Laura Gomez-Devia | Ecology | Innovative Research Award

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Innovative Research Award

Laura Gomez-Devia

Mediterranean Institute for Advanced Studies of the University of the Balearic Islands (IMEDEA-UIB), Colombia

Laura Gomez-Devia
Affiliation IMEDEA-UIB
Country Colombia
Scopus ID 59212393900
Documents 2
Citations 9
h-index 1
Subject Area Ecology
Event Botany Scientist Awards
ORCID 0009-0003-9476-9768

Laura Gomez-Devia is an early-career ecologist affiliated with the Mediterranean Institute for Advanced Studies of the University of the Balearic Islands (IMEDEA-UIB), Spain, and originating from Colombia. Her research addresses biological invasions, ecological networks, functional traits, and island ecology, with particular emphasis on plant–animal interactions in tropical island systems. According to Scopus, her scholarly record includes 2 documents, 9 citations, and an h-index of 1 within the subject area of Ecology [1]. She is a candidate for recognition at the Botany Scientist Awards in the field of innovative ecological research [3].

Abstract

This article presents the academic profile of Laura Gomez-Devia in the context of the Innovative Research Award associated with the Botany Scientist Awards. Her work integrates field ecology, functional trait measurement, and network analysis to examine how invasive species and environmental gradients alter plant–animal interactions. Documented contributions include studies on temperature effects on fruit traits, pollination networks on tropical islands, and invasive rat impacts on ecosystem functions [4][5]. Scopus metrics record 2 documents, 9 citations, and an h-index of 1 [1].

Keywords

  • Biological invasions
  • Ecological networks
  • Functional traits
  • Species turnover
  • Island ecology
  • Pollination interactions

Introduction

Laura Gomez-Devia is a PhD candidate in the Terrestrial Ecology Lab Group within the Global Change research area at the Institut Mediterrani d’Estudis Avançats (IMEDEA, CSIC-UIB) in Esporles, Spain [2]. She completed an MSc in Biodiversity and Collection Management at Technische Universität Dresden, Germany, with a thesis on temperature gradient effects on fruit traits and animal–plant interactions conducted at the German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv). She holds a BSc in Biology from Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá, Colombia, where her thesis examined the mobility of flavonoids from Passiflora ligularis leaves using capillary electrophoresis [6]. Her research trajectory combines tropical field ecology with quantitative analysis of ecological networks.

Research Profile

The researcher’s profile is characterized by international field experience across the Seychelles archipelago, Madagascar, Colombia, and Costa Rica. PhD fieldwork conducted in 2024 involved recording flower–pollinator interactions across nine islands under three rat-invasion scenarios: never invaded, rat-eradicated, and currently invaded [4]. Additional fieldwork on Frégate Island examined pollination interactions across vegetation types. Master’s fieldwork in Ranomafana National Park, Madagascar, measured functional fruit traits including sugar content, hardness, colour, size, and scent for five plant species [5]. Funding support includes the iMOVE CSIC 2026 grant, Santander Scholarship, María de Maetzu Travel Award, DAAD-STIBET Study Completion Scholarship, and Dr. Arthur Pfungst-Stiftung Scholarship. Research subjects listed in her scholarly record include Crop Science and Evolutionary Genomics, with publication counts of 2 in Evolutionary Genomics, 1 in Crop Science, 1 in Entomology, and 1 in Forestry, totalling 5 publications.

Research Contributions

Contributions span empirical ecology, methodological application, and synthesis. The 2026 manuscript under review addresses how invasive rats reshape ecosystem functions in tropical islands, identifying patterns, impacts, and knowledge gaps [4]. A peer-reviewed article in Plants examines how vegetation types and plant invasion shape pollination interactions on a tropical island [4]. A 2024 article in BMC Ecology and Evolution investigates temperature gradient effects on functional fruit traits using an elevation-for-temperature approach [5]. A book chapter in the 2021 volume on Passiflora ligularis Juss. presents analytical methodologies for the study and quantification of flavonoids in leaf extracts [6]. Conference presentations include talks at the 5th Island Biology Conference (2026, Atami, Japan), the 61st Annual Meeting of the Association for Tropical Biology and Conservation (2025, Oaxaca, Mexico), and XXII Ecoflor (2025, León, Spain), as well as posters at the 6th European Conference of Tropical Ecology (2023) and the 7th Brazilian Conference on Natural Products (2019).

