Sanjay Kumar | Food Safety | Best Researcher Award

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Dr. Sanjay Kumar | Food Safety | Best Researcher Award

Principal Scientist at Niagara Bottling, United States

Dr. Sanjay Kumar is a Principal Scientist specializing in food safety and microbiology with over two decades of international research experience. He holds a Ph.D. from ICAR-National Dairy Research Institute, India, with a strong foundation in microbial ecology and antimicrobial interventions. Dr. Kumar’s research centers on the inactivation of foodborne pathogens using novel, GRAS-status antimicrobials, quantitative microbiological risk assessment, and the microbiome of food animals.

Profile:

🎓 Education:

  • Ph.D. in Microbiology, ICAR-National Dairy Research Institute, India (2010)

  • M.S. in Microbiology, Kurukshetra University, India (2001)

  • B.S. in Industrial Microbiology, Kurukshetra University, India (1998)

🔬 Research Interests:

  • Control of foodborne pathogens using GRAS-status antimicrobials

  • Microbial ecology and contamination in food processing systems

  • Risk assessment through omics-based microbial exposure evaluation

💼 Professional Experience:

  • Principal Scientist, Niagara Bottling LLC (2019–Present)
    Leads microbiological R&D, food safety strategy, and regulatory compliance across 40+ plants.

  • Staff Scientist, Poultry Science, University of Georgia (2015–2019)
    Focused on microbiome, food safety interventions, and poultry gut health.

  • Postdoctoral Research Fellow, University of Pennsylvania (2013–2015)
    Investigated antimicrobial resistance and microbiome shifts in dairy cattle.

  • Postdoctoral Fellow, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience & Biotechnology (2012–2013)
    Characterized rumen methanogens and enzymes for methane mitigation.

🧪 Notable Funded Projects (Co-PI):

  • U.S. Soybean Board: Gut health in antibiotic-free broilers

  • Innovation Enzymes: Enzyme supplementation and poultry performance

  • Huvepharma: Probiotics against poultry pathogens

🏆 Awards and Honors:

  • Best Poster Awards (CAES, Center for Food Safety, ASAS)

  • ICAR Senior Research Fellowship

  • DBT Travel Award (BioMicroWorld, Lisbon)

  • Outstanding Teacher Award – Dolphin College, India

Citation Metrics:

  • Total Citations: 3,680

  • Citations Since 2020: 2,237

  • h-index: 29 (26 since 2020)

  • i10-index: 41 (30 since 2020)

Publication Top Notes:

  • Chicken Gut Microbiota: Importance and Detection Technology
    BOWKK Yue Shang, Sanjay Kumar
    Frontiers in Veterinary Sciences, 2018
    📚 Citations: 479

  • Magnesium ammonium phosphate formation, recovery and its application as valuable resources: a review
    YH Liu, S Kumar, JH Kwag, CS Ra
    Journal of Chemical Technology and Biotechnology, 2012
    📚 Citations: 229

  • Probiotics and atopic dermatitis: an overview
    YHP IA Rather, VK Bajpai, S Kumar, J Lim, WK Paek
    Frontiers in Microbiology, 2016
    📚 Citations: 224

  • New aspects and strategies for methane mitigation from ruminants
    S Kumar et al.
    Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology, 2014
    📚 Citations: 205

  • Effect of antibiotic withdrawal in feed on chicken gut microbial dynamics…
    HT S Kumar et al.
    PLoS ONE, 2018
    📚 Citations: 199

  • Factors affecting rumen methanogens and methane mitigation strategies
    S Kumar et al.
    World Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology, 2009
    📚 Citations: 169

  • Associative patterns among anaerobic fungi, methanogenic archaea and bacteria…
    D Kumar, S., Indugu, N., Vecchiarelli, B., Pitta
    Frontiers in Microbiology, 2015
    📚 Citations: 168

  • Temporal dynamics in the ruminal microbiome of dairy cows during the transition period
    Pitta, Kumar, et al.
    Journal of Animal Science, 2014
    📚 Citations: 155

  • Metagenomic assessment of the functional potential of the rumen microbiome…
    Pitta, Kumar, et al.
    Anaerobe, 2016
    📚 Citations: 133

  • Prevalence and antimicrobial resistance patterns of Salmonella…
    Velasquez, Macklin, Kumar, et al.
    Poultry Science, 2018
    📚 Citations: 118

 

