Nahla Hemdan | Systems Biology | Best Researcher Award

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nahla Hemdan | Systems Biology | Best Researcher Award 

Associate professor | National Research Centre | Egypt

Dr. Nahla Abdel-Fattah Hemdan Mohamed is an accomplished Egyptian researcher specializing in soil and water use, sustainable agriculture, and environmental protection. With over two decades of academic and research experience, she has significantly contributed to advancing irrigation technologies, soil fertility management, and strategies for combating desertification. Currently serving as a Researcher at the National Research Centre (NRC), Cairo, Dr. Hemdan has participated in numerous national and international projects focusing on climate change adaptation, water efficiency, and soil amendments. Her scientific career demonstrates a strong integration of applied research and practical solutions to pressing agricultural challenges in arid regions. She has published extensively in reputed international journals, delivered keynote presentations at international conferences, and played an active role in scientific societies worldwide. With her patents, academic achievements, and leadership in sustainable agriculture, Dr. Hemdan is widely recognized as a leading scientist dedicated to improving food security and environmental sustainability.

Professional Profile

Scopus

ORCID

Google Scholar

Education

Dr. Hemdan pursued her higher education with a deep focus on soil sciences, irrigation management, and ecological resource utilization. She earned her Ph.D. in Irrigation Systems and Drip Irrigation Technology from the Humboldt University of Berlin, Germany, with a dissertation on advanced irrigation systems and management experiments in Egypt. Her doctoral research contributed valuable knowledge on sustainable water use in agriculture. Earlier, she obtained her M.Sc. in Soil Sciences from Assiut University, where she studied water regimes of crops under drip irrigation at the El-Kharga Oasis. This work provided insights into optimizing crop performance under desert conditions. Dr. Hemdan’s strong academic foundation bridges Egyptian agricultural challenges with international research excellence. Her multidisciplinary expertise combines soil chemistry, water management, and environmental sustainability, making her educational journey a cornerstone for her impactful research career.

Experience

With an extensive professional background, Dr. Hemdan has established herself as a leader in soil and water research. At the National Research Centre (NRC), Cairo, she has spearheaded multiple projects addressing drought tolerance, saline water management, and organic fertilizers. Her work spans applied research, patent development, project management, and event organization for advancing agricultural innovation. She has also served as a scientific reviewer for prestigious journals such as the Journal of Environmental Management. Internationally, Dr. Hemdan has represented Egypt in training programs and internships on desertification control, climate change, and sustainable resource management in China and India. She has been a pivotal member of national projects funded by NRC, focusing on maximizing water efficiency and adapting agriculture to climate change. Her extensive conference participation across Europe, Africa, and Asia reflects her global academic engagement and her role as a strong voice in sustainable agriculture.

Research Interests

Dr. Hemdan’s research centers on soil fertility, irrigation efficiency, and climate-smart agriculture. She is particularly interested in the application of biochar, compost, vermicompost, and nano-fertilizers for improving soil properties and enhancing crop resilience under stress conditions. Her work on saline water management and soil reclamation technologies addresses critical issues in arid and semi-arid ecosystems. Additionally, she focuses on drip irrigation innovations, eco-friendly soil amendments, and sustainable practices to mitigate desertification. Her projects align with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially those targeting food security, climate action, and land restoration. She actively collaborates with multidisciplinary teams to evaluate advanced agricultural models such as AquaCrop for yield prediction under climate stress. Driven by the urgency of water scarcity and environmental degradation, Dr. Hemdan’s research integrates practical solutions with scientific innovation, making her contributions vital to agricultural sustainability in Egypt and globally.

Awards

Dr. Hemdan has been recognized for her pioneering work in sustainable agriculture and soil management. She has secured patents from the Academy of Scientific Research & Technology (ASRT), Egypt, covering innovations such as safe integral biocompost, sulphur integral compost, potassium-enriched compost, phosphate-enriched compost, and composted moringa seed cake. These patents highlight her role in translating scientific research into practical technologies for farmers. Beyond patents, she has earned international internships and training awards, including programs in China and India on desertification control and climate change. Her contributions have been acknowledged by the Egyptian Soil Science Society (ESSS) through conference platforms, where she has consistently presented her findings. Furthermore, her memberships in leading scientific organizations, such as the Soil Science Society of America and the American Society of Agronomy, reflect her esteemed standing in the global research community.

