Farzaneh Barati | Biotechnology | Research Excellence Award

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Dr. Farzaneh Barati | Biotechnology | Research Excellence Award

Alzahra University | Iran

Dr. Farzaneh Barati is a microbial biotechnology researcher whose work integrates molecular biology, enzyme engineering, nanobiotechnology, microbial genetics, and computational bioprocess design to advance innovative and sustainable biotechnological applications. With five Scopus-indexed publications, 103 citations, and an h-index of 4, she has built a growing research footprint centered on microbial metabolic optimization, green nanotechnology, and in silico–supported enzyme engineering. Her contributions include notable advancements in polyhydroxy butyrate (PHB) biosynthesis through the cloning and overexpression of the phbC gene in Ralstonia eutropha, offering valuable insights for enhancing biodegradable biopolymer production. She has also contributed significantly to environmentally friendly nanomaterial synthesis by optimizing copper oxide nanoparticle production using plant-derived extracts, applying design of experiments (DOE) and response surface methodology (RSM) to improve nanoparticle yield and functionality. Dr. Farzaneh Barati’s influential systematic reviews on bioactive peptide generation and computational strategies for enzyme immobilization demonstrate her ability to combine experimental biotechnology with advanced computational analysis, providing frameworks for more efficient enzyme stabilization and catalytic improvement. Her research further includes the isolation and molecular characterization of a collagenase-producing microorganism from slaughterhouse-contaminated soil, resulting in a publicly deposited GenBank sequence (OR555920) and subsequent studies exploring its enzyme–nanoparticle interactions. Through her multidisciplinary contributions spanning microbial biotechnology, sustainable nanotechnology, and data-driven enzyme engineering, she continues to advance scientific understanding and strengthen the development of next-generation bioprocesses with industrial, environmental, and biomedical relevance.

Profiles: Scopus | Google Scholar | ORCID | ResearchGate

Featured Publications

1. Barati, M., Javanmardi, F., Mousavi Jazayeri, S. M. H., Jabbari, M., Rahmani, J., et al. (2020). Techniques, perspectives, and challenges of bioactive peptide generation: A comprehensive systematic review. Comprehensive Reviews in Food Science and Food Safety, 19(4), 1488–1520.

2. Barati, F., Asgarani, E., Gharavi, S., & Soudi, M. R. (2020). Considerable increase in Poly (3-hydroxybutyrate) production via phbC gene overexpression in Ralstonia eutropha PTCC 1615. BioImpacts (BI), 11(1), 53.

3. Barati, F., Hosseini, F., Vafaee, R., Sabouri, Z., Ghadam, P., Arab, S. S., Shadfar, N., et al. (2024). In silico approaches to investigate enzyme immobilization: A comprehensive systematic review. Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics, 26(7), 5744–5761.

4. Barati, F., Hosseini, F., Ghadam, P., & Arab, S. S. (2024). Optimizing CuO nanoparticle synthesis via walnut green husk extract utilizing response surface methodology. Journal of Molecular Structure, 1316, 139077.

5. Barati, F., Hosseini, F., Moghadam, F. H., & Dezfouli, S. A. (2021). Face mask as a tool to prevent the Coronavirus disease 2019: The importance and challenges. International Journal of Health and Life Sciences, 7(1), e109729.

Mehrdad Hashemi | Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology | Best Researcher Award

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Prof. Mehrdad Hashemi | Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology | Best Researcher Award

Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University | Iran

Professor Mehrdad Hashemi is a renowned scholar in Molecular and Medical Genetics whose pioneering research has made transformative contributions to predictive, preventive, and personalized medicine. His scientific work focuses on the discovery of diagnostic and therapeutic biomarkers particularly non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs and miRNAs) with profound implications for early disease detection, molecular targeting, and precision therapy. Prof. Mehrdad Hashemi has authored 372 peer-reviewed publications indexed in Scopus, accumulating over 6,826 citations from 6,242 documents, and achieving a remarkable h-index of 41. His research portfolio includes 299 ISI-indexed papers, 342 Scopus-indexed papers, and 258 PubMed articles, encompassing 119 Q1 and 82 Q2 journals. He has led or completed 14 major research projects, contributed to 95 industrial and academic collaborations, and maintained 110 international research partnerships with leading institutions across the USA, UK, Canada, China, Germany, Australia, and beyond. His scholarly output also includes 3 internationally published books and 1 patent. Ranked among the World’s Top 1% and 2% Scientists in both ESI (2024) and Stanford (2024–2025) global rankings, Prof. Mehrdad Hashemi’s groundbreaking studies on exosomes, nanomedicine, gene regulation, and cancer therapeutics have advanced global understanding of disease mechanisms and innovative treatment modalities. He also contributes extensively as an editorial board member, peer reviewer, and thought leader in the field of molecular diagnostics and translational genetics.

