Saurabh Shekhar | Fertilizer Production | Best Researcher Award

Dr Saurabh Shekhar | Fertilizer Production | Best Researcher Award

Scientist at  CSIR-NML,  India

Dr. Saurabh Shekhar is a Senior Scientist in the Metal Extraction & Recycling Division at the CSIR-National Metallurgical Laboratory (CSIR-NML), Jamshedpur, India. With over a decade of experience in metallurgical research, he specializes in metal extraction, material synthesis, and waste management.

 

Publication Profile

Education:

  • Ph.D.: Materials and Metallurgical Engineering (CSIR-NML, AcSIR, 2023).
  • M.Tech: Materials and Metallurgical Engineering, specializing in Mineral Processing (CSIR-NML, AcSIR, 2014).
  • B.E.: Chemical Engineering (Haldia Institute of Technology, 2011).

Professional Achievements:

  • Research Funding: Successfully led 34 projects (18 completed, 16 ongoing) with a cumulative budget exceeding ₹10 crore.
  • Publications: Authored 13 SCI-indexed publications and over 10 conference proceedings.
  • Patents: Holder of 13 patents, including 4 granted.
  • Technology Transfer: Successfully transferred one innovative technology.

Awards and Recognition:

  • National Innovation Award (NRDC, 2020): Recognized for technology transfer with a ₹5 lakh prize.
  • S. Banerjee Award (2020): For excellence in in-house projects.
  • Additional Honors: Nine paper and poster awards at prestigious conferences such as NMD, MPT, and MetWaste.

Dr. Saurabh’s groundbreaking contributions to metallurgical science and his focus on sustainable practices make him a leader in his field.

Citation Metrics:

  • Publications: 13 SCI-indexed papers with 171 citations (156 since 2019).
  • h-index: 7 (since 2019: 7)
  • i10-index: 6 (since 2019: 6)
  • Patents: Filed 13 patents, with 4 granted.

Publication Top Note:

  • Physical and chemical characterization and recovery of potash fertilizer from glauconitic clay for agricultural application
    Applied Clay Science, 143, 50-56, 2017. (Citations: 55)
  • Physico-chemical treatment of glauconitic sandstone to recover potash and magnetite
    Journal of Cleaner Production, 147, 681-693, 2017. (Citations: 41)
  • A sustainable process for recovery of potash fertilizer from glauconite through simultaneous production of pigment grade red oxide
    Sustainable Materials and Technologies, 23, e00129, 2020. (Citations: 19)
  • Phosphonomethyl iminodiacetic acid functionalized metal organic framework supported PAN composite beads for selective removal of La(III) from wastewater: Adsorptive study
    Journal of Hazardous Materials, 425, 127802, 2022. (Citations: 18)
  • Valorisation of waste galvanizing dross: Emphasis on recovery of zinc with zero effluent strategy
    Journal of Environmental Management, 256, 109985, 2020. (Citations: 11)
  • Study of process efficiency for high-ash fine coal cleaning in a Kelsey centrifugal jig
    International Journal of Coal Preparation and Utilization, 38(5), 250-259, 2018. (Citations: 11)
  • Extraction of manganese through baking-leaching technique from high iron containing manganese sludge
    Materials Today: Proceedings, 46(3), 1499-1504, 2021. (Citations: 7)
  • Simultaneous extraction of copper and iron from chalcopyrite concentrate via surfactant-assisted chlorination leaching
    Materials Today: Proceedings, 2023. (Citations: 3)
  • Petro-Mineralogical and Geochemical Evaluation of Glauconitic Rocks of the Ukra Member (Bhuj Formation), Kutch Basin, India
    Clays and Clay Minerals, 70(1), 135-153, 2022. (Citations: 3)
  • Recovery of zinc as zinc phosphate and by-products from hydrometallurgical treatment of hot-dip galvanizing (Zn-Al) dross
    Materials Today: Proceedings, 46, 1532-1536, 2021. (Citations: 3)
  • A Clean Process for the Recovery of Potash Fertilizer from Glauconitic Rock via Hydrogen Gas Pre-treatment and Mild Acid Leaching
    JOM, 76(7), 3343-3353, 2024.
  • A clean process for the recovery of iron as value-added product from highly acidic chloride leach solution
    Materials Today: Proceedings, 2023.
  • Emulsion Mediated Low Temperature Pressure Leaching of Base Metals from Mixed Sulfide Minerals Through Enhanced Oxygen Mass Transfer
    Extraction 2018: Proceedings of the First Global Conference on Extractive Metallurgy, 2018.

