Arunima Paliwal | Agronomy | Best Researcher Award

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 Dr. Arunima Paliwal | Agronomy | Best Researcher Award

VCSG Uttarakhand University of Horticulture and Forestry, India.

Dr. Arunima Paliwal is currently serving as an Assistant Professor and Junior Agronomist at the College of Forestry, V.C.S.G. Uttarakhand University of Horticulture and Forestry, Ranichauri. She holds a Ph.D. in Agronomy from G.B. Pant University of Agriculture & Technology, Pantnagar, where she also completed her B.Sc. and M.Sc. in Agriculture and Agronomy respectively. With over a decade of experience in teaching, research, and agricultural extension, Dr. Paliwal has published extensively, including 34 research papers, 3 books, and 35 book chapters. Her research focuses on crop agronomy, plant physiology, and sustainable agriculture. She has been involved in multiple funded research projects, guided postgraduate students, and contributed significantly to farmer training and technology dissemination. Dr. Paliwal has received several awards and is actively engaged with professional bodies and scientific communities

Author Profile

SCOPUS

GOOGLE SCHOLAR

Professional Experience 💼

Dr. Paliwal brings a rich and diverse professional experience to her current role. She is presently serving as an Assistant Professor and Junior Agronomist (Level 11) at the College of Forestry, V.C.S.G. Uttarakhand University of Horticulture and Forestry, Ranichauri, since March 2022. Prior to this, she held the post of Junior Agronomist (Level 10) at the same institution from March 2018 to March 2022. She has also worked as an Assistant Agriculture Officer in Ranikhet from August 2017 to March 2018. Her earlier roles include working as a Senior Research Fellow at G.B. Pant University, a Seed Production Research Officer cum Manager at Tarai Farm Seeds & Co., and as an Assistant Professor at Mewar University, Rajasthan. Across these roles, she has been actively engaged in teaching, research, extension services, and field trials.

Technical Skills 🛠️

Dr. Arunima Paliwal possesses a wide array of skills in research, teaching, extension education, and project management. She has authored 34 research papers of international and national repute, 3 books, 35 book chapters, 35 popular articles, and 10 extension-related publications. Her active engagement in the academic community is demonstrated by her membership in 9 professional bodies and her role as an editor or reviewer with 12 national and international journals and magazines. She has also served as a rapporteur in 6 national and international conferences and as a consultant with agricultural services.

Teaching Experience👨‍🏫

Dr. Arunima Paliwal brings a diverse and well-rounded technical background in agronomy, crop science, field research, and sustainable agricultural development. Her career spans over a decade with expertise in research, teaching, extension, seed technology, and institutional collaborations. Her technical experience can be detailed under the following domains:

Awards & Honors 🏅

Dr. Paliwal has been honored with 13 awards and recognitions for her contributions to the field of agronomy and agricultural sciences. These accolades reflect her commitment to academic excellence, impactful research, and professional service.

Research Interests 🔍

Her research primarily focuses on agronomic practices, crop physiology, and sustainable agriculture. Dr. Paliwal has developed 6 agricultural technologies and led or contributed to multiple research projects, including 2 ICAR-funded and 3 externally funded projects (1 completed and 2 ongoing). She has guided 6 M.Sc. students as a major advisor and has delivered 12 lectures in various training programs. Furthermore, she has organized 8 farmers’ extension training sessions and participated in 60 academic events, including conferences, seminars, and workshops. Her dedication to continuous learning is evident from her participation in 8 faculty development programs and advanced trainings.

Publications Top Notes: 📝


1.Title: Genetic variability and correlation analysis in soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merrill) genotypes
Authors: H. Guleria, P. Kumar, B. Jyoti, A. Kumar, A. Paliwal, A. Paliwal
Journal: International Journal of Chemical Studies, 7(1), 1928–1932

2. Title: Response of mustard (Brassica juncea L. Czernj. & Cosson) to potassium with other nutrients on yield and quality
Authors: P. Arunima, J.P. Singh
Journal: The Bioscan, 9(2), 649–652


3.Title: Use of microbial biostimulants in organic farming
Authors: N. Joshi, H.P. Parewa, S. Joshi, J.K. Sharma, U.N. Shukla, A. Paliwal, V. Gupta
Journal: Advances in Organic Farming, pp. 59–73