Profiles: Scopus | Google Scholar | ORCID | Staff Page

Featured Publications

  • Paskeh, M. D. A., Entezari, M., Mirzaei, S., Zabolian, A., Saleki, H., Naghdi, M. J., … & Hashemi, M. (2022). Emerging role of exosomes in cancer progression and tumor microenvironment remodeling. Journal of Hematology & Oncology, 15(1), 83. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13045-022-01296-0

  • Bolhassani, A., Javanzad, S., Saleh, T., Hashemi, M., Aghasadeghi, M. R., … & Sadat, S. M. (2014). Polymeric nanoparticles: potent vectors for vaccine delivery targeting cancer and infectious diseases. Human Vaccines & Immunotherapeutics, 10(2), 321–332. https://doi.org/10.4161/hv.26796

  • Entezari, M., Hashemi, D., Taheriazam, A., Zabolian, A., Mohammadi, S., … & Hashemi, M. (2022). AMPK signaling in diabetes mellitus, insulin resistance and diabetic complications: A pre-clinical and clinical investigation. Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy, 146, 112563. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biopha.2021.112563

  • Hashemi, M., Moosavi, M. S., Abed, H. M., Dehghani, M., Aalipour, M., Heydari, E. A., … & Mirzaei, S. (2022). Long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) H19 in human cancer: From proliferation and metastasis to therapy. Pharmacological Research, 184, 106418. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.phrs.2022.106418

  • Sadrkhanloo, M., Entezari, M., Orouei, S., Ghollasi, M., Rezaei, S., Hejazi, E. S., … & Hashemi, M. (2022). STAT3-EMT axis in tumors: Modulation of cancer metastasis, stemness and therapy response. Pharmacological Research, 182, 106311. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.phrs.2022.106311

Jie Huang | Biological Sciences | Best Researcher Award

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Dr. Jie Huang | Biological Sciences | Best Researcher Award

University of Oxford | United Kingdom

Dr. Jie Huang (黄杰), is a distinguished plant biologist currently serving as a postdoctoral researcher at the Department of Biology, University of Oxford. His research focuses on molecular plant–pathogen interactions, alternative splicing, and effector biology. Dr. Huang has made substantial contributions to our understanding of how pathogens manipulate plant immune responses and has published widely in high-impact journals.

Professional profile👤

Google Scholar

Strengths for the Awards✨

1. Strong Academic Background & Training

  • PhD from Nanjing Agricultural University under a leading expert, Prof. Suomeng Dong.

  • Postdoctoral experience at the prestigious University of Oxford, a global hub for biological sciences.

2. Consistent and High-Impact Research Output

  • Multiple first-author and corresponding-author publications in top-tier journals such as Nature Communications, Advanced Science, The Plant Cell, Molecular Plant, and New Phytologist.

  • His research appears in elite plant biology and molecular journals, indicating significant peer recognition and impact.

3. Innovation in Research

  • Pioneered discoveries related to alternative splicing in plant immunity, plant-pathogen interactions, and protein-peptide interactions, a critical frontier in molecular plant pathology.

  • Integration of computational tools (AlphaFold-Multimer) in cross-kingdom interaction studies, reflecting interdisciplinary sophistication.

4. Competitive Funding Record

  • Secured prestigious funding from national (NSFC), provincial, and postdoctoral foundations in China as Principal Investigator, demonstrating independent scientific leadership.

5. International Collaboration & Mobility

  • Experience at institutions in China, the UK, and the USA, showcasing global integration and collaborative capacity.

  • Short-term training and collaborative publications with international partners, enhancing his scientific network and adaptability.

🎓 Education

 Dr. Huang began his academic journey with a Bachelor’s degree in Plant Science from Anhui Agricultural University (2009–2013). He then pursued his Ph.D. in Plant Pathology at Nanjing Agricultural University (2013–2018), where he was mentored by the esteemed Prof. Suomeng Dong. His doctoral research laid a strong foundation for his expertise in host–pathogen molecular dynamics.

