Yi Wang | Environmental Science | Best Researcher Award

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Dr Yi Wang | Environmental Science |  Best Researcher Award

Assistant Agricultural Scientist at  Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, United States

Dr. Yi Wang is an Assistant Scientist in the Department of Analytical Chemistry at the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station. He earned his Ph.D. in Chemistry from the University of Texas at El Paso in 2020 and holds a B.S. in Chemistry from the University of Science and Technology of China.

Profile:

🎓 Education:

  • Ph.D. in Chemistry (2020) – University of Texas at El Paso
  • B.S. in Chemistry (2012) – University of Science and Technology of China

👨‍🔬 Professional Experience:

  • Assistant Scientist (2022–Present) – Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station
  • Postdoctoral Scientist (2020–2022) – Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station
  • Research & Graduate Assistant (2015–2020) – University of Texas at El Paso

🌱 Research Focus:

Dr. Wang specializes in the application of nanotechnology in agriculture, enhancing crop nutrition, disease resistance, and environmental safety. His work also explores the interactions between nanomaterials and plants, using advanced analytical techniques to improve agrochemical formulations and assess the impact of contaminants like PFAS and microplastics.

🏆 Research Grants & Projects:

  • PI: USDA NIFA AFRI-funded research on agro-nanomaterials ($299,541)
  • Co-PI: Nanoparticle-based crop disease management ($729,000)
  • Collaborator on multiple high-impact projects totaling millions in research funding

📚 Professional Contributions:

  • Editorial Board Member: ACS Agricultural Science and Technology, Plant Nano Biology, Agronomy
  • Reviewer: Top-tier journals like Environmental Science & Technology, Soil Biology & Biochemistry, and Scientific Reports
  • USDA-NIFA Proposal Panel Reviewer

🏅 Honors & Awards:

  • Sustainable Nanotechnology Organization (SNO) Student Award (2018)
  • University of California CEIN Travel Award (2019)
  • Dodson Research Grant (2021)

🎓 Teaching & Mentorship:

  • Taught General Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, and Inorganic Chemistry at the University of Texas at El Paso
  • Mentor for Yale Conservation Scholars Program (2022, 2024)

🌍 Community Engagement:

  • Judge at Sigma Xi Student Research Conference
  • Presenter & Committee Member at Plant Science Day Events

Citations:

Citations: 1,099 (1,063 since 2020)
h-index: 21 (20 since 2020)
i10-index: 31 (30 since 2020)

Publication Top Notes:

