Cornelia Vasile | Plant Biotechnology | Best Scholar Award

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Assoc. Prof. Dr. Cornelia Vasile | Plant Biotechnology | Best Scholar Award

Senior Leadin Researcher at Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry Petru Poni| Romania

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Cornelia Vasile is an internationally recognized polymer scientist with an exceptional career spanning more than five decades in macromolecular chemistry, polymer blends, nanocomposites, bio-based materials, and polymer waste valorization. A Senior Researcher I at the “P. Poni” Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry, Romania (1966–2019), she has made pioneering contributions to polymer recycling, thermal analysis, environmentally degradable polymers, and advanced materials for medical, pharmaceutical, and energy applications. Her scientific impact includes 13,500+ citations, 61 h-index, 127 books/chapters, over 170 research papers, 35 patents, and leadership of over 50 national and international research projects, including COST, CEEX, Marie Curie, and NATO grants. A Fulbright Fellow (1994–1995) and long-standing IUPAC member, Prof. Vasile has served on editorial boards of major polymer science journals (Materials, Polymers, IJPS, Nanomaterials, etc.), acted as evaluator for research agencies across Europe, and collaborated with universities in the USA, Canada, Greece, Turkey, and Japan. Her scientific excellence has been recognized with more than 20 international awards, including the Lifetime Achievement Award (2020), Polymers Best Paper Award (2025), International Research Award in Fiber-Reinforced Polymers (2025), and distinctions from the Romanian Academy. In 2025 she was named Honorary Citizen of Izvoarele Commune.

Profile :  Orcid 

Featured Publications : 

Vasile, C. (2019). Biocompatible materials based on plasticized poly(lactic acid), chitosan and rosemary ethanolic extract: I. Effect of chitosan on the properties of plasticized poly(lactic acid) materials. Polymers, 11(6), 941.

Vasile, C. (2019). New alginate/PNIPAAm matrices for drug delivery. Polymers, 11(2), 366.

Vasile, C. (2019). Chitosan-based bionanocomposite films prepared by emulsion technique for food preservation. Materials, 12(3), 373.

Vasile, C. (2018). Antioxidant/antibacterial electrospun nanocoatings applied onto PLA films. Materials, 11(10), 1973.

Vasile, C. (2018). Evaluation of the rosemary extract effect on the properties of polylactic acid-based materials. Materials, 11(10), 1825.

Vasile, C. (2018). Polymeric nanocomposites and nanocoatings for food packaging: A review. Materials, 11(10), 1834.

Fishua Dango | Plant Genetics | Best Researcher Award

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Ms. Fishua Dango | Plant Genetics | Best Researcher Award

Estudante Doutorado at Faculty of Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences | Brazil

Ms. Fishua Dango Upuere Dango is a dedicated PhD student in Genetics and Plant Breeding at São Paulo State University, Faculty of Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences, Brazil, whose academic foundation and professional journey reflect a strong commitment to advancing agricultural research, particularly in the genetic improvement of biofortified sweet potato varieties. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Agriculture with specialization in Agricultural Extension and a Master’s degree in Agronomy focusing on Genetics and Plant Breeding, with a thesis centered on genotype-by-environment interaction, adaptability, and stability in biofortified sweet potato genotypes. His research emphasizes sustainable agricultural development, crop adaptability, and genetic enhancement for nutritional quality improvement. Over the course of eight years, he worked as a technician at the International Potato Center in Mozambique, where he played an instrumental role in the genetic improvement of sweet potato cultivars biofortified with beta-carotene, anthocyanin, iron, and zinc. His work contributed significantly to food security and nutritional enrichment efforts, leading to the official approval of several drought-tolerant and biofortified sweet potato cultivars by the Ministry of Agriculture. Beyond laboratory and field research, he has been actively engaged in community-oriented extension programs, including “Productive Backyards of Family Farming and Female Leadership in the Terra Rica Settlement, Córrego Rico, São Paulo” and “Cultivaeco,” an initiative promoting environmental education, sustainable agriculture, and food security in basic education. His published works, including contributions to scientific journals such as Agriculture and Open Agriculture, demonstrate a consistent focus on plant breeding strategies, environmental adaptation, and biofortification. Through his research and outreach, Fishua José Upuere Dango continues to contribute to global efforts in crop improvement, sustainability, and the empowerment of rural and farming communities, embodying a forward-looking vision for resilient and nutritionally enriched agricultural systems.

