Sundeep Kumar | Molecular Breeding | Best Researcher Award

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Dr. Sundeep Kumar | Molecular Breeding | Best Researcher Award

Dr. Sundeep Kumar | Molecular Breeding | Principal Scientist at ICAR-National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources | India

Dr. Sundeep Kumar is a highly accomplished Principal Scientist in the field of plant biotechnology, with a career dedicated to advancing genetic improvement and sustainability in cereal crops. His expertise spans wheat genomics, molecular breeding, and plant biotechnology, where he has contributed to solving critical challenges such as heat tolerance, disease resistance, and grain quality. Through his pioneering work, he has become widely recognized as a leading researcher whose scientific output has bridged the gap between fundamental plant biology and applied crop improvement. His professional journey reflects continuous growth, dedication, and impact in global agricultural research.

Academic Profile

Scopus

Education

Dr. Sundeep Kumar pursued his academic foundation in plant sciences with a specialization in molecular biology and biotechnology. His advanced training enabled him to acquire in-depth knowledge of genetics, genomics, and breeding strategies, which later became the cornerstone of his research career. He further enhanced his expertise through research fellowships and international exposure, gaining proficiency in advanced technologies such as genome-wide association studies, quantitative trait nucleotide mapping, and KASP marker validation. His education not only prepared him for an academic and research career but also gave him the skills to address emerging agricultural challenges through molecular innovation.

Experience

Dr. Sundeep Kumar has served in a senior scientific capacity at a premier national research institution, where he has led projects in genomic resources, plant biotechnology, and molecular breeding. His leadership in multi-institutional and international collaborations has brought forward solutions for wheat improvement under climate stress conditions. He has overseen large-scale projects funded by leading scientific agencies, successfully integrating genomic discoveries into applied breeding programs. His experience is not limited to research but also extends to mentoring young scientists, guiding doctoral students, and contributing to the global research community through editorial and advisory roles. His professional experience reflects both scientific excellence and leadership in agricultural biotechnology.

Research Interest

The research interests of Dr. Sundeep Kumar lie in deciphering the genetic and molecular basis of complex traits in wheat and other cereals. He has extensively focused on identifying genomic regions associated with heat tolerance, disease resistance, grain quality, and yield stability. His work emphasizes the use of cutting-edge tools such as GWAS, high-throughput genotyping, and functional genomics for crop improvement. Another key area of his interest is understanding the role of plant defense mechanisms, including thermoregulation and hormone-mediated responses, in adaptive immunity. His research has strong translational value, directly contributing to sustainable food security by providing insights into climate-resilient agriculture.

Award

Dr. Sundeep Kumar has been recognized with several prestigious awards and honors for his outstanding contributions to plant biotechnology and crop improvement. His recognition by leading national and international organizations demonstrates the scientific and societal impact of his work. His contributions to wheat genomics, molecular breeding, and sustainable agricultural practices have not only advanced scientific knowledge but also influenced agricultural strategies at broader levels. His awards reflect his leadership, innovation, and dedication to addressing global challenges in agriculture.

Selected Publication

  • Unraveling the genetic basis of heat tolerance and yield in bread wheat: QTN discovery and Its KASP-assisted validation, BMC Plant Biology, 2025, 1 Citation.

  • Identification of quantitative trait nucleotides for grain quality in bread wheat under heat stress, Scientific Reports, 2025, 2 Citations.

  • Genetic dissection of leaf rust resistance in a diversity panel of tetraploid wheat (Triticum turgidum), BMC Plant Biology, 2025, 2 Citations.

  • Plant Defense Hormones: Thermoregulation and Their Role in Plant Adaptive Immunity, Journal of Plant Growth Regulation, 2025, 2 Citations.

Conclusion

Dr. Sundeep Kumar is an eminent researcher whose career reflects a blend of innovation, leadership, and societal relevance. His expertise in wheat genomics and plant biotechnology has generated significant advancements in crop science, especially in developing strategies for heat tolerance, disease resistance, and yield improvement. His numerous publications, high-level collaborations, and recognition through awards place him among the leading scientists shaping the future of sustainable agriculture. With a strong commitment to addressing global food security challenges, Dr. Sundeep Kumar continues to be a driving force in advancing plant biotechnology and molecular breeding.

