Milad Mirzaei Aminiyan | Environmental Science | Best Researcher Award

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Dr. Milad Mirzaei Aminiyan | Environmental Science | Best Researcher Award

Ph.D. in Soil Science-Biophysics University of Tehran Iran

Dr. Milad Mirzaei Aminiyan is a distinguished researcher specializing in environmental sciences, with a focus on soil and water resources management. Based in the Department of Soil Science at the University of Tehran, Iran, Dr. Mirzaei has made significant contributions to understanding soil contamination, microplastic pollution, and environmental geochemistry, impacting both academic and practical fields of soil science.

Profile

Scopus.com

Google scholar.com

Education 🎓

  • 2023 – Guest Ph.D. Student, Technical University of Denmark (DTU), Copenhagen, Denmark
    Research Project: Impact of polyethylene microplastics on willow growth.
  • 2018-2024 – Ph.D. in Environmental Soil Biophysics, University of Tehran, Iran
    Thesis: The effects of microplastic particles on soil and sunflower growth.
  • 2010-2013 – M.Sc. in Soil Physics and Conservation, Bu-Ali Sina University, Iran
    Thesis: Impact of nanozeolite on soil organic carbon.
  • 2006-2010 – B.Sc. in Environmental Soil Science, Vali-e-Asr University of Rafsanjan, Iran
    Project: Effects of pistachio waste on soil biophysical properties.

Professional Experience 👨‍🔬

Dr. Mirzaei served as the Technical and Commercial Manager at ABENEGAHDAR Organic Fertilizer Factory (2013-2018) and as an R&D Environmental Scientist in Rafsanjan’s Eco-industrial Zone. His work emphasizes environmental pollution analysis, sustainable soil management, and ecotoxicology of emerging contaminants.

Research Interests 🔬

Dr. Mirzaei’s research includes:

  • Environmental pollution and ecotoxicology (microplastics, PTEs, PFAS)
  • Soil organic carbon management
  • Hydrochemical and geochemical analysis for water quality assessment
  • Modeling contaminant transport and biodegradation in soil

Awards 🏆

  • 2022: Recognized as a top researcher among Ph.D. students in Soil Sciences at the University of Tehran.
  • 2018: Achieved 5th overall rank and 2nd in Soil Physics in Iran’s Ph.D. Entrance Exam.
  • 2013: Awarded for best M.Sc. thesis in Bu-Ali Sina University’s Agricultural Faculty.

Publications Top Notes: 📄

Dr. Mirzaei has published extensively in leading journals. Below are selected publications with citations:

2024: Mitigating the impacts of polyethylene microplastics using a microbial consortium.
Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety. DOI.

2022: Contamination of potentially toxic elements around a copper smelter.
Environmental Geochemistry and Health. DOI.

2021: Source apportionment of PAHs in industrial city dust in Iran.
Environmental Science and Pollution Research. DOI.

2019: Pollution risk assessment in school dust in Shiraz, Iran.
Human and Ecological Risk Assessment. DOI.

2018: Risk assessment of heavy metals in road dust in Rafsanjan, Iran.
Environmental Science and Pollution Research. DOI.

 

SONIA GOMES | Environmental Science | Women Researcher Award

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Dr. SONIA GOMES | Environmental Science | Women Researcher Award

Academician/Research Scholar Investigadora
👩‍🔬 Sónia Gomes is an accomplished molecular biologist specializing in genetic studies, particularly in agricultural biotechnology and molecular genetics. She is currently an Auxiliary Researcher at the University of Porto, focusing on interdisciplinary marine and environmental research. With extensive teaching experience and leadership in significant research projects, Sónia has contributed notably to genomic studies in olive trees and food biotechnology.

profile

Orcid.org

Education

🎓 PhD in Molecular Genetics (2006-2010): Universidade de Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro, Portugal. Thesis: “Genomic Studies in Olea europaea L.: From the Field to the Olive Oil End Product”.
🎓 MSc in Molecular Genetics (2003-2006): Universidade do Minho, Portugal. Dissertation: “Molecular markers for Olea europaea L. cultivars identification”.
🎓 BSc in Applied Biology (1997-2002): Universidade do Minho, Portugal. Thesis: “Effect of growth regulators in plant regeneration of Vitis vinifera L.”.

Experience

💼 Auxiliary Researcher (2023-Present), University of Porto, CIIMAR
💼 Invited Assistant Professor (2022-Present), ICBAS, University of Porto
💼 Research Fellow (2003-2007), OLIV-TRACK project, Universidade de Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro

Research Interests

🔬 Molecular Genetics: Expertise in genomic studies of Olea europaea (olive trees) for improving food traceability.
🌊 Marine Biotechnology: Investigating the impact of microplastics and parasites on fish, seafood safety, and environmental sustainability.
🧬 Agricultural Biotechnology: Focused on using DNA markers for plant and food traceability.

Awards

🏆 Blue Bio Value Ideation Award (2023): Oceano Azul Foundation
🏆 NEWFOOD Valorization Award (2021): Universidade de Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro
🏆 OENOPPIA Award (2019): International Research on Wine Development

Publications Top Notes:

📚 Olive oil traceability through DNA markers (2012). Co-author: Martins-Lopes, P. Published in Book.
📖 Nucleic Acids Sample Preparation for Food Traceability (2016). Published in Sample Preparation Techniques for Soil, Plant, and Animal Samples. Springer New York, 2016.
🧬 Olive Tree Genetic Resources Characterization Through Molecular Markers (2012). Published in Genetic Diversity. DOI: 10.5772/32973.
🍃 Olive-Colletotrichum acutatum: An Example of Fruit-Fungal Interaction (2012). Published in Plant Breeding. DOI: 10.5772/27965.
🧫 Occurrence of microplastics in water, feed, and tissues of European seabass (2024). Published in Environmental Research DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2024.120208.