  • Improvement of Nutrient Elements and Allicin Content in Green Onion (Allium fistulosum) Plants Exposed to CuO Nanoparticles
  • Copper Nanowires as Nanofertilizers for Alfalfa Plants: Understanding Nano-Bio Systems Interactions from Microbial Genomics, Plant Molecular Responses, and Spectroscopic Studies
  • Foliar Exposure of Cu(OH)₂ Nanopesticide to Basil (Ocimum basilicum): Variety-Dependent Copper Translocation and Biochemical Responses
  • Bok Choy (Brassica rapa) Grown in Copper Oxide Nanoparticles-Amended Soils Exhibits Toxicity in a Phenotype-Dependent Manner: Translocation, Biodistribution, and Nutritional Impact
  • Copper Oxide (CuO) Nanoparticles Affect Yield, Nutritional Quality, and Auxin-Associated Gene Expression in Weedy and Cultivated Rice (Oryza sativa L.) Grains
  • Enhancing Agrichemical Delivery and Plant Development with Biopolymer-Based Stimuli-Responsive Core–Shell Nanostructures
  • Evaluation of the Effects of Nanomaterials on Rice (Oryza sativa L.) Responses: Underlining the Benefits of Nanotechnology for Agricultural Applications
  • Factors Affecting Fate and Transport of Engineered Nanomaterials in Terrestrial Environments
  • Therapeutic Delivery of Nanoscale Sulfur to Suppress Disease in Tomatoes: In Vitro Imaging and Orthogonal Mechanistic Investigation
  • Effects of Different Surface-Coated nTiO₂ on Full-Grown Carrot Plants: Impacts on Root Splitting, Essential Elements, and Ti Uptake
  • Growth, Gas Exchange, and Mineral Nutrients of Ornamental Grasses Irrigated with Saline Water
  • Unlocking the Potential of Nano-Enabled Precision Agriculture for Efficient and Sustainable Farming
  • Soil and Foliar Exposure of Soybean (Glycine max) to Cu: Nanoparticle Coating-Dependent Plant Responses
  • Impact of Engineered Nanomaterials on Rice (Oryza sativa L.): A Critical Review of Current Knowledge
  • Lignin Nanoparticles as Delivery Systems to Facilitate Translocation of Methoxyfenozide in Soybean (Glycine max)
  • Metabolomic Analysis Reveals Dose-Dependent Alteration of Maize (Zea mays L.) Metabolites and Mineral Nutrient Profiles Upon Exposure to Zerovalent Iron Nanoparticles
  • Engineering Climate-Resilient Rice Using a Nanobiostimulant-Based “Stress Training” Strategy
  • Differential Physiological and Biochemical Impacts of Nano vs. Micron Cu at Two Phenological Growth Stages in Bell Pepper (Capsicum annuum) Plants
  • Surface-Coated Sulfur Nanoparticles Suppress Fusarium Disease in Field-Grown Tomato: Increased Yield and Nutrient Biofortification
  • Soil-Aged Nano Titanium Dioxide Effects on Full-Grown Carrot: Dose- and Surface-Coating-Dependent Improvements on Growth and Nutrient Quality

 

 

Lelethu Mdoda | Climate change | Best Researcher Award

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Dr Lelethu Mdoda | Climate change | Best Researcher Award

Senior Lecturer at  University of KwaZulu-Natal,  South Africa

Dr. Lelethu Mdoda is a Senior Lecturer at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, specializing in Agricultural Economics. He earned his PhD at 25 from the University of Fort Hare, focusing on market participation and value chain integration among smallholder farmers in South Africa.

Profile:

🎓 Academic Background:

  • PhD in Agriculture – Agricultural Economics (2017) – University of Fort Hare
    • Thesis: Market participation and value chain integration among smallholder farmers in Eastern Cape
  • MSc in Agriculture – Agricultural Economics (2015) – University of Fort Hare
    • Dissertation: Farmers’ awareness of climate change and its effects on productivity
  • BSc in Agriculture – Agricultural Economics/Economics (2013) – University of Fort Hare

🔬 Research Focus & Expertise:

Dr. Mdoda specializes in agricultural policy, climate change adaptation, smallholder economies, food security, and rural development. His expertise extends to agribusiness, value chains, sustainability, and resource economics. He has extensive experience in applied econometric modeling, data analysis, and market research.

📚 Professional Career & Contributions:

  • Senior Lecturer at the University of KwaZulu-Natal
  • Published over 30 peer-reviewed journal articles
  • NRF Rating: Y2
  • Active in mentoring, research, and project management

🌍 Professional Memberships & Leadership:

  • President of the African Farm Management Association (AFMA)
  • Member of AEASA, IAAE, and IFAMA

🏆 Awards & Recognitions:

  • DAAD German Scholarship (2016)
  • NRF Bursary for MSc (2015)
  • Best Agricultural Student Award (2007)
  • Travel Grants from IFAMA (2016, 2017)

🤝 Community Engagement & Projects:

  • Founder & Executive Director of #HaySureLesner Foundation – Youth mentorship, drug abuse awareness, and career guidance
  • Nguni Project – Market coordination for livestock farming
  • Keiskamahoek Market Day – Supporting smallholder farmers with market access
  • WRC Project – Enhancing smallholder irrigation farming in Eastern Cape

