Mohd Kafeel Ahmad Ansari | Botany | Best Faculty Award

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Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mohd Kafeel Ahmad Ansari | Botany | Best Faculty Award

Associate Professor | University of Guyana | Guyana

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mohammad Kafeel A. Ansari is an Associate Professor in the Department of Biology at the Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Guyana, Georgetown, South America, and Visiting Research Fellow at INTI International University, Malaysia. He is an accomplished biologist and environmental scientist recognized for his contributions to plant stress physiology, phytoremediation, cyanobacterial biotechnology, and environmental microbiology. His research focuses on developing eco-friendly technologies for ecosystem restoration, bioremediation of toxic pollutants, and enhancing stress tolerance in crop plants. Dr. Ansari has extensive academic and research experience across leading institutions in Australia, Turkey, and India, where he has held postdoctoral, research, and teaching positions. He has received several prestigious international fellowships and awards for excellence in higher education and research, including recognition from the Governments of Australia, Turkey, and India. His scholarly work encompasses numerous publications in high-impact international journals, along with active participation in global conferences and collaborations. Dr. Ansari has served on editorial boards, research committees, and academic councils, contributing significantly to curriculum development, postgraduate supervision, and interdisciplinary research initiatives. His dedication to advancing biological sciences, environmental biotechnology, and sustainable development has established him as a respected academic and researcher with an active role in promoting international scientific collaboration.

Profiles: Scopus | Orcid | Google Scholar

Featured Publications

Manzoor, R., Ahmad, M., Munir, M., Zafar, M., Sultana, S., Ansari, M. K. A., Burkhan Sobirovisch, A., Bekhit, M. M., Idress, M., & Ozdemir, F. A., et al. (2025). Harnessing the potential of novel waste biomass feedstock (Caesalpinia crista L.) for producing clean energy via phyto-fabricated nanocatalyst (Al₂O₃). Waste and Biomass Valorization, Advance online publication.

Manzoor, M., Ahmad, M., Gillani, S. W., Zafar, M., Hussain, J., Ansari, M. K. A., Rizwana, H., Abid, I., Imran, M., & Jabeen, S. (2025). Micromorphological and ultrastructural exploration of Sorbus foliolosa (Rosaceae) populations from the Himalayan region of Kashmir. Polish Journal of Environmental Studies, Advance online publication.

Ansari, M. K. A., Turkyilmaz Unal, B., Javad, S., Vardar, F., Ansari, A. A., Ozturk, M., & Iqbal, M. (2023). Application of nanobiotechnology in enabling plants to overcome water-logging stress: A review. Agricultural Reviews, Advance online publication.

Turkyilmaz Unal, B., Ozturk, M., Owens, G., & Ansari, M. K. (2023). Plants as medicine and aromatics. CRC Press.

Ansari, M. K. A. (2022). A case study of medicinal plant conservation in the Jabalpur District, India. Journal Plantarum, December issue.

Vignesh Mohanavel | Plant Biotechnology | Young Scientist Award

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Dr. Vignesh Mohanavel | Plant Biotechnology | Young Scientist Award

Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, India

Dr. Vignesh Mohanavel is a dedicated researcher in the Department of Plant Biotechnology at the Centre for Plant Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU), Coimbatore. His research interests span plant molecular biology, genetic engineering, and crop improvement for sustainable agriculture. He has contributed to several peer-reviewed publications and actively engages in collaborative research projects at the national and international levels. Dr. Mohanavel holds a Ph.D. in Plant Biotechnology and is committed to advancing innovative solutions in plant science.

Profile:

Academic Qualifications:

Dr. Vignesh Mohanavel holds a Ph.D. in Plant Biotechnology, awarded in 2023 by Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore. He earned his Master of Science in Agricultural Biotechnology (M.Sc. Ag.) from Annamalai University, Chidambaram in 2018. Prior to that, he completed his Bachelor of Science in Agriculture (B.Sc. Agri.) from the same institution in 2016.

Research Experience:

  • Ph.D. Dissertation: “Developing multiple stress tolerant rice genotypes through marker assisted breeding”
    Supervisor: Dr. M. Raveendran, Director of Research, TNAU, Coimbatore.

  • PG Dissertation: “Screening of salinity tolerance in indigenous rice through morphological and molecular characters”
    Supervisor: Dr. S. Murugan, Professor & Head, GPB, Annamalai University.

