Lekshmi K. Edison | Molecular Biology | Best Researcher Award

Dr.Lekshmi K. Edison | Molecular Biology| Best Researcher Award

 

University of Florida, United States

Profile

Education

She earned her Ph.D. in Biotechnology from the University of Kerala, India, in 2019. Prior to that, she completed a Master’s in Biotechnology from Mahatma Gandhi University in 2006 and an undergraduate degree in Zoology from the same university in 2004. Additionally, she holds a Master’s Diploma in Bioinformatics from Bharathiyar University (2015) and a Diploma in Computer Application from C-Dit, India (2014).

Work experience

She is currently a Postdoctoral Associate at the College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States, a position she has held since 2022. Prior to this, she worked as a Postdoctoral Associate at the College of Medicine, University of Florida, from 2021 to 2022. From 2019 to 2021, she served as a Postdoctoral Research Associate at the Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India. Earlier in her career, she was a Research Fellow at KSCSTE-JNTBGRI, Palode, Kerala, from 2015 to 2019, and a Project Fellow at the Department of Plant Physiology, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, Kerala, from 2011 to 2013.

Awards

She has received several prestigious honors and awards throughout her career. In 2024, she was awarded the UF Postdoctoral Affairs Spring 2024 Travel Award by the University of Florida and the American Society of Microbiology (ASM) Future Leaders Mentorship Fellowship (FLMF). In 2023, she received the American Society of Virology Postdoctoral Scholar Travel Award. Earlier, she was honored with the Department of Biotechnology-Research Associateship Program Fellowship from the Government of India in 2019. Additionally, she received the Women Scientist’s Back to Lab Research Fellowship from the State Government of Kerala, India, in 2015, and qualified for the National Eligibility Test for Lectureship conducted by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research, Government of India, in 2014.

 OTHER PROFESSIONAL CREDENTIALS (LICENSURE, CERTIFICATION, ETC)

She has obtained multiple professional certifications and training credentials. In 2024, she completed the HiPerGator Account Training at the University of Florida, along with certifications in NIH Recombinant DNA (rDNA) and Nanoparticle Biosafety/Biosecurity through CITI. She also received training from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) in areas such as working safely with rabbits and ferrets in biocontainment and working with laboratory rats. In 2023, she completed the Life Sciences Responsible Conduct of Research Course, training on COVID-19 vaccine research, and multiple AALAS certifications, including working with the IACUC and poultry in laboratories. Earlier, in 2021, she acquired certifications in laboratory animal science, pain management in research animals, and post-procedure care for mice and rats.

Book Edited

  •  Pradeep NS, Edison LK (Editors). 2022. Microbial Beta Glucanases – Molecular
    Structure, Functions and Applications. In Book Series: Interdisciplinary
    Biotechnological Advances. Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd., Pages 206. DOI
    https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-19-6466-4, ISBNs 978-981-196465-7 (Hard cover),
    978-981-196466-4 (eBook).

Book chapters

  • Edison LK, Pradeep NS. Isolation of beta-glucanase encoding genes from actinobacterial
    genus Streptomyces spp. and its overexpression in Escherichia coli heterologous system. In:
    Karthik L, ed. Protocols of Actinomycetes: Microbiology to Gene Editing. 1st ed. Boca Raton,
    FL: CRC Press; 2024:Chapter 11. doi:10.1201/9781003398400-11
  • Nair S, Sahay B, Arukha AP, Edison LK, Crews CD, Morris JG Jr, Kariyawasam S,
    Yamamoto JK. Interferon-γ/IL-2 ELISpot and mRNA Responses to the SARS-CoV2, Feline
    Coronavirus Serotypes 1 (FCoV1), and FCoV2 Receptor Binding Domains by the T Cells
    from COVID-19-Vaccinated Humans and FCoV1-Infected Cats. Methods Mol Biol.
    2024;2768:135-151. doi: 10.1007/978-1-0716-3690-9_9.
  • Ragitha VM, Edison LK. Safety issues, environmental impacts, and health effects of
    Biopolymers. In: Thomas S, Ar A, Jose Chirayil C, Thomas B, eds. Handbook of Biopolymers.
    Springer; 2022. doi:10.1007/978-981-16-6603-2_54-1.

Publication

Ibrahim Abbas | Biology | Best Researcher Award

Prof. Ibrahim Abbas | Biology | Best Researcher Award 

 

Mansoura University,Egypt

Profile

Education

He is an experienced researcher in Biology, Parasitology, Microbiology, and Molecular Biotechnology, with a strong academic background and extensive research training. He holds a Bachelor of Veterinary Sciences (1999-2004), a Master of Veterinary Medical Sciences (2005-2008), and a Doctor of Veterinary Medical Sciences (Parasitology) (2008-2011) from Mansoura University, Egypt, where his research focused on parasitic infections in farm animals, particularly tissue parasites and Sarcocystis species in buffaloes in Dakahlia Province. To further enhance his expertise, he has undertaken multiple international research experiences, including a one-month externship at TIHO Hannover – Institute of Parasitology, Germany, in 2015, where he worked on PCR-sequencing protocols to genotype hydatid cysts and Taenia hydatigena cysticerci.