Publication Top Notes:

  • Factors affecting the use of information and communication technologies (ICTs) by livestock farmers in the Eastern Cape province
    L Mdoda, L Mdiya
    Cogent Social Science 8 (1), 2026017 (43 citations, 2022)

  • Factors affecting subsistence farming in rural areas of Nyandeni Local Municipality in the Eastern Cape Province
    S Qange, L Mdoda
    South African Journal of Agricultural Extension 48 (2), 92-105 (43 citations, 2020)

  • The direct and indirect economic contribution of small-scale black agriculture in South Africa
    M Aliber, L Mdoda
    Agrekon 54 (2), 18-37 (36 citations, 2015)

  • RETRACTED: Factors impacting sugarcane production by small-scale farmers in KwaZulu-Natal Province-South Africa
    Z Thibane, S Soni, L Phali, L Mdoda
    Heliyon 9 (1) (30 citations, 2023)

  • Analysis of profitability of smallholder irrigated food plots in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa
    L Mdoda, A Obi
    Journal of Agribusiness and Rural Development 3 (53), 225–232 (23 citations, 2019)

  • Socio-economic factors affecting home gardens as a livelihood strategy in rural areas of the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa
    L Mdiya, L Mdoda
    South African Journal of Agricultural Extension 49 (3), 1-15 (21 citations, 2021)

  • Adoption drivers of improved open-pollinated (OPVs) maize varieties by smallholder farmers in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa
    M Sigigaba, L Mdoda, A Mditshwa
    Sustainability (20 citations, 2021)

  • Profit efficiency in family-owned crop farms in Eastern Cape Province of South Africa: A translog profit function approach
    N Mujuru, A Obi, S Mishi, L Mdoda
    Agriculture & Food Security 11 (20), 2-9 (18 citations, 2022)

  • Determinants of Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA) technologies adoption by smallholder food crop farmers in Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality, Free State
    A Makamane, J Van Niekerk, O Loki, L Mdoda
    South African Journal of Agricultural Extension 51 (4), 52-74 (14 citations, 2023)

  • Use of information systems (Mobile phone app) for enhancing smallholder farmers’ productivity in Eastern Cape Province, South Africa: Implications on food security
    L Mdoda, M Christian, I Agbugba
    Journal of the Knowledge Economy 15 (1), 1993-2009 (13 citations, 2024)

 

Roberta Trani | Environmental Science | Best Researcher Award

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Dr Roberta Trani |  Environmental Science |  Best Researcher Award

Researcher fellow at  University of Bari Aldo Moro,  Italy

Dr. Roberta Trani is a Research Fellow at the University of Bari Aldo Moro, Italy. With a strong background in agricultural sciences, she focuses on innovative research to enhance sustainable farming practices. Passionate about scientific advancement, she actively contributes to academia through research and collaborations.

Profile:

Education & Certifications:

  • PhD in Biodiversity, Agriculture & Environment (2021), University of Bari Aldo Moro
    • Thesis: Marine Multi-Trophic Bioremediation in Aquaculture & Biomass Valorization
  • Scientific Diver Certification (2024), A.I.O.S.S.
  • Professional Qualification in Biology – Section A (2021)
  • Foreign Internship on Marine Natural Products Extraction (2019), University of the Balearic Islands, Spain

Work Experience:

Current Roles

  • Principal Investigator (2024–Present): MaSBIA Project – Marine Sponges as Bioremediators in Integrated Aquaculture (ERC SEEDS UNIBA)
  • Research Fellow (2021–Present): Macrozoobenthic Community Analysis in Corallium rubrum Habitats, Puglia
  • Subject Expert in Zoology & Animal Biodiversity (2021–Present), University of Bari Aldo Moro

