Honghao Zhao | Agricultural Biotechnology | Best Researcher Award

Published on by Biotechnology Scientist

Dr. Honghao Zhao | Agricultural Biotechnology | Best Researcher Award

Doctor at College of fisheries | Tianjin Agricltural University | China

Dr. Honghao Zhao is a distinguished researcher at Tianjin Agricultural University specializing in sustainable aquaculture, fish nutrition, and aquatic physiology. Her research focuses on developing eco-friendly feed strategies using alternative protein sources such as defatted black soldier fly larvae and functional additives including bile acids and Chinese herbal compounds to enhance fish growth, health, and flesh quality. By integrating multi-omics techniques such as metabolomics and transcriptomics, she elucidates the molecular and physiological mechanisms underlying nutrient utilization and muscle development in aquatic species. As Principal Investigator, Dr. Zhao has successfully led multiple research projects funded by national and provincial programs, contributing significantly to the advancement of aquaculture nutrition science. Her prolific scholarly output includes numerous publications in high-impact international journals like Applied Food Research, Aquaculture, Frontiers in Physiology, and GigaScience, with her studies widely cited for their innovation and relevance to sustainable aquaculture practices. Her research excellence is further reflected in her Scopus record, with 566 citations, an h-index of 10, and a growing influence across global aquaculture and biotechnology communities. Through her interdisciplinary approach and applied research outcomes, Dr. Zhao continues to bridge scientific discovery and industry application, promoting environmentally sustainable and nutritionally optimized aquaculture systems that support global food security and resource conservation.

Profile: ORCID | Google Scholar

Featured Publications:

Zhao, H.*, Fu, Y., Zheng, X. J., Sun, X. L., Shen, J. W., & Fang, Z. Z. (2025). Gut microbiota mediates the improved growth, flesh quality and intestinal health of largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) fed defatted Hermetia illucens larvae meal. Applied Food Research, 101456.

Zhao, H.*, Fu, Y., Zheng, X. J., Huang, X. R., & Yan, K. (2025). The improvement of adding bile acid to high-level black soldier fly larvae meal-based diet on quality of largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides). Aquaculture Nutrition, 2218372.

Duan, Y. N., Zhao, H., Qin, C. J., Ma, L., Bi, X. D., Song, T., & Sun, X. L. (2024). Astragalus polysaccharides, cinnamaldehyde and their complexes affected growth, physicochemical parameters, histomorphology and flesh quality of largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides). Aquaculture Reports, 35, 101989.

Zhao, H., Chong, J., & Li, D. P. (2023). Integrated multiple-omics reveals the regulatory mechanism underlying the effects of artificial feed and grass feeding on growth and muscle quality of grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idellus). Aquaculture, 562, 738808.

Li, X. T., Qin, C. J., Fang, Z. Z., Sun, X. L., Shi, H. Y., Wang, Q. K., & Zhao, H.* (2022). Replacing dietary fish meal with defatted black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens) larvae meal affected growth, digestive physiology and muscle quality of tongue sole (Cynoglossus semilaevis). Frontiers in Physiology, 13, 855957.

Pushpendra Gupta | Agricultural Biotechnology | Lifetime Achievement in Biotechnology Award

Published on by Biotechnology Scientist

Prof. Pushpendra Gupta | Agricultural Biotechnology | Lifetime Achievement in Biotechnology Award

Professor Emeritus at CCS University, India

Professor P. K. Gupta is an eminent geneticist and Honorary Emeritus Professor at Ch. Charan Singh University, Meerut, where he has also served as an INSA Senior Scientist. With a career spanning over six decades, he has contributed profoundly to the field of cytogenetics, crop improvement, molecular biology, and biotechnology. His prolific work includes over 500 research publications and more than 25 books, making him one of the most distinguished figures in agricultural genetics in India and internationally.

Profile

Scopus

Education

Professor Gupta’s academic foundation is rooted in biology, having earned a B.Sc. and M.Sc. in Botany from Agra University, securing first division with distinctions. He pursued his Ph.D. in Genetics from the University of Manitoba, Canada, in 1967 under a Commonwealth Scholarship, achieving an impressive 87% score, which laid the groundwork for his groundbreaking research in crop genetics and cytogenetics.

Experience

His professional journey began as a lecturer at Agra University and Gorakhpur University before joining Meerut University (now CCS University) in 1969, where he rose from Reader to Professor and served until 1997. Post-retirement, he continued his scientific contributions through CSIR, UGC, and INSA fellowships and remains associated as an Honorary Emeritus Professor. He has also held honorary positions abroad, including as Honorary Fellow at CIMMYT-BISA and Honorary Research Professor at Murdoch University, Australia. He has delivered invited lectures and collaborated with over 20 leading research institutions globally.

Research Interest

His diverse research interests include cytogenetic studies in cereals and pulses, interspecific hybridization in wheat and barley, molecular marker development, DNA sequence analysis, gene mapping, and genome evolution. He has been a pioneer in using molecular tools such as SSRs, SNPs, RFLPs, and GWAS for studying crop diversity, trait association, and gene tagging. His research also delves into induced mutations, population genetics, and bioinformatics, focusing on practical applications in crop biotechnology and genomics for sustainable agriculture.

Awards

Professor Gupta’s excellence has been recognized with numerous prestigious awards. Notably, he received the “Excellence in Agricultural Research” award by the Association of Biotechnology Led Enterprises (ABLE) in 2013 and the “Outstanding Researcher Award” by the Society for the Promotion of Plant Science Research. Additionally, he was awarded the Birbal Sahni Gold Medal by the Indian Botanical Society and was honored by Meerut University with the “Vishwavidyalaya Gaurav.” He is also a Fellow of all major national science academies in India, including FNA, FASc, FNASc, and FNAAS.

Publications

Among his vast contributions, the following selected publications represent his scientific impact:

  1. Gupta, P.K. (1963). Meiotic studies in some members of the tribe paniceae. Curr. Sci. 32: 180-181.
  2. Gupta, P.K. (1968). Homoeology of a rye (Secale cereale var. Dakold) chromosome. Wheat Inform. Serv. 27: 13-15.
  3. Gupta, P.K. (1969). Cytology of monosomic rye substitutions in wheat. Cytologia 34: 586-592.
  4. Gupta, P.K. and Fedak, G. (1985). Hybrids of Hordeum californicum with Agropyron caninum. Can. J. Genet. Cytol. 27: 381-387.
  5. Gupta, P.K. and Fedak, G. (1985). Genetic control of meiotic pairing in Hordeum polyploids. Can. J. Genet. Cytol. 27: 515-530.
  6. Gupta, P.K. and Fedak, G. (1986). Intergeneric hybrids of triticale and Agropyron intermedium. Can. J. Genet. Cytol. 28: 176-179.
  7. Gupta, P.K., Balyan, H.S. and Fedak, G. (1988). A study of D/R substitutions in triticales. Proc. 7th Int. Wheat Genet. Symp., Cambridge, UK: 297-301.

Each of these has been widely cited in the field, contributing significantly to understanding cytogenetics and hybridization in cereals.

Conclusion

Professor P. K. Gupta stands as a towering figure in Indian agricultural science, revered for his deep insight, vast scholarship, and lifelong dedication to research and education. His work has laid foundational principles in plant genetics and biotechnology and has directly influenced crop improvement strategies in India and beyond. Through his mentorship of over 80 Ph.D. students and enduring involvement in national and international scientific initiatives, he has cemented his legacy as a leader in genetic research. His lifelong passion for knowledge, excellence in teaching, and extensive contributions to global science continue to inspire future generations of plant geneticists and biotechnologists.