Dr. Pricilla Mbiri | Molecular Biology | Research Excellence Award

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Dr. Pricilla Mbiri | Molecular Biology | Research Excellence Award

University of Namibia | Namibia

Dr. Pricilla Mbiri is a Namibian-based veterinarian and academic with over seventeen years of progressive experience in animal disease control, veterinary public health, and One Health research. She holds a Bachelor of Veterinary Science (University of Zimbabwe), an MSc in Animal/Human/Ecosystem Health (University of Pretoria), and is completing a PhD in One Health, complemented by a 2024 certificate in Health & Veterinary Professions Education. Her career spans service as a State Veterinarian in disease surveillance, FMD and CBPP control, rabies education, and export abattoir operations before transitioning to academia as a Senior Lecturer at the University of Namibia. She has made significant contributions in curriculum development, research-led teaching, student mentorship, and bioinformatics capacity building through the Centre of Excellence in One Health. Her research focuses on tick-borne zoonotic pathogens, molecular diagnostics, antimicrobial resistance, and livestock health, with multiple peer-reviewed publications and ongoing manuscripts. As a recognized leader, she has coordinated national rabies campaigns, contributed to policy development, and supported laboratory and field investigations. She continues to advance veterinary public health through interdisciplinary research and capacity building, aiming to strengthen Namibia’s preparedness for zoonotic threats and enhance One Health collaboration.

Profile:

  • DNA Structure and Function

Featured Publications

Mbiri, P., Muleya, W., Moyo, E., Samkange, A., Matomola, O. C., Charamba, V., Ujava, U., Hoebes, E. E., Chitate, F., Neshindo, F. W. T., et al. (2025). Molecular detection and prevalence of Coxiella burnetii in ticks from Namibia: A regional and genus-specific analysis. Pathogens.

Samkange, A., Chitanga, S., Mbiri, P., Matomola, O. C., Neves, L., & Matjila, P. T. (2025). Molecular investigation of Neospora caninum in cattle in the Khomas region of Namibia. Onderstepoort Journal of Veterinary Research.

Mbiri, P., Matomola, O. C., Muleya, W., Mhuulu, L., Diegaardt, A., Noden, B. H., Changula, K., Chimwamurombe, P., Matos, C., Weiss, S., et al. (2024). Molecular detection and characterization of Rickettsia species in ixodid ticks from selected regions of Namibia. Microorganisms.

Samkange, A., Mbiri, P., Matomola, O. C., Zaire, G., Homateni, A., Junias, E., Kaatura, I., Khaiseb, S., Ekandjo, S., Shoopala, J., et al. (2024). Serological evidence of Crimean–Congo haemorrhagic fever in livestock in the Omaheke region of Namibia. Microorganisms.

Kandiwa, E., Mbiri, P., Samkange, A., Madzingira, O., Maseke, A., Kamwi, J. A., & Mushonga, B. (2021). Causes, dynamics and financial losses associated with red offal condemnation at a beef abattoir in Namibia. Journal of Food Safety and Hygiene.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Meryem Şenay Şengül Demirak | Molecular Biology | Women Researcher Award

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Assoc. Prof. Dr. Meryem Şenay Şengül Demirak | Molecular Biology | Women Researcher Award

Tokat Gaziosmanpaşa University | Turkey

M. Senay Sengul Demirak, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor of Molecular Biology and Genetics with expertise in insect molecular genetics, chemical ecology, and molecular systematics. She completed a Ph.D. in Biochemistry from Virginia Tech and advanced postdoctoral training in Chemical Ecology at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, where she worked on mosquito olfaction, odorant-binding proteins, and vector biology. Her academic career includes faculty roles in molecular biology laboratories, extensive teaching at graduate and undergraduate levels, and coordination responsibilities in international research and exchange programs. She has contributed to multiple research projects supported by national and international funding bodies, including NIH, FORMAS, TUBITAK, and university research coordination units, with a focus on mosquito genomics, barcoding genes, OBP gene characterization, and molecular identification of insects and macrofungi. She has supervised graduate theses in molecular taxonomy and insect genetics and has received recognitions such as scholarships from Virginia Tech, Keystone Symposia, and the Scientific and Technical Research Council of Turkey. Her research aims to advance molecular tools for species identification and genetic analysis that support disease vector management and biodiversity studies. She remains dedicated to developing molecular biology capacity and fostering collaborative research in vector biology and genomics.

Profile:  Google Scholar 

Featured Publications

Şengül Demirak, M. Ş., & Canpolat, E. (2022). Plant-based bioinsecticides for mosquito control: Impact on insecticide resistance and disease transmission. Insects, 13(2), 162.