Top Noted Publications

Dr. Hemdan has an impressive publication record across high-impact journals, emphasizing soil amendments, irrigation, and sustainable agriculture. Selected works include:

Using moringa oleifera seed cake and compost as organic soil amendments for sustainable agriculture in Valencia orange orchard
Journal: Future of Food: Journal on Food, Agriculture & Society
Citations: Cited by over 25 articles

Reclamation and Improvement of Saline Soils Using Organo–Mineral–Natural Resources, Treated Saline Water, and Drip Irrigation Technology
Journal: Water
Citations: Cited by over 5 articles

Impact of Biochar Mixed with Compost on Olive and Some Soil Properties under Saline Water and Soil Management
Journal: International Journal of Mechanical Engineering
Citations: Cited by over 10 articles

Utilization of Biochar with Soil Amendments and AquaCrop model under Saline Water and Soil Management at Ismailia Desert, Egypt
Journal: International Journal of Mechanical Engineering
Citations: Cited by over 12 articles

Effect of Soil Amendments and Water Requirements on Flax Yield and Fertilizer Efficiency
Journal: American-Eurasian Journal of Agronomy
Citations: Cited by over 20 articles

Effect of Vermicompost and NPK-Nano Fertilizer on Jojoba Plant under Degraded Soil Condition
Journal: Current Science International
Citations: Cited by over 15 articles

Conventional and Nano Fertilizers and Its Effect on Growth and Nutrient Status of Lupine Plants
Journal: Current Science International
Citations: Cited by over 18 articles

Effect of Organic Fertilization with Moringa Oleifera Seeds Cake and Compost on Storability of Valencia Orange Fruits
Journal: Egyptian Journal of Chemistry
Citations: Cited by over 8 articles

Mycorrhizal Fungi and Rock Phosphate Application to Mitigate Soil Salt Stress
Journal: Middle East Journal of Agriculture Research
Citations: Cited by over 6 articles

Conclusion

Dr. Nahla Abdel-Fattah Hemdan Mohamed is highly suitable for the Best Researcher Award. Her outstanding academic background, impactful publications, patents, and strong record of applied research in sustainable agriculture make her a strong candidate. She combines scientific innovation with practical solutions to global challenges such as desertification, water scarcity, and soil salinity. While expanding her international footprint and publishing in top-tier journals could further elevate her profile, her achievements already demonstrate excellence in research, innovation, and contribution to society. Overall, she is a deserving nominee whose work significantly advances the field of agricultural sustainability.

Jihwan Ha | Systems Biology | Best Researcher Award

Prof. Jihwan Ha | Systems Biology | Best Researcher Award 

Assistant Professor, at Pukyong National University, South Korea.

Dr. Jihwan Ha is an accomplished researcher and assistant professor at Pukyong National University, Republic of Korea, specializing in bioinformatics and computational biology. With a passion for harnessing machine learning and deep learning, he focuses on developing advanced algorithms to predict miRNA-disease associations and improve biomedical data analysis. Dr. Ha has contributed to numerous international journals and conferences, earning recognition for his innovative work in bioinformatics. His professional journey includes postdoctoral research at Hawai’i Cancer Center and several faculty roles at Pukyong National University. Beyond academia, Dr. Ha is a reviewer for prestigious journals and a guest editor for special issues in Biomedicines. With a commitment to advancing the field, he inspires the next generation of data scientists through teaching courses on AI, big data, and computational systems. 🌟

Profile 

Scopus

ORCID

Education 🎓

  • Yonsei University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
    Ph.D. in Computer Science, August 2020
    Thesis: “A machine learning approach to predict miRNA-disease associations”
    Dr. Ha’s doctoral work introduced a novel framework for predicting miRNA-disease associations using graph convolutional networks, setting a benchmark in computational biology.
  • Yonsei University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
    M.S. in Computer Science, August 2015
    Building on his undergraduate foundation, he explored advanced data mining techniques, focusing on biomedical applications.
  • Pusan National University, Busan, Republic of Korea
    B.S. in Electronics Engineering, August 2013
    His undergraduate education laid the groundwork for his expertise in bioinformatics, emphasizing electronics and computational systems. 🎉

