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

Milena Hristozova | Radio Ecology | Women Researcher Award

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Assist. Prof. Dr. Milena Hristozova | Radio Ecology | Women Researcher Award

Institute of Soil Science, Agrotechnologies and Plant Protection “Nikola Poushkarov” | Bulgaria

Dr. Milena Hristova Hristozova is a Bulgarian scientist specializing in radiobiology, radioecology, and environmental protection. She earned her Ph.D. in 2014 from the Military Medical Academy, Sofia, with research focused on radiobiological and radioecological studies of the flora and fauna of Livingston Island, Antarctica. She also holds master’s degrees from the University of Plovdiv “Paisii Hilendarski” and the University of Veliko Tarnovo “St. St. Cyril and Methodius.” Dr. Hristozova currently serves at the Institute of Soil Science, Agrotechnology and Plant Protection “Nikola Poushkarov,” Sofia, where she works in the Laboratory of Radioecology and Radioisotope Research. Her work involves the assessment of environmental contamination by radionuclides and radioecological monitoring of soil, water, and food systems. Previously, she worked for over 15 years at the Military Medical Academy, contributing to research on radiation protection and low-dose exposure effects. She has also participated in research expeditions to Antarctica and international collaborations with institutions in Japan, Austria, and the Czech Republic. Dr. Hristozova has published over 35 scientific papers and conference proceedings, with an h-index of 1, more than 23 citations, and over 7 documented research outputs across scientific databases. Her research interests include low-dose radiation effects, environmental radioactivity, and Antarctic ecosystems. She continues to advance sustainable approaches to radiological safety and environmental protection.

Profile: Scopus

Featured Publications

Hristozova, M., Botev, I., Kalchev, R., & Naidenow, W. (2004). Composition and temporal changes of zooplankton in high mountain lakes in the Rila Mountains (Southwestern Bulgaria). Acta Zoologica Bulgarica.

Kalchev, R., Botev, I., & Hristozova, M. (2004). Ecological relations and temporal changes in the pelagial of the high mountain lakes in the Rila Mountains (Bulgaria). Journal of Limnology.

Alyakov, M., Petrunov, P., Kindekov, I., Donchev, R., Jelev, J., & Hristozova, M. (2006). Possibilities for treatment of the radiation injuries through helping of the post-irradiation repair. Military Medicine.

Kindekov, I., Vassilieva, V., Alyakov, M., Nikolova, P., Petrunov, P., Jelev, J., Donchev, R., & Hristozova, M. (2006). Bio-stimulators can enhance the radioresistance of the organism (experimental study). In Public Health and Health Care in Greece and Bulgaria.

Pejchal, J., Vasilieva, V., Hristozova, M., et al. (2011). Cytokinesis-block micronucleus (CBMN) assay/CBMN cytome assay in human lymphocytes after in vitro irradiation and its use in biodosimetry. Military Medical Science Letters (Vojenské Zdravotnické Listy).

Shivshankar Gunjegaonkar | Plant Hormones | Best Researcher Award

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Dr. Shivshankar Gunjegaonkar | Plant Hormones | Best Researcher Award

ASPM’s K. T. Patil College of Pharmacy | India

Dr. Gunjegaonkar Shivshankar M. is an accomplished academician and researcher in Pharmacology with over 15 years of experience, including 1.5 years in industry and more than 13 years in academia. He currently serves as Associate Professor at ASPM’s K. T. Patil College of Pharmacy, Osmanabad, and has previously held leadership roles as HOD, NAAC Coordinator, IQAC Coordinator, and Academic Audit Coordinator across reputed pharmacy institutions. He earned his Ph.D. in Pharmacology from Vels University, Chennai, M. Pharm. from Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences, Bangalore, and B. Pharm. from Pune University. His research interests focus on pharmacological evaluation of medicinal plants, methyl jasmonate mechanisms, immunotherapy, and experimental pharmacology. Dr. Shivshankar has contributed significantly to research with 35 publications, 3 books, 5 book chapters, and 3 patents. His work has received 55 citations, an h-index of 5, and 11 Scopus-indexed documents. He has guided more than 70 students, delivered talks, and served as editorial board member for reputed journals. With 18 awards, including the Research Excellence Award (2022) and multiple recognitions for teaching and peer reviewing, Dr. Shivshankar continues to contribute actively to pharmaceutical education and research, striving to bridge traditional knowledge with modern drug discovery.

Profiles: Scopus | Google Scholar | Orcid

Featured Publications

Gunjegaonkar, S. M., Sasane, D. R., Shaikh, S. A., Joshi, A. A., & Sapkale, G. N. (2024). Cefotaxime-induced allergic reaction in a 4 years old boy: Case presentation and management strategies. Indian Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology.

Gunjegaonkar, S. M., Nargund, S. L., Joshi, A. A., & Bhalerao, A. V. (2023). Hinokitiol attenuates LPS-induced arthritic inflammation: A preclinical perspective. In Computational intelligence for clinical diagnosis (pp. 545–561).

Gunjegaonkar, S. M., Khakal, V. R., Joshi, A. A., Nargund, S. L., Shinde, S. D., & Khan, N. S. (2022). Cardio-protective effect of Cocculus hirsutus in experimental hypertension in rats. Journal of Ayurveda and Integrative Medicine,

Shinde, S. D., Jain, P. G., Cheke, R. S., Surana, S. J., & Gunjegaonkar, S. M. (2021). Abrogation of cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity in rats and HEK-293 cell lines by formononetin: In vivo and in vitro study. Comparative Clinical Pathology.

Gunjegaonkar, S. M., Wankhede, S. B., Shanmugarajan, T. S., & Shinde, S. D. (2020). Bioactive role of plant stress hormone methyl jasmonate against lipopolysaccharide induced arthritis. Heliyon.