Smitha Thomas | Agricultural Microbiology | Best Researcher Award

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Ms. Smitha Thomas | Agricultural Microbiology | Best Researcher Award

Research Scholar at St.Teresas College, Ernakulam,  India

Ms. Smitha Thomas is a dedicated research scholar specializing in Agricultural Microbiology at Mahatma Gandhi University, Kerala. Her research focuses on the role of beneficial microbes in enhancing soil fertility and sustainable crop productivity. With a strong academic background and passion for microbial interactions in agroecosystems, she aims to contribute to environmentally friendly agricultural practices.

Profile:

🎓 Academic Background:

  • Ph.D. (Ongoing) in Botany – Agricultural Microbes, Mahatma Gandhi University, Kerala (Coursework Grade: A – 79.3%)

  • M.Phil. in Botany, St. Teresa’s College, Ernakulam – M.G. University (Grade: A – 84.4%)

  • M.Sc. in Botany, M.G. University, Kerala – 66.14%

  • B.Ed. in Natural Science, M.G. University, Kerala – 67%

  • B.Sc. in Botany, M.G. University, Kerala – 75%

🧪 Research Focus:

  • Application of Plant Growth-Promoting Rhizobacteria (PGPR) in Olericulture

  • Biological Control, Molecular Genetics, Plant Tissue Culture, and Medical Drug Designing

🏆 Academic Recognition & Awards:

  • SET Qualified, 2004

  • DCE Aspire Fellowship for Ph.D. (2022–2023), Govt. of Kerala

  • Outstanding Researcher Award, 1st International Agriculture Conference on Natural vs Organic Farming, Gujarat (Dec 2023)

  • Certificate of Excellence in Reviewing – Journal of Scientific Research and Reports (2024)

🎤 Oral Presentations:

  • PGPR research presentations at:

    • 7th Asian PGPR Conference, Telangana (2022)

    • 36th Kerala Science Congress, Kasaragod (2024)

    • RICERCA 2021 National Conference, Alappuzha

    • National Seminar on Miracle Millets, Ernakulam (2023)

🌱 Professional Experience:

  • Over 10 years of teaching experience (2004–2024) as Lecturer in Botany

🌍 Conferences & Training (2020–2024):

  • Attended and presented in 11 Conferences, 4 Oral Presentations, 47 Webinars/Seminars, and 4 Certified Courses

  • Topics include Biotechnology, Natural Farming, Thesis Writing, Molecular Docking, and AI Tools in Research

  • Notable Participation:

    • International Conference on Decarbonizing Agriculture (2023)

    • National Conference on Ethnic Vegetables, Dr. YSRHU (2023)

🧬 Certifications & Courses:

  • Research and Publication Ethics – St. Thomas College & Calicut University

  • Advanced Molecular Docking – SAFI Institute of Advanced Studies

  • AI Tools in Academia – Assumption College, Kerala

  • International Internship on Bioanalytical Techniques – Sacred Heart College & BSN

📝 Peer Reviewer For:

  • Asian Journal of Advances in Agricultural Research

  • Asian Journal of Soil Science and Plant Nutrition

  • Journal of Scientific Research and Reports

Publication Top Notes:

  • Molecular Identification of Plant Growth-Promoting Rhizobacteria and Their Antiphytopathogenic Compounds by LC-MS TOF Analysis
    Preprint published on March 26, 2025
    DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-6083519/v1
    Contributors: Smitha Thomas, Lizzy Mathew

  • Isolation and Molecular Identification of Phosphate Solubilizing Bacteria, Bacillus licheniformis UBPSB-07 Capable of Enhancing Seed Germination in Vigna radiata L.
    Published in: Phytomorphology (Journal Article)
    Author: Smitha Thomas

 

Yogita Patil | Agricultural Microbiology | Best Researcher Award

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Ms.Yogita Patil | Agricultural Microbiology | Best Researcher Award

Research Student at H. V. Desai College Pune, Maharashtra, India

Ms. Yogita M. Patil is an experienced academician and researcher in the field of Microbiology with over 14 years of teaching and research experience. She is currently working as an Assistant Professor at P.D.E.A’s Waghire College, Saswad, Pune, and serves as a Senior Research Fellow under SARTHI-CSMNRF since 2022.

