Marina Lopez Pozo | Plant Stress Physiology | Research Excellence Award

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Dr. Marina Lopez Pozo | Plant Stress Physiology | Research Excellence Award

University of Colorado, Boulder | Spain

Dr. Marina López-Pozo is a plant ecophysiologist with a PhD in Environmental Agrobiology and over a decade of international research experience spanning Europe, the United States, and extreme environments including Antarctica. Her work integrates plant stress physiology, photosynthesis, controlled-environment agriculture, and space crop science, with leadership roles in NASA- and DOE-funded projects. She has contributed to innovative research on duckweed, plant–microbe interactions, and sustainable food systems for space and Earth. Dr. López-Pozo is an accomplished author in high-impact journals, an expert evaluator and editor, a dedicated mentor, and a recognized contributor to advancing resilient, future-ready agriculture.

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Sozan Elabeid | Plant Pathology | Excellence in Crop Improvement

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 Assoc. Prof. Dr. Sozan Elabeid | Plant Pathology | Excellence in Crop Improvement

Agricultural Research Center | Egypt

Sozan E. El-Abeid is a Senior Researcher in the Mycology and Disease Survey Research Department at the Plant Pathology Research Institute, Agricultural Research Center, Egypt. She has developed her scientific career through progressive research positions at ARC, supported by international postdoctoral training at the Spanish National Research Council . With more than two decades of research experience, her work focuses on plant disease diagnosis, fungal taxonomy, and molecular identification of plant pathogens, contributing to improved diagnostic and management strategies. Her research interests include fungal endophytes, biological control agents, green and biogenic nanomaterials, nano-enabled delivery systems, and biosafety and environmental health in agriculture. She has authored over 30 peer-reviewed JCR-indexed scientific publications, achieving an h-index of 9 with 378 total citations, reflecting the impact of her research within the plant pathology and agricultural biotechnology fields. She has supervised postgraduate research, acted as a scientific reviewer for leading international journals, and participated in several national and international research projects addressing quarantine pathogens, regenerative agriculture, nanotechnology, and sustainable crop protection. Her research aims to advance environmentally safe and innovative approaches for integrated plant disease management, supporting sustainable and resilient agricultural production systems.

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Naser Safaie | Plant Pathology | Research Excellence Award

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Assoc. Prof. Dr. Naser Safaie | Plant Pathology | Research Excellence Award

Tarbiat Modares University | Iran

Naser Safaie is a distinguished plant pathologist and mycologist whose academic journey began with a B.Sc. in Plant Protection from Isfahan University of Technology, followed by an M.Sc. in Plant Pathology from Chamran University, and culminating in a Ph.D. in Plant Pathology–Mycology from Tarbiat Modares University. Over more than three decades, he has developed deep expertise in the biological control of phytopathogenic fungi using microbial antagonists, molecular diagnostics, fungal taxonomy, bioformulation of biocontrol products, and plant–microbe interaction studies. As a seasoned professor and long-time department head at the Faculty of Agriculture, Tarbiat Modares University, he has led numerous high-impact research projects spanning fungal pathogen epidemiology, stress tolerance via endophytes, biofertilizers, and cold-plasma applications in agriculture. Recognized for his leadership roles (including editorial responsibilities and presidency of the Iranian Society of Plant Pathology), he has mentored generations of students and spearheaded the translation of lab innovations into practical biocontrol and biofertilizer products. His work bridges fundamental science and agricultural application, contributing to sustainable crop protection and biotechnology development.

Profiles: Scopus | Google Scholar | Orcid

Featured Publications

Najafi, M. R., Kordrostami, M., Aghajani, M. A., Safaie, N., & Rahmanpour, S. (2025, October 7). Multilayer perceptron neural network–genetic algorithm for modeling Nicotiana tabacum leaf quality. PLOS One.

Jahedi, A., Safaie, N., Goltapeh, E. M., & Ahmadifar, S. (2024). Auricularia (wood ear mushroom) genus: A contribution to classification and new species records for Iran and world. Plant and Fungal Systematics.

