Mukesh Kumar | Ecology | Best Researcher Award

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Dr. Mukesh Kumar | Ecology | Best Researcher Award

Assistant Professor at Govt. College Bahadurgarh | India

Dr. Mukesh Kumar is a dedicated researcher and academician in the field of Botany with expertise spanning ecology, environment conservation, crop modeling, irrigation management, and drought monitoring. Over his career, he has made substantial contributions to addressing pressing agricultural and ecological challenges, particularly within the Indo-Gangetic Plains. His research blends theoretical knowledge with applied innovations, focusing on food security, sustainable agriculture, and climate change adaptation. Dr. Kumar has been actively involved in teaching, research, and extension activities, ensuring that his scientific insights reach both students and farming communities. His professional journey is marked by the publication of numerous high-quality research papers, books, book chapters, and conference proceedings. He has also developed practical technologies to address agricultural stress conditions, benefiting farmers and policymakers alike. Through his work, Dr. Kumar has demonstrated a commitment to linking ecological sustainability with socio-economic benefits, positioning himself as an influential figure in applied plant sciences.

Professional Profile 

Education

Dr. Mukesh Kumar pursued his higher education in Botany, beginning with a bachelor’s degree in medical sciences, followed by a master’s degree in botany, and later advancing to research-oriented degrees. He obtained his M.Phil. with a focus on plant science, which laid the foundation for deeper explorations into ecological and environmental issues. His academic journey culminated in a doctoral degree in Botany, where he specialized in ecology and environmental conservation, with additional expertise in crop modeling and irrigation management. Throughout his academic path, he acquired a comprehensive understanding of plant sciences, environmental systems, and climate change impacts on agriculture. His educational background not only provided him with a strong theoretical framework but also fostered practical competencies in applied research. This foundation has enabled him to contribute meaningfully to both academia and society, developing innovative solutions to agricultural problems and enhancing the resilience of farming systems against climate variability.

Professional Experience

Dr. Mukesh Kumar has built a diverse professional career combining teaching, research, and extension education. He has over a decade of experience as a lecturer in botany, where he has guided undergraduate students with dedication and academic rigor. His role as a Research Associate at a premier agricultural research institute provided him with six years of intensive research exposure in the fields of climate change, water management, and agroforestry. This phase of his career allowed him to integrate field-based observations with advanced modeling techniques, producing work of high academic and practical value. Additionally, he has contributed to farmer training programs, workshops, and extension services, bridging the gap between scientific research and rural communities. His professional journey is also marked by leadership roles in research training and collaborative projects. Through these experiences, Dr. Kumar has built an impressive portfolio of academic service, research innovations, and practical knowledge dissemination.

Research Interests

Dr. Mukesh Kumar’s research interests lie in the areas of ecology, environmental conservation, and sustainable agriculture. He is particularly focused on crop modeling, irrigation management, and drought monitoring, with an emphasis on mitigating the impacts of climate change on agriculture. His work explores the development of agroforestry systems for saline soils, bio-drainage methods for combating waterlogging, and composite drought indices for drought-prone regions. He is also deeply engaged in analyzing water resource availability, streamflow trends, and the socio-economic implications of climate variability on farming communities. A central theme in his research is the integration of scientific innovation with real-world applications, ensuring that his findings are relevant and accessible to farmers and policymakers. His interests extend to developing resource conservation technologies and enhancing food security through sustainable agricultural practices. By addressing ecological challenges with practical solutions, Dr. Kumar’s research contributes to both environmental resilience and socio-economic development.

