Charles Oluwaseun Adetunji is a faculty member in the Microbiology Department within the Faculty of Science at Edo State University Uzairue, Edo State, Nigeria. He employs biological techniques and microbial bioprocesses to advance sustainable development goals and foster agrarian revolution through quality teaching, research, and community development. He previously held roles as the Acting Director of Intellectual Property and Technology Transfer, the Head of the Department of Microbiology, Sub Dean of the Faculty of Science, immediate Dean of the Faculty of Science and is presently serving as the Chairman of the Grant Committee as well as the Director of Research and Innovation at EDSU. He was the first (1st) in the Department of Microbiology at the Faculty of Science, Edo State University, Uzairue, to deliver the 11th Inaugural Lecture, titled "Microbial Biosphere: The Global Impact and Underexplored Currency". He was also elected by the member of senate as a senate representative to search for a new Vice-Chancellor in EDSU. Professor Adetunji commenced his early career at the Nigerian Stored Product Research Institute (NSPRI) in Ilorin, Nigeria, as a Research Officer II and progressed to the position of Principal Scientist. During his tenure at NSPRI, he actively contributed to the development and testing of functional foods, the isolation and characterization of health-promoting components in foods, and the improvement of processes aimed at extending the shelf life of fruits and vegetables while controlling spoilage and foodborne pathogens. He then transitioned to Landmark University, Omu-Aran, where he served as a lecturer in various capacities, engaging in teaching and research. Additionally, he served as a visiting fellow at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel, specializing in Food Safety, and visited the Wageningen Centre for Development and Innovation in the Netherlands. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Biology (UK), the Biotechnology Society of Nigeria, the Nigerian Young Academy, and the Nigerian Society of Microbiology. Additionally, he holds visiting professorships at the Center of Biotechnology, Precious Cornerstone University, Ibadan, and Trinity University, Lagos State. He is an affiliate member of the African Academy of Science. Presently, he serves as an external examiner for numerous academic institutions globally, particularly for Ph.D. and MSc students, including the University of Johannesburg, South Africa, Covenant University, Ota Lagos State, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaira, Landmark University, Kwara State as well as Department of Food Hygiene and Environmental Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, Finland among others. He is an external assessor to the Department of Biotechnology at Addis Ababa University to assist in establishing prima facie of candidates to be promoted to the rank of Full Professor, as well as at the University of Ilorin for the Department of Microbiology, and many other universities worldwide. He was recently appointed as a Visiting Professor at the University of Johannesburg, South Africa, Visiting Professor at the Center of Biotechnology, Federal University of Technology, Abeokuta, Ogun State, Visiting Professor at National Open University of Nigeria and as an instructor at The University of the People, Pasadena, CA, USA. Moreover, He was recently appointment as a member of the Advisory board for College of Agriculture and Natural Sciences by the management of Joseph Ayo Babalola University, Nigeria. He has received numerous scientific awards and grants from prestigious academic bodies such as the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) India, the Department of Biotechnology (DBT) India, The World Academy of Science (TWAS) Italy, Netherlands Fellowship Programme (NPF) Netherlands, The Agency for International Development Cooperation in Israel, Royal Academy of Engineering in the UK, and the National Research Fund (TETFUND), among others. Due to his international recognition and significant contributions to knowledge and scientific impact, Professor Adetunji was recently listed in Stanford University's World Top 2% Scientists Rankings for 2023 while he was also recognized in the prestigious 2024 Career-long List of the World’s Top 2% Scientists, as well as the single-year Most Impactful List of Distinguished Professors globally. He has authored numerous scientific journals and conference proceedings in refereed national and international journals amounting to over 860 manuscripts, including more than 60 books, 547 book chapters, and numerous scientific patents while he had also published many manuscripts in top rated journal such as Lancet. Notably, he holds a Google Scholar of i10-Index of 216. Additionally, he was recently ranked first among the top 500 prolific authors in Nigeria between 2020 till date by SciVal/SCOPUS in Elsevier, Netherland. Moreover, he achieved the top ranking in two distinct fields, Biological Sciences and Agricultural Science, among 500 prolific authors from 58 different countries in Africa in the year 2023 till date. Interestingly, he was also ranked number 1 in Agricultural sciences and Biological among 500 prolific authors in 2024. Currently, he serves as a book series editor with Wiley and Sons, Elsevier, Springer, Taylor