Rahimi-Soujeh, Z., Safaie, N., Moradi, S., Abbod, M., Sharifi, R., Mojerlou, S., & Mokhtassi-Bidgoli, A. (2024, October). New binary mixtures of fungicides against Macrophomina phaseolina: Machine learning-driven QSAR, read-across prediction, and molecular dynamics simulation. Chemosphere.

Abbod, M., Safaie, N., & Gholivand, K. (2024, August). Genetic algorithm multiple linear regression and machine learning-driven QSTR modeling for the acute toxicity of sterol biosynthesis inhibitor fungicides. Heliyon.

Hussein, S. N., Safaie, N., Shams-bakhsh, M., & Al-Juboory, H. H. (2024, August). Harnessing rhizobacteria: Isolation, identification, and antifungal potential against soil pathogens. Heliyon,

Li Sui | Fungal Ecology | Research Excellence Award

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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,

Jing Guo | Plant Ecology | Excellence in Plant Ecology

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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

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

Shabeer Ahmad Dar | Plant Biotechnology | Best Researcher Award

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Dr. Shabeer Ahmad Dar | Plant Biotechnology | Best Researcher Award

CSIR-IIIM | India

Dr. Shabeer Ahmad Dar is an accomplished plant biotechnologist with a Ph.D. in Plant Tissue Culture and Mutagenesis from the University of Kashmir, India, and currently serves as a Research Associate focusing on tissue culture, mutagenesis, and genetic transformation for improving medicinal and ornamental plants. With experience as a contractual lecturer and assistant professor, he has led and contributed to multiple projects in micropropagation, in vitro mutagenesis, secondary metabolite production, and plant conservation biology. His work has resulted in several high-impact journal publications, including studies on Atropa acuminata (In Vitro Cellular & Developmental Biology – Plant), callus induction, antioxidant profiling, and ethnomedicinal surveys. He has accumulated about 58 citations and holds an h-index of 3. He earned a Young Scientist Award in Plant Sciences in 2022. His research interests lie at the interface of plant biotechnology, synthetic biology, stress physiology, mutagenesis, and conservation of endangered medicinal germplasm. He also mentors junior researchers and promotes collaborative, interdisciplinary research. In future, he aims to expand transgenic approaches, metabolic engineering, and sustainable production of bioactive compounds while continuing efforts in plant conservation and capacity building in biotechnology.

Profile: Scopus

Featured Publications

Dar, S. A., Nawchoo, I. A., Tyub, S., & Kamili, A. N. (2022). In vitro culture and biochemical and antioxidant potential of the critically endangered medicinal plant Atropa acuminata Royle ex Lindl of Kashmir Himalaya. In Vitro Cellular & Developmental Biology – Plant.

Dar, S. A., Nawchoo, I. A., Tyub, S., & Kamili, A. N. (2021). Effect of plant growth regulators on in vitro induction and maintenance of callus from leaf and root explants of Atropa acuminata Royle ex Lindl. Biotechnology Reports, 31, e00688.

Dar, S. A., Gulzar, N., Lone, I. M., & Mohammad, H. B. (2020). Ethnomedicinal plants used by tribal community of district Pulwama with special reference to Tehsil Tral, Jammu and Kashmir–India. International Research Journal of Plant Sciences, 11(1), 1–10. https://doi.org/10.14303/irjps.2020.005

Dar, S. A., Nawchoo, I. A., Tyub, S., & Kamili, A. N. (2021). An updated overview of Atropa acuminata Royle ex Lindl: A critically endangered medicinal plant of Kashmir Himalaya. Research and Reviews: Journal of Botanical Sciences.

Dar, S. A., Nawchoo, I. A., Tyub, S., & Kamili, A. N. (2020). Plant cell cultures: Important methods for production of secondary metabolites. Journal of Research and Development.

