Olawale Akinrinde | Food Security | Best Researcher Award

Posted on by sciencefather

Assist. Prof. Dr  Olawale Akinrinde |  Food Security |  Best Researcher Award

Research Fellow at  University of Johannesburg,  South Africa

Dr. Olawale O. Akinrinde is a distinguished researcher and lecturer specializing in Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Food Security, International Development, Public Policy, and Global Governance. He is currently a Research Fellow at the University of Johannesburg, South Africa, and a Tenured Lecturer in the Department of Political Science at Osun State University, Nigeria.

Profile:

🎓 Academic Background:

✅ PhD in Strategic Studies – Nigerian Defence Academy (2017-2022)
✅ M.Sc. in International Relations – University of Ibadan (2014-2016)
✅ B.Sc. (First-Class Honours) in Political Science & International Relations – Osun State University (2008-2012)

🔬 Research Focus:

Dr. Akinrinde is a renowned African scholar specializing in Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Food Security, International Development, Public Policy, and Global Governance. His research has been published in SCOPUS and Web of Science-indexed journals, making significant contributions to policy analysis and socio-economic development.

🏆 Awards & Fellowships:

🎖 Postdoctoral Research Fellowship (2023, 2024) – University of Johannesburg
🎖 TETFUND National Research Fund (2023)
🎖 Center for Effective Global Action (CEGA) RT2 Training Invite (2024) – Berkeley, California

Publication Top Notes:

  • Political Crisis and The Politics of Religious Divisiveness in Nigeria’s Fourth Republic
    O. Oyetunbi, O. O. Akinrinde
    The Digest: Journal of Jurisprudence and Legisprudence, 2(2), 173-196 (2021)

  • The Triangle of Terror: Boko Haram, Fulani Herdsmen, Bandits, and Organised Insecurity in Nigeria
    B. Omitola, S. Adedire, O. O. Akinrinde, O. Omodunbi, et al.
    Studia Securitatis, 15(1), 21-33 (2021)

  • Boko Haram Terrorism and the Futurology of Nigeria’s Development
    O. O. Akinrinde, S. Tegbe
    Annals of Spiru Haret University, Economic Series, 20(3), 117-139 (2020)

  • Traditional Institutions and Socio-Economic Development in Nigeria: A Critical Analysis
    B. Omitola, O. O. Akinrinde, A. Omitola
    Journal of Law and Legal Reform, 2(4), 539-552 (2021)

  • The Influence of Globalization on Insurgency: Boko Haram and Al-Shabaab in the Age of Information Technology
    A. I. Adeyeye, O. O. Akinrinde, O. O. Omodunbi
    NUST Journal of International Peace & Stability, 15-29 (2022)

  • Africanity and the Politics of African Xenophobia: A Study of Two Parallels
    O. O. Akinrinde
    Annals of Spiru Haret University, Economic Series, 20(4), 133-151 (2020)

  • Farmers-Herders Conflict and Nigeria’s Quest for Food Security: The Imperative Need for Information Communications Technology
    O. O. Akinrinde, A. A. Osuwa, K. W. Olawoyin
    Journal of Digital Food, Energy & Water Systems, 2(2) (2021)

  • The Politics of Non-Refoulement and the Syrian Refugee Crisis
    O. O. Akinrinde
    The Journal of International Relations, Peace Studies, and Development, 4(1), 6 (2018)

  • Political Economy and the Dialectics of Xenophobia in Post-Apartheid South Africa
    O. O. Akinrinde, U. Tar
    Journal of African-Centered Solutions in Peace and Security, 4(1), 50-63 (2021)

  • Swimming Against the Tide: Challenges of Religious Crises and Insecurity in Nigeria’s Democratic Space
    K. W. Olawoyin, O. O. Omodunbi, O. O. Akinrinde
    Annals of the Constantin Brancusi University of Targu Jiu – Letters & Social Sciences (2021)

 

Vitalice Owuor | Food Research | Best Researcher Award

Posted on by sciencefather

Mr Vitalice Owuor |  Food Research |  Best Researcher Award

Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology,  Kenya

Calvin Owuor Vitalice is a dedicated environmental and fisheries professional from Kenya. He is currently pursuing an MSc in Environmental Legislation and Management at Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT), with a funded project in collaboration with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). Calvin holds a BSc in Fisheries from JKUAT and has worked as a Part-time Teaching Assistant at JKUAT, where he supports students in various academic capacities. His experience also includes serving as a Fisheries Officer in Siaya County, where he contributed to sustainable fisheries practices and beach management. Prior to this, he taught biology and business studies at Unibridge High School. Calvin’s expertise extends to data categorization.