Previous Roles

  • Research Fellow (2021–2023): Rete Natura 2000 – Habitat & Species Monitoring in Puglia
  • Underwater Surveys & Marine Strategy Puglia Project (2021), CoNISMa
  • Field Research Support in Hard Substrate Benthos Analysis (2021), CoNISMa
  • Bioremediation & Benthos Invertebrate Management (2021), University of Bari
  • REMEDIA Life Project Team Member (2017–2020), University of Bari

Academic and Professional Background

  • Bachelor’s Degree in Environmental Sciences (2012)
  • Master’s Degree in Environmental Biology (2015)
  • PhD in Environmental Sciences (2021), University of Bari Aldo Moro
  • Over 14 years of research experience in marine zoology and ecology, with training in Italy, Russia, and the Balearic Islands
  • Since 2018, research focus on marine bioremediation via Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture (IMTA), contributing to the REMEDIA Life project
  • Current research on marine filter-feeding invertebrates for ecosystem restoration and sustainability

Areas of Research

  • Bioremediation
  • Marine Biodiversity & Ecology
  • Aquatic Ecosystems
  • Marine Zoology & Biology
  • Marine Environment & Natural Product Extraction
  • Underwater Monitoring & Sampling

Citation Metrics:

  • Total Citations: 251
  • Citations Since 2020: 249
  • h-Index: 9
  • h-Index Since 2020: 9
  • i10-Index: 9
  • i10-Index Since 2020: 9

Publication Top Notes:

  • An Innovative IMTA System: Polychaetes, Sponges and Macroalgae Co-Cultured in a Southern Italian In-Shore Mariculture Plant (Ionian Sea)
  • Chaetomorpha linum in the Bioremediation of Aquaculture Wastewater: Optimization of Nutrient Removal Efficiency at the Laboratory Scale
  • Filtering Activity and Nutrient Release by the Keratose Sponge Sarcotragus spinosulus Schmidt, 1862 (Porifera, Demospongiae) at the Laboratory Scale
  • Environmental Quality Improvement of a Mariculture Plant After Its Conversion Into a Multi-Trophic System
  • Sponges as Emerging By-Product of Integrated Multitrophic Aquaculture (IMTA)
  • Biofouling Role in Mariculture Environment Restoration: An Example in the Mar Grande of Taranto (Mediterranean Sea)
  • An Integrated Monitoring Approach to the Evaluation of the Environmental Impact of an Inshore Mariculture Plant (Mar Grande of Taranto, Ionian Sea)
  • Nitrogen Metabolism at Tillering Stage Differently Affects the Grain Yield and Grain Protein Content in Two Durum Wheat Cultivars
  • Bioremediation Capabilities of Hymeniacidon perlevis (Porifera, Demospongiae) in a Land-Based Experimental Fish Farm
  • Invertebrate Diversity Associated With a Shallow Rhodolith Bed in the Mediterranean Sea (Mar Piccolo of Taranto, South-East Italy)
  • Anti-Fouling Activity and Toxicity of the Mediterranean Alien Sponge Paraleucilla magna Klautau, Monteiro & Borojevic, 2004 (Porifera, Calcarea)
  • Influence of an Innovative IMTA System (Mediterranean Sea, Italy) on Environmental and Biological Parameters: Seasonal Analysis
  • The REMEDIA LIFE Integrated Multitrophic Aquaculture System as a Powerful Sponge Biomass Supply
  • Porifera in the REMEDIA LIFE Integrated Multitrophic Aquaculture (IMTA) System
  • Do Sustainably Reared Marine Sponges Represent a Potential New Product in Aquariology? A Citizen Science-Based Approach
  • Metodologie di Allevamento di Poriferi in un Sistema di Acquacoltura Multi Trophica Integrata
  • Synthesis of Brominated Lactones Related to Mycalin A: Selective Antiproliferative Activity on Metastatic Melanoma Cells and Inhibition of the Cell Migration
  • Tethya meloni (Porifera, Demospongiae): A Promising Bioremediator Species and Source of Marine Natural Products
  • Integrated Study for the Assessment of an Inshore Mariculture Plant Impact on the Surrounding Environment (Ionian Sea)
  • Multi-Trophic Species Interactions in a Marine Bioremediation Model Assessment

