Aras Turkoglu | Agricultural and Biological Sciences | Best Researcher Award

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Assoc. Prof. Dr. Aras Turkoglu | Agricultural and Biological Sciences | Best Researcher Award

Necmettin Erbakan University | Turkey

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Aras Turkoglu, at the Faculty of Agriculture, Necmettin Erbakan University, is a distinguished plant geneticist and breeder renowned for his extensive expertise in crop improvement, molecular genetics, and plant biotechnology. His research focuses on uncovering the genetic basis of key agronomic traits in cereals and legumes, including wheat, barley, quinoa, cowpea, and forage crops, employing advanced approaches such as QTL mapping, genome-wide association studies (GWAS), and molecular marker-assisted selection. He has made significant contributions to understanding genetic diversity, population structure, and epigenetic variation under abiotic stresses including drought, salinity, and cold. By integrating conventional breeding with molecular techniques, including CRISPR-based gene editing and transgenic approaches, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Aras Turkoglu develops stress-resilient, high-yielding cultivars. His pioneering work also explores the use of nanotechnology, plant growth-promoting bacteria, and exogenous bioactive compounds to enhance crop performance under environmental stresses. Leveraging high-throughput phenotyping, tissue culture systems, and machine learning algorithms, he has developed predictive models for growth, callus induction, and yield traits, bridging experimental and computational plant science. With over 100 peer-reviewed publications, his research has garnered 1,294 citations overall (1,236 since 2020), an h-index of 19, and an i10-index of 48 (46 since 2020), highlighting his global influence. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Aras Turkoglu’s work significantly advances sustainable agriculture by providing innovative solutions for global food security through the development of resilient, high-yielding crop varieties, combining fundamental genetic insights with practical applications in modern plant breeding.

Profile: Google Scholar

Featured Publications

  • Türkoğlu, A. P. A. P. P., Haliloglu, K., Cinisli, K. T., & Özkan, G. (2020). Application of zinc oxide nanoparticles and plant growth promoting bacteria reduces genetic impairment under salt stress. Agriculture, 10(521), 1–14.

  • Nalci, O. B., Nadaroglu, H., Pour, A. H., Gungor, A. A., & Haliloglu, K. (2019). Effects of ZnO, CuO and γ-Fe3O4 nanoparticles on mature embryo culture of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). Plant Cell, Tissue and Organ Culture, 136(2), 269–277.

  • Zeinalzadehtabrizi, H., Hosseinpour, A., Aydin, M., & Haliloglu, K. (2015). A modified genomic DNA extraction method from leaves of sunflower for PCR based analyzes. Journal of Biodiversity and Environmental Sciences, 7, 222–225.

  • Hosseinpour, A., Ilhan, E., Özkan, G., Öztürk, H. İ., Haliloglu, K., & Cinisli, K. T. (2022). Plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPBs) and copper (II) oxide (CuO) nanoparticle ameliorates DNA damage and DNA methylation in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) exposed to NaCl stress. Journal of Plant Biochemistry and Biotechnology, 31(4), 751–764.

  • Kutlu, M., Cakmakci, R., Hosseinpour, A., & Karagöz, H. (2019). The use of plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR)’s effect on essential oil rate, essential oil content, some morphological parameters and nutrient uptake of Turkish oregano. Applied Ecology and Environmental Research, 17(2), 1–14.

Curtis VanderSchaaf | Agricultural and Biological Sciences | Best Researcher Award

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Dr. Curtis VanderSchaaf | Agricultural and Biological Sciences | Best Researcher Award

Mississippi State University | United States

Dr. Curtis Lee Vanderschaaf is a Certified Forester® with a prolific career spanning research, academia, and forest resource management. Currently serving as an Assistant Professor at Mississippi State University, he is widely recognized for his work in forest biometrics, growth and yield modeling, and forest carbon markets. With decades of dedication across multiple states, including Minnesota, Texas, Louisiana, and Mississippi, Dr. Vanderschaaf has become a leading figure in forestry extension and decision support systems. His cross-sector expertise bridges technical innovation and on-the-ground forest management, positively impacting both landowners and the academic community.

Author Profile👤

Google Scholar

Scopus

Strengths for the Awards✨

Curtis Lee Vanderschaaf, Certified Forester® and Assistant Professor at Mississippi State University, stands out as a deeply accomplished forest biometrician and silvicultural modeler. His extensive academic background—Ph.D. in Forest Biometrics from Virginia Tech, M.S. in Forest Management from the University of Idaho, and a B.S. from Stephen F. Austin State University—has laid a rigorous foundation for over two decades of high-impact contributions. His career includes academic positions and applied research roles with organizations like the Minnesota Division of Forestry, the Texas Forest Service, and Louisiana Tech University.