 

Jörg Rinklebe | Fertility Management | Best Researcher Award

Prof. Dr Jörg Rinklebe |  Fertility Management |  Best Researcher Award

Professor at  Bergische Universität Wuppertal, Germany

Dr. Jörg Rinklebe is a distinguished Professor of Soil- and Groundwater-Management at the University of Wuppertal, Germany, with significant contributions to environmental science and biogeochemistry. Renowned for his expertise in soil and groundwater pollution, remediation technologies, and the biogeochemistry of trace elements, Prof. Rinklebe’s innovative research focuses on soils, sediments, waters, and plants, particularly under varying redox conditions.

 

Publication Profile

Education:

Ph.D. in Soil Science
UFZ Centre for Environmental Research Leipzig-Halle GmbH & Martin-Luther-University of Halle-Wittenberg, Germany
12/1997 – 08/2000

  • Thesis (4/2004): “Differentiation of floodplain soils of the Central Elbe River and quantification of the impact of their soil properties on the soil microbial biomass and the soil enzyme activities of ß-glucosidase, protease, and alkaline phosphatase”
  • Grade: Summa cum Laude

Diploma in Soil Science and Land Use
Martin-Luther-University of Halle-Wittenberg, Germany
09/1993 – 08/1997

  • Thesis: “The impact of arable and forest land use on soil and vegetation”
  • Major Subjects: Soil Science & Soil Protection, Plant Nutrition & Fertilization, Landscape Planning & Land Use
  • Obligatory Subjects: Forestry, Ecological Agriculture, Waste Management
  • Additional Subject: Botany

Visiting Student
University of Edinburgh, Scotland, U.K.
1992 – 1993

  • Courses: Ecological Systems, Ecophysiology, Forest Tree Species

Professional Experience:

Full Professor
Soil- and Groundwater-Management, University of Wuppertal, Germany
10/2010 – Present (Lifetime Appointment)

Associate Professor
Soil- and Groundwater-Management, University of Wuppertal, Germany
10/2006 – 10/2010

Senior Scientist & Project Leader
Department of Soil Chemistry, UFZ Centre for Environmental Research Leipzig-Halle GmbH
06/2005 – 09/2006

Scientist & Project Leader
Department of Soil Science, UFZ Centre for Environmental Research Leipzig-Halle GmbH
10/2001 – 09/2005

Research Associate
Department of Soil Science, UFZ Centre for Environmental Research Leipzig-Halle GmbH
12/1997 – 08/2000

Scientist & Project Manager
Institute of Soil Science and Site Research, Technical University of Dresden, Tharandt
10/1997 – 12/1997

Researcher
Institute of Soil Science and Plant Nutrition, Agricultural Faculty, Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg
11/1997

Researcher
Institute of Soil Science and Site Research, Technical University of Dresden, Tharandt
05/1997 – 08/1997

Key Achievements:

  • Highly Cited Researcher (2019-2022) by ISI Web of Science.
  • President (2022-2023) of the International Society of Trace Element Biogeochemistry (ISTEB).
  • Published 573 articles with over 40,500 citations and an h-index of 104 (as of Nov 2024).
  • Authored impactful books, including Trace Elements in Waterlogged Soils and Sediments (2016) and Soil and Groundwater Remediation Technologies (2020).