4.Title: Biotechnological and microbial standpoint cahoot in bioremediation
Authors: P. Kumar, B. Jyoti, A. Kumar, A. Paliwal
Journal: Smart Bioremediation Technologies, pp. 137–158


5. Title: Toxicity of heavy metals and its management through phytoremediation
Authors: A.P.V.P. Neeshu Joshi
Journal: Octa Journal of Environmental Research, 4(2), 168–180

Ainhoa Mielgo | Cancer-immune cell interactions | Women Researcher Award

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 Prof. Ainhoa Mielgo | Cancer-immune cell interactions | Best Researcher Award

University of Liverpool, United Kingdom.

Professor Ainhoa Mielgo is a Professor of Cancer Biology and Research Team Leader at the University of Liverpool. She earned her PhD in Cancer Biology and Immunology from the University of Basel and has held academic positions in both Europe and the United States, including at the Moores Cancer Center, UCSD. Her research focuses on the tumor microenvironment, particularly the roles of macrophages and fibroblasts in cancer progression, immune evasion, and therapy resistance. She has published extensively in high-impact journals and leads several funded research projects aimed at improving cancer treatment outcomes.

Author Profile

SCOPUS

ORCID

GOOGLE SCHOLAR

Professional Experience 💼

Currently, Professor Mielgo is a Professor in Cancer Biology and a Research Team Leader at the University of Liverpool, a position she has held since 2023. Her academic trajectory at Liverpool includes roles as Reader (2021–2023), Senior Lecturer (2016–2021), and Research Team Leader and Wellcome Trust Fellow (2013–2020). Prior to her work in the UK, she served as Junior Faculty at the Moores Cancer Center, University of California San Diego (2010–2012), and as a post-doctoral research fellow there from 2006 to 2010. Her post-doctoral career began at the University of Basel in 2005.

Technical Skills 🛠️

Professor Mielgo possesses deep expertise in cancer biology, tumor immunology, and the tumor microenvironment. She has a proven track record in leading interdisciplinary research teams, securing high-level funding, and publishing impactful studies. Her skills include advanced molecular and cellular biology techniques, in vivo cancer models, and translational cancer research.

Teaching Experience👨‍🏫

Currently, Professor Mielgo is a Professor in Cancer Biology and a Research Team Leader at the University of Liverpool, a position she has held since 2023. Her academic trajectory at Liverpool includes roles as Reader (2021–2023), Senior Lecturer (2016–2021), and Research Team Leader and Wellcome Trust Fellow (2013–2020). Prior to her work in the UK, she served as Junior Faculty at the Moores Cancer Center, University of California San Diego (2010–2012), and as a post-doctoral research fellow there from 2006 to 2010. Her post-doctoral career began at the University of Basel in 2005.

Awards & Honors 🏅

Professor Mielgo has secured significant competitive research funding. As lead principal investigator, her current support includes a CRUK Clinical Trial Award, Clatterbridge Research Funds, and multiple grants and studentships from North West Cancer Research totaling over £570,000 since 2022. Her prior awards include a prestigious Wellcome Trust Research Fellowship worth £1.05 million and additional PhD studentships and grants from North West Cancer Research.

Research Interests 🔍

Her research centers on understanding the complex interplay between cancer cells and the tumor microenvironment, with a particular focus on pancreatic and breast cancers. She investigates mechanisms of chemoresistance, immune evasion, and metastasis, especially the role of macrophages, fibroblasts, and stromal factors in tumor progression. Her recent studies explore how targeting the immune-stromal crosstalk can improve responses to cancer therapies, including immune checkpoint inhibitors and chemotherapy.

