Stefan Gordanic | Agronomy | Best Researcher Award

Dr Stefan Gordanic |  Agronomy |  Best Researcher Award

Research Associate at  Institute for Medicinal Plants Research “Dr Josif Pančic”,  Serbia

Stefan Gordanić is a researcher at the Institute for Medicinal Plants Research “Dr. Josif Pančić” in Belgrade, Republic of Serbia. He specializes in the study of medicinal plants and their potential therapeutic applications. Stefan is actively involved in scientific research and has contributed to the advancement of knowledge in the field of plant-based medicine. He is passionate about exploring the bioactive compounds found in medicinal plants and their impact on human health.

Profile:

Education:

  • 2018: Bachelor of Science in Agriculture (Crop Farming), University of Belgrade, Faculty of Agriculture, Belgrade, Serbia
  • 2018–2019: Master of Science in Agriculture (Land and Water Management), University of Belgrade, Faculty of Agriculture, Belgrade, Serbia
  • 2019–2024: Ph.D. Studies in Agronomy, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Belgrade, Serbia

Professional Experience:

  • 2018–2019: Agricultural Advisory Service, PSSS Loznica
  • 2019–2020: Zemun Polje (ZP) Maize Institute
  • 2020–Present: Institute for Medicinal Plant Research “Dr. J. Pancic”, Belgrade, Serbia

Progress in Research Position:

  • 2020–Present: Research Trainee, Institute for Medicinal Plant Research “Dr. J. Pancic”, Belgrade, Serbia
  • 2022–Present: Research Associate, Institute for Medicinal Plant Research “Dr. J. Pancic”, Belgrade, Serbia

Publication Top Notes:

  • The Natural Habitats, Nutrients, and Heavy Metal Status of Wild Steppe Peony Populations in Serbia
    Marković, T., Tanasić, B., Gordanić, S., Lukić, M., Radanović, D.
    Horticulturae, 2024, 10(9), 972.
  • Improvement in Sustainable Production of Medicinal Herbs-Mint, Lemon Balm, and Marshmallow
    Simić, D., Janković, S., Popović, V., Nikolić, D., Gordanić, S.
    Agriculture and Forestry, 2024, 70(2), pp. 49–59.
  • Nutritional and Phytochemical Comparative Analysis of Conventional/Organic Maize Grain Before and After Subjection to Accelerated Aging Test – A Preliminary Study
    Golijan Pantović, J., Petronijević, R., Gordanić, S., Lekić, S., Kostić, A.Ž.
    Notulae Botanicae Horti Agrobotanici Cluj-Napoca, 2024, 52(2), 13581.
  • A Detailed Survey of Agroecological Status of Allium ursinum Across the Republic of Serbia: Mineral Composition and Bioaccumulation Potential
    Gordanić, S.V., Kostić, A.Ž., Krstić, D., Marković, T., Moravčević, D.
    Heliyon, 2023, 9(11), e22134.
  • The Seed Traits Associated with Dormancy and Germination of Herbaceous Peonies, Focusing on Species Native in Serbia and China
    Marković, T., Prijić, Ž., Xue, J., Lukić, M., Gordanić, S.
    Horticulturae, 2022, 8(7), 585.
  • In Vitro Evaluation of Antioxidative Activities of the Extracts of Petals of Paeonia lactiflora and Calendula officinalis Incorporated in the New Forms of Biobased Carriers
    Batinić, P.M., Milošević, M.D., Lukić, M.M., Bugarski, B.M., Marković, T.Lj.
    Food and Feed Research, 2022, 49(1), pp. 23–35.
  • Phytochemical Characterization and Antioxidant Potential of Allium ursinum L. Cultivated on Different Soil Types – A Preliminary Study
    Stefan, G., Dragoja, R., Sandra, V., Đorđe, M., Aleksandar, Ž.K.
    Emirates Journal of Food and Agriculture, 2022, 34(11), pp. 904–914.
  • Seed Health Treatments in Organic Seed Production
    Golijan-Pantović, J., Sečanski, M., Gordanić, S.
    Agriculture and Forestry, 2022, 68(4), pp. 41–57.

