Shewangzaw Mekuria | Agricultural and Biological Sciences | Research Excellence Award

Assist. Prof. Dr. Shewangzaw Mekuria | Agricultural and Biological Sciences | Research Excellence Award

Postdoc Researcher at Wroclaw University of Economics and Business | Poland

Assist. Prof. Dr. Shewangzaw Mekuria is a distinguished scholar in Agricultural and Biological Sciences, with a strong academic and research profile in food science, nutrition, and animal production. He holds advanced academic training in food science, nutrition, and animal sciences, which underpins his interdisciplinary approach to addressing challenges in food quality, safety, and sustainable agricultural systems. His professional experience spans academic teaching, research leadership, and postdoctoral research within international research environments, contributing to both knowledge generation and capacity building. His research interests focus on functional and complementary foods, insect- and plant-based nutrition, food safety, probiotics, livestock feeding strategies, and sustainable agri-food innovations with relevance to food security and public health. He has authored 8 peer-reviewed scientific documents, achieving 55 citations across 54 scholarly works, with an h-index of 5, reflecting consistent research impact. Overall, Assist. Prof. Dr. Shewangzaw Mekuria’s work demonstrates scientific rigor, interdisciplinary relevance, and meaningful contributions to advancing sustainable and nutrition-sensitive agricultural research.

Citation Metrics

60

45

30

15

0

Citations
55

Documents
8

h-index
5

Featured Publications

Jiahao Fan | Agricultural and Biological Sciences | Best Researcher Award

Dr. Jiahao Fan | Agricultural and Biological Sciences | Best Researcher Award 

Biological Systems Engineering at University of Wisconsin-Madison | United States

Dr. Jiahao Fan is a highly accomplished researcher whose work lies at the intersection of artificial intelligence, computer vision, and biological systems engineering. His professional journey reflects a commitment to developing innovative, data-driven technologies that enhance agricultural productivity and environmental sustainability. He completed his advanced studies in Biological Systems Engineering with a focus on integrating machine learning and computational modeling into precision agriculture. His educational background also includes strong foundations in machine learning, data mining, and remote sensing, equipping him with the expertise to address complex, multidisciplinary challenges in modern biological sciences. Throughout his research career, Dr. Jiahao Fan has contributed to the advancement of multimodal deep learning frameworks, vision-language modeling, and sensor-based data fusion for agricultural applications. His pioneering projects include developing object detection and segmentation systems for plant monitoring, multimodal feature fusion methods for crop analysis, and efficient retrieval-based prediction algorithms that optimize computational performance in data-limited environments. His academic work demonstrates a deep understanding of artificial intelligence applied to biological processes, leading to several peer-reviewed publications and open-source innovations that support sustainable farming systems. Dr. Jiahao Fan’s research is characterized by technical precision, interdisciplinary collaboration, and a vision to bridge computational sciences with real-world agricultural needs. His efforts have earned notable recognition within the research community, as reflected in his 476 citations by 474 documents, 6 published works, and an h-index of 5, highlighting the scholarly influence and practical value of his contributions. Through his continuous pursuit of excellence in both theory and application, Dr. Jiahao Fan remains dedicated to advancing the frontiers of agricultural automation, digital phenotyping, and sustainable resource management. His work not only enriches the academic discourse in agricultural and biological sciences but also lays the groundwork for future innovations that integrate artificial intelligence with global food security and environmental resilience.

Profile: Scopus | Orcid | Google Scholar

Featured Publications:

  • Fan, J.(2022). Estimation of maize yield and flowering time using multi-temporal UAV-based hyperspectral data. Remote Sensing, 14(13), 3052.

  • Fan, J.(2023). Enhancing maize silage quality assessment through UAV-based high-throughput phenotyping and deep transfer learning. In AGU Fall Meeting, San Francisco.

  • Fan, J.(2023). Uncrewed aerial vehicle (UAV)-based high‐throughput phenotyping of maize silage yield and nutritive values using multi-sensory feature fusion and multi-task learning with attention mechanism. Remote Sensing, 17(21), 3654.

  • Fan, J.(2025). Mitigating NDVI saturation in imagery of dense and healthy vegetation. ISPRS Journal of Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing, 227,

  • Fan, J.(2022). Multi-temporal estimation of maize yield and flowering time using UAV-based hyperspectral data. Proceedings of the North American Plant Phenotyping Network (NAPPN) Annual Conference.