Publications Top Notes: 📝


Title: Neoadjuvant treatment versus upfront surgery in borderline resectable and resectable pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma: Meta-Analysis
Authors: L.D. Dickerson, J.A. Gittens, C. Brunning, C.M. Halloran, P. Ghaneh
Year: Not specified
Journal: Not specified


Title: Macrophages suppress CD8+ T cell cytotoxic function in triple negative breast cancer via VISTA
Authors: M. Abudula, Y. Astuti, M.L. Raymant, M.C. Schmid, A. Mielgo
Year: 2025
Journal: British Journal of Cancer


Title: Macrophage-fibroblast JAK/STAT dependent crosstalk promotes liver metastatic outgrowth in pancreatic cancer
Authors: M.L. Raymant, Y. Astuti, L. Álvaro-Espinosa, A. Mielgo, M.C. Schmid
Year: 2024
Journal: Nature Communications


Title: Expression of versican isoforms V0/V1 by pancreatic cancer associated fibroblasts increases fibroblast proliferation
Authors: S. Elhashani, M.A. Glenn, M.L. Raymant, M.C. Schmid, A. Mielgo
Year: 2024
Journal: Pancreatology

Ning Zhang | Digital Humanities | Best Researcher Award

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Assist. Prof. Dr. Ning Zhang | Digital Humanities | Best Researcher Award

Beijing Normal University at Zhuhai, China.

Dr. Ning Zhang is a Lecturer and Director at the Faculty of Sciences and Arts, Beijing Normal University. She holds a Ph.D. in Library Science from Sun Yat-sen University and specializes in digital humanities and VR applications. With over eight years of experience, her research focuses on digital storytelling in virtual reality for Chinese cultural heritage. She has led several national and provincial research projects, published over 30 academic papers, and developed award-winning VR systems for ancient literature

Author Profile

ORCID

Education 🎓

Ning Zhang holds a Ph.D. in Library Science from the School of Information Management at Sun Yat-sen University, earned between 2017 and 2021. She completed her M.Sc. in Information Management at the Information School of The University of Sheffield in the UK from 2013 to 2015. Her academic journey began with a B.A. in Library Science from the School of Public Administration at Northwest University, where she studied from 2009 to 2013.

Professional Experience 💼

Ning Zhang is currently serving as a Lecturer in the Faculty of Arts and Sciences at Beijing Normal University since May 2023. Prior to this, she held a lecturer position at the Research Center for Digital Publishing and Digital Humanities at the same university from September 2021 to April 2023. From May 2016 to September 2017, she worked as a Research Assistant to the Dean at the School of Information Management, Sun Yat-sen University. Earlier, she served as an Intelligence Engineer at the Electronic Science and Technology Information Research Institute under the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology from March 2015 to April 2016.

Technical Skills 🛠️

Ning Zhang has extensive expertise in requirement analysis, visual communication, data organization, system design, prototyping, and usability testing. Her technical skills are complemented by strong capabilities in interdisciplinary research, project management, and innovation in digital storytelling technologies.

Teaching Experience👨‍🏫

Ning Zhang is currently serving as a Lecturer in the Faculty of Arts and Sciences at Beijing Normal University since May 2023. Prior to this, she held a lecturer position at the Research Center for Digital Publishing and Digital Humanities at the same university from September 2021 to April 2023. From May 2016 to September 2017, she worked as a Research Assistant to the Dean at the School of Information Management, Sun Yat-sen University. Earlier, she served as an Intelligence Engineer at the Electronic Science and Technology Information Research Institute under the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology from March 2015 to April 2016.

Awards & Honors 🏅

Ning Zhang has been the Principal Investigator for several significant projects, including a National Social Science Foundation Youth Project, two provincial and ministerial-level research grants, and an Outstanding Young Scholar Project funded by the Fundamental Research Funds for Central Universities. She has published more than 30 papers in prestigious journals and conferences both in China and internationally, such as Library and Information Service, Library Development, Publishing Science, Science and Technology Publishing, iConference, PACIS, IADIS, and HCI. Among her innovative contributions is the development of a VR Ancient Books Indexing System and a VR Ancient Books Game Experience Application, which earned China’s first design patent for VR-based ancient literature systems.

Research Interests 🔍

Her research focuses on digital humanities, specifically the integration of virtual reality technologies into storytelling for the preservation and promotion of Chinese cultural heritage. She specializes in digital storytelling in VR environments, with an emphasis on classical texts and ancient literature.

