Mohammadreza Asghari | Food safety | Best Researcher Award

Prof. Dr. Mohammadreza Asghari |  Food safety | Best Researcher Award

Professor at Urmia University,  Iran

Prof. Dr. Mohammadreza Asghari is a distinguished professor in the Department of Horticulture, Faculty of Agriculture at Urmia University, Iran. He earned his Ph.D. in Postharvest Horticulture from Tehran University and has built a robust academic and research career specializing in crop physiology, crop quality, postharvest technology, food safety, plant hormones, and modern and organic horticulture.

Profile:

🎓 Academic Background:

  • Ph.D. in Postharvest Horticulture – University of Tehran

  • Professor, Department of Horticulture, Faculty of Agriculture, Urmia University, Iran

🌱 Areas of Expertise:

  • Crop Physiology & Quality

  • Postharvest Physiology & Technology

  • Food Safety

  • Plant Hormones & Growth Regulators

  • Fruit Production, Intensive & Organic Orchards

  • Modern Horticulture

🧪 Research & Innovation:

  • 92 Journal Articles | 65 Conference Papers | 4 Books

  • Editor-in-Chief of Pomology Research Journal

  • 47 Supervised Theses

  • 1 Invention: A safe, anti-stress compound for use during crop growth and postharvest

  • Research focus includes improving crop resistance, marketability, and nutritional quality

🏆 Awards & Recognition:

  • 🏅 Top 2% Scientist (Stanford University) – 2021 & 2024

  • 🎓 Top Student in National Ph.D. & M.Sc. Entrance Exams, Tehran University

📈 Citation Metrics:

  • Total Citations: 2,871

  • Citations Since 2020: 1,783

  • h-index: 27

  • h-index Since 2020: 23

  • i10-index: 38

  • i10-index Since 2020: 31

Publication Top Notes:

  • Impact of Salicylic Acid on Post-Harvest Physiology of Horticultural Crops
    Asghari, M.R., Soleimani Aghdam, M.
    Trends in Food Science & Technology, 21, 502–509 (2010) — Cited: 614

  • Effect of Pre- and Postharvest Salicylic Acid Treatment on Ethylene Production, Fungal Decay, and Overall Quality of Selva Strawberry Fruit
    Babalar, M., Asghari, M., Talaei, A., Khosroshahi, A.
    Food Chemistry, 105(2), 449–453 (2007) — Cited: 441

  • Impact of Postharvest Brassinosteroids Treatment on PAL Activity in Tomato Fruit in Response to Chilling Stress
    Aghdam, M.S., Asghari, M., Farmani, B., Mohayeji, M., Moradbeygi, H.
    Scientia Horticulturae, 144, 116–120 (2012) — Cited: 141

  • Effects of Foliar Applications of Nitric Oxide and Spermidine on Photosynthesis and Antioxidant Enzyme Activities in Citrus Seedlings Under Salinity Stress
    Asghari, M.R., Khoshbakht, D.
    Photosynthetica, 56(4), 1313–1325 (2018) — Cited: 109

  • Alleviation of Postharvest Chilling Injury of Tomato Fruit by Salicylic Acid Treatment
    Aghdam, M.S., Asghari, M., Khorsandi, O., Mohayeji, M.
    Journal of Food Science and Technology, 51, 2815–2820 (2014) — Cited: 98

  • Interaction Effects of Salicylic Acid and Methyl Jasmonate on Antioxidant Content and Enzyme Activity in ‘Sabrosa’ Strawberry During Storage
    Asghari, M., Hasanlooe, A.R.
    Scientia Horticulturae, 197, 490–495 (2015) — Cited: 89

  • Eco-Friendly Technology for Postharvest Produce Quality
    Siddiqui, M.W. (Ed.), includes chapter by Asghari, M.R.
    Academic Press (2016) — Cited: 80

  • Impact of Jasmonates on Safety, Productivity, and Physiology of Food Crops
    Asghari, M.
    Trends in Food Science & Technology, 91, 169–183 (2019) — Cited: 76

  • Methyl Jasmonate Enhances Defense Enzyme Activity and Antioxidant Content in ‘Sabrosa’ Strawberry Fruit
    Asghari, M., Hasanlooe, A.R.
    Food Science & Nutrition, 4(3), 377–383 (2016) — Cited: 70

  • Influence of Foliar-Applied Polyamines on Growth and Photosynthetic Characteristics in Citrus Under Saline Conditions
    Khoshbakht, D., Asghari, M.R., Haghighi, M.
    Photosynthetica, 56, 731–742 (2018) — Cited: 65

 

Sangita Ahmed | Microbiology | Best Researcher Award

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.