Shafeeq Rahman | Plant Molecular Biology | Best Researcher Award

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Dr. Shafeeq Rahman | Plant Molecular Biology | Best Researcher Award

United Arab Emirates University | United Arab Emirates

Shafeeq Rahman is a peer-reviewed researcher in molecular biology and plant biotechnology, with significant metrics to his name: an h-index of 6, more than 187 citations, and numerous published documents as indexed in Google Scholar. With a PhD in Biosciences and advanced studies from the University of Abertay (UK) and ICAR-CPC Research Institute, he has built over a decade of expertise in plant tissue culture, plant-microbe interactions, functional genomics, epigenetics, abiotic stress responses, and space biology. In his postdoctoral role at the ASPIRE Research Institute of Food Security in Drylands (UAE University), Shafeeq has led projects isolating native growth-promoting endophytes, characterizing stress regulatory genes in date palm, and evaluating biochemical, transcriptomic and epigenetic alterations in seeds/seedlings exposed to microgravity aboard the ISS. He has also contributed to work on gut microbiota and pathogen prevalence in ruminants. His peer-reviewed articles in journals such as BMC Plant Biology, Scientific Reports, and Phytobiomes demonstrate both depth and impact. His current research interests encompass sustainable agriculture, microbiome engineering, plant adaptation under abiotic stress, and space biology, with the goal of developing strategies to enhance plant resilience in challenging environments.

Profiles: Scopus | Google Scholar | Orcid

Featured Publications

A Pangenomic Analysis of the Diversity and Biological Functioning of the Genus Azotobacter

The Enterobacter sp. SA187 stimulates stress-responsive genes and promotes salt and heat stress tolerance in tomato plants

Colonization and endophytic establishment of diazotrophic Lysinibacillus sphaericus in Oryza sativa and its efficacy in plant growth promotion

Host Genotype and Compartment Regulate Bacterial Microbiome Composition, Assembly Pattern and Network Complexity in Three Salt Tolerant Date Palm Cultivars

Identification of Endophytic Bacterial Community Associated With Roots of Desert Vegetation.

Mahtab Shiravi | Plant Biotechnology | Best Researcher Award

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Ms. Mahtab Shiravi | Plant Biotechnology | Best Researcher Award

University of Florence | Italy

Mahtab Shiravi is a dedicated researcher in civil and environmental engineering with expertise in geotechnical engineering, earthquake engineering, and natural hazard risk assessment. Her work focuses on numerical modeling, finite element methods, and risk analysis related to wind, rain, and seismic impacts on urban infrastructure and vegetation. She has developed advanced methodologies for soil-structure and root-soil interactions, contributing to sustainable engineering solutions. Mahtab has been engaged in international collaborations in Italy and Norway, strengthening her scientific contributions in multi-risk assessment. Her strong academic background, research skills, and teaching experience reflect her commitment to advancing resilient engineering practices globally.

Author Profile

Orcid 

Education

Mahtab Shiravi is pursuing a Ph.D. in Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Florence in collaboration with the Norwegian University of Science and Technology. Her doctoral research addresses multi-risk analysis of natural hazards, particularly wind and rain effects on urban trees, combining probabilistic methods and geotechnical modeling. She completed her M.Sc. in Earthquake Engineering at Mazandaran University, where she ranked among the top students, focusing on seismic design and soil-structure interaction. Her B.Sc. in Civil Engineering provided a solid foundation in structural and geotechnical principles. Throughout her studies, she excelled in specialized courses and research-driven learning.

Professional Experience

Mahtab Shiravi has gained diverse professional and teaching experience across academic and applied engineering domains. She has contributed to projects involving geotechnical seismic zonation, railway bridge reinforcement, and fault rupture hazard mitigation in Iran. At an international level, she has worked on geotechnical modeling of soil-root interactions in Norway and advanced risk and resilience analysis in Italy. She has taught engineering courses such as earthquake engineering, strength of materials, and foundation engineering, as well as software applications like ETABS. Her professional journey combines academic teaching, applied research, and collaborative international projects, bridging theoretical advancements with practical engineering applications.

