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)

Muneeb Ullah | Chemical Engineering | Excellence in Research Award

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Mr. Muneeb Ullah | Chemical Engineering | Excellence in Research Award

Pusan National University | South Korea

Dr. Muneeb Ullah is a dedicated pharmaceutical researcher and doctoral scholar at Pusan National University, South Korea, specializing in pharmaceutics, pharmaceutical nanotechnology, and advanced drug-delivery systems. With an impressive scientific impact reflected by an h-index of 12, and 512 citations across 38 peer-reviewed publications, books, and chapters, he has significantly contributed to nanomedicine, wound-healing therapeutics, cardiovascular nanotechnology, colorectal cancer therapy, and biofilm-targeting drug-delivery platforms. His academic journey includes a BS-Pharmacy and an MPhil in Pharmaceutical Sciences with specialization in nanotechnology, where he developed polymeric nanoparticles using solvent-evaporation methods. Professionally, he has served as a Research Assistant at Pusan National University and at the National University of Medical Sciences (NUMS), as well as a visiting faculty member in Pakistan. His research focuses on nanoparticle engineering, diabetic wound healing, anti-biofilm strategies, 3D/4D bioprinting, cardiovascular nanotechnology, microbial inflammation, and precision oncology. He has also co-authored high-impact works in journals such as Chemical Engineering Journal, European Polymer Journal, Pharmaceutics, and Current Problems in Cardiology. His achievements include the HEC Indigenous Scholarship, Best Teacher Award, Best Talent Award, and Best Researcher Awards. Dr. Ullah continues to advance nanotechnology-enabled therapeutics to shape next-generation biomedical solutions.

Profile : Scopus

Featured Publications

Ullah, M., Aftab, M., Safdar, M., Naeem, M., & Wahab, A. (2025). Genetic engineering of fungi. In Fungal biotechnology (pp. 36–44). CRC Press.

Osman, A., Song, Y. H., Ullah, M., Kim, Y., Lee, H., Yoo, J. W., Hwang, D. S., & Seo, J. H. (2025). Sugar nanocluster adhesive boosts wound healing in diabetic mice. Carbohydrate Polymer Technologies & Applications, 11, 100933.

Aftab, M., Ikram, S., Ullah, M., Khan, S. U., Wahab, A., & Naeem, M. (2025). Advancement of 3D bioprinting towards 4D bioprinting for sustained drug delivery and tissue engineering from biopolymers. Journal of Manufacturing & Materials Processing, 9(8), 285.

Aftab, M., Ali, H., Ullah, M., Ikram, S., Khan, S. U., Wahab, A., & Naeem, M. (2025). Biomedical applications of carbon dots: Advances in antimicrobial therapy and targeted delivery systems. Biomedical Materials & Devices, 1–22.

Ahmed, Z., Ullah, M., Zeshan, D., Khan, S. U., & Ali, F. (2025). Exploring the tumor microenvironment in solid cancer: From biology to therapy. In Academic Press.