Leila Jafari | Sustainable Agriculture | Best Researcher Award

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Assoc. Prof. Dr. Leila Jafari | Sustainable Agriculture | Best Researcher Award

University of Hormozgan, Iran

Dr. Leila Jafari is a distinguished agroecologist and faculty member at the Department of Agronomy, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Iran. She holds a PhD in Agroecology from Ferdowsi University, with research focused on nitrogen efficiency in wheat and maize cultivars. Her academic background also includes an MS and BS in Agronomy from Shiraz University, where she explored allelopathy and crop rotation.

Profile:

Educational Background:

She earned her Ph.D. in Agroecology from Ferdowsi University of Mashhad with a thesis on the evolution of nitrogen efficiency indices in cereal cultivars. Prior to that, she completed both her B.Sc. and M.Sc. in Agronomy at Shiraz University, focusing on crop rotation and allelopathic interactions in rice-based systems.

Professional Experience:

Dr. Jafari has held academic positions at Hormozgan University, where she taught undergraduate and graduate courses, supervised student projects, and conducted field-based research. She also served as an inspector and planner at the Management and Planning Organization of Iran, overseeing agricultural and natural resource projects at the national level.

Research Interests:

Her research encompasses a broad range of agroecological topics, including nitrogen use efficiency, salinity stress mitigation, crop diversity, weed ecology, essential oil analysis, and sustainable crop management under climate change scenarios.

Scientific Publications:

Dr. Jafari has published extensively in high-impact international and national journals. Her work covers subjects such as seed priming, drought and salinity stress, allelopathy, biostimulants, and water footprint analysis. Her interdisciplinary collaborations have addressed issues in horticulture, medicinal plants, and crop physiology.

Teaching and Academic Contributions:

She has taught several courses in agronomy, agricultural ecology, weed management, and cereal production. Her teaching is complemented by hands-on research training for students, development of laboratory manuals, and the use of statistical tools such as SAS for data analysis.

Conference Participation:

Dr. Jafari has presented her research at international scientific conferences, including workshops on invasive plant species and crop-weed interactions, sharing insights from her work on allelopathy and sustainable agriculture.

Scientific and Societal Impact:

Her work contributes to the understanding and advancement of sustainable agricultural systems in Iran and beyond. Through her academic and professional engagements, she promotes ecologically sound farming practices and supports research-informed policy development in agriculture and natural resources.

Citation Metrics:

According to Google Scholar:

  • Total Citations: 639

  • Citations Since 2020: 407

  • h-index: 11

  • h-index Since 2020: 9

  • i10-index: 12

  • i10-index Since 2020: 9

Publication Top Notes:

  • Phytotoxicity and stimulatory impacts of nanosized and bulk titanium dioxide on fennel (Foeniculum vulgare Mill)
    2013
    Citations: 263

  • Comparison of health status and quality of life of related versus paid unrelated living kidney donors
    2013
    Citations: 50

  • Evaluation of climate change effect on agricultural production of Iran: I. Predicting the future agroclimatic conditions
    2016
    Citations: 43

  • Effect of NaCl and KNO3 priming on seed germination of canola (Brassica napus L.) under salinity conditions
    2012
    Citations: 31

  • Impacts of climate change on water footprint components of rainfed and irrigated wheat in a semi-arid environment
    2023
    Citations: 26

  • Yield responses of black cumin (Nigella sativa L.) to intercropping with chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) and bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.)
    2014
    Citations: 22

 

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)

 

Dr. Hina Ashraf | Agricultural Nanotechnology | Best Researcher Award

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Dr. Hina Ashraf | Agricultural Nanotechnology | Best Researcher Award

The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment, United States.

Profile

Google Scholar

Education 🎓

Hina holds a Ph.D. in Agriculture with a specialization in Plant Pathology from the University of Punjab, Lahore. She also completed her M.Sc. (Hons) and B.Sc. (Hons) in Agriculture (Plant Pathology) at the same institution. Her academic journey began with a pre-medical foundation, which sparked her interest in biological sciences. Her education has been marked by academic excellence, supported by prestigious scholarships like the HEC Graduate Research Fellowship. 🎓

Professional Experience💼 

Dr. Ashraf currently serves as a postdoctoral scientist at CAES, New Haven, USA, funded by the Center for Sustainable Nanotechnology (CSN). She previously worked as a visiting research scholar at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, contributing to cutting-edge research in bioengineering and nanotechnology. Hina has also served as a research associate in a project on subterranean termite management and as a lecturer at Shah Jamal Science College, Lahore, where she taught biological sciences to diverse student groups. 💼

Research Interests 🔬

Her research interests lie in sustainable agriculture, plant pathology, nanotechnology, and environmental conservation. Hina is passionate about developing eco-friendly solutions to combat plant diseases, enhancing agricultural productivity, and promoting sustainable farming practices. 🌾

Awards & Honors🏆

Hina’s dedication to science has been recognized through numerous awards, including the HEC Graduate Research Fellowship, a second prize at the 9th Innovation to Invention Summit, and the DPCC Merit Scholarship. These honors reflect her academic achievements and contributions to research and education. 🏆

Academic Contributions📚

With over 15 peer-reviewed publications, Dr. Ashraf has made significant contributions to the scientific community. Her research focuses on nanotechnology applications in plant disease management, environmental sustainability, and agricultural biotechnology. Her work has been published in reputable journals, and she actively participates in academic conferences, presenting her findings to global audiences.