Experience 💼

  • Assistant Professor, Pukyong National University (2022–Present)
    Leads courses on big data, machine learning, and AI while supervising cutting-edge research in bioinformatics.
  • Postdoctoral Researcher, Hawai’i Cancer Center (2020–2021)
    Conducted advanced research on predictive models for cancer biomarkers, integrating multi-omics data for precision medicine.
  • Assistant Professor, Pukyong National University (2021–2022)
    Developed curriculums for data analysis and mentored students in computational biology projects.

Dr. Ha’s diverse academic and research roles demonstrate his commitment to applying computational tools for solving real-world biological problems. 🌟

Research Interests 🔬

Dr. Ha’s research bridges data science and biomedicine, focusing on:

  • Bioinformatics & Computational Biology: Leveraging AI to analyze biological data.
  • Machine Learning & Deep Learning: Developing predictive models for miRNA-disease associations.
  • Recommender Systems: Applying data mining for personalized medicine.
  • Data Mining: Extracting meaningful patterns from complex datasets.
    He aims to advance bioinformatics tools to facilitate disease diagnosis and treatment optimization. 🌱

Awards 🏆

  • Merit Academic Paper Award, Yonsei University (2020)
    Recognized for exceptional contributions to bioinformatics research.
  • Computer Science Department Scholarship, Yonsei University (2020)
    Awarded for academic excellence during doctoral studies.
  • Academic Scholarship, Pusan National University (2011–2013)
    Earned for maintaining a high GPA throughout undergraduate studies.

Dr. Ha’s achievements reflect his dedication to advancing bioinformatics and academic excellence. 🎖️

Top Noted Publications 📚

Dr. Ha has authored impactful papers in top journals. Selected works include:

  • Graph Convolutional Network with Neural Collaborative Filtering for Predicting miRNA-Disease Association
    • Journal: Biomedicines
    • Published Year: 2025
    • Details: This paper presents a novel graph convolutional network combined with neural collaborative filtering to predict miRNA-disease associations. It emphasizes enhanced prediction accuracy by integrating graph-based data structures with collaborative filtering mechanisms.
    • Cited by: [To be updated based on citation databases]
    • Hyperlink: Link to Biomedicines Paper
  • LncRNA Expression Profile-based Matrix Factorization for Predicting LncRNA-Disease Association
    • Journal: IEEE Access
    • Published Year: 2024
    • Details: This research introduces a matrix factorization approach leveraging LncRNA expression profiles for predicting disease associations. The model demonstrates improved scalability and prediction accuracy.
    • Cited by: [To be updated based on citation databases]
    • Hyperlink: Link to IEEE Access Paper
  • Node2vec-based Neural Collaborative Filtering for Predicting miRNA-Disease Association
    • Journal: IEEE/ACM Transactions on Computational Biology and Bioinformatics
    • Published Year: 2023
    • Details: The paper proposes a method combining Node2vec embeddings with neural collaborative filtering to predict miRNA-disease associations. The approach leverages graph-based features and collaborative learning for enhanced precision.
    • Cited by: [To be updated based on citation databases]
    • Hyperlink: Link to IEEE/ACM TCB Paper
  • SMAP: Similarity-based Matrix Factorization Framework for Inferring miRNA-Disease Association
    • Journal: Knowledge-Based Systems
    • Published Year: 2023
    • Details: SMAP employs a similarity-based matrix factorization approach to infer miRNA-disease associations. The paper emphasizes the importance of similarity constraints in improving model performance.
    • Cited by: [To be updated based on citation databases]
    • Hyperlink: Link to Knowledge-Based Systems Paper

Conclusion

Dr. Jihwan Ha’s impressive body of work, interdisciplinary expertise, and contributions to bioinformatics and computational biology make him a strong candidate for the “Best Researcher Award.” His innovative application of machine learning to critical healthcare challenges demonstrates both academic excellence and real-world relevance. Addressing clinical impact and expanding his grant portfolio could elevate his profile further, but his current achievements already position him as an exemplary researcher deserving of recognition.