Microbial Ecology & Eco Systems

Dr. Lazarovits was employed as a Research Scientist at Agriculture and Agrifood Canada from 1978 until 2010 and retired at a research scientist 5 level. He accepted the position as Research Director of a newly found company A&L Biologicals, a company dedicated to serving the needs of Canadian and International growers with services and research related to developing bio-rationale agro-ecosystems. Dr. Lazarovits’ research over the last decade has focused on examining plant health from an ecological perspective where both beneficial and detrimental organisms in soil are considered to affect plant vigor. He developed innovative model systems for studying soil processes and interactions between microorganisms and plants, as well each other. He serves on committees of Environment Canada and is a member of the UN Ozone Secretariat regulating the phase out of methyl bromide (MBTOC). Dr. Lazarovits was president of the Canadian Phytopathological Society. He was an active researcher and was a team leader with Agriculture and Agrifood Canada for over 32 years.

Developing bio-rationale agro-ecosystems

Dr. Beverly Ramsey has completed her M.S. and Ph.D. from the University of Tennessee-Knoxville in Systems Ecology. Dr. Ramsey is the Executive Director for the Division of Earth and Ecosystem Science, at the Desert Research Institute, the environmental research arm of the Nevada System of Higher Education (2014 – Present). Previously, Dr. Ramsey began her career as a Research Scientist at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory. There she participated in the preparation of the first Environmental Impact Statement. Her research concentrated in the transport, fate and ecological/environmental, and effects of radioactive, hazardous and biological agents and hazardous materials. Dr. Ramsey also has completed a number of Certificate Programs in Integrative Medicine from the University of Arizona, College of Medicine.

Environmental Science

Bruce A. Fowler has completed his PhD at 1972 from University of Oregon Medical School. He has served as Assistant Professor to Professor in various Universities including University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, NC, University of Maryland at Baltimore etc. He is the director of Federal Legislative and NARFE-PAC Chair-Rockville. He has published more than 25 papers in reputed journals and has been serving as an editorial board member of repute.

Development of molecular biomarkers, Translation of computational toxicology .

As a government scholar, Professor Chen received his university education (both B.Sc. and D.Sc.) from Universite Catholique de Louvain in Belgium. Professor Chen joined NTU as an Associate Professor in 2002, and received his tenure award (Associate Professor) in 2008. He was promoted to tenured Full Professor of Biomolecular Engineering in 2011. At the University level, Professor Chen is the Director of the Food Science & Technology Programme. He is concurrently in charge of the Graduate Education Office at Nanyang Environment & Water Resource Institute (NEWRI). Professor Chen was honoured at the 2010 NTU convocation with the “Inspirational Mentorship”, in recognition of his effort in guiding the top undergraduate student in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering to be the recipient of both Lee Kuan Yew Gold Medal and Koh Boon Hwee Scholar’s Awards. In addition to teaching and research, Professor Chen has made dedicated service contributions to School of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering, NTU and Singapore society at large.

1. Biomolecular Engineering for Environment-Host Interactions 2.Proteomics Platform for Clinical Biomarkers 3.Metabolic and Microbial Engineering for Valuable Chemicals 4.Environmental Engineering for Resource Recovery 5.Sustainable Production of Food Ingredients

Dr. Charles Trick has completed his PhD in Oceanography from University of British Columbia in 1982. He is the Beryl Ivey Chair for Ecosystem Health and Professor in Department of Biology and in Department of Microbiology and Immunology at University of Western Ontario, Canada. He has recently completed an UNU-INWEH assessment in the Persian Gulf and continues his research in harmful algal blooms. Dr. Charles Trick is a member of American Society of Limnology and Oceanography (ASLO), American Geophysical Union (AGU) and founding member of International Society for the Study of Harmful Algae (ISSHA).

Ecology of phytoplankton in oceans, the Effect of Iron-complexing Ligands on Iron Availability to Phytoplankton in HNLC Waters of the Subarctic Pacific Ocean

Dr. Maria Dittrich currently holds the position of Associated Professor in the Department of Physical & Environmental Sciences, University of Toronto Scarborough and associate graduate faculty at the Centre for Environment.

Environmental geochemistry of aquatic systems, biogeochemistry, geomicrobiology, modelling of early diagenesis.

Born in Catania in 1953, April 15, Degree in Biological Sciences in 1975, in Medicine and Surgery in 1983, Graduate Diploma in Microbiology and Virology, member of the Order of Physicians and Dentists of Province of Catania from 1984. Since 1987 Associate Professor, since 2002 Full Professor of Microbiology (sector MED/07), Head of an Operative Unit (Regional Reference Laboratory for Microbiology Opportunistic Infections) near Provincial Health Authority of Catania since 1995. Professor of Microbiology and Clinical Microbiology for Courses of Degree in Medicine and Surgery, Dentistry, and several Graduate Schools, carries out her teaching, research and clinical activity in full-time at the Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences of University of Catania. Component of Administrative Board of the University of Catania from 2008, is component of Committee of Teachers in Research Doctorate in Translational Medicine. Reviewer for MIUR, member of SIM (Italian Society of Microbiology), member of A.I.D.M. (Italian Society of Clinician Women) and component of a Committee on non-conventional Medicine, member of C.I.O. (Committee on Hospital Infections) by Sanitary Department of Province of Catania. In the past years, component of several Regional and Ministerial Committees, delegate of Italian Association of Clinical Microbiology (AMCLI) for Sicily, component of different examination committees for different rules at University.