and Francis, among others. Professor Adetunji has participated in over 100 international scientific conferences and workshops, assuming various roles such as Invited Speaker, Plenary Speaker, Keynote Speaker, Chief Panelist, Lead Guest Speaker, Chairman of Scientific Sessions, and Judge of Posters, across several continents worldwide. Additionally, he serves as a reviewer for more than 100 scientific journals, including Nature, Communications Earth & Environment in Nature, PLOS One, among others. His contributions to open science and the role his research plays in addressing global challenges were recently acknowledged by Elsevier, particularly after some of his scientific articles were associated with the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Currently, Professor Adetunji holds the positions of President and Chairman of the Governing Council of the Nigerian Bioinformatics and Genomics Network Society. Previously, he had served as the General Secretary of the Nigerian Young Academy, previously chairing the Biological and Health Sciences Working Group for the Nigerian Young Academy. Furthermore, he holds the positions of Assistant General Secretary and National Coordinator for the South-West Nigerian Society for Microbiology. He was recently appointed to the Young Investigator Award Committee by the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, USA. He also serves as the Vice-President and Nigerian Country Director of the Genetics Society of West Africa and as the Director of the International Affiliation and Training Centre for Environmental and Public Health, Research, and Development, situated in Zaria. Moreover, he acts as the immediate past Business Manager and currently the Vice-President for the Biotechnology Society of Nigeria. Prof Adetunji was appointed by the African Union Development Agency-NEPAD Centre of Excellence in Science, Technology, and Innovation (CoE STI) as a senior expert and consultant to facilitate the development of curricula in Biotechnology, Applied Microbiology, Microbiome, and Genome Editing in various African countries, including Nigeria, Ethiopia, Ghana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Malawi, Kenya, among others. He was recently appointed as the Vice Chairman of Technical Expert Committee by Standard Organization of Nigeria on Sugar, Confectionery, Biscuits, and Bakery Products. In recognition of his expertise and extensive experience in the field of Microbiology, Bioinformatics and Biotechnology, Professor Adetunji holds the unique privilege of serving as a Consultant to the Government of the Republic of Serbia in Europe, specifically as a Project Peer Reviewer for the Science Fund in the areas of Microbiology, Nanotechnology, Food Science, and Biotechnology. Also, he was recently appointed as a senior expert by South Africa’s National Research Foundation (NRF) in evaluating the quality, impact and standing of the research portfolio of Scientists in the area of Microbiology that are associated with a Higher Education/Research Institution (HEI) in South Africa (SA). Moreover, he was recently appointed to serve as a reviewer of DSI/NRF South African Research Chair Initiative Programme (SARChI) - Performance of Grant Recipients received by distinguished professors in the area of Biotechnology Innovation & Engagement in South African. Recently, he was appointed as a member of College of Experts from UK to serve as a member of selection committee on Africa Research Excellence Fund to help in timely delivery on its vision of an inspired, committed, and talented community of researchers in Africa leading world-class research and participating equitably in international research endeavors for health and wellbeing. Appointed as the Project Peer Reviewer for Mawazo Fellowship Programme by The Mawazo Institute is a women-led African organisation based in Nairobi, Kenya supporting early-career women researchers as they work to find solutions to local and global development challengesAdditionally, he was recently appointed as the general coordinator and supervisor for the 1000 scientific trials programme by Harvest Harmonics in the USA. In this role, he oversees coordination across 58 countries in Africa, serving as the Country Representative for Nigeria. This appointment underscores the significance of his landmark publications in translational research, his diligent work ethic, and exceptional talents, positioning him as a renowned trailblazer in advancing academics and research in Africa.On a global scale, Professor Adetunji has mentored numerous undergraduate, postgraduate, and post-doctoral students at both national and international universities, including Jawaharlal Nehru University, India, among others. He has provided advice to numerous scientists and serve as a mentor to young researchers on how they could design translational and innovative research. Based on his experience as director of intellectual property at EDSU he has assisted many scientists on how they could file their innovation as well as assisted numerous foundations, specifically, on how to secure funding, grant, scholarship, and awards from non-profit organizations to assist qualified young Nigerians who aspire to pursue science-based disciplines at the advanced levels (Master/Ph.D ) and assist them to get tuition fees and research fund.Raghvendra Raman