Faizah Urooj | Plant Pathology | Best Researcher Award

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Dr. Faizah Urooj | Plant Pathology | Best Researcher Award

Department of botany | Pakistan

Dr. Faizah Urooj is a plant pathology researcher with an h-index of 10, 220 total citations, and over 17documents indexed in Scopus. She earned her M.Phil/Ph.D. in Plant Pathology from the University of Karachi (2012–2019), focusing on biocontrol potential of endophytic Penicillium spp. against root-rotting fungi and root-knot nematodes, and holds a B.S. (4-year) in Botany (2011) where she studied lead effects on seed germination. Currently, she is a Teaching Associate (since June 2025) in the Department of Botany, University of Karachi, after serving as Visiting Assistant Professor (Feb–Jun 2025) at the same institution, as well as previously (Jan–Jun 2022) at Federal Urdu University, and as an Assistant Professor / IPFP-Fellow (Dec 2020–Dec 2021). She is Associate Editor of the Journal of Sustainable Earth Management (JSEM). Her research interests include plant–microbe interactions, endophytic fungi, seaweed biostimulants, systemic resistance induction, molecular profiling (GC-MS, gene expression), and biological disease control. She has secured funding as Principal Investigator for an HEC-SRGP project on sunflower systemic resistance enhancement via fungi and seaweed. She has completed training such as the National Faculty Development Program (2020) and Project Management fundamentals (2021). Her contributions earned recognition in national capacity-building programs. In conclusion, Dr. Urooj is an active researcher and educator advancing sustainable phytopathology and biocontrol strategies in Pakistan.

Profile: Scopus

Featured Publications

Urooj, F., Azam, M., Riaz, S., Farhat, H., & Sohail, N. (2025). Elucidation of the anti-phytopathogenic and hepatoprotective potentials of Halimeda tuna*: A comprehensive phytochemical assessment using GC–MS profiling with emphasis on its bioefficacy against root rot disease.

Urooj, F., Riaz, S., Ummulbaneen, Nawaz, F. M., & Gul, S. (2025). Carbon sequestration potential of woody vegetation in public institutions: A case study of University of Karachi, Karachi, Pakistan. Global NEST Journal.

Urooj, F., Farhat, H., & Riaz, S. (2025). Biocontrol potential of endophytic fungi and seaweed (Padina pavonica) against root rotting fungi in sunflower. Journal of Horticultural Science and Technology.

Urooj, F., Farhat, H., Riaz, S., Azam, M., & Sohail, N. (2025). Evaluation of combined application of endophytic fungi and Melanothamnus afaqhussaini against phytopathogens in Helianthus annuus L. In M. F. Nawaz, S. Gul, & Z. S. Siddiqui (Eds.), Climate change mitigation and environmental amelioration through plants and other sustainable practices.

Urooj, F., Farhat, H., Riaz, S., & Azam, M. (2024). Combined role of endophytic fungi and seaweeds in induction of systemic resistance in sunflower against root rotting fungi, and GC–MS profiling of mycelium of Penicillium citrinum. Pakistan Journal of Botany.

Azime Gökçe | Plant Physiology | Best Researcher Award

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Dr. Azime Gökçe | Plant Physiology | Best Researcher Award

Ege University, Faculty of Science, Department of Biology | Turkey

Dr. Azime Gökçe is a Postdoctoral Researcher at Ege University, Türkiye, specializing in plant physiology and stress biology. She received her Ph.D. in Plant Physiology in 2023 and currently holds a TÜBİTAK 2218 Postdoctoral Research Fellowship. Her research integrates molecular, biochemical, and physiological approaches to understand plant responses to abiotic stress, with a particular focus on redox homeostasis, ROS–RNS signalling, glutamate receptor-like (GLR) genes, nitric oxide pathways, and antioxidant defense mechanisms. Dr. Gökçe has published impactful studies in journals such as Plant Cell Reports, Plant Physiology and Biochemistry, Plant Growth Regulation, and Journal of Plant Research. She has led and contributed to multiple national and international projects funded by TÜBİTAK and collaborated with institutions including Syngenta and the Olive Research Institute. Her work also explores seed priming and biostimulant strategies to improve crop resilience under salinity, drought, and biotic stresses. With active roles as a reviewer and editorial board member, she contributes to scientific knowledge dissemination. As an early-career researcher, she has established herself as a promising scientist in plant stress physiology, aiming to translate fundamental discoveries into agricultural sustainability solutions.