Awards and Recognition

Mahtab Shiravi has received multiple honors for her academic and research achievements. She was awarded by the Norwegian Embassy for her outstanding paper presented at the International Conference on Seismology and Earthquake Engineering. She earned the Ministry of Science, Research, and Technology fellowship for exceptional talents during her Master’s studies. Her consistent academic excellence is reflected in her ranking among the top students in both undergraduate and postgraduate programs. Beyond formal recognitions, her participation in international conferences and collaborative research projects highlights her growing reputation in the global academic community, particularly in geotechnical and earthquake engineering fields.

Research Skills

Mahtab Shiravi possesses strong research skills in advanced numerical modeling, geotechnical engineering, and multi-hazard risk analysis. She is proficient in finite element methods using Plaxis 2D/3D, and has applied probabilistic approaches to study soil-root interaction and urban vulnerability to wind and rain hazards. Her expertise extends to structural engineering software such as ETABS and SAP2000, and programming with Python for analytical modeling. She integrates remote sensing, resilience assessment, and reliability methods into her work. Through interdisciplinary collaborations, she contributes innovative frameworks to understand and mitigate the impacts of natural hazards on infrastructure, urban trees, and environmental sustainability.

Publications

Shiravi, M., Depina, F., Uzielli, M., & Bartoli, G. (2025). “A Novel Methodology for Modeling the Effects of Geometrical Uncertainties in Tree Root-Soil Geometry on Tree Uprooting.”

Shiravi, M., Depina, F., Uzielli, M., & Bartoli, G. (2025). “Numerical Geotechnical Modeling of Tree Root-Soil Interaction: An Insight into the Effects of Uncertainties in Root Geometry on Overturning Failure.”

Shiravi, M., Depina, F., Uzielli, M., & Bartoli, G. (2023). “A Quantitative Framework for Multi-Risk Analysis of Wind and Rain on Trees.”

Shiravi, M., & Moosavi, M. (2023). “Numerical Modeling of a New Mitigation Measure for Reverse Surface Fault Rupture Hazards Effects on Buildings.” Journal of Seismology and Earthquake Engineering.

Shiravi, M., & Moosavi, M. (2018). “Numerical Evaluation of Surface Fault Rupture Hazards on Buildings.” Bulletin of Earthquake Science and Engineering (BESE, Persian).

Shiravi, M., & Moosavi, M. (2018). “Seismic Response Analysis of Municipal Solid Waste Landfill in Developed Urban Areas: A Case Study in Mashhad (Iran).”

Shiravi, M., & Moosavi, M. (2015). “Shear Wave Velocity Deposit Zonation in the City of Babolsar.”

Conclusion

Mahtab Shiravi represents a new generation of engineers dedicated to addressing the challenges of natural hazards through innovative and sustainable solutions. With a strong academic foundation, international exposure, and practical teaching experience, she bridges the gap between theory and application in civil and environmental engineering. Her research on multi-risk assessment and soil-root interactions offers valuable insights for resilient infrastructure and ecological safety. Recognized for her academic excellence and scientific contributions, she continues to expand her expertise across interdisciplinary domains. Her trajectory reflects both leadership potential and a commitment to advancing engineering science for global sustainability.

Mohammad Faisal | Plant Sciences | Excellence in Plant Research

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Prof. Dr. Mohammad Faisal | Plant Sciences | Excellence in Plant Research

King Saud University | Saudi Arabia

Dr. Mohammad Faisal is a Professor of Plant Biotechnology in the Department of Botany & Microbiology, College of Science, King Saud University, Saudi Arabia. He earned his Ph.D. in Botany from Aligarh Muslim University (AMU), India, specializing in plant tissue culture and biotechnology. With postdoctoral training in Spain and India, he brings over 16 years of experience in plant biotechnology research. Dr. Faisal is renowned for his work on in vitro plant regeneration, molecular characterization, and nanoparticle-plant interactions. His academic contributions include 172 peer-reviewed publications and editorial roles in reputed journals, reflecting his leadership in sustainable plant biotechnology.