Research Skills

Dr. Mukesh Kumar possesses a wide range of research skills encompassing field experimentation, data analysis, and advanced modeling techniques. He is proficient in using crop simulation and water management models such as CROPWAT, INFOCROP, and SWAT, along with statistical software like SPSS, XL-STAT, and M-STAT. His technical expertise also includes the use of instruments such as atomic absorption spectrophotometers, CHNS analyzers, neutron probes, and sap flow meters, allowing him to conduct in-depth plant and soil analysis. Additionally, he has extensive experience in remote sensing and GIS applications for ecological and agricultural studies. His capacity to design and evaluate innovative technologies, such as automated drip irrigation systems and agroforestry models, highlights his applied research capabilities. These skills enable him to address challenges in water use efficiency, climate change impact assessment, and sustainable farming systems. Dr. Kumar’s technical proficiency ensures a strong blend of academic research and practical problem-solving.

Awards and Honors

Dr. Mukesh Kumar has received multiple recognitions for his academic and research contributions. He has been honored with certificates of excellence in reviewing from numerous reputed international journals, reflecting his scholarly reputation and contributions to the peer-review process. His achievements also include the qualification of national-level competitive examinations in plant genetic resources, further demonstrating his subject expertise. In addition to these accolades, he has served as an editorial board member and active reviewer for various journals in the fields of ecology, agriculture, and environmental sciences, which highlights his standing within the academic community. His invited lectures, training sessions for farmers, and special assignments on water and climate change for international organizations illustrate his influence beyond conventional academia. These honors underscore his dedication not only to advancing scientific knowledge but also to ensuring its application for societal benefit. Collectively, these achievements strengthen his profile as a recognized researcher and educator.

Publications Top Noted

  • Title: Crop water demand estimation and irrigation scheduling for sustainable water management and crop planning in selected watersheds of Meghalaya, India

  • Year: 2025

  • Citation: 1

Conclusion

Dr. Mukesh Kumar is a highly deserving candidate for the Best Researcher Award. His contributions to ecology, climate change adaptation, irrigation management, and sustainable agriculture highlight both scientific excellence and socio-economic impact. His research achievements, coupled with technology development and knowledge transfer to farmers, make his work both academically valuable and socially relevant. With greater emphasis on international collaborations, high-impact publications, and innovation, his profile will continue to strengthen, making him not only suitable but also highly competitive for this award.

Minoo Rassoulzadegan | Plant Genetics | Botany Scientist Excellence Award

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Prof. Minoo Rassoulzadegan | Plant Genetics | Botany Scientist Excellence Award

Researcher at Erciyes University, Turkey

Prof. Minoo Rassoulzadegan is an internationally acclaimed molecular geneticist renowned for her pioneering work in epigenetic inheritance and RNA-mediated heredity. With over four decades of research experience, she has redefined the classical boundaries of inheritance by introducing concepts such as paramutation and transvection in mammals—phenomena traditionally known in plant systems. As a former CNRS Director of Research and current faculty at Erciyes University in Turkey, her work continues to influence genetic and developmental biology across species. She has published extensively in prestigious journals including Nature, Developmental Cell, and PLoS Genetics, among others. Her groundbreaking discovery that RNA molecules in sperm can transmit epigenetic traits across generations has not only challenged Mendelian genetics but also opened new frontiers in disease inheritance, behavioral neuroscience, and environmental epigenetics. Prof. Rassoulzadegan is also a revered mentor, having guided numerous researchers globally. Her research bridges plants and mammals, showing the evolutionary continuity of epigenetic mechanisms.

Professional Profile 

Education

Prof. Rassoulzadegan began her academic journey in France at Nice University – Faculty of Sciences, where she earned her Bachelor’s (BS) degree in Biology between 1972 and 1975. She continued her studies there with a Master of Science (MSc) in Biochemistry from 1975 to 1976, followed by a PhD in Molecular Genetics, which she completed in 1979. Her academic training laid a strong foundation in biological systems, with a special focus on the molecular underpinnings of genetic regulation. Her doctoral work laid the groundwork for her later paradigm-shifting research in mouse genetics and epigenetic control. This progression through biology, biochemistry, and molecular genetics provided her with an interdisciplinary framework that allowed her to bridge knowledge across species. She later supplemented her training with specialized studies in embryonic manipulation at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (USA) in 1984—an experience that further refined her techniques in early developmental biology and germline research.