He later pursued a six-month postdoctoral scholarship at South Dakota State University (SDSU), USA, focusing on autofluorescence and lectin-binding protocols for identifying gastrointestinal trichostrongylid nematodes in small ruminants under the guidance of Prof. Michael B. Hildreth. His research experience also includes a nine-month postdoctoral scholarship (2018-2019) at the USDA – Animal Parasitic Diseases Laboratory, USA, where he worked on the genetic characterization of Toxoplasma gondii isolates from different regions worldwide, utilizing mice bioassays, cell culture, PCR-RFLP, and whole genome sequencing under the mentorship of Dr. Jitender Dubey. Additionally, he has actively participated in professional training, completing 22 workshops through the Faculties and Leadership Development Program at Mansoura University, along with specialized training in Transmission Electron Microscopy (2010, Alexandria University), Molecular Genetics Approaches (2014, Cairo University), and Micro-imaging for scientific purposes (2016, SDSU, USA). With a diverse research background, advanced technical skills, and extensive international exposure, he seeks opportunities to contribute his expertise in parasitology, microbiology, and molecular biotechnology.

 

WORK EXPERIENCE

 He has had a distinguished academic career in Parasitology, progressing through various academic and research positions. He began as a Demonstrator of Parasitology at Mansoura University, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Egypt (2004-2008), before being promoted to Assistant Lecturer (2008-2012) and later to Lecturer (2012-2017). His expertise and contributions to the field led to his appointment as an Associate Professor of Parasitology (2017-2022) at the same institution. Since 2022, he has been serving as a Professor of Parasitology at Mansoura University. In addition to his academic roles, he has undertaken multiple international research assignments as a Visiting Scientist, including at TIHO Hannover – Institute of Parasitology, Germany (2015), South Dakota State University (SDSU), USA (2016), and the USDA – Animal Parasitic Diseases Laboratory, USA (2018-2019). These experiences have significantly enriched his research expertise, particularly in molecular parasitology, diagnostics, and genetic characterization of parasites.

 

Meeting and Workshops

He has actively participated in numerous international scientific conferences and workshops, presenting his research findings in Parasitology. He delivered an oral presentation on the “Genetic diversity and population structure analysis of various Taenia multiceps isolates from definitive and intermediate hosts worldwide” at the British Society of Parasitology (BSP) online meeting held from March 21-25, 2022. He also attended the BSP online meeting in June 2021 and participated in a workshop titled “Virtual Veterinary Vaccines,” organized by Liverpool John Moores University, UK, in collaboration with Chiang Mai University, Thailand, on May 6-7, 2021. In March 2021, he presented a poster on the “Effect of four different preservatives on natural autofluorescence and lectin binding characteristics of trichostrongyle eggs” at the 29th annual online meeting of the German Society for Parasitology. Additionally, he presented a study on the “First report of gastrointestinal parasites of feral cats from Gharbia Governorate, Egypt” at the International Congress on Biological and Health Sciences, Turkey, in February 2021.

He also contributed to the 61st annual conference of the American Association of Veterinary Parasitologists, held in San Antonio, Texas, USA, from August 6-9, 2016, where he presented a poster on the “Simultaneous identification of Haemonchus, Teladorsagia, and Trichostrongylus eggs in goat and sheep fecal samples with three specific lectins.” Furthermore, he attended the 96th annual meeting of the South Dakota Academy of Science in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, USA, on April 8-9, 2016. He has also participated in the 9th International Scientific Conference at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Mansoura University, showcasing his commitment to advancing research in parasitology on both national and international platforms.

Publications

Kamal Ahmad Qureshi | Microbiology | Best Researcher Award

Dr. Kamal Ahmad Qureshi | Microbiology | Best Researcher Award

He is a member of prestigious professional organizations, including the American Society for Microbiology (Postdoctoral Membership: 200165352), the American Association for the Advancement of Science (Gold Member: 60484715), and the Saudi Commission for Health Specialists as a Microbiology Specialist (SCFHS: 14-R-A-0030780). His key skills encompass collaboration and teamwork, critical thinking and problem-solving, effective communication of research findings, project management, and continuous learning in microbiology, biotechnology, and drug discovery.

Qassim University, College of Pharmacy, Saudi Arabia

Profile

Education

He holds a PhD in Microbial Biotechnology from Invertis University, Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, India (2018–2021). Prior to that, he completed an MPhil in Environmental Science with a microbiology-based research project from Savitribai Phule Pune University, Pune, Maharashtra, India (2014–2017). He also earned an MSc in Microbiology (2004–2007) and a BSc in Microbiology (2001–2004) from the same university.