  • Senior Research Fellow (Oct 2023 – Present):
    Project: “Biostimulants Efficacy Testing Structure”
    Funded by: Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, USA
    Supervisor: Dr. M. Raveendran, TNAU, Coimbatore.

Areas of Expertise:

  • Molecular breeding and marker-assisted selection in rice

  • Genetic diversity analysis using molecular markers

  • Advanced molecular techniques: DNA/RNA isolation, PCR, cloning, SDS-PAGE, etc.

  • Evaluation of biotic (BPH, BLB, Blast) and abiotic (drought, salinity, submergence) stress tolerance

  • Bioinformatics, GWAS, haplotype analysis, metabolomics and proteomics

  • Proficiency in HPLC, GC-MS, LC-MS, MALDI-TOF, and 2D protein profiling

Awards and Honors:

  • Best Poster Presentation – Annamalai University (2018)

  • Best Poster Presentation – National Seminar, TNAU (2024 & 2025)

  • Young Researcher Award – Institute of Scholars (InSc), 2024

  • Sustainable Agriculture Award – Vigyan Varta Excellence Awards 2024–25

  • Young Scientist Award – Vigyan Varta Foundation & Omm Shanti Narayan Trust (2024–25)

  • Best Researcher Award in Plant Biotechnology – 2025
    Young Scientist Awards

Professional Memberships:

  • Life Member – The Asia Society of Researchers (ASR)

  • Life Member – Madras Agricultural Students Union – TNAU

  • Postdoctoral Member – American Society for Microbiology

  • Life Member – Institute of Scholars (InSc)

  • Member – The Young European Biotech Network (YEBN)

Research Publications:

Authored and co-authored over 20+ peer-reviewed research articles published in high-impact journals such as:

  • Frontiers in Plant Science

  • Biotechnology Reports

  • Agriculture (MDPI)

  • Plant Physiology Reports

  • Indian Journal of Agricultural Research

  • Electronic Journal of Plant Breeding

(See complete list above or request separately in journal-wise/table format)

Popular Science Articles:

Published multiple science outreach articles in AgriGate – An International Multidisciplinary e-Magazine (2024–25) on gene pyramiding, drought resilience, and sustainable agriculture.

Book Chapters:

  • Current Trends in Agriculture & Allied Sciences, SP Publishing, 2025

  • Springer (Accepted): Microarray Analysis for Plant Stress Response

  • Topics: Genetic Engineering, Molecular Markers, Crop Improvement

Seminar & Conference Presentations:

  • Oral and poster presentations at national and international conferences on plant stress tolerance, GM foods, and rice genomics.

  • Participated in Corteva Plant Science Symposium (2019), Bioconcorrenza, and NABS International Conference.

Short Courses & Workshops:

  • Genomics of Abiotic Stress – TNAU & USIEF (2022)

  • AI in Agriculture (Udemy) – 2025

  • Nanomaterials in Biotechnology – NIT Jalandhar (2025)

  • HPLC in Metabolomics, GWAS Hands-on Training, and others at TNAU

Webinars Attended:

Actively participated in 15+ international webinars on topics such as:

  • CRISPR-Cas, Genome editing, Chickpea improvement, Underutilized crops

  • Scientific writing (Editage), Climate resilience in rice, and Genomics & Bioinformatics (Bioingene, IARI, ICAR)

Abstracts Published:

Abstracts published in the proceedings of major events such as:

  • National Science Day 2025 – TNAU

  • NABS International Conference 2021

  • UGC-SAP National Seminars – 2017 & 2018

  • Multi-Omics Conference 2024 – TNAU

Citation Metrics (as per Google Scholar):

Total Citations: 89
Citations since 2020: 85
h-index: 6
i10-index: 2

Publication Top Notes:

  1. Marker-Assisted Pyramiding of Major Brown Plant Hopper Resistance Genes in an Elite Culture CBMAS14065
    Vignesh M., Valarmathi M., Rakshana P., Bharathi A., Dilip K.R., Sudha M., …
    Electronic Journal of Plant Breeding, 14(1), 1–8 (2023)

