Somanatha Jena | Biotechnology | Best Researcher Award

Published on by Life Science

Dr. Somanatha Jena | Biotechnology | Best Researcher Award

Trident Academy of Creative Technology | India

Dr. Somanatha Jena is a highly accomplished researcher in plant biotechnology with a strong record of publications, patents, and academic leadership. His research focuses on plant genetic engineering, plant–microbe interactions, and the development of bioactive compounds with antidiabetic and antioxidative properties. With an h-index of 6, 38 documents, and over 168 citations, his scholarly influence is recognized across international platforms. He has authored multiple papers in reputed journals such as Current Science, Physiologia Plantarum, and Plant Cell, Tissue and Organ Culture (Springer Nature), demonstrating consistent contributions to sustainable agriculture and medicinal plant biotechnology. Dr. Jena’s innovations are further reflected in two Indian patent publications (2025), emphasizing his translational research capabilities. His academic career spans over a decade, serving as an Assistant Professor at the Trident Academy of Creative Technology and previously as Research Associate at ICAR-NRRI, Cuttack. He has guided 58 students through B.Sc. and M.Sc. dissertations and coordinated national workshops supported by DST-SERB. His research impact, reflected in publication quality, citation strength, and interdisciplinary reach, positions him as a promising leader in biotechnological innovations aimed at improving crop resilience, health-promoting natural products, and environmental sustainability.

Featured Publications

Priyadarshini, S., Sulava, S., Bhol, R., & Jena, S. (2019). Green synthesis of silver nanoparticles using Azadirachta indica and Ocimum sanctum leaf extract: Optimization of the process and anti-microbial activity against bacterial pathogens causing urinary tract infections. Current Science, 117(8), 1300–1307.

Sarangi, A., Jena, S., Sarangi, A. K., & Swain, B. (2013). Anti-diabetic effects of Withania somnifera root and leaf extracts on streptozotocin induced diabetic rats. Journal of Cell and Tissue Research, 13(1), 3597–3601.

Panda, A., Jena, S., Sahu, P. K., Nayak, S., & Padhi, P. (2013). Effect of polyherbal mixtures on the treatment of diabetes. International Scholarly Research Notices, 2013(1), 934797.

Sahu, L., Jena, S., Swain, S. S., Sahoo, S., & Chand, P. K. (2013). Agrobacterium rhizogenes-mediated transformation of a multi-medicinal herb, Boerhaavia diffusa L.: Optimization of the process and anti-microbial activity against bacterial pathogens causing urinary tract infections. Frontiers in Life Science, 7(3–4), 197–209.

Das, B. C., Panda, A., Sahoo, P. K., Jena, S., & Padhi, P. (2014). Effect of chromium (VI) on wheat seedlings and the role of chelating agents. Current Science, 106(10), 1387–1393.

Andrea Smidler | Gene Editing | Best Researcher Award

Published on by Life Science

Dr. Andrea Smidler | Gene Editing | Best Researcher Award

University of California San Diego | United States

Dr. Andrea L. Smidler is an accomplished molecular entomologist and genetic engineer whose research focuses on innovative CRISPR-based tools for vector control, particularly in Anopheles gambiae, the primary malaria vector. According to her Scopus profile (Author ID: 36626227000), she has published 18 scientific documents, achieving an impressive h-index of 14 and accumulating over 2008 citations, reflecting her growing influence in genetic biocontrol research. Her recent high-impact works include “Engineering gene drive docking sites in a haplolethal locus in Anopheles gambiae” (Scientific Reports, 2025), “CRISPR technologies for the control and study of malaria-transmitting Anopheline mosquitoes” (Parasites and Vectors, 2025), and “Eliminating malaria vectors with precision guided sterile males” (PNAS, 2024). Through collaborations with leading scientists such as Omar Akbari, George Church, and Flaminia Catteruccia, Dr. Smidler has advanced CRISPR-mediated gene drive and sterilization systems that aim to eradicate malaria at its source. Her consistent publication record across top-tier journals—including Science, PNAS, and Cell—and her citation metrics underscore her pioneering contributions to synthetic biology, public health genetics, and entomological engineering. Dr. Smidler continues to be a key innovator in developing genetic solutions for vector-borne disease elimination.

Featured Publications

Smidler, A., Abernathy, D., Marrogi, E., Mameli, E., Akbari, O., Church, G., Esvelt, K., & Catteruccia, F. (2025, October 8). Engineering gene drive docking sites in a haplolethal locus in Anopheles gambiae. Scientific Reports.

Smidler, A., & Akbari, O. (2025, July 3). CRISPR technologies for the control and study of malaria-transmitting Anopheline mosquitoes. Parasites and Vectors.

Gendron, W. A. C., Raban, R., Mondal, A., Sánchez, C. H. M., Smidler, A., Zilberman, D., Ilboudo, P. G., D’Alessandro, U., Marshall, J. M., & Akbari, O. S. (2025, July 18). Evaluating the cost of malaria elimination by Anopheles gambiae precision guided SIT in the Upper River region, The Gambia. PLOS Global Public Health.

Smidler, A., Apte, R., Pai, J., Chow, M., Chen, S., Antoshechkin, I., & Akbari, O. (2024, June 25). Eliminating malaria vectors with precision guided sterile males. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS).

Smidler, A., Marrogi, E., Kauffman, J., Paton, D., Westervelt, K., Church, G., Esvelt, K., Shaw, W., & Catteruccia, F. (2024, February 19). CRISPR-mediated germline knockouts for genetic sterilization of male Anopheles gambiae. Scientific Reports.