Sulman Owili | Agricultural Economics | Best Researcher Award

Mr. Sulman Owili | Agricultural Economics | Best Researcher Award

MSc Student, Department of Agricultural Economics, University of Nairobi, Kenya

Sulman Olieko Owili is a dedicated agricultural and environmental economist from Kenya, with a focus on developing sustainable policies for the agri-food sector through research. Recognized as the Best Collaborative Masters in Agricultural and Applied Economics (CMAAE) student in 2023, he has earned accolades for his academic excellence across East and Southern Africa. Sulman currently contributes as a Research Fellow at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) under the Agroecology Initiative, a Teaching Assistant at the University of Nairobi, and a Research and Data Analyst at the International Center for Research in Agroforestry (ICRAF). His research emphasizes production economics, econometrics, and quantitative modeling. 🌱📊

Publication Profile

ORCID

🎓 Education

Master of Science in Agricultural and Applied Economics (CMAAE) – University of Nairobi, Kenya, 2021–Present. Specializations in Quantitative Methods, Agricultural Policy, and Agricultural Marketing and Price Analysis – University of Pretoria, South Africa, 2022–2023. Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Education and Extension – University of Nairobi, Kenya, 2016–2020 🎓

💼 Experience

Research and Data Analyst – International Center for Research in Agroforestry (ICRAF), Nairobi, Kenya, 2023–Present. Teaching Assistant (Department of Agricultural Economics) – University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya, 2022–Present. Research Fellow – International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Agroecology Initiative, Nairobi, Kenya, 2022–Present 🌐📈

🔍 Research Interests

Sulman’s research covers diverse areas, including production economics, econometrics, statistics, and quantitative modeling, aimed at enhancing agri-food sector sustainability. 📉🌾

🏆 Awards

Best CMAAE Student – 2023, University of Pretoria. Best Masters Student Recognition – 2023, University of Nairobi. First-Class Honors in Agricultural Economics – 2020, University of Nairobi 🏅🎖️

📚 Publications

Factors influencing adoption of agro-ecological pest management options for mango fruit fly under information constraints: a two-part fractional regression approach

Kenya Context Assessment Report: A desk-top review of the context of agroecological principles of Kiambu and Makueni counties

 

Éva Salamon-Albert | Agricultural | Best Researcher Award

Assoc Prof Dr. Éva Salamon-Albert | Agricultural | Best Researcher Award

university lecturer, University of Pécs/Biological Institute/Department of Plant Biology, Hungary

Éva Salamon-Albert is a Hungarian vegetation scientist and associate professor at the University of Pécs, Hungary 🌱. With a career spanning over three decades, she has made significant contributions to the field of plant biology, focusing on plant taxonomy, ecophysiology, and environmental assessments. Her expertise extends to teaching, research, and ecological studies, particularly in the conservation and study of native plant species in Hungary 🌍.

Publication Profile

ORCID

Education

Éva completed her biology-chemistry teaching degree at Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, in 1990 🎓. She earned her Ph.D. in Vegetation Science from the University of Pécs in 1998 and later received habilitation from the University of Sopron in 2015 🌿. Her educational background has equipped her with a deep understanding of functional plant ecology and environmental biology.

Experience

Since 1991, Éva has been a valuable member of the University of Pécs Faculty of Sciences 🌿. Starting as an assistant professor at the Department of Botany, she became an associate professor in the Department of Plant Taxonomy and Geobotany in 2005 and the Department of Plant Biology in 2013. She teaches various courses in plant taxonomy, botany, and ecophysiology, providing both theoretical and practical knowledge 🌾. Her passion for education is evident through her development of computer-assisted presentations and field-based training.

Research Focus

Éva’s research delves into the functional ecology of plant ecosystems, particularly in understanding how plant species acclimate and adapt to their environments 🌱. Her studies span forest communities, wet meadows, and the responses of different plant species to environmental changes. Her work contributes to advancing our knowledge of environmental assessments, especially in Hungary 🌍.

Awards and Honors

Éva has been involved in numerous national and international research projects and grants, leading and contributing to groundbreaking studies 🌿. Her work on projects such as forest understory diversity, ecological indicator values, and bioindication in wet meadows highlights her commitment to advancing vegetation science and environmental conservation 🌻.

Publications

Éva has an extensive list of publications covering various topics in vegetation science and plant ecology. Her research articles are published in respected journals, including Photosynthetica, Forests, and Community Ecology 🌿. To view her full list of publications, visit her MTMT profile 📚.