Editorial Leadership:

Prof. Rinklebe serves as the Editor-in-Chief of Environmental Pollution and has held prominent editorial roles in Critical Reviews in Environmental Science and Technology and the Journal of Hazardous Materials. He is also a member of editorial boards for leading journals, such as Geoderma and Ecotoxicology.

Research Focus:

  • Environmental pollution, including PFAS, rare earth elements, and heavy metals.
  • Redox chemistry in soils and sediments.
  • Biochar applications in remediation.
  • Soil microbiology and nutrient cycling.

Global Recognition:

  • Delivered plenary and keynote speeches at international conferences, emphasizing sustainable solutions to pollution and ecosystem health.
  • Honored as an Ambassador for Gangwon Province, Korea, and holds adjunct and visiting professorships in Australia, South Korea, and China.

Prof. Rinklebe’s work bridges science and policy, contributing to advancements in sustainable environmental management and the mitigation of global pollution challenges.

Citation Metrics:

  • Total Citations: 49,442
    • Since 2019: 44,729
  • h-index: 116
    • Since 2019: 113
  • i10-index: 477
    • Since 2019: 460

Publication Top Note:

  • Trace metal behaviour in estuarine and riverine floodplain soils and sediments: a review
    G. Du Laing, J. Rinklebe, B. Vandecasteele, E. Meers, F.M.G. Tack
    Science of the Total Environment407(13), 3972-3985 (2009)
    Citations: 1,313
  • Technologies and perspectives for achieving carbon neutrality
    F. Wang, J.D. Harindintwali, Z. Yuan, M. Wang, F. Wang, S. Li, Z. Yin, L. Huang, …
    The Innovation2(4) (2021)
    Citations: 1,037
  • Soil amendments for immobilization of potentially toxic elements in contaminated soils: A critical review
    K.N. Palansooriya, S.M. Shaheen, S.S. Chen, D.C.W. Tsang, Y. Hashimoto, …
    Environment International134, 105046 (2020)
    Citations: 1,001
  • Biochar application to low fertility soils: A review of current status, and future prospects
    A. El-Naggar, S.S. Lee, J. Rinklebe, M. Farooq, H. Song, A.K. Sarmah, …
    Geoderma337, 536-554 (2019)
    Citations: 863
  • Trace elements in the soil-plant interface: Phytoavailability, translocation, and phytoremediation–A review
    V. Antoniadis, E. Levizou, S.M. Shaheen, Y.S. Ok, A. Sebastian, C. Baum, …
    Earth-Science Reviews171, 621-645 (2017)
    Citations: 852
  • Metal contamination and bioremediation of agricultural soils for food safety and sustainability
    D. Hou, D. O’Connor, A.D. Igalavithana, D.S. Alessi, J. Luo, D.C.W. Tsang, …
    Nature Reviews Earth & Environment1(7), 366-381 (2020)
    Citations: 758
  • Response of microbial communities to biochar-amended soils: a critical review
    K.N. Palansooriya, J.T.F. Wong, Y. Hashimoto, L. Huang, J. Rinklebe, …
    Biochar1, 3-22 (2019)
    Citations: 612
  • Cycling of mercury in the environment: Sources, fate, and human health implications: A review
    F. Beckers, J. Rinklebe
    Critical Reviews in Environmental Science and Technology47(9), 693-794 (2017)
    Citations: 566
  • Particulate plastics as a vector for toxic trace-element uptake by aquatic and terrestrial organisms and human health risk
    L. Bradney, H. Wijesekara, K.N. Palansooriya, N. Obadamudalige, N.S. Bolan, …
    Environment International131, 104937 (2019)
    Citations: 506
  • Effect of biochar on cadmium bioavailability and uptake in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) grown in a soil with aged contamination
    T. Abbas, M. Rizwan, S. Ali, M. Zia-ur-Rehman, M.F. Qayyum, F. Abbas, …
    Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety140, 37-47 (2017)
    Citations: 495

 