Sengul, M. S., & Tu, Z. (2010). Identification and characterization of odorant-binding protein 1 gene from the Asian malaria mosquito, Anopheles stephensi. Insect Molecular Biology, 19(1), 49–60.

Sengul, M. S., & Tu, Z. (2010). Expression analysis and knockdown of two antennal odorant-binding protein genes in Aedes aegypti. Journal of Insect Science, 10(1), 171.

Sengul, M. S., & Tu, Z. (2008). Characterization and expression of the odorant-binding protein 7 gene in Anopheles stephensi and comparative analysis among five mosquito species. Insect Molecular Biology, 17(6), 631–645.

Şengül Demirak, M. Ş., Işık, H., & Türkekul, İ. (2022). Molecular and morphological identification of Cortinarius eucaeruleus Rob. Henry (Subgenus Phlegmacium) from Türkiye. Anatolian Journal of Botany, 6(1), 27–33.

Demirak, M. Ş. Ş., & Türkekul, İ. (2021). Cortinarius lilacinovelatus (Agaricales, Cortinariaceae) – A new record for Turkey. Nova Hedwigia, 113(1–2), 217–227.

Sengul Demirak, M. S., Turkekul, I., & Isik, H. (2021). Conocybe romagnesii and Gerronema subclavatum (Basidiomycota: Agaricales) in the Central Black Sea Region of Turkey. Nordic Journal of Botany, 39(12).

Demirak, M. Ş. Ş., Işık, H., & Türkekul, İ. (2020). Morphological and molecular phylogeny of Cortinarius rufo-olivaceus (Pers.) Fr. (Subgenus Phlegmacium sect. Calochroi) collected from Tokat region. Kahramanmaraş Sütçü İmam Üniversitesi Tarım ve Doğa Dergisi, 23(3), 600–605.

Jayateertha Diwan | Genetics | Best Researcher Award

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Dr. Jayateertha Diwan | Genetics | Best Researcher Award

University of Agricultural Sciences | India

Dr. Jayateertha R. Diwan has made exceptional contributions to agricultural genetics and plant breeding, focusing on rice crop improvement, molecular breeding, and the integration of genomic tools in agronomic research. His Scopus profile lists an h-index of 5, over 17 peer-reviewed documents, and more than 98 citations, reflecting his strong scientific influence in plant molecular genetics and crop biotechnology. He has published widely in reputed journals such as Frontiers in Physiology, Crop and Pasture Science, and Current Genetics, with recent papers addressing genome-wide association studies, quantitative trait loci mapping, and the genetic basis of stress tolerance and nutrient efficiency in rice. He has also authored book chapters on genome editing and phytoremediation and participated in collaborative projects with institutions including the Centre for DNA Fingerprinting and Diagnostics, Hyderabad. Beyond his research output, Dr. Diwan has guided numerous postgraduate and doctoral students and led nationally funded projects from DST-SERB, DBT, and RKVY focusing on molecular characterization and sustainable agricultural systems. His consistent record of scholarly excellence, mentorship, and scientific leadership places him among the leading researchers in the field of genetics and plant breeding in India.

Profiles: Scopus | Orcid | Google Scholar

Featured Publications

Diwan, J. R., Mahadevaswamy, Patil, S., Bhanu, D., Devi, K. L., Hegde, S. N., Krishnaraj, P. U., Namitha, R., Pradhan, B. B., & Vashisht, D. (2025). Genome characterization of Acinetobacter species from the rice rhizosphere: A potential plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR).

Kavyashree, N. M., Diwan, J. R., Mahantashivayogayya, K., Lokesha, R., & Naik, N. M. Micro-morphological diversity of rice (Oryza sativa L.) as seen under foldscope.

Kariyanna, B., Prabhuraj, A., Mohan, M., Bheemanna, M., Kalmath, B., Pampanna, Y., & Diwan, J. R. Insecticide usage pattern and evolution of resistance in eggplant shoot and fruit borer, Leucinodes orbonalis Guenée (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) in India. ,

Umar Farooq, M. S., Diwan, J. R., Mahantashivayogayya, K., Kulkarni, V. V., & Shakuntala, N. M. Genetic evaluation of rice (Oryza sativa L.) genotypes for yield and nutritional quality traits. Journal of Experimental Biology and Agricultural Sciences,

Muniswamy, S., Lokesha, R., Yamanura, R., Ramesh, R., & Diwan, J. R. Stability for disease, genotype × environment interaction for yield and its components in pigeonpea [Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp.].

Andrea Smidler | Gene Editing | Best Researcher Award

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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.