  2. Evaluation of Black Gram Genotypes for Saline Tolerance at Seedling Stage
    Priyadharshini B., Vignesh M., Prakash M., Anandan R.
    Indian Journal of Agricultural Research, 53(1), 83–87 (2019)

  3. Marker-Assisted Breeding Accelerates the Development of Multiple-Stress-Tolerant Rice Genotypes Adapted to Wider Environments
    Mohanavel V., Muthu V., Kambale R., Palaniswamy R., Seeli P., Ayyenar B., …
    Frontiers in Plant Science, 15, 1402368 (2024)

  4. Relationship Between Biometric and Biophysical Parameters With Yield in Traditional Rice Varieties in Coastal Saline Belts of Tamil Nadu
    Prakash M., Vignesh M.
    Indian Journal of Traditional Knowledge (IJTK), 18(4), 805–817 (2019)

  5. Developing Early Morning Flowering Version of Rice Variety CO 51 to Mitigate Heat-Induced Yield Loss
    Ayyenar B., Kambale R., Duraialagaraja S., Manickam S., Mohanavel V., …
    Agriculture (MDPI), 13(3), 553 (2023)

  6. Haplotype and Diversity Analysis of Indigenous Rice for Salinity Tolerance in Early-Stage Seedling Using Simple Sequence Repeat Markers
    Mohanavel V., Yesudhas A.S., Sharma A., Ramasamy A., Samy P.M.A., …
    Biotechnology Reports, 31, e00666 (2021)

  7. Comparison of Methods for Genomic DNA Extraction Suitable for Whole-Genome Genotyping in Traditional Varieties of Rice
    Priyadharshini B., Vignesh M., Prakash M., Anandan R.
    Agricultural Science Digest, 39(3), 228–231 (2019)

  8. Estimation of Morphological and Molecular Genetic Diversity in Blackgram [Vigna mungo (L.) Hepper] Under YMV Hotspot Regime
    Jeevitha S., Karthikeyan R., Vignesh M., Malarkodi A., Tirumalai R., Nainu A.J., …
    Horticultural Biotechnology Research (1970)

  9. Genetic Improvement of Drought Tolerance in a Mega-Rice Variety Improved White Ponni Through Marker-Assisted Backcross Breeding
    Seeli F.D.P., Manoharan M., Ayyenar B., Kambale R., Mohanavel V., …
    Agriculture (MDPI), 14(3), 431 (2024)

  10. Harnessing Parent-Offspring Regression Analysis to Develop High-Yielding Submergence Tolerant Lines of Oryza sativa L.
    Viswabharathy S., Thulasinathan T., Subburaj S., Seeli F.D.P., Ayyenar B., …
    Electronic Journal of Plant Breeding, 14(2), 675–686 (2023)

  11. Comparative Investigation of DNA Extraction Methods in Black Gram Vigna mungo (L.)
    Prakash M., Priyadharshini B., Vignesh M., Anandan R.
    Indian Journal of Agricultural Research, 53(6), 749–752 (2019)

  12. Multivariate Analysis of Sesame Genotypes Under Saline Stress
    Priyadharshini B., Prakash M., Vignesh M., Murugan S., Anandan R.
    Indian Journal of Agricultural Research, 52(6), 708–711 (2018)

  13. Pilot Scale Genome-Wide Association Mapping Identified Novel Loci for Grain Yield Traits in Rice
    Sundaramoorthy M., Ramasamy S.P., Rajagopalan V.R., Ramalingam A.P., …
    Plant Physiology Reports, 27(1), 11–21 (2022)

  14. Mining of Candidate Novel Alleles Using GWAS and Haplotype Identification for Rice Blast Resistance
    Mohanavel V., Ramalingam A.P., Ayyenar B., Rajagopalan V.R., …
    Plant Pathology, 74(3), 873–883 (2025)

  15. Identifying Molecular Targets for Modulating Carotenoid Accumulation in Rice Grains
    Palaniswamy R., Kambale R., Mohanavel V., Rajagopalan V.R., Manickam S., …
    Biochemistry and Biophysics Reports, 40, 101815 (2024)

  16. CRISPR/Cas9 Mutagenesis Generated Elite Alleles of a Novel Yield Gene An-1 Leading to Increased Grain Number in Rice (Oryza sativa L.)
    Ramasamy S.P., Rathnasamy S.A., Manickam S., Rajagopalan V., Mohanavel V., …
    Current Plant Biology, 100511 (2025)

