Yitayih Dessie | Biology | Best Researcher Award

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Mr. Yitayih Dessie | Biology | Best Researcher Award

Mr, Injibara Uiniversity Ethiopia

Yitayih Dessie Shiferaw is an Ethiopian researcher and educator specializing in biology, with a focus on ethnobotany, medicinal plants, and sustainable environmental practices. He is currently serving as a researcher and chief laboratory technical assistant at Injibara University, Ethiopia. Yitayih has a strong background in teaching, research, and community service, working extensively to improve food security, environmental sustainability, and indigenous plant knowledge. He has published several research papers and is dedicated to mentoring students. His passion for environmental conservation and sustainable practices has led to significant contributions to his community and academic fields. 🌿

Publication Profile

Orcid

Google Scholar

🎓 Education

Yitayih Dessie Shiferaw holds a Master of Science in Biology (Botanical Sciences) from Debre Markos University, achieving First Class with an Excellent Thesis Award. He also earned another Master’s degree in General Biology from Hawassa University and a Bachelor’s degree in Biology from the University of Gondar, both with top honors. His academic journey includes a post-diploma in teaching and specialized research in ethnobotany, bacteriology, and the identification of medicinal plants. 📚

💼 Experience

Yitayih has extensive experience in academia and research, currently working at Injibara University as a researcher and lab technician. He has previously held roles at Bahir Dar University and Abay Minch Preparatory School, where he served as an instructor and lab coordinator. He has developed educational materials and guided students through research projects. Additionally, he is deeply involved in community service, providing training on sustainable practices and raising awareness of indigenous plant knowledge. 🔬

🏅 Awards & Honors

Yitayih Dessie Shiferaw’s academic excellence has been recognized with several prestigious awards, including an Excellent Thesis Award at Debre Markos University and a Very Good Thesis Award at Hawassa University. He has also received honors for his contributions to research, including a manual development award and recognition for mentoring students to graduation. Furthermore, he has been awarded research excellence and career advancement grants and has been acknowledged for his work in community service and sustainability. 🏅

🔬 Research Focus

Yitayih’s research focuses on ethnobotany, the antibacterial activity of medicinal plants, and the role of indigenous plants in food security and environmental sustainability. His published works include studies on wild edible plants and plant diversity in Ethiopia. He is currently working on biocontrol mechanisms using Lamiaceae plants against bacterial pests, as well as exploring the phytochemical properties of medicinal plants. Yitayih’s ongoing research aims to improve the ecological health of communities through sustainable practices and plant-based solutions. 🌱

 Conclusion

Yitayih Dessie Shiferaw is an exceptional researcher and educator who stands out for his academic excellence, impactful community work, and dedication to advancing biological research. His ongoing contributions to ethnobotany, environmental conservation, and educational outreach make him a highly deserving candidate for the Best Researcher Award. With a focus on international collaboration and high-impact publications, Shiferaw can further elevate his research profile globally and continue to make significant contributions to his field.

Publication Top Notes

  • Antibacterial Potential of Selected Traditional Medicinal Plants for Wound Healing in Sekela District, Northwestern Ethiopia
    • Year: 2024
    • Authors: Yitayih Dessie, Nigussie Amsalu, Amare Fassil, Misganaw Liyew
    • Citation: Journal of Herbs, Spices & Medicinal Plants, 2024-12-16
    • DOI: 10.1080/10496475.2024.2439299

 

  • Ethnobotanical Study of Medicinal Plants in Sekela District, Northwestern Ethiopia

 

  • Harvesting Nature’s Bounty: Exploring the Ethnobotanical Landscape of Wild Edible Plants in the Awi Agäw Community, Northwestern Ethiopia
    • Year: 2024
    • Authors: Amare Fassil, Ethiopia Mazengia, Bekele Gebreamanuel, Yitayih Dessie, Bulti Kumera, Belsti Atnkut, Destaw Mullualem, Alemu Tsega, Patrick Van Damme
    • Citation: Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine, 2024-05-30
    • DOI: 10.1186/s13002-024-00696-7

