Sibusisiwe Nkomonde | Biotechnology | Best Researcher Award

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Ms. Sibusisiwe Nkomonde | Biotechnology | Best Researcher Award

Durban University of Technology | South Africa

Ms. Sibusisiwe Nkomonde is an emerging researcher specializing in microbiology and post-harvest biotechnology, with a focus on sustainable biocontrol strategies for agricultural and food systems. Her research integrates applied biological sciences and microbial ecology to explore the potential of natural yeasts and their metabolites as eco-friendly alternatives to synthetic fungicides. Through her innovative studies, she has identified several phyllospheric yeast strains with strong antagonistic effects against key post-harvest pathogens such as Botrytis cinerea and Fusarium fujikuroi, marking the first documented evidence of yeast antagonism against F. fujikuroi. Her findings contribute to the advancement of environmentally responsible post-harvest disease management and align with global goals for sustainable food production and waste reduction. Sibusisiwe collaborates internationally with institutions including the Durban University of Technology, Agricultural Research Council (ARC) Infruitec-Nietvoorbij, and Kaunas University of Technology in Lithuania, enhancing the interdisciplinary impact of her work. She is a member of the South African Society for Microbiology (SASM) and actively participates in research initiatives fostering innovation in microbial biocontrol. Her recent publication in Fermentation has attracted citations in Google Scholar and Scopus, reflecting growing academic recognition. Her citation metrics demonstrate an increasing research impact, with a developing h-index based on her growing number of referenced works and international collaborations. Sibusisiwe’s dedication to eco-innovation and biotechnological advancement positions her as a promising candidate for the Best Researcher Award, recognizing excellence in sustainable scientific discovery.

Publication Profile

Orcid

Featured Publications

Nkomonde, S. N., du Plessis, H. W., Bhagwat, P., Amobonye, A., Gomomo, Z., Mewa-Ngongang, M., Hoff, J. W., & Pillai, S. (2025). Biocontrol potential of selected phyllospheric yeasts against Botrytis cinerea and Fusarium fujikuroi. Fermentation, 11(10), 606.

Mohammad Hossein Moradi | Genetics | Best Researcher Award

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Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mohammad Hossein Moradi | Genetics | Best Researcher Award

University of Tehran and Arak | Iran

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mohammad Hossein Moradi, Associate Professor at the University of Tehran and Arak University, Iran, is a distinguished researcher in genetics and animal breeding with notable contributions to livestock genomics, genomic selection, and genetic diversity studies. He earned his B.Sc. in Animal Science from the University of Agriculture Science and Natural Resources, Gorgan, and completed his M.Sc. and Ph.D. in Genetics and Animal Breeding at the University of Kurdistan and the University of Tehran, respectively. Recognized for his academic excellence, he has received multiple honors including the Best Thesis Award, Top Researcher in Agriculture and Natural Resources in Kurdistan Province, and Best Professor and Best Manager Awards at Arak University. Dr. Moradi has published more than 80 peer-reviewed articles in high-impact journals such as Scientific Reports, PLoS One, Heredity, and Journal of Animal Breeding and Genetics, accumulating over 1,523 citations with a Google Scholar h-index of 21  and i10-index of 34 . According to Scopus, he has 779 citations across 59 documents with an h-index of 14. His research focuses on genome-wide association studies (GWAS), gene-set enrichment analysis, and the identification of selection signatures in Iranian and global livestock breeds. As a consultant, he has contributed to genetic improvement and breeding program optimization in sheep, cattle, and poultry industries. Additionally, he serves as a Board Member of the Iranian Society of Animal Science (ISAS) and as the International Secretary of the 2nd International Animal Sciences Congress of Iran. Through his innovative and multidisciplinary work, Dr. Moradi has advanced scientific understanding of animal genetics and breeding efficiency, reinforcing his reputation as one of Iran’s leading figures in agricultural genetics and genomic research. He is honored with the Best Researcher Award for his outstanding contributions to the field of genetics and animal breeding.

Publication Profile

Scopus | Orcid | Google Scholar

Featured Publications

Moradi, M. H., Nejati-Javaremi, A., Moradi-Shahrbabak, M., Dodds, K. G., et al. (2012). Genomic scan of selective sweeps in thin and fat tail sheep breeds for identifying candidate regions associated with fat deposition. BMC Genetics, 13(1), 10.

Ciani, E., Mastrangelo, S., Da Silva, A., Marroni, F., Ferenčaković, M., et al. (2020). On the origin of European sheep as revealed by the diversity of the Balkan breeds and by optimizing population-genetic analysis tools. Genetics Selection Evolution, 52(1), 25.

Mehrban, H., Lee, D. H., Moradi, M. H., IlCho, C., Naserkheil, M., et al. (2017). Predictive performance of genomic selection methods for carcass traits in Hanwoo beef cattle: impacts of the genetic architecture. Genetics Selection Evolution, 49(1), 77.

Mehrban, H., Lee, D. H., Naserkheil, M., Moradi, M. H., Ibáñez-Escriche, N., et al. (2019). Comparison of conventional BLUP and single-step genomic BLUP evaluations for yearling weight and carcass traits in Hanwoo beef cattle using single trait and multi-trait models. PLoS ONE, 14(10), e0223352.

Nilchi, A., Saberi, R., Moradi, M., Azizpour, H., Zarghami, R. (2012). Evaluation of AMP–PAN composite for adsorption of Cs⁺ ions from aqueous solution using batch and fixed bed operations. Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry, 292(2), 609–617.