Mishra, is working as Assistant Professor of Medical Lab. Technology, DDU KAUSHAL KENDRA, RGSC and Warden of Shivalik Hostel (Received Best Hostel Award, since 2016 to 2019) of South Campus, Banaras Hindu University from academic session 2016. Dr. Mishra received his Master’s degree in Biomedical Technology in the year 2005 from Jiwaji University, Gwalior. He had completed his project from Virology Laboratory, School of Life Sciences Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi. He earned his Ph. D. (2009) in Biomedical Technology from Molecular Oncology Laboratory, Department of Surgical Oncology, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi. He then went to Thyrocare Technologies Limited, Navi Mumbai as Officer-Central Processing Lab (2010). In 2011 he joined post doctoral research associate at Bacteriophage Research Lab, Department of Microbiology, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi. Since 2012-2015 he had given his duties as Assistant Professor in an affiliated institute at Department of Biotechnology (Institute Code 641) and appointed as Group Leader of Controller of Examination of Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam Technical University, Lucknow. With these 15 years of research and teaching experiences, his area of specializations are Biomedical Technology, Biotechnology, Bioinformatics, Cancer Biology, Microbiology, Molecular Biology and Food Biotechnology. He had published more than 50 National and International Peer Reviewed Papers. He had received grant from Department of Science and Technology, Government of India funded project of Rapid Grant for Young Investigator (2010). He did course of “General Course on Intellectual Property Right” from World Intellectual Property Organization, (WIPO). He had received Fellowship of University Grant Commission, Indian Council of Medical Research & Council of Scientific and Industrial Research New Delhi at various stage of his research. He is Life Time Member of “The Cytometry Society” Hyderabad & “All India Medical Laboratory Technologists Association” New Delhi and “Society of Bacteriophage” Varanasi. He is an Associate editor of Journal of Applied Pharmaceutical Science and Research (ISSN. 2581-5520) and Editor of special issue of International journal of academic research and development (ISSN. 2395-1737).Pragya Mishra is presently working as Assistant Professor of Food Processing and Management, DDU KAUSHAL Kendra, RGSC, Banaras Hindu University. Dr. Pragya completed her Master degree in Food Technology in the year 2010 from Centre of Food Technology, University of Allahabad with distinction. She did her dissertation research on; “Feasibility studies for enhancement of sensory attributes of pearl millet weaning food by fermentation”, from National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal, Haryana. She had been qualified University Grant Commission National Eligibility Test Examination and awarded by Doctor of Philosophy in Food Technology from Centre of Food Technology, Institute of Professional Studies, University of Allahabad, India in year 2017, title on “Isolation and molecular characterization of edible Spirulina species under different abiotic stress condition and evaluation of their food supplement”. She also worked as Senior Research Fellow of Uttar Pradesh Council of Agricultural Research funded project and applied a patent on Potato flakes energy bar (Application no. - 201711014441). She had received an accession number (GenBank: KM407008.1) from National Center of Biotechnology Information, USA for new isolates of Spirulina maxima species from cyanobacterial isolates collected from the paddy fields of Prayagraj (Soraon) region targeting specific 16sRNA gene. She has published more than 20 international and national papers in peer reviewed journals and 6 edited books and contributed in several chapters in international books. She had received MFPA Technology, 2018, Young Scientist award, organized by Banaras Hindu University. She is Life Time Member “All India Medical Laboratory Technologists Association” New Delhi and “Society of Bacteriophage” Varanasi and member of Association of Food Scientists & Technologists India. Dr. Mishra was Editor of special issue of International journal of academic research and development (ISSN.2395-1737). Juliana Bunmi Adetunji, Ph.D, is a faculty member and the Head of Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Osun State University, Osogbo, Nigeria. Her research interest over the years has focused on nutritional safety of foods and evaluation of medicinal plants in management and maintenance of human health. Her work on phytomedicinal potentials of certain medicinal plants and on food safety has made valuable contributions to ongoing research in the use of alternative remedies for disease management in Africa as well as sustainable food systems for the future. Juliana is a recipient of the Tertiary Educational Fund in Nigeria. She has published several scientific journals and conference proceedings in international and local refereed journals. She is a member of many scientific and professional bodies like Organization for Women in Science in the Developing World, Nigerian Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Nigerian Society of Experimental Biology and Nigeria Bioinformatics and Genetics Network.