Small-Scale Environmental Heterogeneity Enhances Tree Recruitment through Carbon Recharge and Water Use Diversification

Functional fingerprinting estimates renewal opportunities for tree species in a mixed Turkey oak forest

Estimated seasonal daily evapotranspiration rates for a horizontal subsurface flow constructed wetland

Saule kenzhebayeva | Agricultural | Best Research Article Award

Prof. Saule kenzhebayeva | Agricultural | Best Research Article Award

Genetic improvement of wheat to abiotic and biotic stress, al-Farabi Kazakh National University, Kazakhstan

👩‍🔬 Kenzhebayeva Saule Sagindykovna is a professor at the Department of Biotechnology, Al-Farabi Kazakh National University. Her expertise lies in wheat mutation breeding, improving grain quality, and developing molecular markers to enhance agronomic traits. She has made significant contributions to research on physiological and biochemical aspects of stress tolerance in cereals. 🌾

Publication Profile

Scopus

Strengths for the Award:

  1. Extensive Expertise: Kenzhebayeva Saule Sagindykovna has a strong academic foundation with a Doctor of Science degree, highlighting her deep knowledge in biotechnology and mutation breeding. Her research focuses on improving wheat quality, disease resistance, and stress tolerance, which aligns with the award’s focus on impactful research.
  2. Innovative Research Contributions: Her work in molecular genetics and mutation breeding for enhancing key agronomic traits such as drought tolerance, disease resistance, and nutrient content in wheat is highly relevant in addressing global food security and sustainability challenges.
  3. High-Impact Publications: Several of her publications are indexed in reputable journals (e.g., PeerJ, Crop and Pasture Science, Curr Issues Mol Biol), with some having strong citation potential. Her research has been recognized as contributing to the scientific community, particularly in leaf rust resistance, iron homeostasis, and biofortification of wheat, which are critical for agriculture.
  4. International Research Projects: Kenzhebayeva has led and participated in several high-profile national and international projects funded by institutions like the IAEA, showcasing her ability to manage complex research initiatives. These projects focus on wheat improvement using nuclear and molecular techniques, demonstrating her capability in multidisciplinary approaches.
  5. Leadership and Recognition: As a professor and principal investigator in numerous research grants, she has demonstrated leadership and has contributed to the development of biofortified wheat lines that are of practical importance in Kazakhstan and globally.

Areas for Improvement:

  1. Citation Impact: While Kenzhebayeva has been a part of many prestigious research efforts, her H-index (5) and citation count (15) for 2023 might be relatively low compared to other potential candidates for the award. Increasing the visibility and citation of her research through collaborations, conferences, and networking could enhance her profile.
  2. Broader International Exposure: Although her work has international dimensions, increased global collaboration and publications in higher-impact journals could elevate the reach of her findings and further boost her academic recognition.
  3. Scientometric Growth: Focusing on increasing the frequency of high-impact publications and collaborating with highly cited researchers may help boost her citation profile.

Education:

🎓 Kenzhebayeva earned her Master’s degree in Biology from Moscow State University in 1976, followed by a postgraduate course at the same institution from 1976-1979. She holds a Doctor of Science degree and is a recognized professor in the field of biotechnology and crop improvement. 🌱

Experience:

📚 With decades of experience, Kenzhebayeva has been involved in numerous national and international research projects, focusing on wheat improvement, tolerance to abiotic stresses, and enhanced grain quality. She has served as both a principal investigator and responsible executor for many key projects funded by Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Education and Science. 🌾🔬

Research Focus:

🔍 Kenzhebayeva’s research delves into mutation breeding of wheat, grain quality improvement, resistance to rust disease, and the effects of biotic and abiotic stresses on cereals. She is particularly interested in developing molecular markers for valuable agronomic traits and enhancing drought tolerance in wheat. 🌾💧

Awards and Honours:

🏆 Kenzhebayeva has been a national coordinator and principal investigator for numerous international projects, including collaborations with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF). Her work has earned her widespread recognition in the field of biotechnology. 🌟

Publication Top Notes:

📄 Phenotyping and exploitation of kompetitive allele-specific PCR assays for genes underpinning leaf rust resistance in new spring wheat mutant lines (2024) – Current Issues in Molecular Biology, cited by 10 articles.
📄 Organ-specific expression of genes involved in iron homeostasis in wheat mutant lines with increased grain iron and zinc content (2022) – PeerJ, cited by 5 articles.
📄 Rice Plants (Oryza sativa L.) under Cd Stress in Fe Deficiency Conditions (2022) – BioMed Research International, cited by 3 articles.
📄 Iron-deficiency response and differential expression of iron homeostasis-related genes in spring wheat mutant lines (2022) – Crop and Pasture Science, cited by 8 articles.
📄 Improved iron and zinc bioavailability in spring wheat mutant lines (2018) – Journal of Biotechnology, cited by 12 articles.

Conclusion:

Kenzhebayeva Saule Sagindykovna’s research is highly relevant to the criteria for the “Research for Best Research Article Award.” Her contributions to mutation breeding, biofortification, and stress resilience in wheat have significant global implications for food security. However, improvements in citation impact and broader international exposure could further solidify her candidacy. Despite these areas for growth, her established leadership in high-level projects and innovative research make her a strong candidate for recognition.