Profile:

Education:

  • MSC in Environmental Legislation and Management (2021 – Present), JKUAT (Funded project with JICA)
  • BSc in Fisheries (2015 – 2019), Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT)
  • Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (K.C.S.E.) (2011 – 2014), Chulaimbo Secondary School
  • Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (K.C.P.E.) (2001 – 2010), Ochok Kadongo Primary School

Employment:

  • Part-time Teaching Assistant (Jan 2020 – Present), JKUAT, Nairobi
    Responsibilities include invigilating exams, consultancy services, student counseling, teaching, and data entry.
  • Fisheries Officer (May 2019 – Aug 2019), Siaya County, Rarieda Sub-county
    Oversaw beach cleanliness, maintained order among fishermen, and ensured the use of appropriate fishing gear and compliance with fishing regulations.
  • High School Teacher (May 2016 – Aug 2018), Unibridge High School, Nairobi
    Taught biology and business studies, managed timetabling, and ensured student discipline.

Skills:

  • Excellent in categorizing data, integrity, patience, communication, and teamwork.

Publication:

Nitrogenous Waste Removal in Closed Freshwater Recirculating Aquaculture Systems Using an Innovative DHS-USB Bioreactor
Journal of Agriculture and Food Research
March 2025 | Journal Article
DOI: 10.1016/j.jafr.2024.101577

 

 

Mingdong Yao | Food | Best Researcher Award

Posted on by sciencefather

Assoc. Prof. Dr  Mingdong  Yao | Food |  Best Researcher Award

Associate professor at  Tianjin University, China

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mingdong Yao is an Associate Professor at Tianjin University, where he works at the Frontiers Science Center for Synthetic Biology and the School of Chemical Engineering and Technology. He earned his Ph.D. in Applied Life Chemistry from the University of Tokyo, Japan. Dr. Yao has made significant contributions to the fields of synthetic biology, microbial cell factories, biocatalysis, and enzyme engineering.

 

Publication Profile

Academic Background:

Dr. Mingdong Yao received his PhD in Applied Life Chemistry from the University of Tokyo, Japan. He is currently an Associate Professor at the Frontiers Science Center for Synthetic Biology and the School of Chemical Engineering and Technology at Tianjin University, China.

Research Focus:

Dr. Yao’s research expertise includes synthetic biology, microbial cell factories, biocatalysis, and enzyme engineering. His work focuses on the design, development, and optimization of key functional enzymes in biosynthetic pathways.

Key Contributions:

Dr. Yao has significantly advanced the construction of cell factories, improving the production of lipophilic compounds in yeast by extending the cellular G1 phase and enhancing enzyme expression. He also developed a rational enzyme assembly strategy, improving the biosynthesis efficiency of terpenoid products. Additionally, his work in enzyme design has led to the functional expansion of adenosinase to halogenase.

Research Projects:

He has completed several major research projects, including a National Natural Science Foundation project, two subprojects of the National Key Research and Development Program of China, and a Tianjin Natural Science Foundation project. He is currently leading another subproject of the National Key Research and Development Program of China.

Awards and Recognition:

Dr. Yao’s research has been widely recognized internationally, contributing significantly to the fields of synthetic biology and enzyme engineering.