Publications

The publication record of Laura Gomez-Devia includes peer-reviewed articles, a book chapter, a field guide, and a manuscript under review, focusing on plant–animal interactions, functional traits, and biological invasions in tropical island systems. A 2026 manuscript examines how invasive rats reshape ecosystem functions in tropical islands [4].

A 2026 article in Plants investigates how vegetation types and plant invasion shape pollination networks on a tropical island [4]. A 2024 article in BMC Ecology and Evolution examines temperature gradient effects on functional fruit traits using an elevation-for-temperature approach [5].

A 2021 book chapter presents methodologies for quantifying flavonoids in Passiflora ligularis leaf extracts [6]. A 2019 infographic field guide documents campus avifauna at Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá [6]. Together, these works demonstrate sustained engagement across laboratory, field, and synthesis domains.

Research Impact

Scopus metrics for the researcher record 9 citations, 2 documents, and an h-index of 1 [1]. The subject area classification is Ecology. Publication distribution across research subjects includes Evolutionary Genomics (2), Crop Science (1), Entomology (1), and Forestry (1), with a total of 5 publications. These indicators are consistent with an early-career researcher whose work is beginning to accumulate scholarly attention. The 2024 article in BMC Ecology and Evolution provides a methodological contribution through its elevation-for-temperature approach to functional fruit trait analysis [5]. The 2026 Plants article contributes empirical evidence on how vegetation types and plant invasion jointly structure pollination interactions on tropical islands [4].

Award Suitability

The researcher’s profile aligns with the Innovative Research Award criteria associated with the Botany Scientist Awards [3]. Indicators of suitability include: a sustained record of peer-reviewed publication in international journals indexed in Scopus; integration of field ecology with functional trait and network analysis; research addressing globally relevant themes of biological invasions, island ecology, and pollination networks; documented international field experience across the Seychelles, Madagascar, Colombia, and Costa Rica; competitive funding and scholarship awards; and conference presentations at international scientific meetings. The combination of empirical fieldwork, methodological development, and synthesis-oriented research supports consideration for recognition in botanical and ecological research.

Conclusion

Laura Gomez-Devia represents an early-career researcher whose work addresses the ecological consequences of invasive species and environmental gradients in tropical island systems. Her publication record, field experience, funding history, and conference activity collectively demonstrate active engagement with contemporary questions in ecology and botanical research [1][4][5]. Recognition through the Innovative Research Award would acknowledge contributions to understanding plant–animal interactions and the functional consequences of biological invasions.

References

  1. Elsevier. (n.d.). Scopus author details: Laura Gomez-Devia, Author ID 59212393900. Scopus.
    https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?authorId=59212393900
  2. ORCID. (n.d.). Laura Gomez-Devia, ORCID 0009-0003-9476-9768. ORCID Registry.
    https://orcid.org/0009-0003-9476-9768
  3. Botany Scientist Awards. (n.d.). Innovative Research Award. Botany Scientist.
    https://botanyscientist.com/
  4. Gómez-Devia, L., Kaiser-Bunbury, C. N., Traveset, A., & Costa, A. (2026). Vegetation types and plant invasion shape pollination interactions on a tropical island. Plants, 15(18), Article 2845.
    https://doi.org/10.3390/plants15182845
  5. Gómez-Devia, L., & Nevo, O. (2024). Effects of temperature gradient on functional fruit traits: An elevation-for-temperature approach. BMC Ecology and Evolution, 24, Article 94.
    https://doi.org/10.1186/s12862-024-02271-w
  6. Ospina Giraldo, L. F., Castellanos Hernández, L., Ramos Rodríguez, F. A., Modesti Costa, G., et al. (2021). Passiflora ligularis Juss. (granadilla): Estudios químicos y farmacológicos de una planta con potencial terapéutico. Universidad Nacional de Colombia.
    https://repositorio.unal.edu.co/handle/unal/82289