Publications Top Notes: 📝

  • Title: The Current Advances in the Use of Virtual Reality Technology in Book Publishing
    Authors: Ning Zhang, Anlun Wan, Jingwen Huang, Peipei Cao, Xiaofan Zhang
    Year: 2023
    Journal: Publishing Research

  • Title: AI-Guided Computing Insights into a Thermostat Monitoring Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU)
    Authors: Ning Zhang, Olivia Wood, Zhiyin Yang, Jianfei Xie
    Year: 2023
    Journal: Sensors

Erika Riedl | Criminology | Best Researcher Award

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Ms. Erika Riedl | Criminology | Best Researcher Award

Erika Riedl is a Swiss-Italian Sports Lawyer, Arbitrator, and Mediator with over 15 years of international experience in governance, regulatory affairs, and integrity within sport. She has served as General Counsel and legal advisor to multiple international federations and is currently Counsel at epartners law firm. A PhD candidate in esports integrity at the University of Lausanne, Erika also sits on various disciplinary and integrity panels, including for World Athletics, ITTF, and Riot Games. A former elite skeleton athlete and multilingual legal expert, she combines academic insight with hands-on legal and investigative experience across the global sports industry.

University of Lausanne, Switzerland.

Author Profile

ORCID

Education 🎓

Erika Riedl holds a Master of Law from the Universities of Innsbruck and Padua, completed between 1999 and 2003. She later earned an International Master in Management, Law and Humanities of Sport (CIES/FIFA) from the Universities of Leicester, SDA Bocconi, and Neuchâtel in 2005–2006. She is currently pursuing a PhD in criminology at the University of Lausanne, with a research focus on esports integrity, which she began in February 2024. Erika has also undertaken a range of continuing education programs, including Sports Law at the University of Neuchâtel, Institutional Integrity Management at Hong Kong University SPACE, Investigations Management at Charles Sturt University, Mediator Training through CEDR, and recent courses in human rights abuse in sport, esports law, and sport sustainability.

Professional Experience 💼

With over 15 years of experience, Erika Riedl is a seasoned Sports Lawyer who has served in diverse roles across numerous international sports organizations. Currently, she is a Counsel at epartners law firm in Zurich since September 2024, and previously acted as an independent advisor in Sports Law, Integrity and Governance from 2022 to 2024. She served as Legal Counsel at the Swiss Arbitration Centre in Geneva between 2021 and 2022, where she led mediation initiatives and optimized procedural workflows. From 2016 to 2021, she was a part-time Senior Legal Counsel at the International Centre for Sports Studies (CIES) in Neuchâtel, contributing to governance research and academic publications. Her legal advisory roles extended to the International Weightlifting Federation in 2021, and she worked extensively with the International Equestrian Federation from 2012 to 2020 as a Tribunal Clerk and earlier as Junior Legal Counsel. Erika held further positions at the Cycling Independent Reform Commission, the International Olympic Committee during the Sochi 2014 Games, the International Volleyball Federation, and the International Canoe Federation. She began her professional journey as a Legal Counsel at CIES and interned at the Swiss Federal Office for Sport and the High Court in Graz.

Technical Skills 🛠️

Erika is multilingual, fluent in English, German, Italian, French, and Spanish. She has excellent drafting skills and is both detail-oriented and capable of strategic oversight. Her expertise spans governance, investigations, regulatory compliance, education, contract management, and project leadership. She has trained as a mediator and serves as an arbitrator, combining technical legal knowledge with dispute resolution capabilities.

Awards & Honors 🏅

While no formal awards are listed, Erika’s achievements include key contributions to reforms in international federations, improving arbitration processes, and handling over 250 tribunal decision drafts. Her work with the Cycling Independent Reform Commission and the IOC during the Sochi Olympics underlines her recognition and trust in high-stakes governance and anti-doping work.

Research Interests 🔍

Her current research is centered on esports integrity, approached through a criminological lens as part of her doctoral studies at the University of Lausanne. She has also published on governance and regulatory restoration in sports, with notable work on the International Biathlon Union scandal. Erika’s academic interests align with practical legal reforms and integrity mechanisms in both traditional and emerging sports landscapes.

Publications Top Notes: 📝

  • Title: A systematic literature review of esports integrity
    Author(s): Erika Riedl, Pim Verschuuren
    Journal: The International Sports Law Journal

  • Title: A comparison of esports integrity policies and programs to those of traditional sports
    Author: Erika Riedl
    Journal: Sports Law, Policy & Diplomacy Journal

  • Title: Restoring trust in sport
    Author: Catherine Ordway (with contribution by Erika Riedl)
    Journal: Restoring Trust in Sport (Book chapter published by Routledge)