Alexander Zhgun | Engineering and Technology | Research Excellence Award

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Dr. Alexander Zhgun | Engineering and Technology | Research Excellence Award

Group of Fungal Genetic Engineering, Federal Research Center | Russia

Alexander Alexandrovich Zhgun is a senior researcher and head of the Fungal Genetic Engineering Group at the Federal Research Center “Fundamentals of Biotechnology” of the Russian Academy of Sciences, with more than three decades of scientific contribution in biotechnology and cultural heritage protection. He earned his biology degree from Lomonosov Moscow State University and completed a PhD focused on cytochromes P450, building a strong foundation in molecular and fungal biotechnology. His academic career progressed from researcher to group leader, culminating in his appointment as head of the fungal genetic engineering group. His research interests center on molecular diagnostics of biodeterioration, metabolic engineering of fungal strains, secondary fungal metabolites, and biotechnological strategies for protecting historical paintings from microbial damage. Under his leadership, innovative diagnostic systems and preventive technologies for biodegradation of cultural heritage have been developed, alongside pioneering studies that reframe painting-destructive fungi as valuable biotechnological resources.  His scholarly impact includes an h-index reported in the range of 15–16 with corresponding citation records across major databases. Overall, his work bridges fundamental science and applied innovation, delivering lasting impact in biotechnology, antimicrobial discovery, and cultural heritage conservation.

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Featured Publications



Detection of Potential Biodeterioration Risks for Tempera Paintings in 16th-Century Exhibits from the State Tretyakov Gallery
A.A. Zhgun, D.A. Avdanina, K.V. Shumikhin, N.P. Simonenko, E.V. Lyubavskaya, et al.,
PLoS One, 15(4), e0230591, 2020. (Citations: 57)


A Novel L-Asparaginase from the Hyperthermophilic Archaeon Thermococcus sibiricus: Heterologous Expression and Characterization
M.V. Dumina, A.A. Zhgun, M.V. Pokrovskaya, S.S. Aleksandrova, et al.,
International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 22(18), 9894, 2021. (Citations: 41)


1,3-Diaminopropane and Spermidine Upregulate Lovastatin Production via LaeA Regulation in Aspergillus terreus
A.A. Zhgun, G.K. Nuraeva, M.V. Dumina, T.M. Voinova, et al.,
Applied Biochemistry and Microbiology, 55(3), 243–254, 2019. (Citations: 37)


Application of Chitosan for Protection of 15th–16th Century Cultural Heritage Objects from Microbial Damage
A.A. Zhgun, D.A. Avdanina, B.T. Shagdarova, E.V. Troyan, et al.,
Materials, 15(21), 7773, 2022. (Citations: 12)

Marta Filipa Simões | Astrobiology | Research Excellence Award

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Prof. Dr. Marta Filipa Simões | Astrobiology | Research Excellence Award

Macau University of Science and Technology | Macau

Marta Filipa Simões is an internationally recognized researcher in microbiology, mycology, astrobiology, and planetary protection, with strong interdisciplinary expertise spanning environmental microbiology, filamentous fungi, astromycology, and microgravity research. She has authored 29+ peer-reviewed scientific documents, accumulating 1,338 total citations (884 since 2021), with an h-index of 20 and an i10-index of 29, reflecting sustained global research impact. Her academic training and professional experience are rooted in life sciences, pharmaceutical sciences, and environmental biotechnology, with appointments and collaborations across leading international institutions and space-science programs. Her research focuses on extremophiles, fungal biodiversity, microbial survival in space and extreme environments, biogenic metal nanoparticles, antimicrobial resistance, and microbial applications in sustainability and planetary habitability models. She has contributed to highly cited works in journals such as Gene, AMB Express, Astrobiology, Life, and Environmental Chemistry Letters, and has played a significant role in advancing microbial astrobiology and planetary protection frameworks. Her scholarly excellence is supported by international collaborations, funded research initiatives, and contributions to quality management systems in microbial collections. Overall, her work bridges Earth and space microbiology, delivering high-impact science with relevance to health, sustainability, and space exploration.