Professional Experience

Prof. Rassoulzadegan has held influential research and academic positions throughout her career. She began as an Attaché de Recherche in 1979 with the CNRS (Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique) and rose through the ranks to become Directrice de Recherche by 1986. From 2004 to 2011, she served as Director of Inserm Unit 636, leading innovative research in RNA biology and epigenetics. Since 2012, she has been a Group Leader at the Institut de Biologie Valrose (IBV) in France and has remained scientifically active even after moving to Erciyes University in Turkey. Her professional journey is marked by leadership in both research direction and scientific mentorship. She has collaborated with world-renowned scientists and played a crucial role in shaping understanding of genetic regulation through RNA. Her transnational academic career reflects her status as a global scientific ambassador and role model in the life sciences community.

Research Interests

Prof. Rassoulzadegan’s research interests lie at the cutting edge of molecular genetics, epigenetics, RNA biology, and transgenerational inheritance. Her primary focus has been on understanding how small RNAs in sperm and other germline cells contribute to non-Mendelian patterns of inheritance. Her groundbreaking discovery that RNA molecules can carry hereditary information and influence phenotype has revolutionized genetics. She investigates mechanisms of paramutation, a form of epigenetic regulation initially characterized in plants, and was among the first to demonstrate its existence in mammals. Her work also extends into the role of epigenetic changes in diseases such as obesity, metabolic disorders, neurodevelopmental conditions like autism, and stress-related endocrine dysfunction. Lately, she has expanded her interest into RNA-based biomarkers, exploring their potential in predictive medicine and reproductive health. Her research embodies a convergence of basic science and translational relevance, drawing conceptual parallels between plant and animal models of heredity.

Research Skills

Prof. Rassoulzadegan is equipped with a powerful arsenal of research skills encompassing molecular cloning, mouse model development, embryonic microinjection, RNA isolation, epigenetic profiling, transcriptomics, and bioinformatics. She has mastered advanced CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing techniques, and her laboratory routinely generates transgenic mouse models to study the heritability of RNA signatures. Her expertise extends to small RNA sequencing, analysis of DNA methylation, histone modifications, and non-coding RNA function in germline cells. A critical aspect of her skill set lies in her ability to design cross-species experiments that model human diseases and test her hypotheses of RNA-mediated inheritance. She is also proficient in data interpretation tools used in systems biology and functional genomics. Her lab has pioneered several in vivo and in vitro assays to dissect complex hereditary signals, making her not only a theoretician but also an experimentalist of the highest order.

Awards and Honors

Prof. Rassoulzadegan’s scientific excellence has earned her multiple prestigious honors. Most notably, she was elected as a Member of the European Molecular Biology Organization (EMBO) in 2009, a recognition given only to the most accomplished life scientists in Europe. Her work has been extensively cited and celebrated in top-tier journals, garnering respect from across the biomedical and plant research communities. She has been invited as a keynote speaker at numerous international conferences and has served on editorial boards of reputed journals in genetics and molecular biology. Her legacy also includes mentorship of emerging scientists, many of whom have gone on to become leaders in genetics, epigenetics, and developmental biology. Her continuous innovation, global research engagement, and visionary contributions to science underscore her status as a trailblazer in RNA epigenetics and inheritance.

Conclusion

Prof. Dr. Minoo Rassoulzadegan is a visionary and highly accomplished scientist whose discoveries in RNA-mediated epigenetic inheritance have profoundly influenced both plant and animal genetics. While her core domain is molecular biology and mammalian epigenetics, the conceptual origin and translational relevance of her work to plant sciences make her a strong and intellectually justified candidate for the Botany Scientist Excellence Award, especially if the award recognizes cross-disciplinary excellence or epigenetic insights with botanical significance. If the award committee values conceptual innovation with plant science implications over strict taxonomic boundaries, Prof. Rassoulzadegan is not only suitable but exemplary.