Author Profile

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Education 

Dr. Faisal holds a BSc (Hons), MSc, MPhil, and PhD in Botany from Aligarh Muslim University, India, where his research focused on plant tissue culture and biotechnology. His PhD thesis explored tissue culture and regeneration in Tylophora indica and Rauvolfia tetraphylla. He completed two postdoctoral fellowships: one at AMU under the DST Fast-track scheme, and the other at Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas (CIB), Madrid, Spain, under Spain’s Ministry of Science & Innovation. He further expanded his expertise at Kangwon National University, South Korea, focusing on advanced techniques in plant genetic engineering and in vitro systems.

Professional Experience 

Dr. Faisal currently serves as a Professor at King Saud University since August 2023, following his roles as Associate Professor (2017–2023) and Assistant Professor (2011–2017). Prior to joining KSU, he held postdoctoral fellowships at CIB Madrid and AMU, and earlier research roles as SRF and Project Fellow at AMU. He has led and participated in various national and international research projects, contributing significantly to tissue culture protocols, crop improvement, and environmental biotechnology. With over 16 years of post-PhD experience, his work bridges academic research and applied biotechnology with a global impact in plant sciences.

Awards and Recognition 

Dr. Faisal has received multiple prestigious awards, including the Excellence of Research Award (2023) by ISAHRD and the Outstanding Scientist Award (2021) by VDGOOD Professional Association. He was honored with the Plant Biotechnologist Award (2017) and the Scientist of the Year Award (2015) by SESR and the National Environmental Science Academy, respectively. He is an elected Fellow of the Linnean Society of London, UK, and SESR, and serves as an international panel expert for the Czech Academy of Sciences. His academic excellence has also been recognized through editorial appointments in journals like Plant Cell, Tissue & Organ Culture and Plant Biotechnology Reports.

Research Skills 

Dr. Faisal specializes in plant tissue culture, in vitro morphogenesis, mass propagation, and genetic transformation of economically important plant species. He employs molecular, phytochemical, and anatomical tools to characterize tissue culture-derived plantlets. His pioneering work includes synthetic seed technology for germplasm conservation and evaluating plant responses to nanoparticles. He has led multiple funded projects in environmental biotechnology and crop improvement. With 172 publications and a strong citation record, his research is both foundational and applied, addressing biodiversity conservation, sustainable agriculture, and plant-environment interactions using cutting-edge biotechnological techniques.

Conclusion 

Prof. Mohammad Faisal exemplifies leadership in plant biotechnology through his impactful research, prolific publication record, and international collaborations. His contributions span fundamental studies and applied innovations in crop improvement, plant tissue culture, and nanotechnology applications. As a research leader, he continues to shape global discourse on sustainable agriculture and germplasm preservation. Through editorial work, professional memberships, and translational research, he actively promotes scientific progress. His expertise and dedication position him as a role model and mentor in the global scientific community, making him a worthy candidate for recognition in academic excellence and plant biotechnology advancement.

Publications

Cokuraj, M., Manokari, M., Faisal, M., Alatar, A.A., & Shekhawat, M.S. (2025). Synergistic effects of growth regulators and silicon nanoparticles on enhancing morpho-structural stability in Vitex agnus-castus L. plantlets. South African Journal of Botany, 2025

Munir, M., Ahmad, K., Khan, Z.I., Akhtar, S., Nadeem, M., Ashfaq, A., Faisal, M., Alatar, A.A., Nazir, H.M., & Malik, I.S. (2025). Trophic transfer of arsenic in the food chain from selected crops grown in long-term wastewater contaminated soil. Agricultural Water Management, 2025

Manokari, M., Faisal, M., Alatar, A.A., & Shekhawat, M.S. (2025). Unveiling the stimulatory effect of silicon nanoparticles on the direct regeneration and micro-structural developments in Cadaba trifoliata (Roxb.) Wight & Arn. Environmental Science: Nano, 2025