Shaima khalid | Food safety | Best Researcher Award

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Dr Shaima khalid |  Food safety |  Best Researcher Award

Researcher at  animal health research institute,  Egypt

Dr. Shaimaa Khalid is an accomplished researcher at the Animal Health Research Institute in Egypt, specializing in Food Hygiene. She obtained her Ph.D. in Medical Veterinary Sciences from Assiut University in December 2019, focusing on “Active Meat Packaging based on Biomimetics Smart Thin Films.” She also holds an M.Sc. in Medical Veterinary Sciences and a B.Sc. in the same field from the same institution. Dr. Khalid has gained valuable international experience as a visiting scholar at Purdue University and as a postdoctoral researcher in the Department of Nanoscience at Zewail City of Science and Technology.

Publication profile:

 

🎓 Education:

  • Ph.D. in Medical Veterinary Sciences (2019)
    “Active Meat Packaging based on Biomimetics Smart Thin Films”
    Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Assiut University, Egypt.
  • M.Sc. in Medical Veterinary Sciences (2015)
    “Isolation and identification of Campylobacter species in chicken meat and by-products”
    Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Assiut University, Egypt.
  • B.Sc. in Medical Veterinary Sciences (2010)
    Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Assiut University, Egypt.

💼 Professional Experience:

  • Visiting Scholar at Purdue University, USA (2023).
  • Postdoctoral Researcher at Zewail City of Science and Technology, Egypt (2019-2021).
  • Research Assistant at the Animal Health Research Institute, Egypt (2020-Present).
  • Teaching Assistant at Zewail City of Science and Technology, Egypt (2019-Present).
  • Assistant Researcher at the Animal Health Research Institute, Egypt (2018-2020).
  • Analyst & Specialist at the Animal Health Research Institute, Egypt (2012-2018).

🔍 Research Interests:

Food Science, Food Hygiene, Microbiology, Mycotoxins, Biofilm, Quorum Sensing, Bacterial Sensors, Probiotics and Prebiotics, Active and Smart Packaging, Nanotechnology, Molecular Imprinting Polymers, Nanocomposites.

 

Publication Top Notes:

  • Voltammetric determination of Salmonella typhimurium in minced beef meat using a chip-based imprinted sensor
    Khalid, S.A., & Hassan, R.Y.A.
    RSC Advances, 2022.
  • User-friendly lab-on-paper optical sensor for the rapid detection of bacterial spoilage in packaged meat products
    Abo Dena, A.S., Khalid, S.A., & Ghanem, A.F.
    RSC Advances, 2021.
  • Free-standing carboxymethyl cellulose film incorporating nanoformulated pomegranate extract for meat packaging
    Khalid, S.A., Ghanem, A.F., Abd-El-Malek, A., Ammar, M.A., El-Khateib, T., & El-Sherbiny, I.M.
    Carbohydrate Polymers, 2024, 332, 121915.
  • Types of microorganisms for biodegradation
    Khalid, S.A., & Elsherif, W.M.
    Handbook of Biodegradable Materials, 2022, 1-27.
  • Biopolymeric-inorganic composites for drug delivery applications
    Khalid, S.A., Abo Dena, A.S., & El-Sherbiny, I.M.
    Polymeric and Natural Composites: Materials, Manufacturing and Biomedical Applications, 2022.
  • Impact of using cinnamon (Cinnamomum verum) essential oil and its pectin-chitosan nano-emulsion on survival of Aspergillus flavus and total aflatoxin inhibition in beef burger patties
    Bakr, J.G., Khalid, S.A., Khafaga, N.I.M., Yassien, N.A., & Zaki, H.M.B.A.
    Food Control, 2024, 159, 110294.
  • Self-nanoemulsifying systems for delivery of drugs
    Khalid, S.A., Arafa, K.K., & El-Sherbiny, I.M.
    Systems of Nanovesicular Drug Delivery, 2022, 55-68.
  • Evaluation of pumpkin seed oil and its chitosan-Arabic gum nanoparticles on the viability of Aspergillus flavus and inhibition of total aflatoxin in beef sausage
    Khalid, S.A., & Elokle, A.A.
    Food Control, 2024, 110854.
  • Recent Trends in Bacterial Sensors
    Khalid, S.A., & Hashem, H.M.
    Handbook of Nanosensors: Materials and Technological Applications, 2024, 1045-1076.