Profile:

🎓 Academic Background:

  • Ph.D. (Pursuing) – Savitribai Phule Pune University
    Research Topic: Techno-economic feasibility assessment of novel health-promoting probiotics from natural sources

  • M.Phil. in Microbiology – North Maharashtra University (Grade A)
    Dissertation: An Insight in the Methods to Establish Culture as Probiotic

  • M.Sc. & B.Sc. in Microbiology – North Maharashtra University

  • Qualified SET & ICAR-NET (Microbiology)

🧪 Research & Publications:

Ms. Patil has contributed to applied microbiological research, particularly in:

  • Probiotics & Gut Health

  • Soil Microbiology

  • Environmental Microbiology

📄 Notable Publications:

  • Improving the Gut Microbiota with Probiotics and FMT – J. Pure & Applied Microbiology (2021)

  • Soil Beneficial Bacteria Studies in Saswad & Ketkawale Regions (2017)

👩‍🏫 Professional Experience:

  • 🌟 14+ years of teaching and research experience

  • Assistant Professor (Microbiology) at P.D.E.A.’s Waghire College, Saswad – 8 years

  • Former lecturer at MJ College Jalgaon and Dnyansarita Institute

  • Currently a Senior Research Fellow (SARTHI CSMNRF) since 2022

🏆 Awards & Recognitions:

  • 🥈 Multiple Second Prizes in National & International Poster Competitions (2006–2022)

  • 🥉 Third Prize – International Conference on Microbiology & Environmental Sciences (2021)

  • 🎯 Participant – Avishkar University Research Competition, SPPU Pune (2022)

💻 Skills:

  • Proficient in microbiology lab techniques and basic computer applications (MS-CIT certified)

  • Multilingual: Fluent in English, Hindi, and Marathi

Publication:

  • Improving the Gut Microbiota with Probiotics and Faecal Microbiota Transplantation
    Yogita M. Patil, Rajashree B. Patwardhan, Pragati S. Abhyankar
    Journal of Pure and Applied Microbiology, Vol. 15, No. 3, pp.

Shun Han | Soil Microbiology | Best Researcher Award

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Dr Shun Han | Soil Microbiology | Best Researcher Award

Postdoctoral Research Associates at The University of Oklahoma, United States

​Dr. Shun Han is a Postdoctoral Research Associate at the Institute for Environmental Genomics, University of Oklahoma, specializing in soil microbial ecology. He earned his Ph.D. in Microbiology from Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China, in 2020, where he also completed his B.S. in Bioengineering in 2014. His research focuses on the relationships between microbial diversity, community assembly processes, and soil multifunctionality in forest ecosystems. He has published extensively on topics such as the impact of bacterial and fungal diversity on soil functions and the effects of fertilization practices on microbial communities. His work has been recognized with several awards, including the Institute of Environmental Genomics Outstanding Achievement Award in 2021.​

Profile:

📚 Education & Expertise:

Dr. Xianglin Fang is a researcher at Lanzhou University, specializing in soil microbiology, biogeochemistry, and environmental sustainability. His work focuses on soil nutrient cycling, microbial ecology, and climate change impacts on soil health.

🔬 Research & Contributions:

Dr. Fang has published extensively in high-impact journals, investigating microbial community responses to land use changes, soil organic matter dynamics, and nitrogen cycling. His research aims to enhance sustainable land management and agricultural productivity.

🌱 Collaborations & Impact:

He actively collaborates with international scientists in China, the USA, and Europe, contributing to global discussions on soil conservation and ecosystem resilience.

🏆 Achievements & Recognitions:

Dr. Fang has received multiple awards for his innovative research and academic excellence in soil and environmental sciences.

Citations:

Total Citations: 1151 (1118 since 2020)
h-index: 18 (18 since 2020)
i10-index: 21 (21 since 2020)

Publication Top Notes:

  • Belowground Bacterial Communities and Carbon Components Contribute to Soil Respiration in a Subtropical Forest
    S. Han, A. Wang – Plant and Soil, 2024

  • Role of Generalists, Specialists, and Opportunists in Nitrospira Community Assembly in Soil Aggregates from Nearby Cropland and Grassland Areas in a Campus
    Y. Jiang, S. Han, X. Luo – Applied Soil Ecology, 2024

  • Experimental Warming Accelerates Positive Soil Priming in a Temperate Grassland Ecosystem
    X. Tao, Z. Yang, J. Feng, S. Jian, Y. Yang, C.T. Bates, G. Wang, X. Guo, D. Ning, … – Nature Communications, 2024

  • Microbial Responses to Long-Term Warming Differ Across Soil Microenvironments
    X.J.A. Liu, S. Han, S.D. Frey, J.M. Melillo, J. Zhou, K.M. DeAngelis – ISME Communications, 2024

  • Soil Glomalin-Related Protein Affects Aggregate N₂O Fluxes by Modulating Denitrifier Communities in a Fertilized Soil
    S. Han, M.E. Lucas-Borja, W. Chen, Q. Huang – Science of The Total Environment, 2023

  • Experimental Warming Leads to Convergent Succession of Grassland Archaeal Community
    Y. Zhang, D. Ning, L. Wu, M.M. Yuan, X. Zhou, X. Guo, Y. Hu, S. Jian, Z. Yang, … – Nature Climate Change, 2023

