Daria Avdanina | Genetic Engineering | Women Researcher Award

Published on by Popular Engineer

Dr. Daria Avdanina | Genetic Engineering | Women Researcher Award

“Fundamentals of Biotechnology” of the Russian Academy of Sciences | Russia

Dr. Daria Avdanina is a researcher at the Federal Research Centre “Fundamentals of Biotechnology” of the Russian Academy of Sciences, specializing in the biological deterioration and protection of cultural heritage. Her scientific expertise lies at the intersection of cell biology, mycology, microbiology, and conservation science, with a strong focus on identifying complex consortia of prokaryotic and eukaryotic microorganisms responsible for the degradation of artworks. Her work integrates molecular diagnostics, DNA extraction, whole-genome sequencing, and post-sequencing analysis to understand microbial colonization of historical objects, particularly ancient tempera paintings and monumental art.  She has successfully completed and led competitively funded research projects supported by the Russian Science Foundation and the Russian Foundation for Basic Research. Through interdisciplinary collaborations with major museums and leading research institutes, she applies advanced analytical techniques such as ATR-FTIR, SEM, XRF, Raman spectroscopy, and EDX. Her contributions culminate in practical restoration guidelines and the development of non-toxic, environmentally safe biocides, advancing sustainable conservation practices and reinforcing the scientific foundations of heritage preservation.


View Orcid Profile

Featured Publications

Fungi-Destructors of Painting Materials Isolated in the State Tretyakov Gallery as Novel Promising Producers of Antimicrobial Compounds
A. A. Ermolyuk, D. A. Avdanina, F. S. Koblov, et al., Applied Biochemistry and Microbiology, 2025.

Search for New Materials Based on Chitosan for the Protection of Cultural Heritage
Anna Ermolyuk, Daria Avdanina, Adelya Khayrova, et al., Heritage Science, 2024.
3′-Amino Modifications Enhance the Antifungal Properties of N4-Alkyl-5-Methylcytidines for Potential Biocides
Liudmila A. Alexandrova, Oleg V. Shevchenko, Maxim V. Jasko, et al., New Journal of Chemistry, 2022.

Alexander Zhgun | Engineering and Technology | Research Excellence Award

Published on by Popular Engineer

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.

Citation Metrics (Google Scholar)

2000
1200
600
200
0

Citations
824

Document
100
h-index
19

Citations

Documents

h-index


View Google Scholar Profile

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

Published on by Popular Engineer

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)

1500
1200
600
200
0

Citations
1338

Documents
100
h-index
20

Citations

Documents

h-index


View Google Scholar Profile

Featured Publications

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

Published on by Popular Engineer

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.