Publications Top Noted

  1. LncRNA TERRA in hybrid with DNA is a relevant biomarker for monitoring patients with meningioma
    Scientific Reports, 2025

  2. RNA-Mediated Non-Mendelian Inheritance in Mice: The Power of Memory
    Biomolecules, 2025

  3. Impact of mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) on sperm genome integrity: insights from a mouse model
    Journal of Endocrinological Investigation, 2025

  4. Psoriatic skin transcript phenotype: androgen/estrogen and cortisone/cortisol imbalance with increasing DNA damage response
    Molecular Biology Reports, 2024 — 1 citation

  5. Experimentally altering microRNA levels in embryos alters adult phenotypes
    Scientific Reports, 2024 — 1 citation

  6. Autism-Related Cc2d1a Heterozygous Mice: Increased Levels of miRNAs Retained in DNA/RNA Hybrid Profiles (R-Loop)
    Biomolecules, 2024

  7. Trans Species RNA Activity: Sperm RNA of the Father of an Autistic Child Programs Glial Cells and Behavioral Disorders in Mice
    Biomolecules, 2024 — 5 citations

  8. RNA-Mediated Inheritance of Mammalian Spermatozoa (Book Chapter)
    Year not specified

  9. Alterations in serum mir-126-3p levels over time: A marker of pituitary insufficiency following head trauma
    Neuroendocrinology, 2023 — 3 citations

  10. From Data to Insights: Machine Learning Empowers Prognostic Biomarker Prediction in Autism
    Journal of Personalized Medicine, 2023 — 6 citations

Prof. Dr. Xiao-Qing Liang | Paleobotany | Best Researcher Award

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Prof. Dr. Xiao-Qing Liang | Paleobotany | Best Researcher Award

Prof. at Yuxi Normal University, China.

Prof. Dr. Xiao-Qing Liang is a distinguished paleobotanist and biogeographer at Yuxi Normal University, China, specializing in Cenozoic fossil flora and paleoenvironmental reconstruction in Yunnan—one of the world’s key biodiversity hotspots. His research integrates paleobotany, paleoecology, and climate modeling to investigate how geological and climatic shifts, such as the uplift of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, have influenced plant evolution and biogeographic patterns. He has led multiple nationally funded projects and published extensively in high-impact journals like Review of Palaeobotany and Palynology and BMC Evolutionary Biology. Notably, his discoveries of transitional fossils such as Primotrapa and ancestral Ulmus have filled major gaps in plant evolutionary history. Prof. Liang’s work bridges scientific research with conservation practice, contributing foundational knowledge to conservation paleobiology. He is also an active member of several academic societies and collaborates widely across disciplines. His contributions make him a leading figure in evolutionary botany and environmental change studies.

Professional Profile 

Education 🎓

Prof. Dr. Xiao-Qing Liang received his academic training in botany and paleobotany through rigorous graduate and postgraduate education in China, culminating in a Ph.D. in Paleobotany. His doctoral research focused on fossil plant taxonomy, paleoecology, and the evolutionary history of Cenozoic floras, laying the foundation for his later work on climate-vegetation interactions and paleogeographic reconstruction. Following his Ph.D., he completed a competitive postdoctoral fellowship at the renowned Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, where he deepened his expertise in plant fossil analysis and multidisciplinary approaches to historical biogeography. This advanced academic background has equipped Prof. Liang with a unique ability to connect fossil evidence with modern ecological and climatological data. His educational path reflects a deep commitment to scientific excellence and has shaped him into a leading researcher in the fields of paleobotany, paleoecology, and conservation biology. His training also enabled him to lead national research projects and mentor future scientists.