 

Zeeshan Zafar | Climate Change | Best Researcher Award

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Dr Zeeshan Zafar |  Climate Change | Best Researcher Award

Postdoctoral Researcher at  Wuhan University,  China

 

Dr. Zeeshan Zafar is a physical geographer and researcher with expertise in remote sensing, GIS, and environmental modeling. His work focuses on machine learning applications in hydrology and climate change impact studies, particularly in urban and natural ecosystems. Dr. Zafar has contributed to research publications on carbon storage modeling, LULC, urban heat islands, and soil erosion, and he actively collaborates on projects assessing ecological health risks and sustainable urban planning.

 

Publication Profile

Education:

Dr. Zeeshan Zafar completed his Ph.D. in Physical Geography from Northwest University, Xi’an, China. He holds an M.S. in Remote Sensing & GIS from PMAS Arid Agriculture University, Rawalpindi, Pakistan.

Professional Experience:

Dr. Zafar is currently a Postdoctoral Researcher at Wuhan University, China, where he focuses on advanced GIS and ecological modeling methodologies. Previously, he served as a GIS Manager at GreenAge Services in Pakistan (2016-2018) and as an Instructor at Virtual University, Pakistan (2013-2016), where he developed remote sensing and GIS curricula and trained students in these fields.

Research Interest:

Dr. Zafar’s research integrates machine learning, hydrological modeling, ecosystem services, and climate change impacts. His expertise extends to ecological modeling, land-use/land-cover (LULC) change, urbanization, and land surface temperature modeling. He is proficient in advanced spatial analysis using satellite data, machine learning, deep learning, and statistical modeling.

Author Metrics:

Dr. Zafar has published extensively in reputable journals, including Ecological Informatics, Theoretical and Applied Climatology, and Water Supply. His research, recognized for its impact on understanding climate and urban dynamics, is supported by over 20 peer-reviewed articles and ongoing submissions to high-impact journals. His work is regularly cited by peers in environmental science and remote sensing domains.