 

Qadreyah Almatawah | Food Safety | Best Researcher Award

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Dr Qadreyah Almatawah |  Food Safety |  Best Researcher Award

Research Scientist at  Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research, Kuwait

Dr. Qadreyah Almatawah is an accomplished Research Scientist at the Biotechnology Program, Center for Environmental and Life Science Research at KISR. She holds a B.Sc. in Microbiology (1987) and an M.Sc. in Medical Microbiology (1992) from Kuwait University. She earned her Ph.D. in Microbial Biochemistry from University College London in 1999, specializing in the inducible nitrilase from thermophilic Bacillus. Since joining KISR in 1992, she has contributed to various research projects, focusing on microbial identification, molecular biology, and environmental microbiology. Dr. Almatawah has published widely in peer-reviewed journals and actively leads research on environmental pathogens and beneficial microorganisms for industrial use. She holds an h-index of 8 with 343 citations.

Publication profile:

📚 Academic Background:

Dr. Qadreyah Almatawah earned her B.Sc. in Microbiology from Kuwait University in 1987, followed by an MSc in Medical Microbiology in 1992, and a Ph.D. in Microbial Biochemistry from University College London in 1999. Her doctoral research focused on the “Inducible Nitrilase from a Thermophilic Bacillus.”

🔬 Research Expertise:

An expert in microbial identification and molecular biology, Dr. Almatawah has been at KISR since 1992, working on numerous projects related to microbial bioremediation, biosurfactants, and environmental monitoring. Her research includes identifying beneficial microorganisms for industrial use and studying pathogenic microorganisms in environmental samples.

📊 Key Projects:

  • Development of sulfur-oxidizing bacteria to improve desert soil fertility
  • Monitoring and controlling Legionella in water systems
  • Assessment of microbial pathogens in food and air quality in poultry houses

🏆 Research and Achievements:

  • 245 citations by 206 documents.
  • 6 h-index with 11 research papers published.
  • Key published works on Legionella monitoring, biosurfactants, and microbial contamination.
  • Led several notable projects such as the development of sulfur-based soil amendments and monitoring of foodborne pathogens.

Publication Top Notes:

  • Monitoring foodborne pathogens of food served at an institutional cafeteria
    Almatawah, Q., Al-Mutairi, S., Varghese, J.
    Applied Food Research, 2024, 4(2), 100497.
  • Microbiological contamination of indoor and outdoor environments in a desert climate
    Almatawah, Q.A., Al-Rashidi, M.S., Yassin, M.F., Varghese, J.S.
    Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 2022, 194(5), 355.
  • Legionella detection and subgrouping in water air-conditioning cooling tower systems in Kuwait
    Al-Matawah, Q., Al-Zenki, S., Al-Azmi, A., Al-Salameen, F., Hejji, A.B.
    Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 2015, 22(13), pp. 10235–10241.
  • Characterisation of quality and safety of tomatoes sold in the state of Kuwait
    Al-Zenki, S.F., Al-Mazeedi, H.M., Al-Hooti, S.N., Alomirah, H.F., Sidhu, J.S.
    International Journal of Postharvest Technology and Innovation, 2008, 1(3), pp. 298–311.
  • Quality and safety characteristics of milk sold in the state of Kuwait
    Al-Zenki, S.F., Al-Mazeedi, H.M., Al-Hooti, S.N., Alomirah, H.F., Sidhu, J.S.
    Journal of Food Processing and Preservation, 2007, 31(6), pp. 702–713.
  • Isolation and characterization of oil-desulphurizing bacteria
    Guerinik, K., Al-Mutawah, Q.
    World Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology, 2003, 19(9), pp. 941–945.
  • Thermostable nitrilase catalysed production of nicotinic acid from 3-cyanopyridine
    Almatawah, Q.A., Cowan, D.A.
    Enzyme and Microbial Technology, 1999, 25(8-9), pp. 718–724.
  • Characterization of an inducible nitrilase from a thermophilic bacillus
    Almatawah, Q.A., Cramp, R., Cowan, D.A.
    Extremophiles, 1999, 3(4), pp. 283–291.
  • The use of an arbitrarily primed PCR product for the specific detection of Brucella
    AlMomin, S., Saleem, M., Al-Mutawa, Q.
    World Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology, 1999, 15(3), pp. 381–385.
  • Biochemistry and biotechnology of mesophilic and thermophilic nitrile metabolizing enzymes
    Cowan, D., Cramp, R., Graham, R.P.D., Almatawah, Q.
    Extremophiles, 1998, 2(3), pp. 207–216.