CURRENT EMPLOYMENT

He is currently a full-time Lecturer cum Researcher at the College of Pharmacy, Qassim University, Saudi Arabia, a position he has held since February 2012. As an established researcher, he actively contributes to academic and scientific advancements in his field.

RESEARCH OUTPUT
• Peer-Reviewed Articles – Published
• Peer-Reviewed Articles – Under Revision/Review
• Total Number of Book Chapter – Published
49
03
01
• Total Number of Patent Filed 01
RESEARCH SUPERVISION AND LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCE
• Supervising graduation research projects for PharmD students: 02-03 students/year: Principal
Supervisor
TEACHING MERITS
• Teaching Microbiology, Biotechnology, Immunology, and Molecular Biology to PharmD students.
• Enhancing teaching presentations and facilitating student learning through various learning modalities
and support materials.
• Fostering interdisciplinary collaboration with faculty members from other departments and evaluating
and revising course content to promote student-centered learning.
AWARDS AND HONOURS
• Best Researcher Award-1st Position (2022-2023): Unaizah College of Pharmacy, Qassim University, Saudi
Arabia.
OTHER KEY ACADEMIC MERITS
• Academic Editor: PlosOne and Frontiers.
• Reviewer: Scientific Reports; Foods, Antibiotics, Molecules, Microorganisms, Plants, Biomass, Marine
Drug; Annals of Microbiology; Natural Product Communications; Cogent Medicine, Frontiers in
Microbiology, and Frontiers in Plant Sciences.
SCIENTIFIC AND SOCIETAL IMPACT
• As the leader of a WhatsApp research group comprising around 300 members across various academic
levels in life sciences, I have actively promoted open science and research by facilitating the responsible
distribution of research material and datasets among members. In addition to utilizing our own research
output, we encourage the responsible use of others’ work within our group discussions.
REFEREES
• Dr. Dinesh K. Prajapati, Assistant Professor, Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Biosciences,
Invertis University, Bareilly, 243123, India, Email: dineshprajapati109@gmail.com, Phone: +91-
9454369931: PhD Supervisor.
• Dr. Pankaj K. Rai, Assistant Professor, Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Biosciences, Invertis
University, Bareilly, 243123, India, Email: pankajraibhu@gmail.com, Phone: +91-7217011307: PhD
Supervisor.
• Prof. Mariusz Jaremko, Professor, Biological and Environmental Sciences and Engineering Division
(BESE), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, 23955-6900, Saudi
Arabia, Email: mariusz.jaremko@kaust.edu.sa, Phone: +48-696922325: Research Collaborator.

Publications

  • Comparative study of volatile oil constituents, anti-microbial properties, and antibiofilm activities in <i>Eucalyptus camaldulensis</i> and <i>Eucalyptus globulus</i> : insights from central Saudi Arabia

    Journal of Essential Oil Bearing Plants
    2024-03-12 | Journal article
    Part of ISSN: 0972-060X
    Part of ISSN: 0976-5026
  • Exploring nature’s hidden treasure: Unraveling the untapped phytochemical and pharmacological potentials of Clinopodium vulgare L. – A hidden gem in the Lamiaceae family

    Heliyon
    2024-01 | Journal article
    CONTRIBUTORS: Kamal Ahmad Qureshi; Adil Parvez; Mohd Masih Uzzaman Khan; Ashok Aspatwar; Akhtar Atiya; Gamal Osman Elhassan; Riyaz Ahmed Khan; Shakkeela Yusuf Erattil Ahammed; Wasi Uzzaman Khan; Mariusz Jaremko
  • Brucellosis: epidemiology, pathogenesis, diagnosis and treatment–a comprehensive review

    Annals of Medicine
    2023-12-12 | Journal article
    CONTRIBUTORS: Kamal A. Qureshi; Adil Parvez; Nada A. Fahmy; Bassant H. Abdel Hady; Shweta Kumar; Anusmita Ganguly; Akhtar Atiya; Gamal O. Elhassan; Saeed O. Alfadly; Seppo Parkkila et al.
  • Microalgae: A promising source for biofuel production

    Biocatalysis and Agricultural Biotechnology
    2023-10 | Journal article
    CONTRIBUTORS: Sakshi Tomar; Shruti Agarwal; Harshita Singh; Reetesh Kumar; Kamal A. Qureshi; Mariusz Jaremko; Abdul-Hamid Emwas; Pankaj Kumar Rai
  • Navigating bioactivity space in anti-tubercular drug discovery through the deployment of advanced machine learning models and cheminformatics tools: a molecular modeling based retrospective study

    Frontiers in Pharmacology
    2023-08-29 | Journal article
    Part of ISSN: 1663-9812
    CONTRIBUTORS: Ratul Bhowmik; Ajay Manaithiya; Bharti Vyas; Ranajit Nath; Kamal A. Qureshi; Seppo Parkkila; Ashok Aspatwar