  • Resistance Potential of Soil Bacterial Communities Along a Biodiversity Gradient in Forest Ecosystems
    J. Kuang, D. Deng, S. Han, C.T. Bates, D. Ning, W. Shu, J. Zhou – Mlife, 2022

  • Response to Letter to the Editor: “Possibly Underestimated Microbial Carbon Limitation Determined by Enzymatic Stoichiometry Approach”
    Y. Xie, Y. Ouyang, S. Han, J. Se, S. Tang, Y. Yang, Q. Ma, L. Wu – Science of The Total Environment, 2022

  • Weekly Soil Nutrients Dynamic Under a Long-Term Field Warming Experiment in Grassland
    S. Jian, Z. Yang, S. Han, J. Kuang, J. Zhou – ASA, CSSA, SSSA International Annual Meeting, 2022

  • Active Microbial Communities and Their Efficiency of Utilizing Soil Carbon Under Long-Term Warming and Drought
    X. Liu, S. Han, S. Jian, Z. Yang, D. Ning, J. Zhou – ASA, CSSA, SSSA International Annual Meeting, 2022

  • Climate Warming Alters Nematodes Diversity and Community Structure in a Temperate Grassland
    S. Han, X. Liu, S. Jian, Z. Yang, D. Ning, J. Zhou – ASA, CSSA, SSSA International Annual Meeting, 2022

  • Reduction of Microbial Diversity in Grassland Soil Is Driven by Long-Term Climate Warming
    L. Wu, Y. Zhang, X. Guo, D. Ning, X. Zhou, J. Feng, M. Yuan, S. Liu, J. Guo, … – Nature Microbiology, 2022

  • Crop Rotation Stage Has a Greater Effect Than Fertilisation on Soil Microbiome Assembly and Enzymatic Stoichiometry
    Y. Xie, Y. Ouyang, S. Han, J. Se, S. Tang, Y. Yang, Q. Ma, L. Wu – Science of The Total Environment, 2022

  • Bacterial Rather Than Fungal Diversity and Community Assembly Drive Soil Multifunctionality in a Subtropical Forest Ecosystem
    S. Han, S. Tan, A. Wang, W. Chen, Q. Huang – Environmental Microbiology Reports, 2022

  • Root-Associated Fungal Community Reflects Host Spatial Co-Occurrence Patterns in a Subtropical Forest
    J. Kuang, S. Han, Y. Chen, C.T. Bates, P. Wang, W. Shu – ISME Communications, 2021

  • Climate Warming Reduces Microbial Biodiversity in a Temperate Grassland
    J. Zhou, L. Wu, Y. Zhang, X. Guo, D. Ning, X. Zhou, J. Feng, M. Yuan, J. Guo, … – ASA, CSSA, SSSA International Annual Meeting, 2021

  • Soil Aggregate Size-Dependent Relationships Between Microbial Functional Diversity and Multifunctionality
    S. Han, M. Delgado-Baquerizo, X. Luo, Y. Liu, J.D. Van Nostrand, W. Chen, … – Soil Biology and Biochemistry, 2021

  • Microscale Heterogeneity of the Soil Nitrogen Cycling Microbial Functional Structure and Potential Metabolism
    S. Han, X. Luo, X. Hao, Y. Ouyang, L. Zeng, L. Wang, S. Wen, B. Wang, … – Environmental Microbiology, 2021

  • Partitioning Nitrospira Community Structure and Co-Occurrence Patterns in a Long-Term Inorganic and Organic Fertilization Soil
    S. Han, Q. Huang, W. Chen – Journal of Soils and Sediments, 2021

  • The Species Evenness of “Prey” Bacteria Correlated With Bdellovibrio-and-Like-Organisms (BALOs) in the Microbial Network Supports the Biomass of BALOs in a Paddy Soil
    H. Qian, C. Hou, H. Liao, L. Wang, S. Han, S. Peng, W. Chen, Q. Huang, X. Luo – FEMS Microbiology Ecology, 2020

 

Sangita Ahmed | Microbiology | Best Researcher Award

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Prof Dr. Sangita Ahmed | Microbiology | Best Researcher Award

Prof Dr. SANGITA AHMED, University of Dhaka, Bangladesh

Dr. Sangita Ahmed is a Professor of Microbiology at the University of Dhaka with a PhD in Pathology from the University of Cambridge. With over two decades of teaching and research experience, her expertise spans Applied Microbiology, Food Microbiology, and Medical Microbiology. Dr. Ahmed has made significant contributions to both education and research, mentoring students at all levels and advancing knowledge in environmental and medical microbiology. She has a strong academic foundation and remains active in both teaching and research across national and international institutions.