Professional Experience 💼

Prof. Dr. Xiao-Qing Liang has extensive professional experience in paleobotany, paleoecology, and plant biogeography, with a primary academic appointment at Yuxi Normal University, China. Over the past decade, he has led and contributed to numerous nationally funded research projects, including several as Principal Investigator under the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC). His professional work focuses on reconstructing Cenozoic vegetation and paleoclimate in Southwest China, particularly in Yunnan Province, a global biodiversity hotspot. He completed a prestigious postdoctoral fellowship at the Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, where he refined his expertise in fossil plant analysis and climate-vegetation interactions. Prof. Liang has published widely in top-tier journals and is an active member of several national scientific committees, including the Botanical Society of China and the Paleontological Society of China. His professional career is marked by interdisciplinary collaboration, scientific leadership, and contributions to both academic research and environmental conservation policy.

Research Interest 🔬

Prof. Dr. Xiao-Qing Liang’s research interests lie at the intersection of paleobotany, paleoecology, paleogeography, and paleoclimatology, with a special focus on the Cenozoic era in East Asia. His work aims to uncover how ancient plant life responded to major geological and climatic events, such as the uplift of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and the transitions between the Oligocene and Miocene epochs. He is particularly interested in reconstructing past environments using fossil records and integrating these with modern ecological and climatic data to understand long-term patterns of biodiversity and evolution. His research has led to the discovery of key transitional fossils, enabling new insights into plant lineage development and historical biogeography. By bridging paleontological data with current environmental concerns, Prof. Liang’s studies contribute to the emerging field of conservation paleobiology, offering predictive frameworks for how modern ecosystems may respond to climate change. His interdisciplinary approach connects botany, climatology, and evolutionary science.

Research Skill🔎

Prof. Dr. Xiao-Qing Liang possesses a robust set of research skills that span paleobotany, stratigraphy, paleoecology, and quantitative paleoclimate reconstruction. He is highly proficient in fossil identification and classification, with a specialization in Cenozoic plant taxa, and adept at interpreting the morphological and anatomical features of plant fossils to infer their evolutionary relationships. He skillfully integrates paleontological data with modern ecological databases and uses paleoclimatic modeling tools to reconstruct ancient environments and biogeographic patterns. His ability to synthesize multi-source data—from field excavations to laboratory analysis—demonstrates his methodological versatility. Prof. Liang also excels in academic writing and publishing, with numerous high-impact articles in peer-reviewed journals. Furthermore, he has demonstrated strong project management and leadership abilities as Principal Investigator on several nationally funded research projects. His collaborative approach allows him to work effectively across disciplines such as climatology, geology, and environmental science, making his research both rigorous and broadly impactful.

Award and Honor🏆

Prof. Dr. Xiao-Qing Liang has earned recognition and honors for his outstanding contributions to paleobotanical research and plant evolutionary studies in China. He has been the recipient of multiple prestigious research grants, including several from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC), reflecting national acknowledgment of his scientific leadership and innovation. His selection for the Yuxi Normal University Talent Introduction Program further highlights institutional recognition of his academic excellence and potential. As a senior member of the Botanical Society of China and council member of its Paleobotanical Committee, Prof. Liang plays an influential role in shaping national paleobotanical research agendas. He also holds committee memberships in the Paleontological Society of China and the Yunnan Provincial Paleobotany Specialized Committee, underscoring his professional standing in the scientific community. These roles and awards are a testament to his leadership, scholarly impact, and continued contributions to the advancement of paleobotany and environmental science.

Conclusion📝

Prof. Xiao-Qing Liang exhibits exemplary qualifications for the Best Researcher Award in Paleobotany & Evolutionary Biology. His work demonstrates a deep and innovative understanding of plant evolution and climate interaction over geological timescales. The integration of academic research with conservation policy and education further amplifies the real-world relevance of his contributions.

Publications Top Noted📚

  • Zhang, J., D’Rozario, A., Wang, L., Liang, X., & Zhou, Z. (2023). Geographical and morphological changes of conifers in Yunnan, China during the Cenozoic in response to climatic changes. Review of Palaeobotany and Palynology, 318, 104986.