Abdelaziz El Houari | Life and Environmental Sciences | Best Researcher Award

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Dr. Abdelaziz El Houari | Life and Environmental Sciences | Best Researcher Award

Senior Research Scientist| Danone Research and Innovation France

Dr. Abdelaziz El Houari is a Senior Scientist specializing in Microbiology and Molecular Biology, with a focus on anaerobic microbiology, microbial ecology, bioinformatics, and molecular biology. He has a wealth of experience in managing research projects, developing innovative approaches in microbiome science, and collaborating with interdisciplinary teams. His expertise spans various microbiological techniques, molecular analysis, and bioinformatics tools. Based in France, he currently leads projects at Danone Research & Innovation in Paris-Saclay, contributing to the identification and characterization of probiotic strains and enhancing scientific communications.

Profile

Orcid

🎓 Education 

Dr. El Houari holds a PhD in Life and Environmental Sciences from the University of Pau and Pays de l’Adour, France (2015–2018). He also earned a Master’s degree in Biotechnologies and Sustainable Development from Cady Ayyad University in Morocco (2012–2014), and a License/Dissertation in Cellular and Molecular Biology from Ibn Zohr University, Morocco (2011–2012). His academic journey has equipped him with robust knowledge in microbiology and biotechnology, especially in anaerobic microbiota and molecular biology.

💼 Experience 

Dr. El Houari’s professional journey includes his current role as a Senior Scientist at Danone Research & Innovation (since 2023), focusing on probiotic strain characterization and omics data analysis. Prior to that, he worked as a Senior Research Scientist at 4D Pharma PLC (2022–2023), contributing to the development of Live Biotherapeutic products. He also served as a Research Officer at Bangor University (2020–2022), studying landfill biomass-degrading microbiomes. Additionally, Dr. El Houari has worked as a Postdoctoral Researcher at the University of Poitiers (2019).

🏅 Awards and Honors 

Dr. El Houari has received several recognitions, including a prestigious Early Career Research Award from the Science and Engineering Research Board (2017) and a Research Excellence Award (2015). His contributions to research were further acknowledged through funding for workshops and conference travel grants, such as the DST Travel Grant (2012). He has also been involved in the development of intellectual property and has won several best paper presentation awards.

🔬 Research Focus 

Dr. El Houari’s research interests revolve around anaerobic microbiology, molecular biology, and bioinformatics. He specializes in microbial community characterization, probiotic strain discovery, and the functional exploration of complex microbiomes. His work on microbial degradation processes, especially in relation to landfill biomass and wastewater treatment, has contributed to advancements in environmental and industrial microbiology. His studies on the human gut microbiota and its interactions with various molecules are paving the way for biotechnological applications in pharmaceuticals and agri-food industries.

📝 Conclusion

Dr. Abdelaziz El Houari stands out as a highly skilled and innovative researcher with profound contributions to microbiology, bioinformatics, and microbial ecology. His leadership in complex research projects, along with his dedication to scientific advancement and education, makes him an exemplary candidate for the Best Researcher Award. By broadening his outreach and exploring additional funding and interdisciplinary collaborations, Dr. El Houari could further amplify his impact on global microbiome research

Publication

  1. Title: Lutispora saccharofermentans sp. nov., a mesophilic, non-spore-forming bacterium isolated from a lab-scale methanogenic landfill bioreactor digesting anaerobic sludge, and emendation of the genus Lutispora to include species which are non-spore-forming and mesophilic
    Year: 2023
    Journal: International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology
    DOI: 10.1099/ijsem.0.005683
    Contributors: Abdelaziz El Houari, Morgan Carpenter, Daniel Chaplin, Peter Golyshin, James E. McDonald

 

  1. Title: Development of an in vitro Model of Human Gut Microbiota for Screening the Reciprocal Interactions With Antibiotics, Drugs, and Xenobiotics
    Year: 2022
    Journal: Frontiers in Microbiology
    DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.828359
    Contributors: Abdelaziz El Houari

 

  1. Title: In vitro sensitivity of 30 anaerobic bacterial strains of the human intestinal core microbiota to antibiotics: Culture and LC-MS/MS approaches
    Year: 2021
    Journal: Anaerobe
    DOI: 10.1016/j.anaerobe.2020.102314
    Contributors: Abdelaziz El Houari

 

  1. Title: Microbial Communities and Sulfate-Reducing Microorganisms Abundance and Diversity in Municipal Anaerobic Sewage Sludge Digesters from a Wastewater Treatment Plant (Marrakech, Morocco)
    Year: 2020
    Journal: Processes
    DOI: 10.3390/pr8101284
    Contributors: Abdelaziz El Houari

 