Bramwel Wanjala | Crop health | Best Paper Award

Mr Bramwel Wanjala | Crop health | Best Paper Award

Senior Research Scientist at  Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization,  Kenya

Dr. Bramwel Waswa Wanjala is an experienced research scientist at the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO), where he has worked since 2003. His research primarily focuses on plant disease diagnostics and molecular biology, particularly the epidemiology and management of critical diseases like Maize Lethal Necrosis (MLN), Cassava Brown Streak Disease (CBSV), and sweetpotato viruses. Dr. Wanjala has contributed to the development of laboratory protocols, training of personnel, and the establishment of standardized practices that ensure high-quality lab operations. His work includes using genetic markers such as AFLP, SSRs, SRAP, and ISSR to analyze crop diversity, helping enhance agricultural resilience in Kenya. Dr. Wanjala’s expertise has made him a key figure in plant pathology research, where he supports capacity-building efforts and advances diagnostic methodologies for sustainable agriculture.

 

Publication Profile

Academic Background:

  • Ph.D. in Biotechnology (Expected Dec 2022) – Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology
  • M.Sc. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (2013) – Egerton University

Expertise:

Dr. Wanjala is a skilled research scientist specializing in plant disease diagnostics, molecular biology, and crop germplasm management. His work has focused on critical plant diseases in Kenya, including Maize Lethal Necrosis (MLN) and various sweetpotato viruses, employing advanced techniques like ELISA, PCR, Q-PCR, and LAMP. At the International Potato Center (CIP), he led sweetpotato virus diagnostics and developed innovative technologies for rapid vine multiplication, like sandponics, significantly aiding the sweetpotato seed system in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Key Contributions and Achievements:

  • Capacity Building: Trained numerous researchers and technical staff in virus diagnostics across East and Central Africa, including for KEPHIS.
  • Diagnostic Innovations: Validated a ClonDiag Microarray for sweetpotato virus detection, reducing testing time from 6 months to 2 days.
  • MLN Lab Establishment: Set up a diagnostic lab for MLN and trained stakeholders in disease identification and management.
  • Prebasic Seed Production: Helped establish a sustainable sweetpotato seed production system with KEPHIS, distributing over 150,000 vines to farmers.

Professional Affiliations:

  • International Society for Tropical Root Crops (African Branch)
  • African Biotechnology Stakeholders Forum (ABSF)
  • Trustee and Director of Economic Empowerment, JEDIMU Trust

Publication Top Notes

  • “Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification assays for on-site detection of the main sweetpotato infecting viruses”
  • “Comparative analysis for producing sweetpotato pre-basic seed using sandponics and conventional systems”
  • “Improving rapid multiplication of sweetpotato (Ipomoea batatas L. (Lam) pre-basic seed using sandponics technology in East Africa”
  • “Storage root yield of sweetpotato as influenced by sweetpotato leaf curl virus and its interaction with sweetpotato feathery mottle virus and Sweetpotato chlorotic stunt virus in Kenya”
  • “Yield potential of sandponically produced sweetpotato (Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam) pre-basic seed for selected genotypes”

 

Ali Reza Tavakoli | Crop Management | Best Researcher Award

Assoc Prof Dr  Ali Reza Tavakoli |  Crop Management |  Best Researcher Award

Researcher at Agricultural Engineering Research Institute (AERI), Agricultural research, education and Extension organization (AREEO), Iran

Dr. Ali Reza Tavakoli is an esteemed agricultural engineer specializing in water productivity and irrigation management. With a PhD from the University of Tehran, his research focuses on improving water efficiency in agriculture through innovative irrigation techniques and sustainable practices. He holds the position of Associate Professor at the Agricultural Engineering Research Institute and has played a pivotal role in various national projects aimed at enhancing agricultural productivity and resource management.