 

Pothiyappan Karthik | Food Technology | Best Researcher Award

Assoc Prof Dr Pothiyappan Karthik |  Food Technology |  Best Researcher Award

Associate Professor & Head at  Karpagam Academy of Higher Education,  India

Dr. Pothiyappan Karthik is an Associate Professor and Head of the Department of Food Technology at Karpagam Academy of Higher Education. He earned his Ph.D. in Food Technology from the CSIR-Central Food Technological Research Institute (CFTRI) in Mysore and completed post-doctoral research at Zhejiang Gongshang University, China. Dr. Karthik has received the CSIR-Senior Research Fellowship and has led a major research project funded by the DST, amounting to Rs. 75 lakhs. He has published extensively with 24 journal articles and holds multiple patents in food technology.

Publication profile:

🎓 Academic Background:

Dr. Pothiyappan Karthik completed his Ph.D. in Food Technology at CSIR-Central Food Technological Research Institute, India. He pursued post-doctoral research at Zhejiang Gongshang University, China, in collaboration with the University of Leeds, UK. He has received the CSIR-Senior Research Fellowship and led a major research project funded by the DST, India.

🔬 Research Focus:

Dr. Karthik’s research centers on food technology, including:

  • Development of sustainable millet resources
  • Nanoencapsulation techniques for nutraceutical delivery
  • Biobased food packaging solutions

📚 Publications & Patents:

  • Citations: 2,475 (1,834 since 2019)
  • h-index: 15 (same since 2019)
  • i10-index: 17 (same since 2019)
  • Journals Published: 24, including notable works in Food Hydrocolloids and Food Science and Biotechnology.
  • Patents: 3 published, including innovations in food emulsifiers and probiotic drinks.

Publication Top Notes:

 

Maha Al-Zu’bi | Sustainable Agriculture | Women Researcher Award

Dr. Maha Al-Zu’bi | Sustainable Agriculture | Women Researcher Award

Regional Researcher- Sustainable and Resilient Water Systems at University of Calgary, Jordan

Maha Al-Zu’bi is a seasoned expert in managing international development projects with a strong background in environmental design and sustainability. With over 15 years of experience, she has led and contributed to high-impact initiatives across the Middle East and Central Asia. Her research interests include climate change governance and the energy-water-food nexus. Maha is dedicated to integrating innovative solutions and fostering collaboration to address pressing global challenges. 🌍💧🌱

Profile:

Educational Background:

Ph.D. in Environmental Design with a specialization in Energy Environmental Systems from the University of Calgary, Canada.

Professional Experience:

  • Over 15 years in managing public and internationally funded projects, including those funded by major organizations like the UNDP, GGGI, World Bank, and USAID.
  • Currently co-leading the CGIAR Regional Integrated Initiative “Fragility to Resilience in Central and West Asia and North Africa” and serving as a Regional Researcher at the International Water Management Institute.
  • Previously managed major research initiatives and climate change projects, such as the Global Research Initiative in Sustainable Low Carbon Unconventional Resources at the University of Calgary.

Research Interests:

Maha’s research focuses on climate change governance, green roof policy, and the energy-water-food nexus. She is passionate about proposing local climate policies and principles for climate change adaptation and mitigation, particularly in the Arab region. Her work emphasizes fostering interdisciplinary approaches to address complex environmental challenges.

Publication Top Notes:

  • SDG11–Sustainable Cities and Communities: Towards Inclusive, Safe, and Resilient Settlements
    M Al-Zu’bi, V Radovic
    Emerald Publishing Limited, 32, 2018
  • Water, Energy, and Rooftops: Integrating Green Roof Systems into Building Policies in the Arab Region
    M Al-Zu’bi, O Mansour
    Environment and Natural Resources Research, 7(2), 11-36, 2017
  • Jordan’s Climate Change Governance Framework: From Silos to an Intersectoral Approach
    M Al-Zu’bi
    Environment Systems and Decisions, 36, 277-301, 2016
  • African Perspectives on Climate Change Research
    M Al-Zu’bi, SW Dejene, J Hounkpè, OL Kupika, S Lwasa, M Mbenge, …
    Nature Climate Change, 12(12), 1078-1084, 2022
  • Water-Energy-Food-Climate Change Nexus in the Arab Cities: The Case of Amman City, Jordan
    M Al-Zu’bi
    University of Calgary, 2017
  • Shifting Waters: The Challenges of Transitioning from Freshwater to Treated Wastewater Irrigation in the Northern Jordan Valley
    MH Tawfik, H Al-Zawaidah, J Hoogesteger, M Al-Zu’bi, P Hellegers, …
    Water, 15(7), 1315, 2023
  • Strengthening Climate Security in the Middle East and North Africa Region
    P Laderach, DJ Merrey, F Schapendonk, B Dhehibi, S Ruckstuhl, …
    IWMI, 2022
  • Water, Energy and Food: The Problematic Aspects of the Transition from ‘Silo Approach’ to ‘Nexus Approach’ in the Arab Region
    M Al-Zu’bi, N Keough
    Water, Energy, Food and People Across the Global South: ‘The Nexus’ in an …, 2018
  • Towards Lower Greenhouse Gas Emissions Agriculture in North Africa Through Climate-Smart Agriculture: A Systematic Review
    Y Brouziyne, A El Bilali, T Epule Epule, V Ongoma, A Elbeltagi, J Hallam, …
    Climate, 11(7), 139, 2023
  • Application of Artificial Intelligence in Monitoring of Animal Health and Welfare
    AZA Ali, M Al-Zu’bi
    Indian Journal of Animal Research, 57(11), 1550-1555, 2023
  • Hydrological Modelling for Reservoir Operation: Application of SWAT Model for Kalu Ganga Catchment, Sri Lanka
    GAT Madushanka, KDW Nandalal, LP Muthuwatta
    ENGINEER, 55(03), 29-41, 2022
  • One Hundred Priority Questions for the Development of Sustainable Food Systems in Sub-Saharan Africa
    AJM Devenish, P Schmitter, NP Jellason, N Esmail, NM Abdi, SK Adanu, …
    Land, 12(10), 1879, 2023
  • Climate Security in the MENA Region
    P Läderach, DJ Merrey, F Schapendonk, B Dhehibi, S Ruckstuhl, …
    2022
  • SDG11 and the Associated Challenges to Implementation
    M Al-Zu’bi, V Radovic
    SDG11–Sustainable Cities and Communities: Towards Inclusive, Safe, and …, 2018
  • Cities and Key Interactions
    M Al-Zu’bi, V Radovic
    SDG11–Sustainable Cities and Communities: Towards Inclusive, Safe, and …, 2018
  • Mapping SDG Stories
    M Al-Zu’bi, V Radovic
    SDG11–Sustainable Cities and Communities: Towards Inclusive, Safe, and …, 2018

 

Maryam Yousefi | Sustainable Agriculture | Best Researcher Award

Dr Maryam Yousefi |  Sustainable Agriculture |  Best Researcher Award

Postdoc at  ZALF,  Germany

Dr. Maryam Yousefi is a prominent researcher specializing in environmental science and agricultural sustainability. She is currently a postdoctoral researcher at the Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF) in Berlin, Germany, focusing on “Living Labs in Agricultural Landscapes” under the supervision of Prof. Frank Ewert. Previously, she worked at ETH Zurich’s Institute of Terrestrial Ecosystems, where she explored “Enhancing biodiversity & resilience in crop production,” supervised by Prof. Jaboury Ghazoul and Prof. Johan Six.

Profile:

🎓 Education:

  • Ph.D. in Environmental Science
    Shahid Beheshti University, Iran
    2015-2021

    • Visitor, Autonomous University of Barcelona, Spain (2018-2019)
  • M.S. in Natural Resource Engineering – Land Use Planning and Assessment
    Birjand University, Iran
    2010-2012
  • B.S. in Natural Resource Engineering – Environmental Science
    Hakim Sabzevari University, Iran
    2008-2010
  • A.S. in Environmental Science
    Birjand University, Iran
    2004-2006

🏆 Honors and Awards:

  1. Ranked 1st among B.S. students in Environmental Science, Hakim Sabzevari University.
  2. Granted direct admission to M.S. program by Birjand University’s Talent Student Office.
  3. Active member of the Young Researchers Club (2010-2018).
  4. Ranked 3rd among ~2000 participants in the Iranian Ph.D. entrance exam.