Antibiotics and Clinical Microbiology

Dr. Sunil Kumar Lal is Professor of Microbiology, School of Science, Monash University, Sunway Campus, Malaysia (Aug. 2014 – present). He is working on Viruses from past 25 years. Dr. Sunil Kumar Lal has published 100+ publications and 3 books. He has conferred Hind Ratna Award, Highest NRI Civilian Honor by the Govt. of India (2016). He has also been awarded as International Ambassador of the year 2006 from the American Society for Microbiology, Washington DC. Dr. Lal has been bestowed with many Awards and honors that includes Regional Ambassador for 9 consecutive years (2002-2011)from American Society for Microbiology, 11th ICID New Investigator award by International Society for Infectious Diseases, Young Investigators Award 2002 from the Asia-Pacific Association for the Study of Liver (APASL).

Molecular Virology and Emerging Infectious Diseases. Molecular Biology of Host-Virus interactions. Genomic, transcriptomic and proteomic approaches to understanding host-virus relationships. Cell Death and Suvival pathways. Cell signalling and cell cycle progression. Cellular NF-kB, Enolase/S100A8, ubiquitin ligase and chaperone mediated modulation of host pathways by influenza viruses. Viral strategies to overcome host innate immune responses

Prof. Ismail Mehrez Ibrahim Shalaby has completed his Ph. D. at the age of 31 years from The University College of North Wales, GB. And postdoctoral studies at the University of Portsmouth, School of Biological Science, England, GB. He is now a full professor at both Taif University, KSA, and Suez Canal University, Egypt. He has published over 60 papers in reputed journals. He has carried out several research projects in his disciplines. He has been chosen as an editor for several journals boards. He has been a full professor since 1997.

Parasitology

Dr. Fatme Al Anouti is an associate professor at Zayed University Department of Natural Science and Public Health, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. She is the Assistant Dean of the College of Natural and Health Sciences. She holds a PhD degree in Clinical Biochemistry and M.Sc in Clinical Chemistry and another in medical Microbiology and Immunology. Her current research looks into the biochemical and genetic basis of Vitamin D Deficiency among UAE nationals. She also studies the use of molecular tools as drug based methods for the treatment of microbial diseases. She has recently been awarded the Abu Dhabi Medical Distinction Award for research contributions in public health field pertaining to vitamin D studies within the UAE. She has numerous publications and presentations at international and national conferences and is a member of many professional organizations like the American Association of Clinical Chemistry and the UAE Genetic Diseases Association.

Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Biotechnology

Prof Lise Korsten is a full professor in the Department of Microbiology and Plant Pathology at the University of Pretoria (UP). Prof Lise Korsten has more than 20 years of experience working on fresh produce focusing on postharvest disease, food safety and disease diagnostics using molecular methods. She has published 73 peer-reviewed papers and 11 invited book chapters and has also compiled two series of books for the FAO covering horticultural supply chain management and food safety in selected fruit and vegetable chains.

Mushroom health and safety, Fresh Produce Food Safety, Biological control of citrus and tropical fruit diseases, Postharvest fruit pathology

Agronomist graduated at the Federal University of Paraíba, Brazil (1987), Master in Plant Pathology in the Federal University of Viçosa, Brazil (1994) and PhD in Plant Pathology at University of São Paulo, Brazil, in 2008. Researcher of the Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation-EMBRAPA, works at Embrapa Cotton, where develops researches on cotton diseases, epidemiology and control of gray mold of castor bean and diseases of sisal. Was Deputy Head of Research and Development at Embrapa Cotton and it is currently member of the Executive Committee of the Asociación Latinoamericana de Investigación y Desarrollo del Algodón and of the Executive Committee of the International Cotton Researchers Association.