Publication Top Notes
  • Selection of medical clinic for disease diagnosis by using TOPSIS method
    RM Zulqarnain, S Abdal, B Ali, L Ali, F Dayan, MI Ahamad, Z Zafar
    International Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences Review and Research, 61(1), 2020.
  • Application of TOPSIS method in decision making via soft set
    RM Zulqarnain, S Abdal, A Maalik, B Ali, Z Zafar, MI Ahamad, S Younas
    Biomedical Journal of Scientific & Technical Research, 24(3), 18208-18215, 2020.
  • Trend analysis of the decadal variations of water bodies and land use/land cover through MODIS imagery: An in-depth study from Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan
    Z Zafar, MS Mehmood, MI Ahamad, A Chudhary, N Abbas, AR Khan
    Water Supply, 21(2), 927-940, 2021.
  • Fostering deep learning approaches to evaluate the impact of urbanization on vegetation and future prospects
    Z Zafar, MS Mehmood, Z Shiyan, M Zubair, M Sajjad, Q Yaochen
    Ecological Indicators, 146, 109788, 2023.
  • Time Series Analyses and Forecasting of Surface Urban Heat Island Intensity Using ARIMA Model in Punjab, Pakistan
    MS Mehmood, Z Zafar, M Sajjad, S Hussain, S Zhai, Y Qin
    Land, 12(1), 142, 2022.
  • Performance assessment of machine learning algorithms for mapping of land use/land cover using remote sensing data
    Z Zafar, M Zubair, Y Zha, S Fahd, AA Nadeem
    The Egyptian Journal of Remote Sensing and Space Sciences, 27(2), 216-226, 2024.
  • Spatial Downscaling and Gap-Filling of SMAP Soil Moisture to High Resolution Using MODIS Surface Variables and Machine Learning Approaches over ShanDian River Basin, China
    AA Nadeem, Y Zha, L Shi, S Ali, X Wang, Z Zafar, Z Afzal, MAUR Tariq
    Remote Sensing, 15(3), 812, 2023.
  • Generalized fuzzy TOPSIS to solve multi-criteria decision-making problems
    RM Zulqarnaın, M Saeed, B Ali, S Abdal, M Saqlaın, MI Ahamad, Z Zafar
    Journal of New Theory, 40-50, 2020.
  • Comprehensive assessment on groundwater quality, pollution characteristics, and ecological health risks under seasonal thaws: Spatial insights with Monte Carlo simulations
    C Jia, AR Altaf, F Li, I Ashraf, Z Zafar, AA Nadeem
    Groundwater for Sustainable Development, 22, 100952, 2023.
  • Mapping flood extend and its impact on land use/land cover and settlements variations: A case study of Layyah District, Punjab, Pakistan
    S Soomro, C Hu, MW Boota, MHAA Soomro, S Jian, Z Zafar, X Li
    Acta Geophysica, 69, 2291-2304, 2021.
  • Application of Intuitionistic Fuzzy Soft Matrices for Disease Diagnosis
    RM Zulqarnain, M Saeed, MI Ahamad, S Abdal, Z Zafar, M Aslam
    International Journal of Discrete Mathematics, 5(1), 4-9, 2020.
  • The spatial coupling effect between urban street network’s centrality and collection & delivery points: A spatial design network analysis-based study
    MS Mehmood, G Li, A Jin, A Rehman, V Wijeratne, Z Zafar, AR Khan
    PLOS One, 16(5), e0251093, 2021.
  • Predictive modeling of regional carbon storage dynamics in response to land use/land cover changes: An InVEST-based analysis
    Z Zafar, M Zubair, Y Zha, MS Mehmood, A Rehman, S Fahd, AA Nadeem
    Ecological Informatics, 102701, 2024.
  • Disease identification using trapezoidal fuzzy numbers by Sanchez’s approach
    RM Zulqarnain, XL Xin, B Ali, S Abdal, A Maalik, L Ali, MI Ahamad, Z Zafar
    International Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences Review and Research, 61(1), 13-18, 2020.
  • Effects of Temperature and Pressure on Reservoir Fluids and Seismic Properties of Reservoir Rocks
    MI Ahamad, Z Zafar, M Arsalan, A Rehman, M Sajid, RM Zulqarnain
    International Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences Review and Research, 63, 36-43, 2020.
  • Spatiotemporal dynamics analysis of surface water body and snow cover area to climate change in Gilgit Baltistan, Pakistan
    Z Zafar, MS Mehmood, A Akbar, MA Khan
    Physical Geography, 44(5), 600-619, 2023.
  • Evaluating land use/cover change associations with urban surface temperature via machine learning and spatial modeling: Past trends and future simulations in Dera Ghazi Khan
    MS Mehmood, A Rehman, M Sajjad, J Song, Z Zafar, Z Shiyan
    Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution, 11, 1115074, 2023.
  • SAFER-ET based assessment of irrigation patterns and impacts on groundwater use in the central Punjab, Pakistan
    AA Nadeem, Y Zha, L Shi, Z Zafar, S Ali, Y Zhang, AR Altaf, M Afzal
    Agricultural Water Management, 289, 108545, 2023.
  • Modelling the Climate Change on Crop Estimation in the Semi-Arid Region of Pakistan Using Multispectral Remote Sensing
    Z Zafar, S Farooq, MI Ahamad, MS Mehmood
    Optics, 9(1), 1-7, 2020.
  • Assessment of urbanization impacts on vegetation cover in major cities of Pakistan: Evidence from remotely sensed data
    Z Zafar
    GeoJournal, 89(4), 167, 2024.