Citation Metrics (Google Scholar)

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Featured Publications

Mahdi Sadeghi Pour Marvi | Agricultural Science and Innovation | Best Researcher Award

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Dr. Mahdi Sadeghi Pour Marvi | Agricultural Science and Innovation | Best Researcher Award

Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Center of Tehran Province | Iran

Dr. Mahdi Sadeghi Pour Marvi is a molecular and soil microbiologist whose research spans microbial ecology, soil biology, genomics and ecosystem biodiversity. He earned his Ph.D. in Soil Biology & Biotechnology from the University of Tehran, following an M.Sc. in Soil Science from Ferdowsi University of Mashhad. Over more than a decade of academic work, he has investigated the biodiversity and functional capabilities (e.g. sulfur oxidation) of native chemolithotrophic microorganisms in agricultural and mining soils, published on the diversity of sulfur-oxidizing bacteria in copper mine ecosystems, and studied plant-microbe interactions under stress conditions. His methodological skills include molecular techniques (DNA/RNA extraction, PCR, DGGE), bioinformatics (phylogenetics, sequence alignment), and statistical & GIS modeling (SAS, SPSS, PAST, ArcGIS).  He has 9- citations, h-index-1, to date, with ongoing research contributions in microbial and soil ecology.  In summary, Dr. Sadeghi’s expertise bridges microbiology, soil ecology and bioinformatics, making him a valuable contributor to environmental and ecosystem research.

Profiles :  Scopus | Orcid

Featured Publications

Sadeghi Pour Marvi, M. (2017). Isolation and identification of sulfur-oxidizing bacteria in agricultural soil and evaluating sulfur oxidation yield. Biological Journal of Microorganism, 21(1), 113–125. University of Isfahan, Iran. ISSN: 2322-5173.

Sadeghi Pour Marvi, M. (2017). Operational evaluation of sulfur-oxidizing bacteria yield isolated from copper mine soil and their molecular identification based on 16S rRNA sequence. Journal of Cellular and Molecular Research (Iranian Journal of Biology). University of Tehran.

Sadeghi Pour Marvi, M. (2016). The diversity of sulfur-oxidizing bacterial populations at an Iranian copper mine and the surrounding agricultural soils. Applied Ecology and Environmental Research, 14(3), 509–533.* ALÖKI Kft., Budapest, Hungary.

Sadeghi Pour Marvi, M. (2012). Effect of inoculation with VA mycorrhiza and Azotobacter on grain yield, LAI and protein of wheat under drought stress conditions. International Journal of Agriscience, 2(6), 466–476.* ISSN 2228-6322.

Sadeghi Pour Marvi, M. (2011). Thermoplastic biopolymer production (PHB, Poly 3-Hydroxybutyric acid) using secondary carbon source bioreactor based on nitrogen fixation biotechnology. Bioresearch Bulletin, 5, 284–298.

Nesru Zeynu | Agricultural Science and Innovation | Best Researcher Award

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Mr. Nesru Zeynu | Agricultural Science and Innovation | Best Researcher Award

Eiar | Ethiopia

Dr. Nesru Zeynu Seid is a researcher in the field of applied microbiology and food scienceand a growing profile of publications including Evaluation of the physicochemical properties, proximate composition, and microbial loads of “Bulla” paste  Storage Types with Pot-in-Pot Technique for Tomato Preservation Whey Based Bulla Porridge  and Fruit-based Flavored White Cheese  He holds an MSc in Applied Microbiology and a BSc in Applied Biology from Addis Ababa University, and has served since 2015 in the Ethiopia Institute of Agricultural Research at Holeta Agricultural Research Center in roles from junior researcher to associate researcher and laboratory custodian. His research interests focus on food safety, post-harvest preservation techniques, fermentation, microbial load reduction, and novel product development. He has undergone training in integrated aflatoxin management, ISO/IEC 17025 quality systems, scientific writing and experimental design, and statistical software (R, Minitab). He has been recognized for his contributions to food safety and trade via ITEC training support. In conclusion, Dr. Zeynu is an emerging scholar dedicated to enhancing food quality, safety, and sustainable post-harvest technologies in Ethiopia and beyond.

Profile : Orcid

Featured Publications

Zeynu, N., & Desalegn, A. (2025). Evaluation of the physicochemical properties, proximate composition, and microbial loads of ‘Bulla’ paste collected from different markets in Ethiopia. Cogent Food & Agriculture, 11(1), 2478468.

Zeynu, N., & Keba, A. (2025). Evaluation of storage types with pot-in-pot technique for preservation of tomato fruit in Holeta, Western Shewa Zone, Oromia, Ethiopia. American Journal of Bioscience and Bioengineering, 13(3), 35–42.

Zeynu, N., Abeshu, Y., & Kefale, B. (2024). Whey based Bulla porridge using different proportions of acidic whey and water. World Journal of Food Science and Technology, 8(4), 106–114.

Zeynu, N., Abeshu, Y., Asefa, Z., & Abrha, E. (2024). Development of fruit-based flavored white cheese. International Journal of Nutrition and Food Sciences, 13(5), 158–165.