Somayeh Hashemi Sheikhshabani | Human Genetics | Best Researcher Award

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Dr. Somayeh Hashemi Sheikhshabani | Human Genetics | Best Researcher Award

👨‍🏫Profile Summary

I am a highly skilled researcher specializing in Medical Genetics with a focus on Cancer Biology, Cancer Drug Resistance, Noncoding RNAs, Computational Biology, and Genetics of Rare Diseases. With a Ph.D. from Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran, and a strong background in Cellular and Molecular Biology, I’ve conducted extensive research on genetic analysis of male infertility, identification of genes involved in various cancers, and prediction of regulatory networks using bioinformatics tools. Proficient in a wide range of experimental techniques and software applications, I am dedicated to advancing knowledge in genetics and contributing to the development of innovative therapies.

 

🌐 Professional Profiles

Education 📚

PhD in Medical Genetics Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran September 23, 2019 – October 7, 2023 PhD Thesis: Genetic investigation of non-obstructive azoospermia families with cytogenetic and molecular genetic tests, and determining the relationship between genetic and clinical findings of patients.M.Sc. in Cellular and Molecular Biology National Institute of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Tehran, Iran September 23, 2010 – October 27, 2012 Master Thesis: Alkaloid extract of Peganum harmala L. seed on the expression of Bax and Bcl-2 genes involved in mitochondrial apoptosis pathway in cancer cells.B.Sc. in Molecular Genetics Shahrekord University, Shahrekord, Iran September 23, 2005 – October 7, 2009

Research Interests 🔬

  • Cancer Biology
  • Cancer Drug Resistance
  • Noncoding RNAs
  • Computational Biology
  • Genetics of Rare Diseases

Research Projects 🧬

Genetic analysis of male infertility in a family using Whole Exome Sequencing. (Student Research Committee, Department of Medical Genetics, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; 2024)In silico prediction of non-coding RNA-gene regulatory network in primary gonad failure defects. (Student Research Committee, Department of Medical Genetics, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; 2024)In silico identification of functional single nucleotide polymorphisms of azoospermia genes. (Student Research Committee, Department of Medical Genetics, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; 2024)In silico prediction of coagulation system functional polymorphisms. (Student Research Committee, Department of Medical Genetics, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; 2024)Identification of genes involved in Imatinib resistance in chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). (Student Research Committee, Department of Medical Genetics, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; 2024)Genetic analysis of families with non-obstructive azoospermia by Whole Exome Sequencing. (Department of Medical Genetics, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; 2024)Genetic investigation of infertility in an Iranian family with infertility in both sexes. (Department of Medical Genetics, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; 2023)Prediction of tissue-specific inflammatory LncRNAs in COVID-19 patients. (Student Research Committee, Department of Medical Genetics, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; 2021-2024)Identification of inflammatory miRNAs associated with COVID-19 and determination of their potential target genes using bioinformatics tools. (Student Research Committee, Department of Medical Genetics, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; 2021-2023)Identification of genes involved in the development of chemotherapy resistance in lung cancer. (Student Research Committee, Department of Medical Genetics, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; 2021-2024)Identification of common polymorphisms in the host antioxidant pathway against viruses and prediction of their effects. (Student Research Committee, Department of Medical Genetics, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; 2021-2024)Identification of genes involved in the development of chemotherapy resistance in ovarian cancer. (Student Research Committee, Department of Medical Genetics, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; 2021-2023)Investigation of the effect of oleuropein on miR-125b and miR-34a expression in ovarian cancer cell lines. (Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences; 2019-2020)Investigation of the effect of oleuropein on miR-181b and miR-21 expression in breast cancer cell line. (Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences; 2019-2020)Investigation of the effect of oleuropein on the expression of genes involved in apoptosis in cisplatin-resistant ovarian cell line. (Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences; 2019-2020)Study of the effect of nanoparticles containing altretiamine and arstin on ferroptosis in ovarian cancer cell line. (Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences; 2016-2020)Study of the effect of nanoparticles containing altretamine on ferroptosis-apoptosis in ovarian cancer cell line. (Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences; 2018-2019)Genetic etiology determination of non-syndromic hearing loss families using Whole Exome Sequencing. (Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences; 2018-2019)