🧪 Experience

 Following his Ph.D., Dr. Huang worked as a postdoctoral researcher at Nanjing Agricultural University (2018–2021), continuing under Prof. Dong’s supervision. In 2019, he broadened his global research exposure as a visiting scholar at Colorado State University with Prof. Anireddy Reddy. Since January 2022, he has been advancing his research at the University of Oxford under Prof. Renier A. L. van der Hoorn, contributing to frontier studies in plant proteomics and immunity.

🔬 Research Interests On Biological Sciences

🌿 Dr. Huang’s research delves into:

  • Alternative splicing in plant immunity

  • Effector biology in oomycete pathogens

  • Protease-targeting mechanisms at the plant–pathogen interface

  • Use of AlphaFold and other computational tools to predict protein interactions
    His work bridges molecular biology, bioinformatics, and biotechnology for improving crop resistance strategies.

🏆 Awards and Funding

 As a Principal Investigator, Dr. Huang has secured several prestigious research grants, including:

  • National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 31901862)

  • Natural Science Foundation of Jiangsu Province (SBK2019040604)

  • Fundamental Research Funds for Central Universities (KYQN202009)

  • China Postdoctoral Science Foundation (2018M640494)

  • Special Postdoctoral Science Fund (2020T130306)

These awards reflect his scientific rigor and innovative research in plant molecular biology.

📚 Publications

1. A Phytophthora effector manipulates host histone acetylation and reprograms defense gene expression to promote infection
Authors: L Kong, X Qiu, J Kang, Y Wang, H Chen, J Huang, M Qiu, Y Zhao, G Kong, …
Year: 2017
Cited by: 144

2. An oomycete plant pathogen reprograms host pre-mRNA splicing to subvert immunity
Authors: J Huang, L Gu, Y Zhang, T Yan, G Kong, L Kong, B Guo, M Qiu, Y Wang, …
Year: 2017
Cited by: 120

3. Phytophthora effectors modulate genome-wide alternative splicing of host mRNAs to reprogram plant immunity
Authors: J Huang, X Lu, H Wu, Y Xie, Q Peng, L Gu, J Wu, Y Wang, ASN Reddy, …
Year: 2020
Cited by: 84

4. The Activation of Phytophthora Effector Avr3b by Plant Cyclophilin is Required for the Nudix Hydrolase Activity of Avr3b
Authors: G Kong, Y Zhao, M Jing, J Huang, J Yang, Y Xia, L Kong, W Ye, Q Xiong, …
Year: 2015
Cited by: 84

5. The Phytophthora sojae RXLR effector Avh238 destabilizes soybean Type2 GmACSs to suppress ethylene biosynthesis and promote infection
Authors: B Yang, Y Wang, B Guo, M Jing, H Zhou, Y Li, H Wang, J Huang, Y Wang, …
Year: 2019
Cited by: 71

6. AlphaFold-Multimer predicts cross-kingdom interactions at the plant-pathogen interface
Authors: F Homma, J Huang, RAL van der Hoorn
Year: 2023
Cited by: 69

7. Pathogen manipulation of chloroplast function triggers a light-dependent immune recognition
Authors: C Gao, H Xu, J Huang, B Sun, F Zhang, Z Savage, C Duggan, T Yan, …
Year: 2020
Cited by: 65

8. Cleavage of a pathogen apoplastic protein by plant subtilases activates host immunity
Authors: S Wang, R Xing, Y Wang, H Shu, S Fu, J Huang, JK Paulus, M Schuster, …
Year: 2021
Cited by: 40

9. Natural allelic variations provide insights into host adaptation of Phytophthora avirulence effector PsAvr3c
Authors: J Huang, L Chen, X Lu, Q Peng, Y Zhang, J Yang, BY Zhang, B Yang, …
Year: 2019
Cited by: 32

10. Phytophthora sojae apoplastic effector AEP1 mediates sugar uptake by mutarotation of extracellular aldose and is recognized as a MAMP
Authors: Y Xu, Y Zhang, J Zhu, Y Sun, B Guo, F Liu, J Huang, H Wang, S Dong, …
Year: 2021
Cited by: 31

📝 Conclusion

🌟 Dr. Jie Huang is a rising star in plant molecular biology, combining classical genetics, proteomics, and cutting-edge computational tools to unravel the complexities of plant immunity and pathogen virulence. His international collaborations, funding success, and impactful publications position him as a strong nominee for any prestigious research award recognizing scientific excellence in plant sciences.