Kawther Akbar | Biotechnology | Best Researcher Award

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Mrs. Kawther Akbar | Biotechnology | Best Researcher Award

Kuwait university | Kuwait

Kawther Akbar is a passionate Kuwaiti biotechnology researcher with a background in both biomedical engineering and genetic research. With a solid academic foundation and hands-on experience in molecular genetics and fiber trait analysis in dromedary camels, she has become a notable contributor to camel genomics and functional trait characterization. Her commitment to excellence in scientific exploration is highlighted by her growing publication record and multiple research awards.

Professional profile👤

ORCID

Scopus

Strengths for the Awards✨

  1. Focused and Emerging Research Niche:

    • Kawther has specialized in a unique and impactful niche: the genetics of fiber traits in dromedary camels, which combines biotechnology, animal genetics, and industrial relevance.

    • This is an underexplored but valuable area, particularly important for the Arabian Peninsula and similar regions where camel-based industries have economic and cultural importance.

  2. Publication Record:

    • She has published two peer-reviewed articles in reputable journals (Kuwait Journal of Science and Small Ruminant Research)—demonstrating early productivity in research.

    • These publications show an ability to take experimental work through to completion and dissemination.

  3. Recognition and Awards:

    • The Graduate Students Research Excellence Award (2025) and Prof. Ahmad Al-Bustan Academic Excellence Award (2023) affirm her academic dedication and peer recognition.

  4. Scientific Engagement and Visibility:

    • Strong record of poster presentations, including at international venues like the International Plant and Animal Genome Conference (PAG) in San Diego. This reflects both scientific rigor and global outreach.

    • Her participation in workshops and coordination activities highlights her leadership and commitment to the scientific community.

  5. Interdisciplinary Background:

    • Her undergraduate degree in Medical Engineering and MSc in Biotechnology provide her with a broad, interdisciplinary foundation, allowing her to integrate engineering with molecular genetics.

🎓 Education

Kawther earned her MSc in Biotechnology from Kuwait University (2020–2024), where she delved into the molecular and genetic aspects of camel fiber variation. Prior to that, she obtained her Bachelor’s in Medical Engineering from Cardiff University, UK (2009–2013). Her academic path reflects a unique blend of engineering precision and biological sciences integration, paving the way for interdisciplinary research.

🧪 Experience

Her research journey began in 2013 with an undergraduate project at Cardiff University focused on micro-engineered polymer capsules for tissue repair under Prof. David Barrow. In 2022, she contributed to a mini research project under Dr. Hasan Alhaddad at Kuwait University, using genotyping by sequencing to explore genetic variations in camel hair types. These formative experiences laid the groundwork for her advanced genomic studies.

🔍 Research Interests On Biotechnology

Kawther’s research interests lie at the intersection of animal genomics, molecular biology, and trait inheritance—specifically in camelid species. She focuses on genes like KRT71 and FGF5 to understand variations in hair shape and texture, aiming to improve classification and utilization of camel fibers for industrial and genetic applications. Her work addresses both scientific curiosity and regional agricultural needs.

🏆 Awards

Kawther’s dedication to research excellence has been recognized through several prestigious honors, including the Graduate Students Research Excellence Award (2025) and the Prof. Ahmad Al-Bustan Academic Excellence Award (2023). These accolades reflect her academic performance, impactful research, and growing leadership in the Kuwaiti scientific community.

📚 Publications

1. “Fiber Characteristics of the Dromedary Camel in the Arabian Peninsula”

  • Authors: Kawther Akbar, Bader H. Alhajeri, Hasan Alhaddad

  • Publication Year: May 2024

2. “Sequencing KRT71 as a Candidate Gene for Hair Shape Variation in Dromedary Camels”

  • Authors: Kawther Akbar, Bader H. Alhajeri, Hasan Alhaddad

  • Publication Year: April 2025

3. “Hair Color at Different Camel Body Regions”

  • Authors: Bader H. Alhajeri, Kawther Akbar, Hasan Alhaddad

  • Publication Year: February 2025

4. “Do Camels Have Ear Furnishings? Hairs of Inner and Outer Surfaces of Camel Pinna and FGF5 Longhair Variants”

  • Authors: Tasneem Maraqa, Amna A. Alrashid, Kawther Akbar, Hasan Alhaddad

  • Publication Year: February 2024

5. “Superior Camel Fibers Due to FGF5 Variants”