🔬 Academic and Project Experience:

  • Collaborator – Environmental Impact Assessment Guidelines (Iran)
    2020-2021
  • Project Manager – Agricultural Planning (Qazvin Province, Iran)
    2020
  • Project Manager – Land Use Planning (Gilan & Qazvin Provinces, Iran)
    2015-2018
  • Research Assistant – Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran
    2016-2017
  • Lecturer – Payam Noor University, Iran
    2013

🌿 Sustainable Agriculture Research Focus:

    • Biodiversity & Resilience: Enhancing biodiversity and resilience in crop production systems to improve sustainability and productivity.
    • Ecosystem Services: Evaluating and optimizing ecosystem services provided by agricultural landscapes, such as pest control and soil health.
    • Agri-environmental Schemes: Assessing the effectiveness of intercropping and other agri-environmental schemes to support sustainable farming practices.
    • Living Labs: Implementing and studying living labs in agricultural landscapes to test and promote sustainable agricultural practices.
    • Landscape Ecological Modeling: Using landscape ecological models to understand and manage landscape carrying capacity and environmental impacts of agricultural activities.
    • Social-Ecological Systems: Exploring the interactions between social and ecological systems to develop integrated approaches for sustainable land use and management.

Citations:

  • Total Citations: 255
  • Citations Since 2019: 235
  • h-index: 9
  • i10-index: 9

Publication Top Notes:

  • Modelling Landscape Ecological Assessments of Land Use and Cover Change Scenarios: Application to the Bojnourd Metropolitan Area (NE Iran)
    • Authors: A Darvishi, M Yousefi, J Marull
    • Journal: Land Use Policy
    • Citations: 62
    • Year: 2020
  • Convenient Landfill Site Selection by Using Fuzzy Logic and Geographic Information Systems: A Case Study in Bardaskan, East of Iran
    • Authors: A Khorram, M Yousefi, SA Alavi, J Farsi
    • Journal: Health Scope
    • Citations: 45
    • Year: 2015
  • Land Use Change Detection Using Remote Sensing and Artificial Neural Network: Application to Birjand, Iran
    • Authors: M Ahmadizadeh, M Yousefi
    • Journal: Computational Ecology and Software
    • Citations: 28
    • Year: 2014
  • An Energy-Landscape Integrated Analysis to Evaluate Agroecological Scarcity
    • Authors: M Yousefi, A Darvishi, R Padró, S Barghjelveh, NM Dinan, J Marull
    • Journal: Science of the Total Environment
    • Citations: 21
    • Year: 2020
  • Assessing Levels, Trade-offs, and Synergies of Landscape Services in the Iranian Province of Qazvin: Towards Sustainable Landscapes
    • Authors: A Darvishi, M Yousefi, NM Dinan, P Angelstam
    • Journal: Landscape Ecology
    • Citations: 16
    • Year: 2022
  • Comparison of Two Biophysical Indicators Under Different Landscape Complexity
    • Authors: M Yousefi, A Darvishi, E Tello, S Barghjelveh, NM Dinan, J Marull
    • Journal: Ecological Indicators
    • Citations: 14
    • Year: 2021
  • Assessment and Spatial Planning of Landscape Ecological Connectivity for Biodiversity Management (Case Study: Qazvin Province)
    • Authors: A Darvishi, NM Dinan, S Barghjelveh, M Yousefi
    • Journal: Iranian Journal of Applied Ecology
    • Citations: 14
    • Year: 2020
  • Investigating the Effect of Socio-economic Disturbance Resulting from Human Activities on Landscape Ecological Function Using HANPP Index (Case Study: Qazvin Province)
    • Authors: A Darvishi, M Yousefi, NM Mobarghei Dinan
    • Journal: Journal of Natural Environment
    • Citations: 13
    • Year: 2020
  • Evaluating the Correlation Between Pollination Ecosystem Service and Landscape Pattern Metrics (Case Study: Qazvin Province)
    • Authors: A Darvishi, M Yousefi, DN Mobargae
    • Journal: Iranian Journal of Applied Ecology
    • Citations: 10
    • Year: 2021
  • Assessment of Light Pollution in Bojnord City Using Remote Sensing Data
    • Authors: A Khorram, M Yousefi, M Fardad
    • Journal: International Journal of Environmental Health Engineering
    • Citations: 6
    • Year: 2014