Dr. Zafar Iqbal | Molecular Biology | Research Excellence Award

Published on by Life Science

Dr. Zafar Iqbal | Molecular Biology | Research Excellence Award

King Faisal University | Saudi Arabia

Dr. Zafar Iqbal is a biotechnologist and academic researcher with extensive expertise in plant molecular virology, biotechnology, and bioinformatics. He obtained his PhD in Biotechnology from the Pakistan Institute of Engineering and Applied Sciences in collaboration with the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, following advanced degrees in biochemistry. Currently serving as Assistant Professor at Central Laboratories, King Faisal University, Saudi Arabia, he brings over a decade of experience in university-level teaching, research leadership, laboratory quality management, and international collaboration. His research interests encompass plant–virus–vector interactions, whole-genome and microbiome sequencing, CRISPR/Cas-based resistance development, nanoparticle-mediated stress mitigation, biofuels, and sustainable agricultural innovations. He has led and contributed to more than 25 funded research projects, including prestigious RDIA support for establishing a Hi-Tech Next Generation Sequencing facility, and has published extensively in high-impact international journals with more than 1100 citations. Dr. Iqbal actively contributes to the scientific community as a peer reviewer, trainer, and mentor, while playing key roles in ISO 17025 laboratory quality systems and capacity-building programs. Through an integrated approach combining molecular biology, computational analysis, and applied biotechnology, he continues to advance translational life science research and sustainable solutions for agriculture and environmental resilience.

View ORCID Profile

Featured Publications

Mr. Kamran Haider | Life Sciences Innovation | Young Researcher Award

Published on by Life Science

Mr. Kamran Haider | Life Sciences Innovation | Young Researcher Award

Huazhong Agricultural University | Wuhan, China

Kamran Haider is an emerging researcher in agricultural entomology with a strong focus on insect–plant interactions, biological control, and molecular approaches for pest management. He completed his M.Sc. (Hons.) in Agriculture Entomology and B.Sc. (Hons.) in Agricultural Sciences from the University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, where his research centered on the management of Fall armyworm using sodium silicate and Trichogramma integration for sustainable maize protection. Kamran gained international research exposure as a Research Trainee at Huazhong Agricultural University, China, working on insect–plant molecular interactions and gaining practical skills in insect rearing, RNA/DNA extraction, cDNA synthesis, RNA interference, and gel electrophoresis. His additional experience includes internships in pest monitoring, pesticide quality analysis, and field surveys using modern diagnostic tools. He has co-authored research and review papers on topics such as silicon-based insect management, plant melatonin metabolism, and the role of gut microbiota in insect immunity and adaptation. Kamran has completed several certified courses in plant bioinformatics and insect biology and participated in international scientific conferences and workshops. He has received academic awards, including scholarship support and recognition for scientific engagement. He aims to contribute to innovative pest management strategies and sustainable agriculture through advanced entomological research.

Profile: Google Scholar 

Featured Publications

Ahmed, W., Safdar, U., Ali, A., Haider, K., Tahir, N., Sajid, S., Ahmad, M., … (2022). Sustainable water use in agriculture: A review of worldwide research. [Journal name and volume not provided].

Ikram, M., Mehran, M., ur Rehman, H., Ullah, S., Bakhsh, M. Z. M., Tahira, M., … (2024). Mechanistic review of melatonin metabolism and signaling pathways in plants: Biosynthesis, regulation, and roles under abiotic stress. Plant Stress, 14, 100685.

Zaib, M., Aryan, M., Khaliq, A., Haider, K., Ahmad, S., Zeeshan, A., Haq, E. U., … (2023). Essential insights for effective environmental management and human well-being: Strategies for remediation in soil-plant-environment systems. Journal of Asian Development Studies, 12(3), 1453–1469.

Zaib, M., Farooq, U., Adnan, M., Sajjad, S., Abbas, Z., Haider, K., Khan, N., … (2022). Remediation of saline soils by application of biochar: A review. Journal of Environmental and Agricultural Sciences, 24, 29–36.

Zaib, M., Farooq, U., Adnan, M., Abbas, Z., Haider, K., Muhay-Ul-Din, M. F., … (2023). Water stress in crop plants: Implications for sustainable agriculture. Journal of Environmental and Agricultural Sciences, 25(1), [page numbers not provided].

Haider, K., Abbas, D., Galian, J., Ghafar, M. A., Kabir, K., Ijaz, M., Hussain, M., … (2025). The multifaceted roles of gut microbiota in insect physiology, metabolism, and environmental adaptation: Implications for pest management strategies. World Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology, 41(3), 75.

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

Published on by Life Science

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

Published on by Life Science

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.].