Profile : ORCID

Featured Publications

Dango, F. J. U., Oliveira, D. J. L. S. F., Otoboni, M. E. F., Pavan, B. E., Andrade, M. I. V., & Vargas, P. F. (n.d.). New sweet potato genotypes: Analysis of agronomic potential. Agriculture.

Rashad Mukhtar Balal | Horticulture | Excellence in Innovation Award

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Prof. Dr. Rashad Mukhtar Balal | Horticulture | Excellence in Innovation Award

Chairman / Professor at Department of Horticulture, University of Sargodha | Pakistan

Prof. Dr. Rashad Mukhtar Balal is a distinguished horticultural scientist and academic leader known for his outstanding contributions to citrus biotechnology, pomology, and stress physiology. He earned his Ph.D. in Horticultural Sciences from the University of Agriculture Faisalabad, specializing in pomology, biotechnology, and horticultural stress physiology, with earlier degrees in M.Phil. and B.Sc. (Hons.) Horticulture from the same institution. With over two decades of professional experience, he has served as Professor and Chairman of the Department of Horticulture at the University of Sargodha and held visiting research and teaching positions at Cornell University, USA, and Harper Adams University, UK. His research interests encompass citrus rootstock improvement, nursery management, protected horticulture, and the physiological and biochemical mechanisms of crop tolerance under salt, drought, and heavy metal stress. Skilled in experimental design, plant tissue culture, stress physiology, and biotechnology applications, he has led and completed numerous national and international research projects. Dr. Balal’s achievements include establishing Pakistan’s first certified disease-free and seedless citrus nursery and introducing seedless Kinnow mandarins. His excellence has been recognized through awards such as the International Outstanding Research Publication Award (ASHS-USA) and the National Innovation Award. His continued dedication promotes sustainable horticultural development and agricultural innovation globally.

Profile : Scopus | Google Scholar | ORCID

Featured Publications

Shahid, M. A., Sarkhosh, A., Khan, N., Balal, R. M., Ali, S., Rossi, L., Gómez, C., et al. (2020). Insights into the physiological and biochemical impacts of salt stress on plant growth and development. Agronomy, 10(7), 938.

Abbas, T., Balal, R. M., Shahid, M. A., Pervez, M. A., Ayyub, C. M., Aqueel, M. A., et al. (2015). Silicon-induced alleviation of NaCl toxicity in okra (Abelmoschus esculentus) is associated with enhanced photosynthesis, osmoprotectants and antioxidant defense. Acta Physiologiae Plantarum, 37(2), 6.

Khan, H. A., Ayub, C. M., Pervez, M. A., Bilal, R. M., Shahid, M. A., & Ziaf, K. (2009). Effect of seed priming with NaCl on salinity tolerance of hot pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) at seedling stage. Soil and Environment, 28(1), 81–87.

Shahid, M. A., Pervez, M. A., Balal, R. M., Mattson, N. S., Rashid, A., Ahmad, R., et al. (2011). Brassinosteroid (24-epibrassinolide) enhances growth and alleviates the deleterious effects induced by salt stress in pea (Pisum sativum L.). Australian Journal of Crop Science, 5(5), 500–510.

Shahid, M. A., Balal, R. M., Khan, N., Zotarelli, L., Liu, G. D., Sarkhosh, A., et al. (2019). Selenium impedes cadmium and arsenic toxicity in potato by modulating carbohydrate and nitrogen metabolism. Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety, 180, 588–599.