  1. Title: Desulfobulbus oligotrophicus sp. nov., a sulfate-reducing and propionate-oxidizing bacterium isolated from a municipal anaerobic sewage sludge digester
    Year: 2017
    Journal: International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology
    DOI: 10.1099/ijsem.0.001615
    Contributors: Abdelaziz El Houari

 

Sherine Farouk | Environmental Science | Women Researcher Award

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Prof Sherine Farouk | Environmental Science | Women Researcher Award

Prof SherineFarouk, Abu Dhabi University, United Arab Emirates

Prof. Sherine Farouk is a distinguished Full Professor of Accounting at Abu Dhabi University, United Arab Emirates. With over 20 years of experience in academia and leadership, she has held key positions, including Associate Provost for Internationalization and Assistant Provost for Academic Projects. Her expertise spans managerial accounting, corporate governance, sustainability, and financial decision-making.

Prof. Farouk holds a Ph.D. in Accounting from London Metropolitan University, UK, and has published extensively in Scopus and ISI-indexed journals. She has received numerous accolades, including the Best Paper Award and the Emerald Literati Award for her contributions to research. As a global academic leader, she actively fosters international collaborations, student success initiatives, and research excellence.

Publication Profile

Google Scholar

Education

Prof. Cherine A. A. El Kaftangui holds a Ph.D. in Accounting with a specialization in Managerial Accounting from London Metropolitan University, Business School, United Kingdom (2002-2006). Her doctoral research focused on evaluating management accounting practices as a strategic accounting tool for Egyptian manufacturing organizations. She earned her MBA in Managerial Accounting from the Arab Academy for Science & Technology (1997-1999), where she developed a methodological framework for inventory management benchmarking. She also holds a B.Com. in Accounting from King Saud University, Saudi Arabia (1989-1992), graduating with excellence and honors.

Professional Experience

With over 20 years of experience in academia, Prof. El Kaftangui is currently a Full Professor of Accounting at Abu Dhabi University. She has held various leadership positions, including Associate Provost for Internationalization (2022-present), Assistant Provost for Academic Projects (2014-2022), and Associate Dean of Enrollment and Student Success (2019-present). Her contributions extend to chairing major international conferences, developing internationalization strategies, fostering global partnerships, and implementing retention and student success initiatives. She has also served as the Chair/Coordinator of the Accounting Department (2009-2018) and the Director of the Undergraduate Student Research Program (2011-2014).

Skills and Expertise

Prof. El Kaftangui possesses extensive experience in academic leadership, internationalization, strategic planning, financial management, and program development. Her expertise includes curriculum design, accreditation processes, university global rankings, student retention strategies, assurance of learning, and faculty development. She is known for her visionary leadership, crisis management skills, collaborative approach, and commitment to academic excellence. Additionally, she has been instrumental in developing research centers, industry-academia collaboration programs, and innovative student engagement initiatives.

Research Focus

Prof. El Kaftangui’s research spans managerial accounting, financial accounting, corporate governance, capital structure, cost accounting, organizational performance, sustainability, and innovation. She has published extensively in ISI/Scopus-indexed journals, contributing to high-impact research in green accounting, financial decision-making, and international business. Her research impact is reflected in her Google Scholar citation indices, with an h-index of 16 and over 1,700 citations. Her studies on sustainable business practices, corporate social responsibility, and financial strategy have been recognized for their academic and practical significance.

Awards and Recognition

Prof. El Kaftangui has received numerous accolades, including the Best Paper of the Year – Environmental Geotechnics Prize (2023) from the Institute of Civil Engineers for her research on sustainable geotechnics practices. She was awarded the Emerald Literati Award (2019) for her outstanding research on ethical climate, corporate social responsibility, and organizational performance. She has also been recognized with the Abu Dhabi University Distinguished Faculty Award (2015-16) for her exceptional contributions to teaching, research, and service. Furthermore, her research has consistently ranked in the Top Ten Downloads on SSRN in various academic disciplines.

 

Publication Top Notes

Determinants of organizational performance: a proposed framework

Knowledge sharing enablers, processes and firm innovation capability

HRM practices and organizational performance in the UAE banking sector: The mediating role of organizational innovation

Total quality management practices and corporate sustainable development in manufacturing companies: the mediating role of green innovation

Green accounting and management for sustainable manufacturing in developing countries

Examining the capital structure determinants: empirical analysis of companies traded on Abu Dhabi Stock Exchange

Strategy and management accounting practices alignment and its effect on organizational performance

Ethical climate, corporate social responsibility and organizational performance: evidence from the UAE public sector

A Review of Human Resource Accounting and Organizational Performance

Determinants of innovation decisions among Emirati female-owned small and medium enterprises

Conclusion

She is highly suitable for the award, especially if it recognizes research impact, academic leadership, and contributions to women in academia. Strengthening interdisciplinary collaborations and expanding research in STEM-related areas could further enhance her qualifications for broader research awards.