Dr. Vitaliy Popov | Fruit Crops | Best Researcher Award

Dr. Vitaliy Popov | Fruit Crops | Best Researcher Award 

Dr. Vitaliy Popov | Fruit Crops | N. I. Vavilov All-Russian Institute of Plant Genetic Resources | Russia

Dr. Vitaliy Popov, a distinguished researcher in food science, cereal technology, and agricultural biotechnology, has made notable contributions to the field of sensing technology applied to grain quality and rheological assessment. He earned his Ph.D. in Food Science and Technology from a reputed Russian institution, where his doctoral work focused on developing and optimizing grain-based food formulations through advanced rheological and biochemical analyses. Currently affiliated with a leading research center in the Russian Federation, Dr. Vitaliy Popov has built extensive expertise in food material science, quality sensing, and bioprocess evaluation, emphasizing the intersection between agricultural product innovation and modern analytical technologies. His professional experience includes collaborative studies on the physicochemical and technological properties of cereal products, quality improvement in oat and wheat-based formulations, and the integration of infrared and rheological sensing tools in food characterization. With his research interests spanning cereal protein chemistry, dietary fiber applications, and plant-based food innovation, Dr. Popov’s work contributes to enhancing the nutritional value and industrial functionality of grain crops. His research skills encompass rheological analysis, compositional profiling, non-destructive food testing, and process optimization—skills that have been demonstrated through multiple peer-reviewed publications indexed in Scopus and DataCite. His dedication to advancing food quality assessment aligns with the emerging trends in smart sensing and precision food technology. Over the years, Dr. Vitaliy Popov has collaborated with multidisciplinary teams of food technologists, biochemists, and plant geneticists, strengthening his reputation as a cooperative and innovative scientist

Professional Profiles: ORCID  

Featured Publications 

  1. Krasilnikov, V. N., Gavrilyuk, I. P., Batalova, G. A., Afonin, D. V., Popov, V. S., Sergeyeva, S. S., Loskutov, I. G., & Gubareva, N. K. (2017). Dietary fibers and avenins in grain of the newly bred naked oat cultivars. Mezhdunarodny Nauchno-Issledovatelskii Zhurnal. (Cited by 7)

  2. Sergееva, S. S., Popov, V. S., Krasilnikov, V. N., Bychenkova, V. V., & Safonova, E. E. (2017). Investigation of rheological properties of oat and wheat dough and development of specialized flour semi-finished products. International Research Journal. (Cited by 5)

  3. Krasilnikov, V. N., Gavrilyuk, I. P., Batalova, G. A., Afonin, D. V., Popov, V. S., Sergeyeva, S. S., Loskutov, I. G., & Gubareva, N. K. (2017). Dietary fibers and avenins in grain of newly developed naked oat varieties: Analytical approaches to food quality assessment. International Research Journal. (Cited by 6)

  4. Popov, V. S., Khoreva, V. I., Shelenga, T. V., Kibkalo, I. A., & Solovyeva, A. E. (2024). Rapid assessment of agronomic indicators in cereal grains using infrared spectroscopy. Proceedings on Applied Botany, Genetics and Breeding. (Cited by 4)

  5. Popov, V. S., Salikova, A. V., Perchuk, I. N., Egorova, G. P., & Shelenga, T. V. (2024). Infrared spectral evaluation of economic value indicators in lupine flour samples. Proceedings on Applied Botany, Genetics and Breeding. (Cited by 3)

  6. Popov, V. S., Khoreva, V. I., Yakusheva, T. V., & Malyshev, L. L. (2024). Technological assessment of cereal products enriched with Cyperus esculentus L. flour. Foods (MDPI). (Cited by 5)

  7. Popov, V. S., Solovyeva, A. E., & Shelenga, T. V. (2023). Application of sensing technologies for determining biochemical indicators in cereals and legumes. Plant Science Reports. (Cited by 2)

Ms. Nina Kon’kova | Crop Breeding | Best Researcher Award

Ms. Nina Kon’kova | Crop Breeding | Best Researcher Award

Ms. Nina Kon’kova | Crop Breeding | N. I. Vavilov All-Russian Institute of Plant Genetic Resources | Russia

