Rolly Audrey Mvogo Nyebe | Food safety | Best Researcher Award

Mr. Rolly Audrey Mvogo Nyebe | Food safety | Best Researcher Award

University of Yaoundé 1 | Cameroon

Rolly Audrey MVOGO NYEBE is a passionate Food Science and Nutrition PhD Researcher at the University of Yaoundé I, Cameroon, and also serves as a part-time lecturer. With a strong foundation in biochemistry, he specializes in multi-omics analysis of food microbiomes to uncover innovative biocontrol solutions for sustainable food safety. He is the Founder-President of the Association “Come Over II,” which has worked since 2008 to promote public health in rural communities and environmental education for youth, supported by global partners. His dedication bridges academic research, social activism, and global development.

Professional profile👤

ORCID

Strengths for the Awards✨

Rolly Audrey MVOGO NYEBE demonstrates a remarkable blend of academic excellence, applied research, and community leadership. His core research on the multi-omics analysis of Aspergillus flavus strains in maize for aflatoxin biocontrol in Cameroon addresses a critical public health and food safety issue, especially in sub-Saharan Africa. His innovative approach, which includes exploring genetic engineering targets and low-toxicity metabolite profiles, showcases cutting-edge research with practical applications.

He has published in reputable international journals such as Scientific Reports and The Open Nutrition Journal, and served as a reviewer for regional scientific journals, reflecting both scientific credibility and peer recognition. Additionally, his role as a Commonwealth expert researcher and consultant for food system improvements positions him at the intersection of academia, policy, and industry. His founding of a public health NGO, active since 2008, further amplifies his real-world impact and leadership beyond the laboratory.

🎓 Education

Rolly holds a Master’s degree in Biochemistry, with a specialty in Food Sciences and Nutrition, from the University of Yaoundé I, Cameroon. He is currently pursuing a PhD in Food Science and Nutrition at the same institution, where his work emphasizes molecular tools and omics technologies for tackling food safety and quality issues in developing regions.

💼 Experience

Rolly brings both academic and applied experience to the field. As a PhD Researcher and part-time lecturer, he teaches and mentors students in food safety and nutrition. He also consults for local food industries such as NT Foods and Maya Foods in Yaoundé, guiding them on aligning with Codex Alimentarius standards. As a journal reviewer for both the African Journal of Biotechnology and the African Journal of Food Science, he contributes to scholarly quality assurance. His leadership extends to community impact through his association’s grassroots health and education initiatives.

🔬 Research Interest On Food safety

Rolly’s core research interest lies in multi-omics applications for biocontrol and food safety. He is particularly focused on understanding mycobiomes in maize and using genomic and metabolomic tools to identify Aspergillus flavus strains that could be harnessed to suppress aflatoxin production. His innovative approach aims to develop bio-based solutions that align with both food safety regulations and local agricultural practices in Cameroon and similar regions.

🏆 Awards

Although still early in his academic journey, Rolly has made significant contributions and is actively involved in high-impact, cross-sector initiatives. He has been recognized as an expert researcher by the Commonwealth for the OpenUpYourThinking initiative, aimed at responding to emergencies like the COVID-19 pandemic in educational contexts. His community-led association also enjoys global partner support, underlining his recognized leadership beyond academia.

📚 Publications

Rolly Audrey MVOGO has co-authored scholarly and community-impact publications, contributing to both scientific literature and policy discussions:

These publications highlight his interdisciplinary expertise across microbiology, nutrition, and global education.

✅ Conclusion

Rolly Audrey MVOGO NYEBE is a dedicated scholar, educator, and community leader whose work bridges science and society. His contributions to biocontrol innovations, food safety, and community development reflect both academic excellence and social responsibility. With a vision rooted in sustainable progress and a strong foundation in interdisciplinary research, he is a deserving nominee for the Best Researcher Award.

Zohreh Mashak | Food Microbiology | Best Academic Researcher Award

Prof. Dr. Zohreh Mashak | Food Microbiology | Best Academic Researcher Award

Karaj Branch, Islamic Azad University | Iran

Dr. Zohreh Mashak is an Associate Professor in the Department of Food Hygiene and Quality Control at Islamic Azad University, Karaj Branch, Iran. With a career spanning over 25+ years, she specializes in food safety, microbiology, and antimicrobial research, focusing on innovative preservation techniques and pathogen control in food products.