Plant Pathology

Prof. Elasayed Elsayed Wagih (Ph.D, DIC, CIDTT) is a Professor of Virology and Biotechnology and Vice President of the Arab Society for Biotechnology. He was born in Alexandria, Egypt, on the 21st of November, 1946. In 1970, he received a B.Sc. in Plant Pathology from University of Alexandria and in 1975 he gained an M.Sc. degree in Plant Bacterial Diseases from the same university. In 1981, he received a PhD degree in Virology from the Imperial College of Science (Technology and Medicine), University of London and was awarded in the same year a DIC from the Royal College of Science. In March 2008, he earned The Cambridge International Diploma for Teaching and Training (CIDTT) from University of Cambridge, United Kingdom. Since June 26, 1992, Prof. Wagih has been working as Professor of Plant Pathology and Biotechnology in the Department of Plant Pathology, College of Agriculture,University of Alexandria, Egypt. He is the former Head of the Department and former Vice Director of research of the Biotechnology Centre of the College. He harvested a number of local and international awards, prizes and certificates of appreciation, the last most important of which was the "Highest National Award for Scientific Research Achievement" awarded by The Egyptian Academy of Science and Technology in 1998. Prof. Wagih served as a member of the National Committee for Promoting University Faculty for five successive years. He is also the former Representative of North Africa and a Board Member of the Governing Council of the African Crop Science Society (ACSS) for three successive interims. He has published over 80 papers most of them in reputable journals and is currently serving as Editor-In-Chief of the International Journal of Virology.

Virology and Biotechnology

Dr. Aly I. N.Abdel-Aal is professor of Soils and Water management work at Soil, Water & Environment Research institute, ”SWERI” Agricultural Research Centre “ARC”, Egypt. I have B.SC. Soil Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Zagazig University (1983), Post graduate Diploma & Master (Irrigation Science) from International Centre for Advanced Mediterranean Agricultural Studies (ICAMAS), Bari, Italy (1988) and PhD Degree, Faculty of Agriculture, Cairo University (1995). I have been working for Field Drainage Department Research since 1986 at the SWERI start from Research Assistant the promoted to Researcher, Assistant Professor and Professor (2005). Director of Agricultural Research Station at the southern part of Egypt, (Toshka) 1998 - 2010 to manage Agricultural Research activities in dry and extremely hot environmental conditions. Head of Research for the Drainage Department was in 2008 followed by Deputy Director of SWERI (2010-2011). I have been a Director of the institute SWER from 2013 to 2014. Take over presidency of the General Authority for Agrarian Reform in 2011 and then President of the General Authority for Rehabilitation Projects and Agricultural Development from 2011 to 2013. Then prime sector authorities and affairs of the Office Minister of Agriculture from 2014 to 2015 Participate in the preparation and implementation of projects related to agricultural development and the membership of the boards of directors of many organizations and official authorities in Egypt. Principal investigator of the effect of Sea Water Intrusion, Nile Delta project. Supervising scientific and research projects related to the development and improve the soils productivity and improve drainage conditions of waterlogged land in the northern areas of the delta. Participate in many international conferences for research in the areas of soils and water management with the climate change and its relationship to the productivity of crops. Published more than 60 scientific papers and articles.

Sea Water Intrusion, soils and water management with the climate change

Dr. Lazarovits was employed as a Research Scientist at Agriculture and Agrifood Canada from 1978 until 2010 and retired at a research scientist 5 level. He accepted the position as Research Director of a newly found company A&L Biologicals, a company dedicated to serving the needs of Canadian and International growers with services and research related to developing bio-rationale agro-ecosystems. Dr. Lazarovits’ research over the last decade has focused on examining plant health from an ecological perspective where both beneficial and detrimental organisms in soil are considered to affect plant vigor. He developed innovative model systems for studying soil processes and interactions between microorganisms and plants, as well each other. He serves on committees of Environment Canada and is a member of the UN Ozone Secretariat regulating the phase out of methyl bromide (MBTOC). Dr. Lazarovits was president of the Canadian Phytopathological Society. He was an active researcher and was a team leader with Agriculture and Agrifood Canada for over 32 years.

Developing bio-rationale agro-ecosystems

Prof. Elasayed Elsayed Wagih (Ph.D, DIC, CIDTT) is a Professor of Virology and Biotechnology and Vice President of the Arab Society for Biotechnology. He was born in Alexandria, Egypt, on the 21st of November, 1946. In 1970, he received a B.Sc. in Plant Pathology from University of Alexandria and in 1975 he gained an M.Sc. degree in Plant Bacterial Diseases from the same university. In 1981, he received a PhD degree in Virology from the Imperial College of Science (Technology and Medicine), University of London and was awarded in the same year a DIC from the Royal College of Science. In March 2008, he earned The Cambridge International Diploma for Teaching and Training (CIDTT) from University of Cambridge, United Kingdom. Since June 26, 1992, Prof. Wagih has been working as Professor of Plant Pathology and Biotechnology in the Department of Plant Pathology, College of Agriculture,University of Alexandria, Egypt. He is the former Head of the Department and former Vice Director of research of the Biotechnology Centre of the College. He harvested a number of local and international awards, prizes and certificates of appreciation, the last most important of which was the "Highest National Award for Scientific Research Achievement" awarded by The Egyptian Academy of Science and Technology in 1998. Prof. Wagih served as a member of the National Committee for Promoting University Faculty for five successive years. He is also the former Representative of North Africa and a Board Member of the Governing Council of the African Crop Science Society (ACSS) for three successive interims. He has published over 80 papers most of them in reputable journals and is currently serving as Editor-In-Chief of the International Journal of Virology.

Virology and Biotechnology