  • Authors: Kawther Akbar, Tasneem Maraqa, Bader H. Alhajeri, Hasan Alhaddad

  • Publication Year: February 2024

6. “Sequencing KRT71 as a Candidate Gene for Curly Hair in Dromedary Camels”

  • Authors: Kawther Akbar, Bader H. Alhajeri, Hasan Alhaddad

  • Publication Year: January 2024

7. “Fiber Characteristics of the Dromedary Camel in the Arabian Peninsula” (Preprint)

  • Authors: Kawther Akbar, Bader H. Alhajeri, Hasan Alhaddad

  • Publication Year: January 2024

8. “Optimizing the PCR Conditions for the Amplification of KRT71 Exons in the Dromedary Camel”

  • Authors: Kawther Akbar, Hasan Alhaddad, Bader H. Alhajeri

  • Publication Year: March 2023

9. “Multi-Level Analysis of Dromedary Camel Hair Attributes Across Different Body Parts”

  • Authors: Kawther Akbar, Hasan Alhaddad, Bader H. Alhajeri

  • Publication Year: March 2023

10. “Characterization of Dromedary Camel Fibers for Genetic and Industrial Uses”

  • Authors: Kawther Akbar, Hasan Alhaddad, Bader H. Alhajeri

  • Publication Year: January 2023

🧾 Conclusion

Kawther Akbar stands out as a rising talent in the field of animal biotechnology. With her strong educational background, hands-on genomic research, and dedication to academic excellence, she is well-positioned to lead future innovations in camel fiber genetics. Her active participation in conferences and poster presentations reflects her commitment to sharing knowledge and advancing scientific dialogue. She is a worthy candidate for any award recognizing research innovation and dedication.

Jon Ashley | Biotechnology | Best Researcher Award

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Dr. Jon Ashley | Biotechnology | Best Researcher Award

Liverpool John Moores University | United Kingdom

Dr. Jon Ashley is a distinguished Senior Lecturer in Analytical and Forensic Science at Liverpool John Moores University, UK. With a robust background in analytical chemistry, molecular recognition, and biosensor development, his career spans academia and research institutions across Europe and Asia. Driven by innovation, Dr. Ashley focuses on advancing biosensing technologies for healthcare and environmental applications.

Professional profile👤

Google Scholar

ORCID

Scopus

Strengths for the Awards✨

  • Outstanding Research Record:
    Dr. Ashley has an extensive research portfolio, focusing primarily on analytical chemistry, biosensors, molecular recognition, aptamer development, and nanomaterials. His publication list includes high-impact journals like Angewandte Chemie, Advanced Materials, Biosensors and Bioelectronics, Nucleic Acids Research, and Biomaterials, demonstrating a strong contribution to scientific advancement.

  • International Experience:
    His research career spans multiple prestigious institutions across the UK, Denmark, Portugal, Switzerland, and Singapore, indicating international recognition and collaboration.

  • Grant Success:
    He has secured significant funding as a principal investigator (PI), including the Villum Experiment Grant (1.5 million DKK) and a Discovery Grant for a spinout company (150,000 DKK), showing leadership in research innovation and commercialization.

  • Academic Service and Leadership:
    Dr. Ashley holds leadership roles as a senior lecturer and module leader at Liverpool John Moores University, along with serving as a topic editor for Chemosensors and Biosensors journals. He also contributes actively to scientific communities through committees (e.g., RSC Liverpool Local Section) and public outreach (e.g., Shotgun Science events).

  • Awards and Honors:
    Achieving Chartered Chemist (CChem) status and being recognized twice as a Top Reviewer in Chemistry reflects peer recognition of his academic excellence and service.

🎓 Education

Dr. Ashley completed his PhD in Analytical Chemistry at the National University of Singapore (2009–2013), where he developed protein-binding aptamers using capillary electrophoresis. Prior to that, he earned a PGCE with QTS in Secondary Science Education from the University of Newcastle Upon Tyne (2005–2006) and an MChem (Honours) in Chemistry with Industrial Experience (2:i) from the University of Manchester (2000–2004). His educational journey highlights a blend of deep scientific inquiry and a commitment to teaching excellence.