Zainib Babar | Agricultural and Biological Sciences | Best Researcher Award

Dr.Zainib Babar | Agricultural and Biological Sciences | Best Researcher Award 

PhD at Shanghai Jiao Tong University | China 

Dr. Zainib Babar is an emerging scholar in agricultural and biological sciences, specializing in plant–microbe interactions, molecular biology, and plant immunity. Her academic foundation includes advanced training in horticulture, molecular genetics, and plant biotechnology, culminating in a doctoral degree from a leading institution where her research focused on identifying and characterizing conserved RxLR effectors of Plasmopara viticola that target host proteins involved in grapevine immune signaling. Her work provides critical insights into the molecular basis of plant resistance, contributing to the development of sustainable strategies for crop protection and productivity improvement. She possesses strong expertise in both experimental and computational biology, including gene cloning, protein purification, quantitative reverse transcription PCR, yeast hybridization, protein modeling, and bioinformatics analysis using R-Studio, Tb-tools, and ITASSER. Her prior research experience includes work on CRISPR/Cas-mediated genome editing in cotton for viral resistance, reflecting her commitment to addressing global agricultural challenges through genetic innovation. Dr. Zainib Babar has served as a lecturer, sharing her knowledge in biochemistry and molecular sciences, and has participated in numerous international conferences, symposiums, and workshops on plant biotechnology and genomics. Her scholarly output includes publications in reputable journals such as the Journal of Biomolecular Structure and Dynamics and Frontiers in Molecular Biosciences, where she has contributed to studies on protein–pathogen interactions and computational drug discovery. She has been recognized with multiple academic awards, including prestigious scholarships for her research excellence and participation in global scientific training programs. With 226 citations by 189 documents, 5 publications, and an h-index of 5, Dr. Zainib Babar demonstrates a growing international reputation for scientific innovation and collaboration. Her research continues to focus on the molecular mechanisms of plant defense and the application of biotechnology to enhance crop resilience and food security. Through her dedication to advancing knowledge at the intersection of molecular biology and agricultural science, she exemplifies the next generation of researchers striving to create sustainable solutions for the global agricultural sector.

Featured Publications:

Babar, Z., Khan, A., Hussain, A., Liu, J., Wu, W., Fu, P., & Lu, J. A highly conserved oomycete effector PvRxLR15 hijacks Vv14-3-3ω to suppress plant immunity. Horticulture Research.

Babar, Z., Hussain, A., Khan, A., & Lu, J. NLR-driven plant immunity: Mechanisms, regulation, evolution, and application.

Khan, A., Babar, Z., & Lu, J. The LWY motif of PvRxLR111 is required for VvSGT1-mediated resistance in grapevines.

Babar, Z., Khan, M., Zahra, M., Anwar, M., Noor, K., Hashmi, H. F., Suleman, M., & Wei, D.-Q. (2020). Drug similarity and structure-based screening of medicinal compounds to target macrodomain-I from SARS-CoV-2 to rescue the host immune system: A molecular dynamics study. Journal of Biomolecular Structure and Dynamics, 39(18), 1–15.

Khan, A., Ali, S. S., Khan, M. T., Saleem, S., Ali, A., Suleman, M., Babar, Z., Shafiq, A., Khan, M., & Wei, D.-Q. (2020). Combined drug repurposing and virtual screening strategies with molecular dynamics simulation identified potent inhibitors for SARS-CoV-2 main protease (3CLpro). Journal of Biomolecular Structure and Dynamics, 39(10), 1–12.

Khan, A., Khan, M., Saleem, S., Babar, Z., Ali, A., Khan, A. A., Sardar, Z., Hamayun, F., Ali, S. S., & Wei, D.-Q. (2020). Phylogenetic analysis and structural perspectives of RNA-dependent RNA polymerase inhibition from SARS-CoV-2 with natural products. Interdisciplinary Sciences: Computational Life Sciences, 12(3), 1–14.