Skills 🛠️

A. Experimental Techniques:Human cell cultureMTT assay (Drugs, Natural products, Nanoparticles)DNA and RNA extractionApoptosis assayROS assayElectrophoresisQuantitative PCRConventional PCRSonicationNanodropKaryotypingSanger sequencingWhole exome sequencingB. Software Ability:Various microRNA databases (TargetScan, miRBase, miRWalk, etc.)Various lncRNA databases (starBase, LncBase, etc.)Pathway databases (KEGG, WikiPathways, Reactome)Variant prediction tools (SIFT, Mutation Taster, Polyphen, CADD, etc.)Genome browsers (NCBI, Ensembl, UCSC)Primer design software and tools (AlleleID, Primer3, Oligo 7, etc.)Sequence analysis software (QIAGEN CLC Genomics Workbench, Mutation Surveyor, FinchTV, etc.)STRINGDBCytoscapeGene RunnerGenome expression databases (GEO, GTEx, etc.)

Workshops 📚

 

  • Various workshops covering topics such as predicting LncRNAs, the role of biological systems in cancer, electronic resource investigation, Next Generation sequencing, molecular techniques, article writing, PCR, and bioinformatics.

📚Top Noted Publication

  1. Title: The effect of oleuropein on apoptotic pathway regulators in breast cancer cells
    • Journal: European Journal of Pharmacology
    • Year: 2020
    • Volume: 886
    • Pages: 173509
    • Citations: 43

 

  1. Title: Peganum harmala L.’s anti-growth effect on a breast cancer cell line
    • Journal: Biotechnology reports
    • Year: 2015
    • Volume: 8
    • Pages: 138-143
    • Citations: 39

 

  1. Title: Oleuropein reduces cisplatin resistance in ovarian cancer by targeting apoptotic pathway regulators
    • Journal: Life Sciences
    • Year: 2021
    • Volume: 278
    • Pages: 119525
    • Citations: 26

 

  1. Title: Growth inhibitory impact of Peganum harmala L. on two breast cancer cell lines
    • Journal: Iranian journal of biotechnology
    • Year: 2014
    • Volume: 12
    • Issue: 1
    • Pages: 8-14
    • Citations: 23

 

  1. Title: The impact of oleuropein on miRNAs regulating cell death signaling pathway in human cervical cancer cells
    • Journal: Biotechnology and Applied Biochemistry
    • Year: 2024
    • Volume: 71
    • Issue: 1
    • Pages: 61-71
    • Citations: 1

 

  1. Title: In Silico Prediction of Functional SNPs Interrupting Antioxidant Defense Genes in Relation to COVID-19 Progression
    • Journal: Biochemical Genetics
    • Year: 2024
    • Pages: 1-27

 

  1. Title: Meta-analysis of microarray data to determine gene indicators involved in the cisplatin resistance in ovarian cancer
    • Journal: Cancer Reports
    • Year: 2023
    • Volume: 6
    • Issue: 12
    • Pages: e1884

Alina Urnikyte | Evolution | Best Researcher Award

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Dr. Alina Urnikyte | Evolution | Best Researcher Award

👨‍🏫Profile Summary

Alina Urnikytė, PhD, is a seasoned researcher and associate professor specializing in Medical Genetics. With a Master’s degree from Vilnius University and extensive experience in human population genetics, her work focuses on evolutionary forces and genetic structure. As a senior researcher at Vilnius University, she delves into the complexities of the Lithuanian genome, exploring topics such as archaic introgression and genomic signatures of selection. A member of prestigious scientific societies, including the European Society of Human Genetics, her contributions have been recognized with awards and nominations. Through teaching and supervising, she continues to shape the field of genetics, bridging academia with public understanding through media engagement.

