Maimela Modiba | Agricultural | Best Researcher Award

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Mr. Maimela Modiba | Agricultural | Best Researcher Award

Student at Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences, South Africa.

🌱 Maimela Maxwell Modiba is a passionate PhD candidate in Plant Production at the Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences. With a solid foundation in crop and soil sciences, he specializes in climate-resilient farming, tillage management, and soil health. 🌾 His experience spans over two years of rigorous research, peer-reviewed publications, and international conference presentations. 📚 A committed mentor and educator, Modiba also brings valuable teaching experience in agricultural sciences. 🌍 He strives to promote sustainable agriculture across South Africa, combining scientific innovation with practical fieldwork. His collaborative spirit and analytical mindset make him a rising star in agro-research. 💡

Professional Profile:

Scopus

Suitability for Best Researcher Award – Maimela Maxwell Modiba

Maimela Maxwell Modiba is highly suitable for the Best Researcher Award, especially in the early-career category. As a dynamic Ph.D. candidate with a focused research trajectory in climate-resilient agriculture, Modiba has already made notable contributions through peer-reviewed publications, impactful fieldwork, and international conference presentations. His dedication to soil health and sustainable crop production aligns strongly with pressing global agricultural challenges, positioning him as a future leader in agro-environmental science.

🎓 Education and Experience

🎓 Education:

  • 📕 PhD in Plant Production – Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences (Expected April 2025)

  • 📗 MSc in Crop Production Engineering – Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences (2020)

  • 📘 BSc in Plant Production – University of Limpopo (2018)

💼 Experience:

  • 🧪 Student Researcher (2020–2023) – Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences

    • 🔬 Focus on soil tillage, soil organic carbon, and crop sustainability

    • 🧑‍🏫 Delivered lectures, conducted lab research, and collaborated in multi-person teams

    • 📊 Participated in both publicly and privately funded projects

📈 Professional Development

🧑‍🔬 Maxwell Modiba has demonstrated continued professional growth through hands-on research, academic presentation, and technical training. His participation in multiple international scientific conferences 🌍 highlights his commitment to staying informed and engaged with global agricultural challenges. 📢 He has gained practical experience in designing and conducting field experiments, laboratory analyses, and mentoring students in agricultural sciences. 📘 Additionally, he has honed his communication, planning, and problem-solving skills, contributing to academic teams and curriculum development. 💻 His AVCASA certification and business skills training further enhance his versatility, preparing him for leadership in sustainable agriculture and research innovation. 🌿

🔬 Research Focus Category

🌾 Maimela Maxwell Modiba’s research focus lies in Soil and Crop Production, with a particular emphasis on tillage management, soil health, and climate-resilient farming systems. His work explores the interaction between soil properties and agricultural practices, aiming to improve crop yields and environmental sustainability in sub-Saharan Africa. 🌍 He is especially passionate about conservation tillage and the long-term impact of farming methods on soil biodiversity and productivity. 🪱 His studies include earthworm populations, root growth, and moisture dynamics under varied tillage systems. 🌧️ His research contributes to shaping sustainable agricultural practices amid changing climate conditions. 🌱

🏅 Awards and Honors

  • 🥇 Dean’s Award – Best MSc Student

  • 📜 AVCASA Certificate – Basic Crop Protection

  • 💼 Basic Business Skills Certificate – Professional Development in Agri-business

Publication Top Notes

🌱 Impact of tillage practices and soil texture on soil health and earthworms in the Pannonian region: A comparative study from Austria and Hungary – Applied Soil Ecology (2025)

Conclusion

Though early in his career, Maxwell Modiba’s trajectory is exemplary of a rising research star. His strong scientific foundation, practical impact, and commitment to sustainable farming make him a deserving candidate for the Best Researcher Award. Recognizing his work at this stage will not only validate his achievements but also motivate further innovations in sustainable agriculture.

Aakansha Kanojia | Agricultural | Best Researcher Award

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Dr. Aakansha Kanojia | Agricultural | Best Researcher Award

Postdoctoral scientist at Center of Plant Systems Biology and Biotechnology, Bulgaria.

🌍Dr. Aakansha Kanojia is a highly accomplished postdoctoral scientist with extensive expertise in plant molecular biology, stress physiology, phenotyping, and omics-based data analysis. She holds a Ph.D. in Plant Physiology from Massey University and has made significant contributions to understanding plant responses to abiotic stress and ageing. Her work spans academia, industry, and collaborative EU-funded projects, focusing on advancing crop resilience to environmental challenges. Dr. Kanojia has an impressive track record of publications in prestigious journals, leadership roles in research projects, and international recognition for her science-art exhibitions and conference presentations.

Profile👤

Education 🎓

🎓Dr. Kanojia earned her Ph.D. in Plant Biology from Massey University, New Zealand (2013-2018), where her research unveiled the molecular and metabolic causes of stress tolerance loss in aging monocarpic plants. She holds an M.Sc. in Biotechnology from Bangalore University, India (2009-2011), and a B.Sc. in Chemistry (honors) with Biotechnology (subsidiary) from the Institute for Excellence in Higher Education, India (2006-2009). Her doctoral research integrated transcriptomics and metabolomics to explore plant stress responses, establishing her as a leader in plant physiology and molecular biology.