Khan, A., Junaid, M., Li, C.-D., Saleem, S., Hamayun, F., Shamas, S., Ali, S. S., Babar, Z., & Wei, D.-Q. (2020). Dynamics insights into the gain of flexibility by Helix-12 in ESR1 as a mechanism of resistance to drugs in breast cancer cell lines. Frontiers in Molecular Biosciences, 6, 159

Hosein Ahmadi | Agricultural and Biological Sciences | Best Researcher Award

Dr. Hosein Ahmadi | Agricultural and Biological Sciences | Best Researcher Award 

Ph.D at University of Tehran | Iran 

Dr. Hosein Ahmadi is a dedicated researcher in horticultural sciences whose work bridges biotechnology, plant breeding and phytochemistry. His expertise centers on medicinal and aromatic plants, with a particular focus on secondary metabolite biosynthesis and genetic regulation in the Lamiaceae family. With advanced bioinformatics skills and a solid foundation in molecular approaches, he has contributed significantly to understanding the genetic and biochemical bases of plant adaptation. His professional journey reflects excellence in both research and academic achievement, underscored by top national rankings, fellowships, and a growing record of publications in prestigious international journals.

Profile:

Orcid

Education:

Dr. Hosein Ahmadi’s academic journey began with a Bachelor’s degree in Medicinal and Aromatic Plants from the University of Maragheh, where he graduated at the top of his class. He advanced to pursue a Master’s degree in Horticultural Science at the University of Tehran, specializing in medicinal plants, again earning distinction for academic excellence. Building on this foundation, he embarked on doctoral studies at the University of Tehran, focusing on biotechnology and breeding of horticultural crops. Supported by competitive scholarships, his education has combined field expertise, laboratory research, and computational biology, positioning him as a leader in modern horticultural biotechnology.

Experience:

Dr. Hosein Ahmadi has cultivated a rich portfolio of academic and research experiences across diverse domains of plant sciences. His doctoral research has emphasized transcriptomics, small-RNA sequencing, and bioinformatics approaches for dissecting molecular pathways in Thymus species. International exposure, including a sabbatical fellowship at the University of Helsinki, further strengthened his expertise in omics technologies and molecular data analysis. He has contributed as a peer reviewer for globally recognized journals and actively participated in scientific congresses through oral presentations. His career reflects strong collaborations with international research teams, blending experimental horticulture with computational methods to address contemporary challenges.

Research Interest:

Dr. Hosein Ahmadi’s research interests span the molecular mechanisms underpinning plant secondary metabolism, genetic regulation of medicinal traits, and the application of omics tools in horticultural crop improvement. He investigates transcriptional networks, gene-miRNA interactions, and phytochemical diversity in medicinal plants, particularly Thymus species. His expertise extends to de novo transcriptome assembly, genome-wide association studies, and in-silico protein modeling. By integrating plant physiology with advanced bioinformatics, his research aims to identify molecular markers for breeding programs and to optimize phytochemical yields. His overarching goal is to bridge traditional horticulture with modern biotechnological innovations for sustainable agriculture and natural product discovery.

Awards and Honors:

Dr. Hosein Ahmadi has been consistently recognized for academic excellence and research distinction. He ranked at the very top in national entrance examinations for both doctoral and master’s programs in horticultural science. His outstanding performance has been rewarded with fellowships, tuition waivers, and national scholarships supporting his academic development. International recognition came through a competitive doctoral fellowship in Finland, which facilitated advanced research collaborations. Additionally, he has been honored for consistently graduating as the top student in his academic cohorts. These honors reflect his intellectual dedication, research excellence, and commitment to advancing horticultural and plant biotechnology sciences.

Publications:

Title: Optimizing an efficient ensemble approach for high-quality de novo transcriptome assembly of Thymus daenensis
Citation: 6
Year of Publication: 2023

Title: Modeling and optimizing concentration of exogenous γ-aminobutyric acid on NaCl-stressed pineapple mint Mentha suaveolens using response surface methodology
Citation: 9
Year of Publication: 2023

Title: Introducing three new fruit-scented mints to farmlands: Insights on drug yield, essential-oil quality, and antioxidant properties
Citation: 24
Year of Publication: 2022

Conclusion:

Dr. Hosein Ahmadi exemplifies a rising scholar whose blend of horticultural expertise, molecular research, and computational skills positions him as a leader in plant biotechnology. His achievements in education, research, and international collaborations demonstrate both intellectual rigor and innovative thinking. With a strong publication record, multiple awards, and recognition for academic excellence, he has made meaningful contributions to the advancement of plant sciences. His dedication to integrating traditional horticultural practices with cutting-edge biotechnology aligns with global priorities in sustainable agriculture and natural product research. Dr. Ahmadi’s career trajectory reflects promise, impact, and continued scholarly excellence.