Publication profile:

Google Scholar Profile

Orcid Profile

Education:

Dr. Sangita Ahmed holds a PhD in pathology from the prestigious University of Cambridge, United Kingdom, completed in 2011. She earned both her MSc and BSc (honors) in microbiology from the University of Dhaka, graduating first class first in both degrees (MSc, 1999; BSc, 1997). Prior to her university studies, she completed her HSC from Viqurunnessa Noon College, Dhaka, in 1992 with 90.3% marks, and her SSC from Quamrunnessa Govt. Girl’s High School in 1990 with 81.6% marks.

🔬 Research Interests:

Dr. Ahmed’s research is focused on Applied and Environmental Microbiology, with particular emphasis on Food Microbiology and Medical Microbiology. Her work explores microbial ecology, bioremediation, immunopathology, vaccine development, and the impact of environmental pollutants on microbial communities. She has contributed significantly to the understanding of microbial behavior in diverse environments and continues to mentor research students in these areas.

Professional Experience: 

Dr. Sangita Ahmed is currently a Professor in the Department of Microbiology at the University of Dhaka, a position she has held since November 2017. She has a long-standing career at the University of Dhaka, where she began as a Lecturer in 2000, progressed to Assistant Professor in 2008, and was promoted to Associate Professor in 2011. In addition, she has been a part-time faculty member at the North South University since 2021. Dr. Ahmed is also a Visiting Researcher at the School of Clinical Dentistry, University of Sheffield, from March to May 2024. Over her career, she has taught various undergraduate and graduate courses, including PhD, MPhil, and MS-level courses, in fields such as General Microbiology, Virology, Medical Microbiology, and Food Microbiology.

Top Notable Publication: 

Evans, L.D.B., Stafford, G.P., Ahmed, S., Fraser, G.M., & Hughes, C. (2006). An escort mechanism for cycling of export chaperones during flagellum assembly. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 103(46), 17474-17479. Citations: 119

Shourav, A.H., Hasan, M., & Ahmed, S. (2020). Antibiotic susceptibility pattern of Listeria spp. isolated from cattle farm environment in Bangladesh. Journal of Agriculture and Food Research, 2, 100082. Citations: 19

Ahmed, S., Islam, M.R., Ferdousi, J., & Iqbal, T.S. (2017). Probiotic Lactobacillus sp. with bioremediation potential of toxic heavy metals. Bangladesh Journal of Microbiology, 34(1), 43-46. Citations: 15

Shammi, T., & Ahmed, S. (2013). Heavy metal tolerance and antibiotic resistance of Bacillus spp. isolated from two major rivers in Bangladesh. Bangladesh Journal of Microbiology, 30(1-2), 17-22. Citations: 15

Sarker, R., & Ahmed, S. (2015). Prevalence and antimicrobial susceptibility of Listeria spp. in dairy food products and water samples in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Life Sciences, 9, 152-158. Citations: 14

Nupur, S.H., Rayhan, A., & Ahmed, S. (2020). Bacteria with heavy metal bioremediation potential isolated from the polluted river water of Bangladesh. Journal of Biotechnology and Biochemistry, 6(1), 06-14. Citations: 10

Manjur, M.S.E., Siddique, S., & Ahmed, S. (2016). Multi-drug resistant pathogenic Listeria monocytogenes in surface water and soil samples of Dhaka city. Bangladesh Journal of Microbiology, 33(1-2), 39-42. Citations: 7

Akter, T., Jahan, S., Ahmed, S., Sultana, S., & Begum, S. (2021). Isolation of multi-drug resistant potential pathogenic bacteria from blow fly collected from different areas of Dhaka city. Bangladesh Journal of Zoology, 49(2), 205-214. Citations: 3

Akter, T., Ahmed, S., & Das, B.R. (2017). Carriage of multi-drug resistant Gram-negative pathogenic bacteria by the house fly Musca domestica. Dhaka University Journal of Biological Sciences, 26(1), 91-99. Citations: 3

Tangin, S.A., & Ahmed, S. (2017). Isolation and identification of some Gram-negative bacteria from cockroaches collected from hospital, restaurant, and slum areas of Dhaka city, Bangladesh. Journal of Biodiversity Conservation and Bioresource Management, 3(2), 63-68. Citations: 3

Naher, S.A.M.L.B., & Ahmed, S. (2022). Detection of Legionella pneumophila in the water samples of food industries and hospitals in Bangladesh. Microbial Bioactives, 5(2), 198-203. Citations: 2

Conclusion

Dr. Sangita Ahmed’s exceptional academic qualifications, vast teaching experience, impactful research areas, and long-standing academic leadership demonstrate that she is highly suitable for the “Best Researcher Award.” Her work not only reflects scientific excellence but also addresses key issues in microbiology that have societal relevance.