Binoy T Thomas | Algal Studies | Excellence in Innovation Award

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Prof. Dr. Binoy T Thomas | Algal Studies | Excellence in Innovation Award

Professor at Catholicate College Pathanamthitta | India

Prof. (Dr.) Binoy T. Thomas is a distinguished Professor of Botany at Catholicate College, Pathanamthitta, whose academic journey spans transformative contributions in algal taxonomy, phycotechnology, microalgal biotechnology, and environmental sustainability, with pioneering work that includes the discovery of multiple new algal species and numerous new distributional records, the development of innovative prototypes such as the Phycoscrapper, Bio-oxygenator, and Herbarium Mobile Applications, the leadership of major research projects funded by esteemed scientific bodies focusing on epiphyllous algae, harmful algal blooms, bioremediation, biofuel potential of aquatic weeds, and microalgal biodiversity, alongside an extensive publication record across leading journals in phycology, ecology, soil biology, ethnobotany, and plant sciences, complemented by notable editorial responsibilities such as serving as Subject Editor of Vegetos, and academic honors including prestigious recognitions for research excellence and scientific contributions, with wide-ranging national and international collaborations involving premier institutions including Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, Indiana University of Pennsylvania, KDISC, and multiple engineering colleges, strengthened by his role as Research Guide in Botany supervising doctoral candidates, his active membership in scientific bodies such as the Linnean Society of London, SPR, and ISEB, and his significant administrative service as Head of the Department, Bursar, Council Member, IQAC Coordinator, BOA Member, and Coordinator of major academic and extension programmes, all of which reflect his enduring commitment to advancing plant science, promoting quality education, fostering innovation, and translating microalgal research into sustainable community-oriented applications.

Profile : Scopus | Orcid | Google Scholar

Featured Publications : 

Ray, J. G., & Thomas, T. B. (2012). Ecology and diversity of green-algae of tropical oxic dystrustepts soils in relation to different soil parameters and vegetation.

Jiji, M. G., Ninan, M. A., Thomas, V. P., & Thomas, B. T. (2024). Edible microalgae: Potential candidate for developing edible vaccines. Vegetos, 37(3), 788–793.

Thomas, B., & Thomas, V. (1997). Photoperiodism in plants. Academic Press.

Binoy, T. T., & Ray, J. G. (2016). Diversity and ecology of diatoms in oxic dystrustepts soils under three different vegetation of the Western Ghats, Kerala, South India. Journal of Ecology, 111, 465–475.

Ray, J. G., Dhanya, V., & Binoy, T. T. (2014). Globally unique Kuttanadu wetland paddy soil of South India: Soil fertility in relation to seasons and different stages of crop. International Journal of Agriculture Photon, 125, 296–304.

 

Masoud Bijani | Ecology | Editorial Board Member

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Dr. Masoud Bijani | Ecology | Editorial Board Member

