PERUMAL SIDDHURAJU | Environemntal Food Security | Best Researcher Award

Prof Dr.PERUMAL SIDDHURAJU | Environemntal Food Security | Best Researcher Award 

Professor and Head Department of Environmental Sciences,School of Life Sciences, Bharathiar University, Coimbatore- 641046, India

Dr. P. Siddhuraju is a distinguished Professor and Head of the Department of Environmental Sciences at Bharathiar University, Coimbatore, India. With a career spanning over 30 years, he has made significant contributions to environmental science and resource technology. His research focuses on bioresource potential, environmental food security, sewage wastewater reuse, microplastic pollution, and zero-waste agroecosystems. Dr. Siddhuraju has held prominent positions in academia and research globally, including roles in Germany and Spain. His achievements have earned him recognition as one of the top 2% scientists in the world.

Profile

Scopus

Education

Dr. Siddhuraju completed his Ph.D. in Botany from Bharathiar University, Coimbatore, in 1994 with high commendation. He earned his M. Phil. in Botany from the same university in 1990, following an M.Sc. in Botany from Annamalai University in 1988. His academic journey began with a B.Sc. in Botany from Gobi Arts and Science College in 1986.

Experience

Dr. Siddhuraju’s extensive career includes significant roles across various institutions. He began as a Senior Research Fellow and later worked as a Research Associate at Bharathiar University. His international experience includes post-doctoral research in Spain and Germany, where he served as an Alexander von Humboldt Fellow and Senior Scientist. He has been a Professor and Head at Bharathiar University since 2016, and has also served as the Dean of Research. His professional journey reflects a deep commitment to advancing environmental sciences.

Research Interests

Dr. Siddhuraju’s research primarily revolves around environmental science and bioresource technology. His interests include the bioresource potential of underutilized crops, environmental food security, sewage wastewater reuse, microplastic pollution, and zero-waste agroecosystems. He investigates the impact of neglected crops on soil fertility, livestock management, and agroecosystem sustainability, while also exploring the effects of microplastic pollution on the environment and agriculture.

Awards

Dr. Siddhuraju has received numerous accolades, including:

  • International Distinguished Research Excellence Award 2022 in Environmental Sciences.
  • Recognition as one of the top 2% scientists in India in the field of Environmental Food Security by Stanford University (2021).
  • Awarded E-Membership of the Society of Chemical Industry, London (2021).
  • Various fellowships from the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation and the Spanish Ministry of Education & Science.

Publications

Dr. Siddhuraju has contributed to numerous publications in prestigious journals. Notable articles include:

  • “Impact of Underutilized Crops on Environmental Food Security” published in Frontiers in Nutrition (2022). Link to publication
  • “Microplastic Pollution in Sewage Wastewater” in Environmental Science & Technology (2021). Link to publication

Shaghaf Kaukab | Post-Harvest Engineering and Technology | Young Scientist Award

Dr.Shaghaf Kaukab | Post-Harvest Engineering and Technology | Young Scientist Award

Scientist ICAR-CIPHET India

Shaghaf Kaukab is a dedicated scientist specializing in Agricultural Structures and Process Engineering at ICAR-CIPHET, Ludhiana. With over 4 years of scientific research experience and 7.5 years of academic research, she excels in food engineering and technology. Her expertise spans extrusion processing, drying technology, hermetic packaging, functional food product development, and the application of AI, machine learning, and deep learning in agriculture. Shaghaf has significantly contributed to storage and quality management of agricultural commodities, developing innovative solutions for pest control and storage losses.

Profile

Scopus

Education 🎓

Shaghaf Kaukab’s educational background is rooted in post-harvest technology. She earned her Ph.D. in Post Harvest Technology from the Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, with an excellent grade (CGPA: 9.1/10.00) in 2019. Prior to that, she completed her M.Tech. in Post Harvest Engineering & Technology from the same institute, achieving a CGPA of 8.97/10.00 in 2016. Her rigorous academic training has equipped her with extensive knowledge and practical skills in her field.

Experience 💼

Shaghaf currently serves as a Scientist at ICAR-CIPHET, Ludhiana, focusing on Agricultural Structures & Process Engineering. Since January 2020, she has led projects on cold storage monitoring systems, maize cob drying systems, and AI-enabled robotic apple harvesters, among others. She collaborates with academic partners and mentors students, providing training and skill development for farmers and entrepreneurs. Her previous role at ICAR-National Academy of Agricultural Research Management in Hyderabad involved developing agricultural development plans and modern information management techniques.

Research Interests 🔬

Shaghaf’s research interests lie in the application of new-age technologies like AI, ML, and DL in post-harvest agriculture. She focuses on mathematical modeling, image processing techniques (biospeckle, RGB, X-ray, hyperspectral imaging), and analysis of food properties including physical, thermal, mechanical, and micro-structural aspects. Her work aims to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of food process engineering through innovative technological solutions.

Honors and Awards 🏆

Shaghaf’s contributions have been recognized with several prestigious awards. She received the Best Presentation Award for her work on enhancing apple quality control using deep learning techniques at the 57th ISAE Annual Convention in 2023. She was also awarded the Bihar Gaurav Award by the State Government of Bihar in 2009, and the IARI Merit Medal for outstanding academic performance during 2014-2016. Her academic excellence is further highlighted by her top rankings in GATE, ICAR-JRF, and ICAR-SRF examinations.

Publications 📚

Shaghaf has authored numerous publications in reputed journals, contributing significantly to her field. Her notable works include:

  1. Improving Real-time Apple Fruit Detection: Depth and Multi-modal Information Fusions with Non-targeted Background Removal (2023) – Ecological Informatics
  2. Chickpea Temperature Profile Development and its Implication under Microwave Treatment (2023) – Biological Forum – An International Journal
  3. Osmotic Dehydration of Aloe-vera Gel Discs (2023) – Journal of AgriSearch
  4. Engineering Properties, Processing and Value Addition of Tamarind: A Review (2023) – IJBSM
  5. Study of engineering properties of selected vegetable seeds (2019) – Indian Journal of Agricultural Sciences
  6. Technological Interventions for Convenient Rice Preparation (2017) – Agricultural Engineering Today
  7. Rice Quality Evaluation Techniques (2017) – Trends in Biosciences
  8. Evaluation of Shelf Stability of Reconstituted (Extruded) Rice Under Ambient Storage Condition (2017) – Trends in Biosciences