Zhong Zhang | Environmental Sciences | Best Researcher Award

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Prof. Zhong Zhang | Environmental Sciences | Best Researcher Award

Vice President, Shandong Second Medical University, China

Prof. Zhong Zhang is the Vice President of Shandong Second Medical University, where he also serves as a senior academic leader in the fields of pathogen biology, parasitology, microbiology and environmental sciences. He holds a Ph.D. in Pathogen Biology, obtained from a leading Chinese university, with specialization in microbial ecology and host–pathogen interactions. His research primarily focuses on the ecological and molecular interactions between pathogenic microorganisms, insects, and environmental factors, particularly exploring how intestinal commensal bacteria and bacteriophages influence the gut microbiota and developmental biology of insects. Prof. Zhong Zhang’s recent work has introduced novel phage-based precision regulation strategies to modify the gut microbiome of housefly larvae, revealing key mechanisms that link microbial balance to host growth and health. He has also pioneered investigations into the effects of graphene on bacterium–phage interactions in aquatic ecosystems and used multi-omics biological approaches to uncover how antibiotics reshape microbial and transcriptomic landscapes during larval development. Throughout his career, Prof. Zhong Zhang has held influential academic and research roles, including Principal Expert for the Shandong Province “12th Five-Year Plan” Key Discipline in Pathogen Biology, where he led several national and provincial-level research projects advancing environmental microbiology and vector-borne disease control. His scholarly impact includes 64 peer-reviewed publications, 722 citations, and an h-index of 16 (Scopus), reflecting sustained contributions to his field. Recognized for his excellence, he received the First Prize of the Shandong Higher Education Institutions Outstanding Research Achievement Award and the title of “Shandong Provincial Young and Middle-aged Expert with Outstanding Contributions.” He actively contributes to the scientific community as Vice President of the Shandong Entomological Society, Vice Chair of the Urban Entomology Committee and Medical Parasitology Branch, and Chair of the Medical Entomology Committee under the Entomological Society of China. Prof. Zhong Zhang’s interdisciplinary research bridges microbiology, entomology, and environmental science, offering innovative insights into sustainable pest management, microbial ecology, and environmental health. His vision is to advance global bioscience innovation by integrating microbiome research and ecological restoration to support sustainable ecosystems and public health resilience.

Profile: Scopus | ORCID | Sci Profiles

Featured Publications

1. Kong, X., Wang, S., Li, J., Li, Y., Zhang, R., & Zhang, Z. (2025). Kasugamycin and validamycin differentially inhibit housefly larval growth through gut microbiota regulation. Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety, 279, 119098.

2. ang, L., Liu, X., Lin, S., Wang, L., Liang, J., & Zhang, Z. (2025). Parasitic plant Cistanche tubulosa shapes the bacterial community structure and functional composition of the salt-tolerant host Tamarix chinensis across different parasitic statuses. Environmental Microbiome, 20, 746.

3. Han, Y.-N., Dong, L., Sun, L.-L., Zhang, Z., & Han, H.-H. (2025). Excited-state-altering ratiometric fluorescent probes for the response of β-galactosidase in senescent cells. Molecules, 30(6), 1221.

4. Yin, Y., Wang, S., Li, Y., Kong, X., Zhang, R., & Zhang, Z. (2024). Antagonistic effect of the beneficial bacterium Enterobacter hormaechei against the heavy metal Cu²⁺ in housefly larvae. Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety, 270, 116077.

5. Zhang, K., Wang, S., Li, Y., Yao, D., Zhang, R., & Zhang, Z. (2024). Application of bacteria and bacteriophage cocktails for biological control of houseflies. Parasites & Vectors, 17, 82.

 

Himani Karki | Ecology | Best Researcher Award

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Dr. Himani Karki | Ecology | Best Researcher Award

Assistant Professor (Contractual), Kumaun University, Nainital, India

Dr. Himani Karki is an emerging researcher in the field of ecology with a strong academic and professional background centered on forest ecology, soil carbon dynamics, biodiversity conservation and agroforestry systems in the Kumaun Himalaya. She completed her Ph.D. in Botany (2016–2021) at the Department of Botany, DSB Campus, Kumaun University, Nainital, where her doctoral research focused on floral composition, regeneration status and carbon stock in cypress–oak mixed forests. Prior to this, she obtained her M.Sc. in Botany with a specialization in Forest Ecology (2012–2014) and her B.Sc. in Zoology, Botany and Chemistry (2010–2012) from the same institution. Professionally, she has served as a Project Fellow in an ICSSR-sponsored study on women’s roles in agroforestry systems, as a JRF and SRF in a UGC-funded project on homegarden agroforestry and as a Project Associate-I in a JICA-funded biodiversity assessment at the Wildlife Institute of India. Since 2022, she has been a Guest Faculty at Kumaun University, actively engaging in teaching and mentoring. Her research interests span sustainable land use, climate change mitigation through soil carbon sequestration, biodiversity assessment and ecosystem services. She is skilled in ecological field surveys, soil analysis, biodiversity assessment and has proficiency in scientific communication supported by her strong presentation record at national and international conferences, including the Indian Science Congress, UCOST and the International Conference on Sustainable Development. Her publication record includes 7 Scopus-indexed articles with 233 citations and an h-index of 7, reflecting her growing impact in the research community. She has also actively participated in workshops, training programs and outreach events on climate data analysis, intellectual property rights and bioinformatics, further strengthening her interdisciplinary expertise. Recognized for her sincerity, dedication and collaborative spirit, Dr. Himani Karki stands out as a promising ecologist whose work not only contributes to advancing scientific knowledge but also addresses pressing environmental challenges, making her highly deserving of recognition and future leadership roles in ecological research.

Profile: Scopus | ORCID | Google Scholar

Featured Publications

1. Manral, V., Bargali, K., Bargali, S. S., Karki, H., & Chaturvedi, R. K. (2023). Seasonal dynamics of soil microbial biomass C, N and P along an altitudinal gradient in central Himalaya, India. Sustainability, 15(2), 1651.

2. Karki, H., Bargali, K., & Bargali, S. S. (2021). Spatial and temporal trends in soil N-mineralization rates under the agroforestry systems in Bhabhar belt of Kumaun Himalaya, India. Agroforestry Systems, 95(8), 1603–1617.

3. Pandey, R., Bargali, S. S., Bargali, K., Karki, H., & Chaturvedi, R. K. (2024). Dynamics of nitrogen mineralization and fine root decomposition in sub-tropical Shorea robusta Gaertner f. forests of Central Himalaya, India. Science of the Total Environment, 921, 170896.

4. Awasthi, P., Karki, H., Bargali, K., & Bargali, S. S. (2016). Germination and seedling growth of pulse crop (Vigna spp.) as affected by soil salt stress. Current Agriculture Research Journal, 4(2), 159–170.

5. Karki, H., Bargali, K., & Bargali, S. S. (2022). Dynamics of fine roots and soil nitrogen in Mangifera indica-based agroforestry systems in the Central Himalayan region, India. Land Degradation & Development, 33(17), 3523–3538.