Mr. Ikram Ullah | Biological Sciences | Research Excellence Award

Mr. Ikram Ullah | Biological Sciences | Research Excellence Award

Northwest A&F University | China

Mr. Ikram Ullah is an emerging life science researcher specializing in plant genomics, molecular biology, and stress physiology, with a particular focus on horticultural crops. His research centers on genome-wide identification, characterization, and functional analysis of key gene and transcription factor families that regulate plant growth, defense pathways, and stress responses. He has contributed significantly to understanding bHLH, CRK, YABBY, callose enzyme, and Tubby-Like Protein gene families, providing new insights into their structural diversity, expression dynamics, and regulatory roles under biotic and abiotic stresses. His work extends to plant–pathogen interactions, root microbiota, cold stress management, heat stress mitigation, and hormonal modulation in economically important crops such as rose, cucumber, wheat, pepper, Brassica species, and tuberose. He is skilled in advanced molecular techniques, gene expression profiling, microbial metagenomics, and bioinformatics tools that support integrative genomic analyses. His research contributions are reflected in his citation metrics, with notable visibility across global indexing platforms. According to Scopus, his work has received around 1,900 citations from approximately 1,606 documents with an h-index of 23. His broader academic footprint on Google Scholar further highlights his growing impact within plant sciences and biotechnology. Mr. Ullah’s research continues to advance molecular breeding, stress-resilience strategies, and genomic understanding essential for sustainable horticulture and crop improvement.

Publication Profile

Scopus | ORCID

Featured Publications

Ullah, I., Yuan, W., Uzair, M., Li, S., Rehman, O., Nanda, S., & Wu, H. (2022). Genome-wide identification and expression analysis of the RcYABBYs reveals their potential functions in rose under Botrytis cinerea infection. Horticulturae, 8, 989.

Ullah, I., Ponsalven, A., Abbas, A., Hussain, S., & Nanda, S. (2022). Molecular characterization of bHLH transcription factor family in rose under Botrytis cinerea infection.

Ullah, I., et al. (2025). Molecular mechanisms and genomic strategies for enhancing stress resilience in pepper crop. Scientia Horticulturae, 352, 114403.

Tang, Y., Wu, J., Zhao, M., Guo, Y., Ullah, I., & Wu, H. (2020). Complete genome sequence of begonia flower breaking virus, a novel member of the genus Potyvirus. Archives of Virology, 165, 1915–1918.

Nanda, S., Rout, P., Ullah, I., Swapna, R., Velagala, V. R., Ritesh, K., & Wu, H. (2023). Genome-wide identification and molecular characterization of CRK gene family in cucumber under cold stress and sclerotium rolfsii infection. BMC Genomics, 24, 219.

Dr. Rania Mohamed | Biological Sciences | Best Researcher Award

Dr. Rania Mohamed | Biological Sciences | Best Researcher Award

PhD student, Southwest University, China

Dr. Rania Mohamed Awad is a dedicated researcher and lecturer in the field of food science, currently pursuing her Ph.D. at Southwest University, Chongqing, China. She also serves as a lecturer at Khartoum University, Sudan. With a strong background in biochemistry and food science, she has made significant contributions to research on antioxidant capacity, phytochemistry, and food processing. Her work explores innovative techniques to enhance food quality, safety, and nutritional value. Passionate about scientific discovery, she has published multiple research papers in high-impact journals, attended prestigious academic conferences, and actively collaborates on groundbreaking research projects.

Publication Profile

Scopus

🎓 Education:

Dr. Rania earned her Bachelor’s degree in Agriculture with a specialization in Biochemistry and Food Science from Khartoum University in 2006. She further pursued a Master’s degree in Food Science and Technology in 2010, where her dissertation on the antioxidant properties of date palm fruits received top honors. Currently, she is completing her Ph.D. at Southwest University, China, focusing on innovative food processing techniques, with a strong emphasis on the impact of extraction temperature on protein properties in tea science.

💼 Experience:

With years of teaching and research experience, Dr. Rania has played a pivotal role in academia. As a lecturer at Khartoum University, she has mentored students in various subjects, including biochemistry, organic chemistry, analytical chemistry, and enzyme studies. Her research interests span food biotechnology, chemical safety, flavor enhancement, and extending food shelf life. She has successfully completed five research projects and is currently working on another. She is also actively involved in international collaborations, including participation in the 2024 China-ASEAN Xishan Forum academic conference.

🏆 Awards and Honors:

Dr. Rania has been recognized for her exceptional contributions to food science and research. Her Master’s dissertation was the highest-scoring in the 2013 academic year. She has published innovative research, including a novel study on the effects of extraction temperature on protein from date palm pollen, which has gained attention in the scientific community. Additionally, she is a member of prestigious societies related to food science and human protection.

🔍 Research Focus:

Her research expertise encompasses food science, phytochemistry, chemical biology, agricultural plant science, structural biology, polymer chemistry, and tea science. She explores new methods to improve food quality, develop functional foods, and enhance food safety through biotechnology. Her ongoing projects focus on novel extraction techniques and bioactive compound analysis to optimize food processing methods.

📜 Conclusion:

Dr. Rania Mohamed Awad is a passionate scientist dedicated to advancing food science through research, innovation, and education. Her work bridges the gap between traditional food processing techniques and modern scientific advancements. With a strong academic foundation, international collaborations, and impactful research contributions, she continues to make a difference in the field of food science and technology.

📚 Publications:

Effects of Extraction Temperature of Protein from Date Palm Pollen on the Astringency Taste of Tea (2024) – Food DOI: 10.3390/foods14030508

Effect of Processing Methods on Alkaloids, Phytate, Phenolics, Antioxidants Activity and Minerals of Newly Developed Lupin (Lupinus albus L.) CultivarJournal of Food Processing and Preservation DOI: 10.1111/jfpp.12960

Changes in Chemical Composition and Total Energy as Affected by Fermentation and/or Cooking of Pearl Millet Flour Supplemented with Moringa or Fenugreek Seeds FlourInternational Food Research Journal (2017)

Changes in Protein Nutritional Quality as Affected by Processing of Millet Supplemented with Moringa Seed Flour (2018) – Journal of the Saudi Society of Agricultural Sciences DOI: 10.1016/j.jssas.2016.05.006

Chemical Composition, Antioxidant Capacity, and Mineral Extractability of Sudanese Date Palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) FruitsFood Science & Nutrition DOI: 10.1002/fsn3.123