🏢 Experience

Dr. Ashley’s professional journey is marked by dynamic academic and research roles. Currently, he is a Senior Lecturer at Liverpool John Moores University (2022–Present). Previously, he served as an Assistant Professor at Denmark Technical University (2019–2022), a Marie Curie Co-Fund Research Fellow at INL, Portugal (2018–2019), and a Postdoctoral Researcher at DTU Nanotech (2016–2018). His earlier research roles at Cranfield University (2014–2016) and University Hospital Basel (2013–2014) provided rich experience in biosensor development and molecular neuroscience.

🔬 Research Interest On Biotechnology

Dr. Ashley’s research interests focus on molecular recognition, biosensor design, aptamer development, and nanomaterials for healthcare diagnostics. He has a strong focus on developing next-generation biosensors using enzyme-generated aptamers and has expanded his expertise into areas such as environmental sensing and nanomedicine for cancer therapy.

🏆 Awards and Honors

Dr. Ashley’s accolades include the Chartered Chemist Status (CChem) from the Royal Society of Chemistry (2018–Present) and multiple editorial roles at Chemosensors and Biosensors journals. He has been recognized as a Top Reviewer in Chemistry by Publons in 2018 and 2019, won the NUS Teaching Excellence Award in 2011, and recently received the LJMU Faculty Education Award in Digital Education (2025).

📚 Publications

Dr. Ashley has an impressive list of publications in prestigious journals:

1
Title: Molecularly imprinted polymers for sample preparation and biosensing in food analysis: Progress and perspectives
Authors: J Ashley, MA Shahbazi, K Kant, VA Chidambara, A Wolff, DD Bang, Y Sun
Year: 2017
Citations: 372

2
Title: Biodegradable poly (Îł-glutamic acid)@ glucose oxidase@ carbon dot nanoparticles for simultaneous multimodal imaging and synergetic cancer therapy
Authors: M Zhang, W Wang, F Wu, T Zheng, J Ashley, M Mohammadniaei, …
Year: 2020
Citations: 128

3
Title: Quantitative detection of trace level cloxacillin in food samples using magnetic molecularly imprinted polymer extraction and surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy nanopillars
Authors: J Ashley, K Wu, MF Hansen, MS Schmidt, A Boisen, Y Sun
Year: 2017
Citations: 93

4
Title: Synthesis of molecularly imprinted polymer nanoparticles for Îą-Casein detection using surface plasmon resonance as a milk allergen sensor
Authors: J Ashley, Y Shukor, R D’Aurelio, L Trinh, TL Rodgers, J Temblay, …
Year: 2018
Citations: 91

5
Title: An SPR based sensor for allergens detection
Authors: J Ashley, M Piekarska, C Segers, L Trinh, T Rodgers, R Willey, IE Tothill
Year: 2017
Citations: 90

6
Title: Upregulating aggregation‐induced‐emission nanoparticles with blood–tumor‐barrier permeability for precise photothermal eradication of brain tumors and induction of local immune response
Authors: M Zhang, W Wang, M Mohammadniaei, T Zheng, Q Zhang, J Ashley, …
Year: 2021
Citations: 86

7
Title: Fluorometric determination of doxycycline based on the use of carbon quantum dots incorporated into a molecularly imprinted polymer
Authors: X Feng, J Ashley, T Zhou, Y Sun
Year: 2018
Citations: 82

8
Title: One-pot green synthesis of biocompatible graphene quantum dots and their cell uptake studies
Authors: A Halder, M Godoy-Gallardo, J Ashley, X Feng, T Zhou, L Hosta-Rigau, …
Year: 2018
Citations: 77

9
Title: Development of a β-Lactoglobulin sensor based on SPR for milk allergens detection
Authors: J Ashley, R D’Aurelio, M Piekarska, J Temblay, M Pleasants, L Trinh, …
Year: 2018
Citations: 75

10
Title: A multifunctional molecularly imprinted polymer-based biosensor for direct detection of doxycycline in food samples
Authors: J Ashley, XT Feng, Y Sun
Year: 2018
Citations: 72

🧩 Conclusion

✨ Dr. Jon Ashley exemplifies a modern scientific leader whose work bridges the gap between fundamental analytical chemistry and impactful biosensor innovation. His career trajectory, distinguished by international research, prolific publication, and academic contributions, highlights his role as a pioneer in developing next-generation diagnostic technologies for both clinical and environmental applications.