Emile Blaise Siewe Pougoué | Agricultural Economics | Best Researcher Award

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Dr. Emile Blaise Siewe Pougoué | Agricultural Economics | Best Researcher Award

Dr. Emile Blaise Siewe Pougoué | Agricultural Economics – Lecturer at Université de Maroua (UMa), Cameroon

Dr. Emile Blaise Siewe Pougoué is a committed and solution-driven researcher in Agricultural Economics and Integrated Rural Development. His work focuses on bridging research and policy for sustainable development, food security, and rural resilience in Sub-Saharan Africa. With a multidisciplinary foundation and strong academic rigor, Dr. Siewe Pougoué brings a combination of economic modeling, field-based studies, and strategic policy insights to his research. Over the years, he has contributed to the understanding of smallholder dynamics, agricultural innovation systems, and climate adaptation strategies in fragile ecological contexts. His publication record, academic trajectory, and research impact make him a deserving candidate for the Best Researcher Award.

Academic Profile:

ORCID

🎓 Education:

Dr. Siewe Pougoué holds a Ph.D. in Engineering Sciences, with a specialization in Agricultural Economics, earned in 2021. He also completed a Research Master’s Degree in Integrated Rural Development in 2017 and earlier pursued an engineering diploma as an Agro-socio-economist. These academic milestones are backed by extensive thesis research, ranging from the technical efficiency of egg farms to the multidimensional analysis of food security in the Far North Region of Cameroon. His interdisciplinary education has equipped him with both theoretical insights and practical tools to address key agricultural and economic challenges.

💼 Experience:

Over the past decade, Dr. Siewe Pougoué has gained robust experience in research, training, and agricultural development across Cameroon and Benin. His roles have encompassed academic research, stakeholder collaboration, and fieldwork in vulnerable rural zones. As an agro-economist, he has engaged with farmer organizations, NGOs, and public agencies to translate research outcomes into actionable development strategies. His collaborative work with international and national scholars has also positioned him as a team-oriented academic with a strong network and field presence.

🔬 Research Interest:

Dr. Siewe Pougoué’s research interests are centered on food security, rural livelihoods, agricultural productivity, climate change resilience, and socioeconomic development. He is particularly passionate about understanding how rural households cope with food insecurity, how innovation systems can enhance competitiveness, and how smallholder farmers can adapt to ecological challenges. His work also explores integrated land management, gender in agriculture, and inclusive financial systems in rural communities.

🏅 Award:

While he continues to expand his portfolio, Dr. Siewe Pougoué has garnered academic recognition through his impactful publications and consistent contributions to interdisciplinary research. His candidacy for the Best Researcher Award reflects his commitment to excellence, scientific integrity, and developmental relevance. He stands out as an emerging thought leader in agricultural development research in the Sahelian and Central African contexts.

📚 Selected Publications:

📘 Gender and Food Resourcism in Sahelian Zone of Cameroon (2025), published in World Food Policy (WFP), explores gendered access to food resources and has already been cited in regional food policy discussions.
📘 Logistic Modelling of the Determinants of the Food Situation of Rural Households in Cameroon (2025), featured in Revue Marocaine des Sciences Agronomiques et Vétérinaires (REMAV), uses econometric analysis to identify key vulnerability indicators.
📘 Nexus Innovation-Processus-Territoire for Collective Development Dynamics: A Literature Review (2025), in REINNOVA, presents an integrated framework and is frequently cited in innovation policy articles.
📘 Climate Change and Integrated Farmland Management in North Cameroon (2024), published in African Journal of Land and Geospatial Sciences, focuses on ecological restoration and pro-accessibility strategies in climate-sensitive regions.
📘 Food Security in Northern Cameroon: A Quantitative Analysis Approach (2023), published in New Medit, introduces a data-driven framework for assessing rural food security and has influenced ongoing research on agricultural vulnerability.
📘 Determinants of Financial and Social Performance of Microfinance Institutions in Cameroon (2022), in Journal of Academic Finance, addresses rural financial systems and institutional sustainability.
📘 Technical Efficiency of Laying Hen Farms in Southern Benin (2019), published in Rev. Elev. Med. Vet. Pays Trop., is cited in animal production studies across West Africa.

✅ Conclusion:

Dr. Emile Blaise Siewe Pougoué represents a new generation of African researchers committed to transforming agriculture and rural economies through evidence-based policy and academic excellence. His career demonstrates a strong blend of quantitative analysis, grassroots engagement, and collaborative inquiry. With more than a dozen peer-reviewed publications and a clear focus on real-world impact, he is a highly deserving candidate for the Best Researcher Award. His continued work promises to shape not only scholarly understanding but also the lives of countless rural households facing food insecurity and economic marginalization.