Curtis’s research strengths lie in growth and yield modeling, carbon sequestration modeling, forest inventory systems, and timber decision support systems (TDSSs). He has developed and implemented numerous advanced forest modeling tools, including LONGeOFIELD, LOBtech, and others for pine species management. His work has supported both academic communities and forest industries, ensuring sustainable forest productivity through applied science.

🎓 Education

Dr. Vanderschaaf earned his Ph.D. in Forest Biometrics from Virginia Tech University (2006), where he specialized in modeling size-density relationships in loblolly pine plantations under the guidance of Dr. Harold Burkhart. His Master’s in Forest Management was completed at the University of Idaho (1999), focusing on operational fertilization effects on understory vegetation. He began his academic journey with a B.Sc. in Forest Management from Stephen F. Austin State University (1996), where he received an academic scholarship from the International Society of Arboriculture.

🧑‍💼 Experience

Dr. Vanderschaaf’s diverse professional experience includes academia, government, and extension. At Mississippi State University, he leads forest modeling initiatives, teaches landowner workshops, and develops forest carbon market tools. Previously, he held a faculty role at Louisiana Tech University, where he taught forestry courses and developed various Timber Decision Support Systems (TDSS). He served as a biometrician with the Minnesota Division of Forestry, contributing to state-level forest management plans using strategic models like Remsoft Woodstock. Earlier, at the Texas Forest Service, he worked on forest inventory systems and bioenergy economics.

🔬 Research Interests On Agricultural and Biological Sciences

Dr. Vanderschaaf’s research centers on forest growth and yield modeling, forest carbon accounting, biometric analyses, and decision support tools for landowners. He actively develops simulators for southern pine species and works on carbon estimation in different pools—biomass, soil, and harvested wood products. His work spans from optimizing thinning and reforestation to integrating forest economics and climate resilience into long-term management.

🏆 Awards

  • 2012 Conservation Enhancement Employee Recognition Commissioner’s Award, MN DNR Extended Rotation Forestry Policy Team

  • Twice nominated for Louisiana Tech’s College of Applied and Natural Sciences Teaching and Research Awards

  • Recipient of the International Society of Arboriculture Academic Scholarship
    These accolades reflect his unwavering commitment to advancing sustainable forest management and education.

📚 Publications

  • Regional mixed-effects height–diameter models for loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) plantations
    Authors: G. Trincado, C.L. VanderSchaaf, H.E. Burkhart
    Year: 2007
    Citations: 163

  • Comparison of methods to estimate Reineke’s maximum size-density relationship species boundary line slope
    Authors: C.L. VanderSchaaf, H.E. Burkhart
    Year: 2007
    Citations: 90

  • The effect of density on the height-diameter relationship
    Authors: B. Zeide, C. Vanderschaaf
    Year: 2002
    Citations: 90

  • A multilevel individual tree basal area increment model for aspen in boreal mixedwood stands
    Authors: Y. Yang, S. Huang, S.X. Meng, G. Trincado, C.L. VanderSchaaf
    Year: 2009
    Citations: 77

  • Evaluation of population-averaged and subject-specific approaches for modeling the dominant or codominant height of lodgepole pine trees
    Authors: S.X. Meng, S. Huang, Y. Yang, G. Trincado, C.L. VanderSchaaf
    Year: 2009
    Citations: 55

  • Assessing the impacts of species composition, top height and density on individual tree height prediction of quaking aspen in boreal mixedwoods
    Authors: S. Huang, D.P. Wiens, Y. Yang, S.X. Meng, C.L. Vanderschaaf
    Year: 2009
    Citations: 51

  • Determining productivity gains from herbaceous vegetation management with ‘age-shift’ calculations
    Authors: D.B. South, J.H. Miller, M.O. Kimberley, C.L. Vanderschaaf
    Year: 2006
    Citations: 50

  • Using segmented regression to estimate stages and phases of stand development
    Authors: C.L. VanderSchaaf, H.E. Burkhart
    Year: 2008
    Citations: 36

  • Winter nitrogen fertilization of loblolly pine seedlings
    Authors: C. VanderSchaaf, K. McNabb
    Year: 2004
    Citations: 32

  • Growth of graded sweetgum 3 years after root and shoot pruning
    Authors: K. McNabb, C. VanderSchaaf
    Year: 2005
    Citations: 29

✅ Conclusion

Dr. Curtis Lee Vanderschaaf is a visionary forest scientist whose expertise spans academic research, practical forestry, and landowner education. His dedication to advancing forest biometrics, sustainable forest management, and carbon market readiness makes him a compelling nominee for the Best Researcher Award. His career demonstrates a perfect blend of quantitative modeling, community service, and applied forest science that supports both policy and practice.