Publication Profile

Education:

  • PhD in Irrigation and Reclamation Engineering
    University of Tehran, Paradise of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Karaj, Iran (2010)
    Thesis Title: Improving water productivity through integrated management of limited irrigation and advanced agricultural practices in rainfed cereal cultivation.
  • MSc in Irrigation and Reclamation Engineering
    University of Tehran, Paradise of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Karaj, Iran (1996)
    Research Title: Investigating the effects of deficit irrigation on sugar beet and determining production functions.
  • BSc in Irrigation Engineering
    Isfahan University of Technology, Isfahan, Iran (1994)

Research Fields:

  • Water management and deficit irrigation
  • Single and supplemental irrigation
  • Water harvesting systems
  • Evaporation control management
  • Production functions and their software
  • Irrigation systems management
  • Analysis of macro projects and national policies
  • Cropping patterns and water productivity

Professional Experience:

  • Associate Professor & Senior Researcher (Grade 32) promoting water productivity (2017 – Present)
  • Head of the Secretariat of the National Cropping Pattern (AREEO, since 2021)
  • Director of Studies and Evaluation at the Agricultural Education and Extension Institute
  • Senior Researcher at the Agricultural Education and Promotion Research Organization (since 2016)
  • Advisor to the Deputy Minister in Horticulture Affairs of Jihad e Agriculture (since 2016)
  • Member of National Policy Councils for Urmia Lake and Khuzestan region revitalization
  • Head of Technical and Engineering Research at Shahrood Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Center
  • Extensive involvement in national and international agricultural projects, including collaborations with ICARDA.

Academic Achievements:

  • Citations: 1,168 (671 since 2019)
  • h-index: 16 (12 since 2019)
  • i10-index: 30 (21 since 2019)