Experience💼

🩺Dr. Kanojia is a research scientist at CPSBB, Bulgaria (2019–present), leading projects on enhancing abiotic stress tolerance in crops using multi-omics analysis and seaweed biostimulants. She collaborated with BioAtlantis Ltd., Ireland (2019–2024), to study biostimulant-mediated crop resilience. Her academic tenure includes a visiting scientist role at the University of Potsdam, Germany (2015–2016), focusing on stress response in Arabidopsis mutants. She also demonstrated labs on plant biology and biochemistry at Massey University. Her efforts extend to sustainable agriculture through Aloe vera tissue culture techniques during her time at Grow Tips Biotech, India.

Research Interests 🔬

🔬Dr. Kanojia specializes in abiotic stress physiology, plant phenotyping, and metabolomics. Her work emphasizes enhancing stress tolerance in crops using seaweed-based biostimulants and comprehensive multi-omics analysis. She has led several EU-funded projects, such as RESIST and BOOSTER, focusing on drought tolerance and stress mitigation in crops like maize, tomato, and lettuce. Her contributions extend to plant aging and the role of reactive oxygen species, shedding light on the molecular mechanisms governing plant resilience under stress conditions.

Awards and Honors 🏆

🏆Dr. Kanojia has received multiple accolades, including the Massey University Doctoral Completion Grant and travel funding for presenting at international conferences. Her poster presentations have been featured at prestigious events like ComBio 2017 and the International Symposium on Plant Senescence (2019). She has also been recognized for her innovative science-art exhibitions organized by CPSBB during the European Researcher’s Night in 2020 and 2023. Her multidisciplinary achievements showcase her commitment to advancing plant science and engaging the public through creative dissemination.

Skills 🛠️

Dr. Kanojia is adept at phenotyping, genotyping, qRT-PCR, and library preparation for DNA and RNA sequencing. She is proficient in bioinformatics tools like Galaxy, MetaboAnalyst, and Genevestigator, alongside programming basics in RStudio. Her hands-on expertise spans plant tissue culture, greenhouse experiments, and transformation techniques in crops like maize and tomato. A strong communicator and leader, she excels in project planning and mentoring, while her analytical skills and multitasking ability make her an exceptional researcher.

Conclusion 🔚 

Dr. Aakansha Kanojia’s expertise, leadership in high-impact research, and commitment to science communication make her an outstanding candidate for the Best Researcher Award. Her innovative approach to plant science, combined with her contributions to both academia and industry, aligns well with the award’s objectives. Addressing the suggested areas for improvement could further elevate her influence and ensure long-term success in her field.

Publications Top Notes 📚

Molecular insights into plant–microbe interactions for sustainable remediation of contaminated environment

Authors: NR Rane, S Tapase, A Kanojia, A Watharkar, ES Salama, M Jang

Citations: 73

Year: 2022

Abiotic stress responses are governed by reactive oxygen species and age

Authors: A Kanojia, PP Dijkwel

Citations: 61

Year: 2018

An Ascophyllum nodosum-Derived Biostimulant Protects Model and Crop Plants from Oxidative Stress

Authors: NS Staykov, M Angelov, V Petrov, P Minkov, A Kanojia, KJ Guinan

Citations: 27

Year: 2020

Developmentally controlled changes during Arabidopsis leaf development indicate causes for loss of stress tolerance with age

Authors: A Kanojia, S Gupta, M Benina, AR Fernie, B Mueller-Roeber, T Gechev

Citations: 22

Year: 2020

Primary metabolic processes as drivers of leaf ageing

Authors: A Kanojia, DK Shrestha, PP Dijkwel

Citations: 15

Year: 2021

Constructed wetland system and its engineered designs for the treatment of textile industry effluent

Authors: BHJ Niraj R. Rane, Aakansha Kanojia, Swapnil M. Patil, Rahul Khandare, Kisan

Citations: 4

Year: 2023

Identification of Postharvest Senescence Regulators Through Map-Based Cloning Using Detached Arabidopsis Inflorescences as a Model Tissue

Authors: DA Hunter, R Jibran, P Dijkwel, D Chagné, K Sullivan, A Kanojia

Citations: 3

Year: 2018

Ethylene as a plant aging modulator

Authors: A Kanojia, X Xu, DP Paul

Citations: 2

Year: 2023

Physiological and molecular insights into the effect of a seaweed biostimulant on enhancing fruit yield and drought tolerance in tomato

Authors: K Aakansha, L Rafe, S Neerakkal, A Saleh, FJ Martínez-Rivas, AR Fernie

Year: 2024

Stress adaptation and ageing is controlled by senescence-inducing age-related changes in Arabidopsis thaliana: a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for a Ph.D.

Authors: A Kanojia

Year: 2018