🌐 Professional Profiles

 

 

Education, Experience, and Academic Achievements 🎓

I completed my Bachelor’s degree in Biotechnology from the University of Vic, Spain, in 2009. Following this, I pursued a Master’s degree in Medical Genetics at Vilnius University in 2014, and later obtained a PhD in Biomedical Sciences from the same institution in 2018. Subsequently, I embarked on a post-doctoral fellowship in 2023. Throughout my career, I’ve been affiliated with Vilnius University Medical Faculty since 2009. My research interests primarily revolve around human genome variation, population genetics, natural selection, next-generation sequencing, and genomic data analysis. I further honed my expertise through traineeships at various esteemed institutions, including Universitat Pompeu Fabra in Barcelona, Latvian Biomedical Research and Study Centre in Riga, and University of Szczecin, Poland. Over the past five years, I’ve led two successful projects and currently serve as a principal investigator on an ongoing project. My contributions have been recognized through presentations at international conferences and numerous ISI publications. Notably, in 2022, I was nominated for the “Discovery of the Year” award for my analysis of the Lithuanian genome.

Contribution to Research & Development 🔬

My research focuses on genetic variations and human population studies, particularly in Northeastern European populations like Lithuania. By leveraging whole-genome sequencing data, I’ve identified introgressed Neanderthal segments in Lithuanians, candidate genetic regions under positive selection, and immune-related genes relevant to viral interactions. These findings offer valuable insights into our evolutionary history and adaptation, shedding light on present-day susceptibility and responses to infections. Notably, I spearheaded the sequencing of 75 Lithuanian genomes, a milestone in our country’s research landscape. This work not only enriches our understanding of human evolution but also holds implications for medical research, personalized medicine, and population health. Through my contributions, I aim to advance the fields of genetics, genomics, and population genetics, ultimately contributing to broader scientific and healthcare advancements.

📚Top Noted Publication

  1. Title: Patterns of genetic structure and adaptive positive selection in the Lithuanian population from high-density SNP data
    • Authors: A Urnikyte, A Flores-Bello, M Mondal, A Molyte, D Comas, F Calafell, …
    • Journal: Scientific reports
    • Volume: 9
    • Issue: 1
    • Pages: 9163
    • Year: 2019
    • DOI: 10.3390/cancers13112599

 

  1. Title: CNV analysis in the Lithuanian population
    • Authors: A Urnikyte, I Domarkiene, S Stoma, L Ambrozaityte, I Uktveryte, …
    • Journal: BMC genetics
    • Volume: 17
    • Pages: 1-8
    • Year: 2016

 

  1. Title: Recent effective population size estimated from segments of identity by descent in the Lithuanian population
    • Authors: A Urnikytė, A Molytė, V Kučinskas
    • Journal: Anthropological science
    • Volume: 125
    • Issue: 2
    • Pages: 53-58
    • Year: 2017

 

  1. Title: Inherited and de novo variation in Lithuanian genomes: Introduction to the analysis of the generational shift
    • Authors: A Urnikyte, L Pranckeniene, I Domarkiene, S Dauengauer-Kirliene, …
    • Journal: Genes
    • Volume: 13
    • Issue: 4
    • Pages: 569
    • Year: 2022

 

  1. Title: Genome-wide landscape of north-eastern european populations: a view from Lithuania
    • Authors: A Urnikyte, A Molyte, V Kučinskas
    • Journal: Genes
    • Volume: 12
    • Issue: 11
    • Pages: 1730
    • Year: 2021

 

  1. Title: Inferring effective population size and divergence time in the lithuanian population according to high-density genotyping data
    • Authors: A Urnikytė, A Molytė, E Pranckevičienė, ZA Kučinskienė, V Kučinskas
    • Journal: Genes
    • Volume: 11
    • Issue: 3
    • Pages: 293
    • Year: 2020