Publication Top Notes

  1. The role of supplemental irrigation and nitrogen in producing bread wheat in the highlands of Iran
    Authors: AR Tavakoli, TY Oweis
    Journal: Agricultural Water Management
    Volume: 65, Issue: 3, Pages: 225-236, Year: 2004
    Citations: 197
  2. Optimal applied water and nitrogen for winter wheat under variable seasonal rainfall and planning scenarios for consequent crops in a semi-arid region
    Authors: AR Sepaskhah, A Azizian, AR Tavakoli
    Journal: Agricultural Water Management
    Volume: 84, Issues: 1-2, Pages: 113-122, Year: 2006
    Citations: 73
  3. Evaluation of the AquaCrop model for barley production under deficit irrigation and rainfed condition in Iran
    Authors: AR Tavakoli, MM Moghadam, AR Sepaskhah
    Journal: Agricultural Water Management
    Volume: 161, Pages: 136-146, Year: 2015
    Citations: 70
  4. Effects of Fumaria parviflora L on uremic pruritus in hemodialysis patients: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial
    Authors: R Akrami, MH Hashempur, A Tavakoli, M Nimrouzi, M Sayadi, M Roodaki, …
    Journal: Jundishapur Journal of Natural Pharmaceutical Products
    Volume: 12, Issue: 3, Article: e39744, Year: 2016
    Citations: 46
  5. Improving rainwater productivity with supplemental irrigation in the upper Karkheh River Basin of Iran
    Authors: AR Tavakoli, T Oweis, S Ashrafi, H Asadi, H Siadat, A Liaghat
    Publisher: International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA)
    Year: 2010
    Citations: 39
  6. Effects of seed priming on seed vigor and grain yield of barley (Hordeum vulgare L. cv. Abidar) in rainfed conditions
    Authors: B Abd Alrahmani, GK Ghasemi, M Valizadeh, V Feiziasl, AR Tavakoli
    Journal: Iranian Journal of Crop Sciences
    Volume: 11, Issue: 444, Pages: 337-352, Year: 2010
    Citations: 30
  7. Robotic locomotion of three generations of a family tree of dynamical systems. Part II: Impulsive control of gait patterns
    Authors: A Tavakoli, Y Hurmuzlu
    Journal: Nonlinear Dynamics
    Volume: 73, Pages: 1991-2012, Year: 2013
    Citations: 29
  8. Robotic locomotion of three generations of a family tree of dynamical systems. Part I: Passive gait patterns
    Authors: A Tavakoli, Y Hurmuzlu
    Journal: Nonlinear Dynamics
    Volume: 73, Pages: 1969-1989, Year: 2013
    Citations: 25
  9. Principles and applications of deficit irrigation
    Authors: AR Sepaskhah, AR Tavakoli, SF Mousavi
    Publisher: Iranian National Committee on Irrigation and Drainage (IRNCID), Tehran
    Year: 2000
    Citations: 25
  10. Using internal sinusoidal fins and phase change material for performance enhancement of thermal energy storage systems: Heat transfer and entropy generation analyses
    Authors: A Tavakoli, M Farzaneh-Gord, A Ebrahimi-Moghadam
    Journal: Renewable Energy
    Volume: 205, Pages: 222-237, Year: 2023
    Citations: 23
  11. Urinary tract infection with Candida glabrata in a patient with spinal cord injury
    Authors: M Rahimkhani, M Saberian, A Mordadi, S Varmazyar, A Tavakoli
    Journal: Acta Medica Iranica
    Pages: 516-517, Year: 2015
    Citations: 21
  12. Case series and review of glandular odontogenic cyst with emphasis on treatment modalities
    Authors: MM Roochi, I Tavakoli, FM Ghazi, A Tavakoli
    Journal: Journal of Cranio-Maxillofacial Surgery
    Volume: 43, Issue: 6, Pages: 746-750, Year: 2015
    Citations: 20
  13. Collision of two mass baton with massive external surfaces
    Authors: A Tavakoli, M Gharib, Y Hurmuzlu
    Year: 2012
    Citations: 20
  14. The role of limited irrigation and advanced management on improving water productivity of rainfed wheat at semi-cold region of upper Karkheh River Basin, Iran
    Authors: AR Tavakoli, A Liaghat, T Oweis, A Alizadeh
    Journal: International Journal of Agricultural Crop Sciences
    Volume: 4, Issue: 14, Pages: 939-948, Year: 2012
    Citations: 17
  15. Supplemental irrigation in Iran: Increasing and stabilizing wheat yield in rainfed highlands
    Authors: AR Tavakoli, T Oweis, F Ferri, A Haghighati, V Belson, M Pala, H Siadat, …
    Publisher: ICARDA
    Year: 2005
    Citations: 17
  16. Approach of Persian medicine to health and disease
    Authors: V Tafazoli, A Tavakoli, M Mosaffa-Jahromi, K Cooley, M Pasalar
    Journal: Advances in Integrative Medicine
    Volume: 9, Issue: 1, Pages: 3-8, Year: 2022
    Citations: 16
  17. Physics-based modelling and data-driven optimisation of a latent heat thermal energy storage system with corrugated fins
    Authors: A Tavakoli, J Hashemi, M Najafian, A Ebrahimi
    Journal: Renewable Energy
    Volume: 217, Article: 119200, Year: 2023
    Citations: 15
  18. Water allocation optimization for supplementary irrigation in rainfed lands to increase total income: Case study in the upstream Karkheh River Basin
    Authors: H Ramezani Etedali, A Liaghat, M Parsinejad, AR Tavakkoli, …
    Journal: Irrigation and Drainage
    Volume: 62, Issue: 1, Pages: 74-83, Year: 2013
    Citations: 15
  19. Evaluation of urinary interleukin-8 levels in patients with spinal cord injury
    Authors: M Rahimkhani, A Mordadi, S Varmazyar, A Tavakoli
    Journal: Recent Patents on Anti-Infective Drug Discovery
    Volume: 9, Issue: 2, Pages: 144-149, Year: 2014
    Citations: 14
  20. Gravity powered locomotion and active control of two simple systems
    Authors: A Tavakoli, Y Hurmuzlu
    Conference: Dynamic Systems and Control Conference
    Pages: 379-386, Year: 2009
    Citations: 13