Fazal, U., Zada, A., Hanif, M., Lee, S.Y., Faisal, M., Alatar, A.A., Sultana, T., & Sohail. (2025). Green Myco-Synthesis of Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles Using Cortinarius sp.: Hepatoprotective, Antimicrobial, and Antioxidant Potential for Biomedical Applications. Microorganisms, 2025

Manokari, M., Faisal, M., Alatar, A.A., & Shekhawat, M.S. (2024). In vitro regeneration and micro-morpho-anatomical characterization of leaves towards epiphytic adaptation in Aechmea bracteata (Sw.) Griseb. In Vitro Cellular and Developmental Biology – Plant, 2024

Mani, M., Faisal, M., Alatar, A.A., & Shekhawat, M.S. (2024). In vitro propagation and assessment of the impact of nano silicon on growth and structural developments in Neomarica longifolia (Link & Otto) Sprague (Yellow Iris). South African Journal of Botany, 2024

Muhammad Ammad Jamil | Plant Biotechnology | Young Scientist Award

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Mr. Muhammad Ammad Jamil | Plant Biotechnology | Young Scientist Award

National University of Science and Technology, Pakistan

Muhammad Ammad Jamil is a passionate and innovative Biomedical Scientist from Rawalpindi, Pakistan. With a strong foundation in molecular biology, microbiology, and nanomedicine, he has contributed significantly to cancer drug development, nanoparticle research, and diagnostic innovation. His dedication to translational research, paired with hands-on laboratory expertise, makes him a promising voice in biomedical sciences aiming to transform therapeutic approaches and healthcare delivery systems.

Author Profile

ORCID

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Scopus

🎓 Education

Muhammad holds an MS in Biomedical Sciences from the National University of Science and Technology (NUST), Islamabad, where he specialized in nanotechnology-driven cancer therapeutics. He earned his BS in Biotechnology from the International Islamic University Islamabad (IIUI), showcasing academic excellence and scientific rigor. His educational journey is rooted in a strong pre-medical background from Punjab College of Science and foundational science training at ASF Public School.

🧪 Experience

With diverse experience across academia and industry, Muhammad served as a Scientific Officer at BJ Micro Lab, conducting high-level diagnostics and molecular biology workflows including PCR, ELISA, and cell culturing. At NUST, he worked on nano-enhanced cancer therapies, while at IIUI, he contributed to biofuel research using nanoparticle-assisted processes. His hospital internships at Holy Family Hospital and Benazir Bhutto Hospital further honed his skills in clinical diagnostics and biomedical lab techniques.

🔬 Research Interests

Muhammad’s research pursuits are anchored in molecular diagnostics, cancer therapeutics, nanomedicine, and biomedical entrepreneurship. His passion lies in advancing translational biomedical research, developing novel nano-drug delivery systems, and leveraging scientific innovation for accessible and effective healthcare technologies.

🏅 Awards and Recognitions

In 2025, Muhammad was nominated for the Best Researcher Award in recognition of his groundbreaking contributions to nanomedicine, biofuel optimization, and anticancer therapeutics. His interdisciplinary impact, spanning from nanoparticle synthesis to cancer drug enhancement, has gained attention in national and international research circles.

📚 Publications

  • Title: Production and optimization study of biodiesel produced from non-edible seed oil
    Authors: MA Jamil
    Year: 2024

  • Title: Antibacterial potential of sodium alginate nanoparticles: synthesis and characterization
    Authors: S Aziz, MA Jamil
    Year: 2025

  • Title: Various prospects of biodiesel production: techniques and challenges
    Authors: MA Jamil, S Aziz, MS Khalid
    Year: 2024

  • Title: Cell Signaling and Diagnosis
    Authors: A Fatima, MA Jamil, M Azhar, AY Nadeem, A Shehzad
    Year: 2025

  • Title: Basal Cell Carcinoma
    Authors: MS Khalid, MA Jamil, A Shehzad, S Mazhar, F Hameed
    Year: 2024