Namita Das Saha | Environmental Microbiology | Excellence in Research Award

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Dr. Namita Das Saha | Environmental Microbiology | Excellence in Research Award

Senior Scientist | NIRCA, Indian Council of Agricultural Research | India

Dr. Namita Das Saha is a distinguished Senior Scientist (ARS) at ICAR-Central Tobacco Research Institute, Regional Station, Dinhata, Cooch Behar, with extensive expertise in environmental science, soil microbiology, biogeochemistry, and climate change research. She earned her Ph.D. in Environmental Sciences from ICAR-IARI, New Delhi, focusing on the impact of climate variables on plant pathogenesis, and has since made significant contributions to soil conservation, microplastic pollution mitigation, and sustainable agriculture. Dr. Saha has developed innovative, rapid, and low-cost technologies for the identification and quantification of microplastics in agricultural soils and organic matrices, with one method recognized by the prestigious journal Science of the Total Environment and another under patent processing. Her work also includes the development of biochar-based soil amendments for acidity reclamation, PGPR-based crop enhancement, and greenhouse gas mitigation technologies such as sulfur-coated urea. She has successfully led and co-led numerous ICAR and ministry-funded projects on climate-resilient agriculture, waste management, and soil health improvement. With over 11 years of postgraduate teaching experience, she has contributed to curriculum development and laboratory establishment in environmental microbiology. With 23 publications, 132 citations, and an H-index of 8, her academic potential is clearly emerging. Dr. Saha has received several national awards, including the All India Best Paper Award (2024), Young Woman Scientist Award (2021), and Environmentalist of the Year (2020). She serves on editorial boards of reputed environmental journals and holds life memberships in multiple national scientific societies. Her ongoing research continues to advance sustainable soil management, microplastic mitigation, and climate-smart agricultural practices for long-term ecological resilience.

Profile:  Scopus  |  ORCID  |  Google Scholar  |  Research Gate

Featured Publications

Saha, P., Das, N. R., Deb, P., & Suresh, C. P. (2009). Effect of NAA and GA₃ on yield and quality of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.). Environment and Ecology, 27(3), 1048–1098.

Saha, P., Chatterjee, R., & Das, N. R. (2010). Effect of foliar application of boron and molybdenum in sprouting broccoli (Brassica oleracea var. italica Plenk) under Terai region of West Bengal. Recent Journal of Agricultural Science, 1(4), 335–337.

Saha, P., Ghoshal, C., Ray, S., Saha, N. D., Srivastava, M., Kalia, P., & Tomar, B. S. (2020). Genetic analysis of downy mildew resistance and identification of molecular markers linked to resistance gene Ppa207 on chromosome 2 in cauliflower. Euphytica, 216(11), 183.

Saha, N. D., Chaudhary, A., Singh, S. D., Singh, D., Walia, S., & Kumar, D. T. (2015). Plant pathogenic microbial communication affected by elevated temperature in Pectobacterium carotovorum subsp. carotovorum. Current Microbiology, 71, 585–593.

Das, S., Bhattacharyya, R., Saha, N. D., Ghosh, A., Khan, S. A., Ahmed, N., Dey, A., & others. (2022). Soil aggregate-associated carbon and organic carbon pools as affected by conversion of forest lands to agriculture in an acid soil of India. Soil and Tillage Research, 223, 105443.

Junqin Li | Microbial Ecology | Best Researcher Award

Published on by Natural Scientist Awards

Dr. Junqin Li | Microbial Ecology | Best Researcher Award

Teacher | Guizhou Normal University | China

Dr. Junqin Li is a dedicated teacher and researcher at Guizhou Normal University, specializing in ecosystem ecology with a strong focus on the role of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi in regulating carbon–nitrogen cycling in grassland ecosystems. He earned his Ph.D. from Northeast Normal University in 2022 and has since established himself as a promising scholar in plant–soil interactions under global climate change. His research highlights the interactive effects of AM fungal symbiosis and climate change on ecosystem-level carbon inputs and outputs, as well as the mediation of carbon and nitrogen allocation following litter decomposition, thereby clarifying critical processes in ecosystem sustainability. Dr. Li has published 27 peer-reviewed SCI papers in respected international journals, accumulating 429 citations with an H-index of 10, reflecting both productivity and influence in his field. He has secured multiple funded projects, including grants from the National Natural Science Foundation of China, the Natural Science Foundation of Guizhou Province, and the Guizhou Provincial Department of Education. His international collaborations include joint publications with renowned scientists such as Prof. Raúl Ochoa-Hueso (University of Cádiz), Prof. Scott L. Collins (New Mexico State University), and Prof. Jennifer A. Rudgers (New Mexico State University), underscoring his active role in global ecological research networks. His recent publications, including studies on microplastics’ effects on plant development and the stability of AMF communities in grasslands, further demonstrate his commitment to advancing ecological knowledge. Through his innovative research, growing academic recognition, and dedication to teaching, Dr. Li continues to make valuable contributions to ecosystem science.

Profile:  Scopus

Featured Publications

Li, J., Zhang, X., Wang, Y., & Liu, H. (2025). Polyethylene microplastic: Impacts on ryegrass seed germination and seedling development. BMC Plant Biology.

Li, J., Chen, Y., Wu, Q., & Zhao, L. (2025). Shrub encroachment enhances AMF network stability and complexity, while cropland destabilizes AMF communities in a subtropical alpine grassland. BMC Biology.

Li, J., Ochoa-Hueso, R., Zhang, W., & Ma, X. (2021). Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi mediate grassland responses to global change: Evidence from soil carbon and nitrogen cycling. Biology and Fertility of Soils, 57(6), 823–835.

Li, J., Collins, S. L., Wu, Z., & Zhang, Y. (2021). Grassland ecosystem responses to climate extremes: The role of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in carbon and nitrogen dynamics. Ecology, 102(12), e03459.

Li, J., Collins, S. L., & Zhao, Q. (2022). Decomposition-mediated shifts in carbon and nitrogen allocation in grassland ecosystems regulated by AM fungi. Journal of Ecology, 110(8), 2035–2048.