Profile: Google Scholar

Featured Publications

Sekmen Çetinel, A. H., Gokce, A., Erdik, E., Cetinel, B., & Cetinkaya, N. (2021). The effect of Trichoderma citrinoviride treatment under salinity combined with Rhizoctonia solani infection in strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa Duch.). Agronomy.

Gokce, A., Sekmen Çetinel, A. H., & Turkan, I. (2024). Involvement of GLR-mediated nitric oxide effects on ROS metabolism in Arabidopsis plants under salt stress. Journal of Plant Research.

Sekmen Çetinel, A. H., Yalcinkaya, T., Akyol, T. Y., Gokce, A., & Turkan, I. (2021). Pretreatment of seeds with hydrogen peroxide improves deep-sowing tolerance of wheat seedlings. Plant Physiology and Biochemistry.

Gokce, A., Sekmen Çetinel, A. H., & Turkan, I. (2024). Carnitine modulates antioxidative defense in ABI2 mutant under salt stress. Plant Growth Regulation.

Sekmen Çetinel, A. H., Çetinel, B., Gokce, A., Tatli, C., & Erdik, E. (2022). Molecular mechanisms–relayed plant defense responses against fungal pathogens. In Phytomycology and Molecular Biology of Plant–Pathogen Interactions.

Rehab Ghareeb farrag | Plant Pathology | Women Researcher Award

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Assoc. Prof. Dr. Rehab Ghareeb Farrag | Plant Pathology | Women Researcher Award

City of Scientific Research and Technological Application | Egypt

Dr. Rehab Yassin Ahmed Ghareeb is an Associate Professor at the Plant Protection and Biomolecular Diagnosis Department, Arid Lands Cultivation Research Institute, City of Scientific Research and Technological Applications, Egypt, with a distinguished research career in plant protection and nematology. She earned her BSc (2002), MSc (2008), and PhD (2015) in Plant Pathology from Alexandria University, where she developed a strong foundation in molecular genetics, plant–nematode interactions, and advanced diagnostic tools. Her expertise encompasses plant-pathogenic nematodes, gene silencing, biosensors, bio-pesticides, green nanotechnology applications, and sustainable pest management. With 48 publications indexed in international journals, an h-index of 21, over 1149 citations, and one granted patent in eco-friendly technology, she has significantly advanced molecular and eco-friendly approaches for controlling nematode diseases. Dr. Ghareeb has successfully led national and international collaborations, including research projects in China and Chile, and serves as an editor and peer-reviewer for leading journals such as Springer Nature, Frontiers in Plant Science, and MDPI. She is an active member of professional societies, including ASPP and IASR, and a founding committee member of the World Association of Scientists and Inventors. Her contributions continue to shape sustainable agriculture and innovative plant health solutions globally.

Profiles: Scopus | Google Scholar 

Featured Publications

“Mulberry based zinc nano-particles mitigate salinity induced toxic effects and improve the grain yield and zinc bio-fortification of wheat by improving antioxidant activities …”

“Co-application of organic amendments and inorganic P increase maize growth and soil carbon, phosphorus availability in calcareous soil”

“The nematicidal potentiality of some algal extracts and their role in enhancement the tomato defense genes against root knot-nematodes”

“The potential of endophytic fungi as bio-control agents against the cotton leafworm, Spodoptera littoralis (Boisd.) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)”

“Genotoxicity assessment of amino zinc nanoparticles in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) as cytogenetical perspective”

“Zinc Nutrition Responses to Agronomic and Yield Traits, Kernel Quality, and Pollen Viability in Rice (Oryza sativa L.)”