Tarbiat Modares University | Iran

Dr. Masoud Bijani is an Associate Professor of Agricultural Extension and Education in the Department of Agricultural Extension and Education at the College of Agriculture, Tarbiat Modares University in Tehran, Iran, recognized for his extensive academic, administrative, and research contributions across agricultural extension, rural sociology, natural resources, and environmental studies. He holds multiple academic degrees in Agricultural Extension and Education from Shiraz University, the University of Tehran, and the Islamic Azad University Science and Research Branch, with each stage of his training culminating in high-ranking scholarly performance, including first-grade standings in his B.Sc., M.Sc., and initial Ph.D. programs and second-grade distinction in his additional Ph.D. specialization in Agricultural Extension. His scholarly journey includes a study leave at Freie Universität Berlin under the supervision of leading experts in water conflicts and environmental sociology, where he also taught applied statistics and SPSS for doctoral students. Dr. Bijani has served in a wide range of influential academic roles, including faculty positions at the Islamic Azad University Boroujerd Branch and Ramin University of Ahwaz, research affairs director, head of department, portal committee director, vice-chancellor of national agricultural academic networks, head of the College of Agriculture library, and board member or council member in numerous national scientific, technical, agricultural extension, and water resource organizations. His research interests span agricultural extension productivity, ICT in agriculture, rural development, social studies in agriculture and natural resources, water conflict analysis, environmental decision-making, e-learning, qualitative and quantitative research methods, and statistical applications in social sciences. He is widely recognized for his professional mastery of SPSS, Word, PowerPoint, and extension teaching methods, holding editorial and guest editor roles in various scholarly journals. Dr. Bijani is also author of major academic works including Learning of Triple Knowledge (Knowledge for Knowing, Knowledge for Doing, Knowledge for Being) and Introduction on Analyzing and Measuring Agricultural Extension Productivity, illustrating his long-standing dedication to advancing agricultural education, sustainability, and human–environment interaction.

Profile : Scopus | ORCID

Featured Publications : 

Human ecological analysis of conflict toward using natural resources: Evidence from Iran. (2025). Environmental Challenges.

Digital markets, local products: Psychological drivers of buying nomadic local foods online. (2025). Foods.

Mapping socio-institutional studies of biodiversity governance and climate change justice in wetland ecosystems. (2025).

Assessment of sustainability trend of apicultural industry: Evidence from beekeepers in Iran. (2025). Journal of Agricultural Science and Technology.

Comparing predictive power of planned behavior and social cognition theories on students’ pro-environmental behaviors: The case of University of Zanjan, Iran. (2025). Journal of Cleaner Production.

Toward tenure security: The relationship between women’s land ownership, formal land title documents and their empowerment. (2025). Land Use Policy.

 

Jawad Hussain | Ecology | Best Researcher Award

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Mr. Jawad Hussain | Ecology | Best Researcher Award

Research Assistant at Quaid-i-Azam University Islamabad | Pakistan

Mr. Jawad Hussain is a Pakistani researcher and nature enthusiast specializing in Plant Ecology, Phytogeography, Endemism, Ethnobotany, and Conservation, with an exceptional academic record and research experience that spans ecological modeling, biodiversity assessment, and environmental sustainability. He holds a Master of Philosophy (MPhil) in Plant Sciences from Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad—Pakistan’s top-ranked research institution—where his thesis focused on the ethno-ecological studies and species distribution modeling of selected medicinal endemic plants from Northern Pakistan, reflecting his deep commitment to plant conservation and ecological balance. His scientific work integrates ecosystem ecology, species distribution modeling (SDM), GIS mapping, phytoremediation, vegetation and population ecology, and climate change assessment, advancing the understanding of biotic-abiotic interactions and their influence on species survival under changing climatic scenarios. Jawad has contributed to several impactful publications in high-impact journals such as Journal of Environmental Management, Urban Forestry & Urban Greening, Frontiers in Forests and Global Change, and Biology Bulletin Reviews, with research highlighting endangered species modeling, invasive species monitoring, and sustainable forest management. He has also worked extensively under the PSF-NSFC collaborative project focusing on ecological and molecular assessments of prioritized endemic plants, emphasizing the need for scientific-based conservation strategies. Skilled in advanced analytical tools including R, Python, Google Earth Engine, GIS, SEM, and multivariate statistical modeling, Jawad brings a strong quantitative dimension to plant ecological research. His broad field and laboratory experience across regions like Swat, Gilgit-Baltistan, Kashmir, and Dir underscores his dedication to biodiversity documentation and conservation in mountainous ecosystems. With honors including a Silver Medal and Position Holder Award, and multiple international conference presentations, Jawad Hussain exemplifies a new generation of dedicated young scientists committed to advancing global ecological research, plant diversity conservation, and sustainable environmental stewardship.