Technical Skills🛠️

Hina’s technical expertise includes advanced scientific research techniques, nanoparticle synthesis, data analysis, and environmental sustainability assessments. She is proficient in scientific writing, critical thinking, and leadership, enabling her to manage complex research projects effectively.

Teaching Experience👩‍🏫 

Dr. Ashraf has a strong background in education, having taught at Shah Jamal Science College and contributed to curriculum development for agricultural courses in Pakistan. She has mentored students in both academic and research settings, fostering a passion for scientific inquiry and innovation.

Top Note Publications📚

Microwave-Assisted Green Synthesis and Characterization of Silver Nanoparticles Using Melia azedarach for the Management of Fusarium Wilt in Tomato
Authors: H Ashraf, T Anjum, S Riaz, S Naseem
Publication Year: 2020
Journal: Frontiers in Microbiology
Citations: 134

Inhibition mechanism of green-synthesized copper oxide nanoparticles from Cassia fistula towards Fusarium oxysporum by boosting growth and defense response in tomatoes
Authors: H Ashraf, T Anjum, S Riaz, IS Ahmad, J Irudayaraj, S Javed, U Qaiser, …
Publication Year: 2021
Journal: Environmental Science: Nano
Citations: 67

Evaluation of antifungal activity of Meliaceae family against Macrophomina phaseolina
Author: H Ashraf
Publication Year: 2012
Journal: Mycopath
Citations: 31

Antifungal Potential of Green Synthesized Magnetite Nanoparticles Black Coffee–Magnetite Nanoparticles Against Wilt Infection by Ameliorating Enzymatic Activity and Gene Expression
Authors: H Ashraf, T Batool, T Anjum, A Illyas, G Li, S Naseem, S Riaz
Publication Year: 2022
Journal: Frontiers in Microbiology
Citations: 23

Sustainable synthesis of microwave-assisted IONPs using Spinacia oleracea L. for control of fungal wilt by modulating the defense system in tomato plants
Authors: H Ashraf, T Anjum, S Riaz, T Batool, S Naseem, G Li
Publication Year: 2022
Journal: Journal of Nanobiotechnology
Citations: 20

Aman Ranga | Agricultural and Biological Sciences | Best Researcher Award

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Dr. Aman Ranga | Agricultural and Biological Sciences | Best Researcher Award

Scientific Officer Agri Entrepreneur Growth Foundation India

Aman Deep Ranga is a dedicated researcher in horticulture and plant breeding with expertise in vegetable science. His work focuses on crop improvement, molecular breeding, and sustainable agricultural practices. With a Ph.D. in Horticulture from Dr. YS Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Aman has contributed significantly to research on okra genetics. He has served in various academic and research roles, including as a Scientific Officer at The Agri-Entrepreneur Growth Foundation. His passion for agronomy and innovation drives his efforts to uplift small-scale farmers and advance agricultural technologies.

Profile

Scopus

Google Scholar

Orcid

Education 🎓

Aman Deep Ranga holds a Ph.D. in Horticulture (Vegetable Science) from Dr. YS Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Solan (2024). He earned his Master of Science in Genetics and Plant Breeding from Lovely Professional University, Punjab (2019), and a Bachelor of Science (Hons.) in Agriculture from the same institution (2017). His academic journey began at J.D. Tytler School, New Delhi, where he completed his secondary and higher secondary education.

Experience 👨‍🔬

  • Scientific Officer (2024 – Present) 🌱
    The Agri-Entrepreneur Growth Foundation, Pune
    Working with agronomy teams to implement innovations for small-scale farmers.
  • Senior Research Fellow (2019 – 2020) 🧬
    Indian Agricultural Research Institute – ICAR, New Delhi
    Contributed to molecular breeding research in tomatoes, focusing on resistance to leaf curl virus.
  • Associate Editor 📝
    Advances in Agricultural Technology & Plant Sciences

Research Interests 🔬

Aman’s research focuses on quantitative genetics, molecular breeding, and sustainable crop improvement. His expertise includes okra breeding, heterosis studies, gene action, and biofortification. He actively explores new breeding technologies to enhance vegetable production under various climatic conditions.

Awards & Recognitions 🏆

  • Organizing Secretary – Certificate of Accomplishment
    6th International Conference on Advances in Agriculture Technology and Allied Sciences (ICAATAS 2023), Telangana.
  • Joint Organizing Secretary – Certificate of Accomplishment
    4th International Conference on Global Efforts on Agriculture, Forestry, Environment and Food Security (2023).
  • Organizing Secretary – Certificate of Accomplishment
    National Conference on Nurturing Agricultural Advancement and Sustainability (2023).

Publications 📚

Variability among different yield and yield contributing traits of Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L. Moench) genotypes

Diversity analysis of phenotypic traits in okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L. Moench)

Effect of crop intensification in garden pea grown under natural farming system

Genetic evaluation of twenty diverse genotypes of okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L. Moench) in hilly regions of north India.

Genetic studies for selection parameters in cauliflower (Brassica oleracea L. var. botrytis): A review

COMBINING ABILITY AND GENE ACTION IN OKRA (Abelmoschus esculentus L.)

Identification of Quantitative Trait Loci for Drought Related Traits in Groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.)

Mean Performance Studies in Mid Late and Late Group of Cauliflower (Brassica oleracea L. var. botrytis)

Underutilized Vegetable Crops: Importance and Cultivation