  17. Surveying Allelic Diversity of ONAC129 in Aus Rice Germplasm
    Muthurajan R., Rajagopalan V.R., Kambale R., Ayyenar B., Mohanavel V. (2021)

  18. Genetic Engineering for Crop Improvement, Biotechnology and Bioinformatics
    Mohanavel V., Ravi A., Sakthivel V., Palaniswamy R., Ramasamy S.P. (Book Chapter)

  19. Startup Savvy: Low-Cost Alternative for Tissue Culture Innovations
    Mohanavel V., Manickam S. (Book Chapter)

 

Álvaro López Zaplana | Plant Biotechnology | Young Scientist Award

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Dr. Álvaro López Zaplana | Plant Biotechnology | Young Scientist Award

R+D Manager at 3A BIOTECH,S.L, Spain

Álvaro López Zaplana is a Spanish molecular biologist and biotechnologist specializing in plant and industrial biotechnology. He earned his Biotechnology degree (2013–2017), Master’s in Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (2017–2018), and PhD in Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (2018–2022, summa cum laude with international mention) from the University of Murcia, with part of his doctoral research conducted at the Louvain Institute of Biomolecular Science and Technology.

Profile:

🎓 Academic Background:

  • 🎓 Bachelor’s in Biotechnology – University of Murcia (2017)

  • 🧠 Master’s in Molecular Biology and Biotechnology – IMIB (2018)

  • 🎓 PhD in Molecular Biology and Biotechnology – University of Murcia & CEBAS-CSIC (2022)

  • 📚 Pursuing Double Master’s: Project Management & MBA – ENEB (2025)

🧪 Research Focus:

Álvaro’s expertise centers on aquaporins, transcriptomics, and fermentation bioprocesses. He has contributed to 5 research projects (led 3), authored 12+ scientific articles, and collaborated across Europe, including Louvain Institute of Biomolecular Science and IBMCP-CSIC.

💼 Current Roles:

  • 🧬 R&D Manager – 3A Biotech

  • 🎓 External Collaborator & Thesis Supervisor – International University of Valencia (VIU)

  • ✍️ Guest Editor – MDPI (Journal: Agriculture)

🧑‍🏫 Teaching & Mentorship:

He has supervised 9 Master’s theses in bioinformatics, neurobiology, pharmacology, and omics, actively mentoring students in academic and lab settings since 2018.

📊 Entrepreneurial Spirit:

Beyond science, Álvaro has a strong business inclination:

  • 🏆 Winner of 5 university innovation awards (2020–2022)

  • 💡 Trained in entrepreneurship, leadership & finance

  • 🧠 Courses in cardiogenetics, nutrition, medical care, and digital marketing

🌍 Languages & Skills

  • 🇬🇧 English (B2), 🇫🇷 French (A2)

  • 💻 Bioinformatics, structural modeling, molecular diagnostics

🔬 H-Index: 8 (Google Scholar, 2024)

  • Published in journals like Plant Physiology & Biochemistry, Environmental and Experimental Botany, and Scientific Reports

📊 Citation Metrics (as per Google Scholar):

  • Total Citations: 298

  • Citations Since 2020: 296

  • h-index: 8

  • h-index Since 2020: 8

  • i10-index: 8

  • i10-index Since 2020: 8

Publication Top Notes:

  1. Interrelations of Nutrient and Water Transporters in Plants Under Abiotic Stress
    G. Barzana, J.J. Rios, A. Lopez‐Zaplana, J. Nicolas‐Espinosa, …
    Physiologia Plantarum, 171(4), 595–619, 2021.
    Citations: 71

  2. Confronting Secondary Metabolites With Water Uptake and Transport in Plants Under Abiotic Stress
    J. Nicolas-Espinosa, P. Garcia-Ibañez, A. Lopez-Zaplana, L. Yepes-Molina, …
    International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 24(3), 2826, 2023.
    Citations: 51

  3. Discerning the Mechanism of the Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes Effect on Root Cell Water and Nutrient Transport
    M.C. Martinez-Ballesta, N. Chelbi, A. Lopez-Zaplana, M. Carvajal
    Plant Physiology and Biochemistry, 146, 23–30, 2020.
    Citations: 49

