Mariana Petkova | Plant Biology | Women Researcher Award

Assoc. Prof. Dr Mariana Petkova |  Plant Biology |  Women Researcher Award

Microbiology and Molecular biology at  Agriculture University-Plovdiv,  Bulgaria

Mariana Krasimirova Petkova, PhD is an Assistant Professor at the Agricultural University – Plovdiv, Bulgaria, within the Faculty of Plant Protection and Agroecology, Department of Microbiology and Ecological Biotechnology. She earned her Master’s degree in Plant Protection from the Agricultural University in 1996 and completed her PhD in Molecular Biology at the University of Kobe, Japan, in 2002.

Profile:

🎓 Education:

  • Master of Plant Protection – Agricultural University, Plovdiv, 1996
  • PhD in Molecular Biology – University of Kobe, Japan, 2002

💼 Academic Positions:

  • 2010 – 2014: Assistant Professor, Faculty of Agronomy, Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding, Agricultural University – Plovdiv
  • 2014 – Present: Assistant Professor, Faculty of Plant Protection and Agroecology, Department of Microbiology and Ecological Biotechnology, Agricultural University – Plovdiv

🔬 Research Interests:

Main Areas:

  • Molecular Biology
  • Gene Expression
  • Microbiology

Additional Areas:

  • Antimicrobials
  • Lactic Acid Bacteria & Yeast in Sourdoughs
  • Functional Foods

🌍 International Collaborations & Specializations:

  • JSPS Fellowship (2006-2009) – University of Osaka, Japan
  • HPLC Training (2011) – Budapest, Hungary
  • Borlaug Fellowship (2012) – North Dakota State University, USA
  • Food Traceability Course (2013) – Thessaloniki, Greece
  • Analytical Approaches Workshop (2016) – University of Food Technologies, Plovdiv

🏆 Awards & Memberships:

  • Member: Union of Scientists in Bulgaria (since 2011)

📊 Scientific Impact:

  • Citations: 154 (by 140 documents)
  • Publications: 23
  • h-index: 8

Publication Top Notes:

  • “Plant Growth-Promoting and Biocontrol Characteristics of Four Bacillus Strains and Evaluation of Their Effects on Wheat (Tr. aestivum L.)”
    International Journal of Plant Biology, 2024.
    DOI: 10.3390/ijpb16010001

  • “Positive Effect of Camelina Intercropping with Legumes on Soil Microbial Diversity by Applying NGS Analysis and Mobile Fluorescence Spectroscopy”
    Applied Sciences, 2024.
    DOI: 10.3390/app14199046

  • “Biological Control of Lettuce Drop (Sclerotinia minor Jagger) Using Antagonistic Bacillus Species”
    Applied Microbiology, 2024.
    DOI: 10.3390/applmicrobiol4030088

  • “Isolation and Selection of Sauerkraut Lactic Acid Bacteria Producing Exopolysaccharides”
    BIO Web of Conferences, 2023.
    DOI: 10.1051/bioconf/20235802001

  • “Metagenomic Approach Unravelling Bacterial Diversity in Combined Composting and Vermicomposting Technology of Agricultural Wastes”
    Ecologia Balkanica, 2023.

  • “Mutagenesis as a Tool for Enhancement of Fatty Acid Composition of Rapeseed (Brassica napus L.)”
    Bulgarian Journal of Agricultural Science, 2023.

  • “On the Molecular Selection of Exopolysaccharide-Producing Lactic Acid Bacteria from Indigenous Fermented Plant-Based Foods and Further Fine Chemical Characterization”
    Foods, 2023.
    DOI: 10.3390/foods12183346

  • “Plant Traits of Tilia tomentosa Moench, Fraxinus excelsior L., and Pinus nigra J.F.Arnold as a Proxy of Urbanization”
    Forests, 2023.
    DOI: 10.3390/f14040800

  • “Revealing Fungal Diversity in Mesophilic and Thermophilic Habitats of Sewage Sludge Composting by Next-Generation Sequencing”
    Applied Sciences (Switzerland), 2023.
    DOI: 10.3390/app13095546

 

Ujjwal Layek | Pollination Biology | Best Researcher Award

Dr Ujjwal Layek |  Pollination Biology |  Best Researcher Award

Assistant Professor at  Rampurhat College, India

Dr. Ujjwal Layek is an Assistant Professor of Botany at Rampurhat College, specializing in plant-pollinator interactions with a focus on palynology and pollination biology. He holds a Ph.D. from Vidyasagar University and completed his M.Sc. at Visva-Bharati, West Bengal. With over four years of experience in academia, he has authored over 35 publications in esteemed journals such as Elsevier, Springer Nature, and Wiley & Sons. Dr. Layek serves as an editorial board member for journals like Frontiers in Bee Science and Plant Science Today and has reviewed over 60 manuscripts for prestigious publishers including Nature Publishing Group and Elsevier. His research has garnered significant citation recognition, with an H-index of 13. Additionally, he has organized research conferences and workshops and actively collaborates with universities and industries. Dr. Layek’s contributions to research and development have earned him recognition, including an award, and he continues to make strides in advancing our understanding of plant reproductive biology and bee behavior.