Profile : Google Scholar

Featured Publications

Khan, M. S., Khan, S. M., Abdullah, Liu, J., Wu, Z. Y., Hussain, J., Zeb, S. A., … & Ali, S. (2025). Ecological assessment of Iris hookeriana across subalpine and alpine regions of the Hindu-Himalayas. Frontiers in Forests and Global Change, 8, 1539025.

Shah, M., Khan, S. M., Manan, F., Hussain, J., Din, Z. U., Shah, I., Arshad, M., … & Ahmad, I. (2025). Role of the plant nurseries in spread of invasive alien plant species in Pakistan’s subtropical region; A threat for urban greening. Urban Forestry & Urban Greening, 105, 128688.

Hussain, J., Khan, S. M., Khan, M. S., Saqib, Z., Ahmad, Z., Shah, M., Mohammad, N., … & Liu, J. (2025). Distribution modelling and future prediction of a threatened species—Heracleum candicans Wall. ex DC.; Within the framework of biotic and abiotic interactions. Journal of Environmental Management, 387, 125818.

Abdullah, A., Khan, S. M., Afza, R., Kipkoech, A., Zeb, S. A., Haq, Z., Manan, F., Ahmad, Z., Khan, M. S., Hussain, J., & Balslev, H. (2025). Phosphorus dynamics in Nannorrhops ritchieana (Mazri) forests across different climatic zones of Pakistan: A framework for sustainability and management. Wild, 2(4), 41.

Ali, N., Ullah, S., Maula, F., Saba, M., Ali, A., & Hussain, J. (2025). First report of Singerocybe alboinfundibuliformis from Pakistan based on morphological and molecular phylogenetic studies. Biology Bulletin Reviews, 15(2), 300–305.

Qiuhua Bao | Ecology | Best Paper Award

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Ms. Qiuhua Bao | Ecology | Best Paper Award

Associate Professor at Inner Mongolia Agricultural University | China

Ms. Qiuhua Bao is an accomplished associate researcher and master’s supervisor at the Key Laboratory of Dairy Biotechnology and Engineering, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, China. She holds advanced degrees in dairy biotechnology and microbiology and has over 18 years of professional experience in academic research, teaching, and supervision of graduate students. Her research primarily focuses on dairy microbiology and biotechnology, with special emphasis on lactic acid bacteria, probiotics, and stress adaptation mechanisms in dairy microorganisms. Ms. Bao has published more than 90 research papers, including 31 as first or corresponding author, and her work has been widely cited, with 1,160 citations across 1,005 documents, 46 indexed publications, and an h-index of 20. She has obtained 12 invention patents, co-authored several textbooks and monographs, and served as principal investigator on multiple national and provincial research projects. Her research skills include transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses, flow cytometry, multi-omics approaches, and functional assessment of probiotic strains. Over her career, she has received recognition for her contributions to dairy biotechnology and microbial research. In conclusion, Ms. Qiuhua Bao is a leading scientist whose work integrates innovation, practical applications, and scholarly excellence, significantly advancing the understanding of dairy microbiology and lactic acid bacteria.

Profile : Scopus 

Featured Publications

Bao, Q., Yuan, B., Liu, X., Li, J., Gao, R., Zhao, X., & Kwok, L.-Y. (2025). Evaluation of Lentilactobacillus kefiri NM119–2 as a novel probiotic in fermented milk: Functional properties and metabolic impact. Food Research International, 221, 117314.

Bao, Q., Gao, R., Bo, X., Yuan, B., Wang, H., Zhao, X., Li, J., & Kwok, L.-Y. (2025). Unraveling novel acid tolerance mechanisms in Lactococcus lactis through physiological and multi-omics analyses. LWT – Food Science and Technology, 232, 118387.

Bao, Q., Yuan, B., Ma, X., et al. (2025). Osmotic and cold stress-induced viable but non-culturable state in Lacticaseibacillus paracasei Zhang: A transcriptome analysis. International Dairy Journal, 166(2), 106228.

Bao, Q., et al. (2025). Metabolomics analysis of Lactococcus lactis IMAU51121 under acid stress. Journal of Food Science and Biotechnology.