 

 

Snježana Topolovec- Pintarić | Agricultural and Biological Sciences | Best Researcher Award

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Assist. Prof. Dr. Snježana Topolovec- Pintarić | Agricultural and Biological Sciences | Best Researcher Award

Professor at University of Zagreb Faculty of Agriculture, Croatia

Snježana Topolovec-Pintarić is an Associate Professor at the Division for Phytomedicine, Department of Plant Pathology at the Faculty of Agriculture, University of Zagreb. With extensive expertise in plant pathology, she has contributed significantly to research on fungal diseases, seed health, and sustainable plant disease management. Over her career, she has worked on innovative biocontrol strategies, participated in numerous international collaborations, and published extensively on phytopathology and fungicide resistance. Her dedication to teaching and research has been recognized through various awards and honors.

Profile

Scopus

Education:

Snježana Topolovec-Pintarić pursued a study program in Phytomedicine at the Faculty of Agriculture, University of Zagreb, earning her BSc degree in 1990. She began her academic career in 1992 at the Department of Plant Pathology and later earned her MSc degree in 1996. Her master’s research involved the development of a colorimetric method, which was later incorporated into educational materials. She enrolled in the PhD program, focusing on the resistance of Botrytis cinerea to botryticides and anti-resistance strategies, obtaining her PhD in 2000.

Experience:

Since 1992, Snježana Topolovec-Pintarić has collaborated on multiple research projects and industrial partnerships. She participated in seven projects with chemical industries for evaluating fungicide efficacy and worked on two US-funded projects related to biological control of weeds and flax restoration. From 1996 to 2013, she was involved in seed health testing and contributed to organizing and lecturing at workshops on Seed Pathology. Additionally, she served as the secretary of the Croatian Plant Protection Society from its foundation in 2000 until 2006, actively participating in its governing board and annual congress organization.

Research Interests:

Her primary research interests include plant mycoses, fungicide resistance, biological control agents, and sustainable plant disease management. She has led projects focusing on ecologically acceptable formulations for plant disease control and the encapsulation of autochthonous biocontrol agents. Since 2017, she has collaborated with researchers at Institut Ruđer Bošković on the molecular identification of indigenous Trichoderma strains. Her work aims to improve sustainable agricultural practices through biocontrol innovations and disease resistance management.

Awards and Honors:

Snježana Topolovec-Pintarić has received several notable awards, including the Rector’s Award from the University of Zagreb for a student research paper. In 2015, as a member of the American Phytopathology Society, she was honored for her acrylic painting “Medusa-asci” as a promotional piece for plant pathology. In 2017, she won an award for the best e-course on the academic platform Merlin at the Faculty of Agriculture, recognizing her contribution to digital education in phytomedicine.

Selected Publications:

Topolovec-Pintarić S. (2020). “Downy mildew of basil – a new destructive disease worldwide.” In: Plant Diseases – Current Threats and Management Trends. IntechOpen, London. Cited by 15 articles.

Topolovec-Pintarić S. (2019). “Trichoderma: Invisible Partner for Visible Impact on Agriculture.” In: Trichoderma – The Most Widely Used Fungicide. IntechOpen, London. Cited by 20 articles.

Topolovec-Pintarić S. (2011). “Resistance to botryticides.” In: Fungicides – Beneficial and Harmful Aspects. InTech, Rijeka. Cited by 30 articles.

Topolovec-Pintarić S. (2005). “Seed health testing: Challenges and perspectives.” Journal of Plant Pathology Research. Cited by 10 articles.

Topolovec-Pintarić S. (2013). “Encapsulation of biocontrol agents for plant disease management.” Biocontrol Science and Technology. Cited by 25 articles.

Topolovec-Pintarić S. (2017). “Molecular identification of Trichoderma species for sustainable agriculture.” Agricultural Microbiology Journal. Cited by 18 articles.

Topolovec-Pintarić S. (2008). “Biological control of weeds and restoration of Fibre Flax.” International Journal of Agronomic Research. Cited by 12 articles.

Conclusion:

Snježana Topolovec-Pintarić has made outstanding contributions to phytomedicine, plant pathology, and biocontrol research. Her scientific advancements, leadership in professional societies, international collaborations, and influential publications make her a highly suitable candidate for the Best Researcher Award. Her work continues to impact sustainable agriculture, plant disease management, and ecological formulations, positioning her as a distinguished researcher in the field.