Professional profile👤

ORCID

Google Scholar

Scopus

Strengths for the Awards✨

  1. Exceptional Research Output
    • Broad Research Interests: Dr. Mashak has led impactful research across diverse areas, including food safety, antimicrobial resistance, probiotics, irradiation effects, and mycotoxin detection. Her work bridges microbiology, food technology, and public health.
    • High Productivity: She has supervised 100+ student projects (DVM/PhD) and published in peer-reviewed journals (e.g., Jundishapur Journal of MicrobiologyEgyptian Journal of Veterinary Science), demonstrating consistent scholarly contributions.
  2. Interdisciplinary Impact
    • Her research addresses practical challenges in food hygiene (e.g., essential oils as natural preservatives, irradiation for shelf-life extension) and public health (e.g., antibiotic resistance in Staphylococcus aureus and Helicobacter pylori).
    • Collaboration with national/international peers (e.g., studies on Listeria in seafood, norovirus detection in fish) highlights translational relevance.
  3. Leadership and Mentorship
    • Extensive supervision of graduate students, many of whom investigated high-priority food safety issues (e.g., mycotoxins in milk, bacterial contamination in ready-to-eat foods).
    • Roles as Associate Editor and reviewer for multiple journals (Food SafetyApplied Microbiology) underscore her academic leadership.
  4. Professional Engagement
    • Active membership in scientific societies (e.g., Iran’s Health Food Society, Probiotic Nutrition groups).
    • Organizer of workshops/webinars (e.g., food safety certifications, zoonotic diseases), enhancing knowledge dissemination.
  5. Innovation and Patents
    • Development of an antioxidant food packaging film using pine essential oil (patented), showcasing applied research with industrial potential.

Education 🎓

  • Ph.D. in Food Hygiene & Quality Control, Islamic Azad University (2004).
    • Thesis: Growth/toxicology of Clostridium botulinum under multivariable conditions.
  • D.V.M. in Veterinary Medicine, Shiraz University (1988).
    • Thesis: Metabolic profiles of bovine pregnancy in embryo recipients.

Experience 💼

  • Academic:
    • Professor at Islamic Azad University, Karaj (1996–2023).
    • Lecturer at Ahvaz Medical Science University (1989–1992).
  • Research: Extensive supervision of 100+ student projects on food safety, microbiology, and irradiation.

Research Interests On Food Microbiology 🔍

  1. Food irradiation (meat, fish, eggs).
  2. Antimicrobial effects of essential oils, biodegradable packaging (chitosan, nano-materials).
  3. Microbial contamination in dairy, meat, and ready-to-eat foods (ListeriaE. coliStaphylococcus).
  4. Mycotoxins in cereals/dairy.
  5. Halal food authentication (unauthorized tissues in meat products).

Awards & Honors 🏆

  • Patent: Antioxidant film for food packaging using pine essential oil (2020).
  • Reviewer/Editor: For 15+ journals, including Jundishapur Journal of Microbiology and Enteric Pathogens.
  • Scientific Committees: Member of Iran’s Health Food Society, Probiotic Nutrition Asia.

Publications 📜

  • One-year prevalence of antimicrobial susceptibility pattern of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus recovered from raw meat

    • Authors: A Hasanpour Dehkordi, L Khaji, MH Sakhaei Shahreza, Z Mashak, …

    • Year: 2017

    • Citations: 125

  • Phenotypic and genotypic characterization of antibiotic resistance in the methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus strains isolated from hospital cockroaches

    • Authors: Z Abdolmaleki, Z Mashak, F Safarpoor Dehkordi

    • Year: 2019

    • Citations: 112

  • Prevalence and antimicrobial resistance of Salmonella serotypes isolated from retail chicken meat and giblets in Iran

    • Authors: HR Sodagari, Z Mashak, A Ghadimianazar

    • Year: 2015

    • Citations: 96

  • Phenotypic and Genotypic Assessment of Antibiotic Resistance and Genotyping of vacA, cagA, iceA, oipA, cagE, and babA2 Alleles of Helicobacter pylori Bacteria …

    • Authors: Z Mashak, S Jafariaskari, I Alavi, M Sakhaei Shahreza, …

    • Year: 2020

    • Citations: 86

  • Microbiological Investigation of O‐Serogroups, Virulence Factors and Antimicrobial Resistance Properties of Shiga Toxin‐Producing Escherichia Coli Isolated from …

    • Authors: B Hemmatinezhad, F Khamesipour, M Mohammadi, F Safarpoor Dehkordi, …

    • Year: 2015

    • Citations: 82

  • Determination of aflatoxin B1 levels in Iranian rice by ELISA method

    • Authors: M Eslami, Z Mashak, A Heshmati, M Shokrzadeh, AS Mozaffari Nejad

    • Year: 2015

    • Citations: 61

  • Chemical and microbial properties of two Iranian traditional fermented cereal-dairy based foods: kashk-e zard and tarkhineh

    • Authors: Z Mashak, H Sodagari, B Mashak, S Niknafs

    • Year: 2014

    • Citations: 41

  • Molecular and virulence characteristics of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus bacteria recovered from hospital cockroaches

    • Authors: Z Abdolmaleki, Z Mashak, FS Dehkordi

    • Year: 2019

    • Citations: 36

  • Assessment of AflatoxinM1 contamination in UHT flavored milk samples in Karaj, Iran

    • Authors: Z Mashak, HJ Sohi, A Heshmati, ASM Nejad

    • Year: 2016

    • Citations: 34

  • Antimicrobial activities of the combined use of Cuminum cyminum L. essential oil, nisin and storage temperature against Salmonella Typhimurium and Staphylococcus aureus in vitro

    • Authors: HR Tavakoli, Z Mashak, B Moradi, HR Sodagari

    • Year: 2015

    • Citations: 28

Conclusion 🌟

Dr. Mashak is a pioneer in food safety research, blending traditional methods with cutting-edge technologies (e.g., nano-packaging, irradiation). Her work bridges academia and industry, ensuring safer food systems in Iran and beyond.