmahdy, A. M., Abd Elghany, S. H., Usman, M., Alamri, A., Shaghaleh, H., Alhaj Hamoud, Y., & Abdelghany, A. M. (2024). Boosting resilience and yields in water-stressed sunflower through coordinated irrigation scheduling and silica gel applications. Heliyon,.

Alhaj Hamoud, Y., Shaghaleh, H., Zia-ur-Rehman, M., Rizwan, M., Umair, M., Usman, M., Ayub, M. A., Riaz, U., Alnusairi, G. S. H., & Alghanem, S. M. S. (2024). Cadmium and lead accumulation in important food crops due to wastewater irrigation: Pollution index and health risks assessment. Heliyon.

Alhaj Hamoud, Y., Zia-ur-Rehman, M., Kakakhel, I. A. M., Usman, M., Rizwan, M., Shaghaleh, H., Mohiuddin, G., Alzahrani, Y. M., Alharby, H. F., & Alsamadany, H. (2024). Comparative effects of micron-sized silicon sources and Si nanoparticles on growth, defense system and cadmium accumulation in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivated in Cd-contaminated soil. Environmental Technology & Innovation,

Jemuel Doctolero | Aquatic Plant Science | Young Scientist Award

Mr. Jemuel Doctolero | Aquatic Plant Science | Young Scientist Award

Purdue University | Philippines

Jemuel S. Doctolero is an academic in aquaculture and aquatic animal nutrition with growing impact. According to the AD Scientific Index, and approximately 30 citations in total. Dr. Doctolero holds a PhD in Forestry and Natural Resources, focusing on Aquaponics and Aquatic Animal Nutrition, at Purdue University, USA (2023–present) under the Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Program. He earned his MSc in Aquaculture (Fish Physiology and Nutrition) from Central Luzon State University, Philippines (2016–2018) as a DOST-ASTHRDP scholar and his BS in Fisheries (2012–2016) under the BFAR Fisherfolk Scholarship Program. Since 2018, he has been a faculty member at Central Luzon State University, teaching Fish Nutrition, Aquaculture, and Hatchery Management, while also leading the Fish Nutrition Laboratory and serving as College Secretary, Registrar, and International Affairs Coordinator. His research interests encompass aquatic animal nutrition, fish physiology, immunological and morpho-behavioral responses to stress, alternative plant-based feed ingredients, induced spawning, and aquaponics system development. Dr. Doctolero has authored and co-authored several research articles on tilapia nutrition, health, and aquaculture sustainability, and has presented his work at international conferences. Recognized for his academic excellence, he has received multiple awards including the Fulbright Scholarship, the “Completed Earlier as DOST-ASTHRDP Scholar” distinction, and various professional certifications. Overall, Dr. Doctolero exemplifies a dedicated educator and researcher whose contributions continue to advance sustainable aquaculture, aquatic food systems, and capacity-building in fisheries science.

Profile: Google Scholar

Featured Publications

Doctolero, J. S., Sotero, D. S., & Fajardo, L. J. (2022). Induced spawning of African catfish (Clarias gariepinus) using goat (Capra aegagrus hircus) and pig (Sus scrofa domesticus) pituitary extracts. Journal of Fisheries.

Doctolero, J. S., Estrella, E. S., & Vera Cruz, E. M. (2021). Influence of water immersion using guava (Psidium guajava), lemon grass (Cymbopogon citratus), and horse radish (Moringa oleifera) aqueous leaves extracts on the nursing of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus). International Journal of Zoology and Animal Biology.

Doctolero, J. S., Vera Cruz, E. M., & Velasco, R. R. (2020). Morpho-behavioral and hematological responses of vaccinated proactive and reactive Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) subjected to handling stress. Aquaculture, Aquarium, Conservation & Legislation (AACL) Bioflux.

Reyes, A. T., Balagtey, L. B., Doctolero, J. S., & Madrid, F. N. (2020). Susceptibility profiles of Enterococcus faecalis to selected antibiotics. Journal of Drug Delivery & Therapeutics.

Reyes, A. T., Doctolero, J. S., & Olaco, J. P. Q. (2020). Comparison of antibiotic susceptibility and pathogenicity of wild and serially passaged Streptococcus agalactiae to Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus L.). Acta Entomology and Zoology.

Saliha Ahmad | Plant Ecology | Best Researcher Award

Ms. Saliha Ahmad | Plant Ecology | Best Researcher Award

Case Western Reserve University | United States

Saliha Ahmad is a PhD candidate in Biology whose research focuses on plant–microbe interactions, particularly microbial community dynamics under biotic and abiotic stresses. She has an h-index of 5, with approximately 193 citations to date (Google Scholar, ResearchGate). With an MPhil and MSc in Plant Sciences (both top-grade) and a strong undergraduate foundation in chemistry, botany, and zoology, she is currently pursuing her doctoral studies at Case Western Reserve University. Her expertise spans field sampling, molecular biology techniques such as DNA/RNA extraction, sequencing, gene expression, and bioinformatics, including microbial diversity analyses and statistical modeling in R (ResearchGate). Her research interests include the influence of water and nutrient stress on beneficial microbial assembly, microbial detoxification of pesticides, soil microbiome roles in plant health, and applications for sustainable agriculture and conservation. She has contributed publications on microbial detoxification of dimethoate, heavy metal biosorption by bacteria, and the role of poultry manure in crop growth and yield (ResearchGate, American Chemical Society Publications). She has also been recognized with multiple grants and awards for research excellence, travel, and merit, highlighting her growing recognition in the field (ResearchGate). Overall, Saliha Ahmad represents an emerging scholar who integrates empirical, laboratory, and computational approaches to address pressing challenges at the interface of microbiology, ecology, and agriculture, with a steadily increasing global impact reflected in her publications and citations.

Featured Publications

“Bacillus thuringiensis PM25 ameliorates oxidative damage of salinity stress in maize via regulating growth, leaf pigments, antioxidant defense system, and stress …”

“Effects of poultry manure on the growth, physiology, yield, and yield-related traits of maize varieties”

“Microbial detoxification of dimethoate through mediated hydrolysis by Brucella sp. PS4: molecular profiling and plant growth-promoting traits”

“Dimethoate residues in Pakistan and mitigation strategies through microbial degradation: a review”
“Biosorption potential of Bacillus anthracis PM21 for the sequestration of cadmium, chromium, and nickel from contaminated water”

“Fungal communities driven by Rhododendron species correlate with pathogen protection against Phytophthora cinnamomi”