Profile:

👨‍🎓 Education & Experience:

Dr. Ujjwal Layek holds a Ph.D. in Botany from Vidyasagar University, following his M.Sc. from Visva-Bharati. With over 4 years of teaching experience, he currently serves as an Assistant Professor at Rampurhat College, specializing in plant-pollinator interactions.

 

📚 Academic Contributions:

As an editorial board member of journals like Frontiers in Bee Science and Plant Science Today, he actively shapes scholarly discourse. Dr. Layek’s commitment to academia is evident through his review of over 60 manuscripts from renowned publishers like Nature Publishing Group and Springer Nature.

 

🌍 Global Impact:

Dr. Layek’s work has garnered international recognition, with publications indexed in SCI, SCIE, Scopus, and PubMed. He has engaged in over 20 collaborative research activities and presented his findings in numerous conferences worldwide.

🔬 Research Focus: Pollination Biology

 

Dr. Ujjwal Layek, an Assistant Professor of Botany at Rampurhat College, specializes in the intricate world of pollination biology. His research delves into the crucial interactions between plants and pollinators, exploring the mechanisms and dynamics that drive successful pollination processes.

🌼 Plant-Pollinator Interactions: Dr. Layek investigates the fascinating relationships between flowering plants and their pollinators, unraveling the complexities of co-evolution and mutual dependencies.

🔍 Palynology Expertise: With a focus on palynology, Dr. Layek examines pollen grains and their role in plant reproduction, shedding light on pollen morphology, dispersal, and its implications for pollination efficiency.

🐝 Foraging Behavior of Pollinators: Understanding the foraging behavior of pollinators like honeybees and stingless bees is central to Dr. Layek’s research. He explores how these vital agents navigate floral landscapes, impacting plant reproductive success.

🌍 Environmental Impact: Dr. Layek’s work not only advances scientific knowledge but also highlights the ecological importance of pollination in maintaining biodiversity and ecosystem stability.

Citations:

Dr. Ujjwal Layek’s contributions to the field of pollination biology have garnered significant attention, with 360 citations overall and 339 citations since 2019. His work has established an h-index of 13 and an i10-index of 15, reflecting the impact and influence of his research in advancing our understanding of plant-pollinator interactions.

Publication Top Notes:

  • “Nesting characteristics, floral resources, and foraging activity of Trigona iridipennis Smith in Bankura district of West Bengal, India”
    • Authors: U Layek, P Karmakar
    • Published in: Insectes sociaux
    • Year: 2018
    • Citations: 41
  • “Impact of managed stingless bee and western honey bee colonies on native pollinators and yield of watermelon: A comparative study”
    • Authors: U Layek, A Kundu, S Bisui, P Karmakar
    • Published in: Annals of Agricultural Sciences
    • Year: 2021
    • Citations: 36
  • “Pollen foraging behaviour of honey bee (Apis mellifera L.) in southern West Bengal, India”
    • Authors: U Layek, SS Manna, P Karmakar
    • Published in: Palynology
    • Year: 2020
    • Citations: 25
  • “Honey sample collection methods influence pollen composition in determining true nectar-foraging bee plants”
    • Authors: U Layek, R Mondal, P Karmakar
    • Published in: Acta Botanica Brasilica
    • Year: 2020
    • Citations: 24
  • “Comparing the pollen forage pattern of stingless bee (Trigona iridipennis Smith) between rural and semi-urban areas of West Bengal, India”
    • Authors: S Bisui, U Layek, P Karmakar
    • Published in: Journal of Asia-Pacific Entomology
    • Year: 2019
    • Citations: 23
  • “Bee plants used as nectar sources by Apis florea Fabricius in Bankura and Paschim Medinipur districts, West Bengal”
    • Authors: U Layek, P Karmakar
    • Published in: Geophytology
    • Year: 2016
    • Citations: 21