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.

 

Dhekra Ben Amara | Environmental Science | Best Researcher Award

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Dr. Dhekra Ben Amara | Environmental Science | Best Researcher Award

Associate professor, Qingdao Hengxing University of Science and Technology, China

Dr. Dhekra Ben Amara is an agricultural economist and sustainability researcher specializing in environmental science, eco-innovation, climate change and circular economy, with a strong focus on sustainable development and green growth. She earned her Engineering degree in Agricultural and Agri-Food Economics and Management from the National Agronomic Institute of Tunisia in 2010, followed by an M.Sc. in Economy of Agriculture, Agri-Food and Environment in 2013 and completed her Ph.D. in Agricultural Economics and Management at Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, China, in 2021. Her professional experience includes serving as Administrative Officer in the Internship and International Cooperation Department at ESPRIT: Private High School of Engineering and Technologies in Tunisia (2021–2022), where she promoted student engagement and international partnerships, followed by her postdoctoral fellowship at Henan University, China (2022–2025), where she focused on eco-innovation, carbon emissions, foreign investment and Africa-China cooperation in green growth and food security. In 2025, she was appointed Associate Professor at the School of Industry and City, Qingdao Hengxing University of Science and Technology, China. Her research interests center on sustainability, eco-innovation, climate change, circular economy, food security and resource and environmental management and she has actively contributed to international projects such as the China–Tunisia biomass valorization initiative promoting bio-circular green economies. Skilled in research tools such as IBM SPSS, SPSS AMOS, SmartPLS3, STATA, GeoDA and ArcMap, she demonstrates strong technical and analytical expertise. She has authored 12 Scopus-indexed publications with 245 citations and an h-index of 8, with articles published in leading journals including Journal of Cleaner Production and Environmental Science and Pollution Research. Her achievements have been recognized with the NEFU Outstanding Graduate Award (2021), a Second Prize at the NEFU International Students’ Academic Forum and an Excellence Award in the “My Story in NEFU” contest. With her international academic background, growing research impact and leadership in eco-innovation, Dr. Dhekra Ben Amara is well-positioned to advance environmental sustainability research and contribute to global solutions addressing climate change and sustainable development.

Profile: Scopus | ORCID | Google Scholar | ResearchGate | Sci Profiles | Web of Science | ACM Digital Library | LinkedIn  

Featured Publications

1. Ben Amara, D., & Chen, H. (2020). A mediation-moderation model of environmental and eco-innovation orientation for sustainable business growth. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 27(14), 16916–16928.

2. Ben Amara, D., & Chen, H. (2022). Driving factors for eco-innovation orientation: Meeting sustainable growth in Tunisian agribusiness. International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal, 18(2), 713–732.

3. Ben Amara, D., & Qiao, J. (2023). From economic growth to inclusive green growth: How do carbon emissions, eco-innovation and international collaboration develop economic growth and tackle climate change? Journal of Cleaner Production, 425, 138986.

4. Ben Amara, D., & Chen, H. (2020). Investigating the effect of multidimensional network capability and eco-innovation orientation for sustainable performance. Clean Technologies and Environmental Policy, 22(6), 1297–1309.

5. Ben Amara, D., & Chen, H. (2021). The impact of participative decision-making on eco-innovation capability: The mediating role of motivational eco-innovation factors. Environment, Development and Sustainability, 23(5), 6966–6986.