  4. Relationships Between Aquaporins Gene Expression and Nutrient Concentrations in Melon Plants (Cucumis melo L.) During Typical Abiotic Stresses
    A. Lopez-Zaplana, N. Martinez-Garcia, M. Carvajal, G. Bárzana
    Environmental and Experimental Botany, 195, 104759, 2022.
    Citations: 31

  5. Foliar Mineral Treatments for the Reduction of Melon (Cucumis melo L.) Fruit Cracking
    A. Lopez-Zaplana, G. Bárzana, A. Agudelo, M. Carvajal
    Agronomy, 10(11), 1815, 2020.
    Citations: 27

  6. Genome-Wide Analysis of the Aquaporin Genes in Melon (Cucumis melo L.)
    A. Lopez-Zaplana, J. Nicolas-Espinosa, M. Carvajal, G. Bárzana
    Scientific Reports, 10(1), 22240, 2020.
    Citations: 25

  7. Foliar Application of Boron Nanoencapsulated in Almond Trees Allows B Movement Within Tree and Implements Water Uptake and Transport Involving Aquaporins
    J.J. Rios, A. Lopez-Zaplana, G. Bárzana, A. Martinez-Alonso, M. Carvajal
    Frontiers in Plant Science, 12, 752648, 2021.
    Citations: 17

  8. Aquaporins Involvement in the Regulation of Melon (Cucumis melo L.) Fruit Cracking Under Different Nutrient (Ca, B and Zn) Treatments
    A. Lopez-Zaplana, G. Bárzana, L. Ding, F. Chaumont, M. Carvajal
    Environmental and Experimental Botany, 201, 104981, 2022.
    Citations: 15

  9. Water Relations After Ca, B and Si Application Determine Fruit Physical Quality in Relation to Aquaporins in Prunus
    F. Quirante-Moya, A. Martinez-Alonso, A. Lopez-Zaplana, G. Bárzana, …
    Scientia Horticulturae, 293, 110718, 2022.
    Citations: 7

  10. Gut Microbiota: An Immersion in Dysbiosis, Associated Pathologies, and Probiotics
    V. Origüela, A. Lopez-Zaplana
    Microorganisms, 13(5), 1084, 2025.
    Citations: 2

  11. Deciphering Arabidopsis Aquaporin Networks: Comparative Analysis of the STRING and BioGRID Interactomes
    A. Lopez-Zaplana
    International Journal of Plant Biology, 16(1), 28, 2025.
    Citations: 1

  12. Exploring the Mechanism of Blindness Physiopathy in Brassica oleracea var. italica L. by Comprehensive Transcriptomics and Metabolomics Analysis
    A. Lopez-Zaplana, J. Nicolas-Espinosa, L. Albaladejo-Marico, M. Carvajal
    Plant Physiology and Biochemistry, 206, 108304, 2024.
    Citations: 1

  13. Relationship Between Aquaporins Expression and B Concentration for Conferring Cold Stress Tolerance in Broccoli Cultivars
    A. Lopez-Zaplana, J. Nicolas-Espinosa, M. Carvajal, G. Bárzana
    Environmental and Experimental Botany, 187, 104466, 2021.
    Citations: 1

  14. The Impact of Semi‐Transparent Solar Panels on Tomato and Broccoli Growth
    A. Lopez‐Zaplana, L. Yepes‐Molina, P. Garcia‐Ibañez, …
    Advanced Energy and Sustainability Research, 5(5), 2300175, 2024.

  15. Melon (Cucumis melo L.) Aquaporins as Molecular Markers of Resistance to Abiotic Stresses and Physiopathies
    Á. Lopez-Zaplana
    Proyecto de Investigación, 2022.

  16. Interrelations of Nutrient and Water Transporters in Plants Under Abiotic Stress (Book Chapter or Report)
    G. Bárzana González, J.J. Ríos Ruiz, Á. Lopez-Zaplana, J. Nicolás Espinosa, …
    John Wiley & Sons, 2021.

  17. Aquaporins Involvement in the Regulation of Melon (Cucumis melo L.) Fruit Cracking Under Different Nutrient (Ca, B and Zn) Treatments (Preprint)
    M. Carvajal, A. Lopez-Zaplana, G. Bárzana, L. Ding, F. Chaumont
    Available at SSRN: 4088643