Citations:

  • Total Citations: 1,276
  • Citations by Documents: 1,015
  • Number of Documents: 65
  • h-index: 20

Publication Top Note:

  • Systematic metabolic engineering enables highly efficient production of vitamin A in Saccharomyces cerevisiae
    Shi, Y., Lu, S., Zhou, X., Xiao, W., Yao, M.
    Synthetic and Systems Biotechnology, 2025, 10(1), pp. 58–67.
  • Extending the G1 phase improves the production of lipophilic compounds in yeast by boosting enzyme expression and increasing cell size
    Hao, H., Yao, M., Wang, Y., Xiao, W., Yuan, Y.
    Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 2024, 121(47), e2413486121.
  • A customized self-assembled synergistic biocatalyst for plastic depolymerization
    Zhang, W., Han, Y., Yang, F., Yao, M., Qin, H.-M.
    Journal of Hazardous Materials, 2024, 477, 135380.
  • Improving the expression of taxadiene synthase to enhance the titer of taxadiene in Saccharomyces cerevisiae
    Zhang, C., Wang, J., Shi, Y., Yao, M., Yuan, Y.
    Green Chemistry, 2024, 26(20), pp. 10604–10616.
  • Highly efficient synthesis of lysergic acid using engineered budding yeast
    Wu, N., Yao, M., Xiao, W., Wang, Y., Yuan, Y.-J.
    Green Chemistry, 2024, 26(19), pp. 10330–10343.
  • Systematic Engineering to Enhance β-Myrcene Production in Yeast
    Shu, Y., Dong, T., Zhou, X., Wang, Y., Xiao, W.
    Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 2024, 72(35), pp. 19395–19402.
  • Biotransformation of ethylene glycol by engineered Escherichia coli
    Yan, W., Qi, X., Cao, Z., Ding, M., Yuan, Y.
    Synthetic and Systems Biotechnology, 2024, 9(3), pp. 531–539.
  • Multidimensional combinatorial screening for high-level production of erythritol in Yarrowia lipolytica
    Li, L., Zhang, Q., Shi, R., Lu, F., Qin, H.-M.
    Bioresource Technology, 2024, 406, 131035.
  • Research Progress in the Synthesis of Astaxanthin by Yeast
    Shu, Y., Wang, Y., Yao, M., Xiao, W.
    China Biotechnology, 2024, 44(6), pp. 116–128.
  • Molecular Insights into Converting Hydroxide Adenosyltransferase into Halogenase
    Jiang, Y., Yao, M., Feng, J., Dong, M., Yuan, Y.
    Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 2024, 72(22), pp. 12685–12695.

 

Reem Hashad | Food Systems | Best Researcher Award

Posted on by sciencefather

Dr Reem Hashad |  Food Systems |  Best Researcher Award

Collaborator at  International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI),  Egypt

Reem Nabil Hashad is a dual U.S. and Egyptian citizen and an economist specializing in development economics, food policy, and public finance. She earned her Ph.D. in Economics from the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) in 2021, with a dissertation on public policy’s impact on nutrition, childhood stunting, and corruption. She holds two master’s degrees in economics from UIC and the American University in Cairo (AUC), where she graduated magna cum laude with a B.A. in Economics.

Publication profile:

🎓 Education:

  • Ph.D. in Economics – University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC), 2021
    Dissertation: “The Role of Public Policy in Nutrition, Childhood Stunting, and Corruption”
  • M.A. in Economics – UIC, 2017
  • M.A. in Economics – American University in Cairo (AUC), 2014
    Dissertation: “Repayment Determinants for Egyptian Microfinance Institutions”
  • B.A. in Economics – AUC, Magna Cum Laude, 2012

🔬 Research Fields:

  • Development Economics
  • Food Policy
  • Public Finance
  • Applied Microeconomics

💼 Professional Experience:

  • Consultant – International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) & World Bank, 2023-24
    Designed and implemented projects related to smallholder farmers, gender equality, and entrepreneurship.
  • Research Economist – USDA, 2021-22
    Focused on food security research, policy evaluation, and nutrition assistance programs.
  • Financial, Market, and Economic Analyst – HLB Egypt Makary Consulting, 2014-15
    Conducted feasibility studies and market research for national projects.

📊 Research & Teaching Experience:

  • Research Assistant – UIC, 2018-19
    Collaborated on economic and health research projects.
  • Instructor – Econometrics, UIC, 2017-18
    Taught graduate and undergraduate courses in econometrics, microeconomics, and statistics.

🏅 Awards & Honors:

  • Team Recognition – CIA’s Center for the Study of Intelligence, 2022
  • Graduate Student Excellence in Teaching Award – UIC, Honorable Mention, 2021
  • Top GPA – Master’s in Economics, AUC, 2014

Publication Top Notes:

  • Global food value chains and obesity in low- and middle-income countries