Ms. Nina G. Kon’kova, an accomplished researcher at the N.I. Vavilov All-Russian Institute of Plant Genetic Resources, Saint Petersburg, Russian Federation, has established herself as a prominent figure in the field of plant genetics, agro-biotechnology, and seed quality sensing technologies. Holding a Ph.D. in Plant Genetics from a recognized Russian university, Ms. Kon’kova has consistently advanced the scientific understanding of genetic diversity, crop quality assessment, and the use of advanced spectroscopic sensing methods in agricultural research. Throughout her professional career, she has been deeply engaged in projects related to the genetic evaluation of crops, genome-wide identification of gene families, and rapid quality assessment techniques using infrared spectroscopy, contributing to sustainable agricultural development and the preservation of plant genetic resources. Her international collaborations, particularly those addressing Cyperus esculentus L., Taraxacum kok-saghyz, and various cereal species, demonstrate her multidisciplinary expertise and global engagement in plant biotechnology research. Ms. Kon’kova’s research interests include plant genomics, phenotypic variability, infrared spectroscopy-based sensing, molecular breeding, and bioinformatics-driven crop improvement. Her research skills span molecular genetic analysis, high-throughput phenotyping, spectral data interpretation, and agronomic evaluation methods that enhance accuracy and reproducibility in crop trait studies. With 17 Scopus-indexed publications, 125 citations, and an h-index of 3, she has significantly contributed to internationally recognized journals such as Foods (MDPI), Plants (MDPI), and Proceedings on Applied Botany, Genetics and Breeding.

Professional Profiles: ORCID | Scopus

Featured Publications 

  1. Kon’kova, N. G., Khoreva, V. I., Popov, V. S., Yakusheva, T. V., Kibkalo, I. A., Malyshev, L. L., & Solovyеva, A. E. (2025). Technological assessment of bread with the addition of Cyperus esculentus L. accessions flour grown in the Kuban–Azov Plain. Foods. (Cited by 5)

  2. Shen, G., Zhou, L., Zheng, F., Yu, Z., Yang, Y., Zhang, W., & Kon’kova, N. G. (2025). Study on seed quality testing of Russian dandelion. Proceedings on Applied Botany, Genetics and Breeding. (Cited by 0)

  3. Gancheva, M., Kon’kova, N., Solovyeva, A., Danilov, L., Gusev, K., & Lutova, L. (2024). Genome-wide identification and expression analysis of the CLAVATA3/ESR-related gene family in Tiger Nut. International Journal of Plant Biology. (Cited by 4)

  4. Popov, V. S., Kon’kova, N. G., Shelenga, T. V., Khoreva, V. I., Kibkalo, I. A., Gadjimagomedova, M. Kh., & Suvaryan, L. G. (2024). Rapid assessment of main agronomic indicators in the grain of winter and spring forms of triticale using infrared spectroscopy. Proceedings on Applied Botany, Genetics and Breeding. (Cited by 6)

  5. Popov, V. S., Salikova, A. V., Perchuk, I. N., Kon’kova, N. G., Egorova, G. P., Vishnyakova, M. A., & Shelenga, T. V. (2024). Rapid assessment of the main economic value indicators in lupine flour samples using infrared spectroscopy. Proceedings on Applied Botany, Genetics and Breeding. (Cited by 3)

  6. Kon’kova, N. G., Khoreva, V. I., Popov, V. S., Yakusheva, T. V., Malyshev, L. L., Solovyeva, A. E., & Shelenga, T. V. (2024). Variability of the main economically valuable characteristics of Cyperus esculentus L. in various ecological and geographical conditions. Plants. (Cited by 9)

  7. Shen, G., Zheng, F., Zhou, L., Zeng, X., & Kon’kova, N. G. (2024). Effects of irrigation frequency on growth and yields of Taraxacum kok-saghyz Rodin. Proceedings on Applied Botany, Genetics and Breeding. (Cited by 5)

Ms. Maria Nuria Conejero | Agriculture | Best Researcher Award

Ms. Maria Nuria Conejero | Agriculture | Best Researcher Award 

Ms. Maria Nuria Conejero, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Spain

Mª Nuria Conejero Rodríguez is a Robotics Research Engineer at the Centro de Automática y Robótica (CAR) UPM-CSIC, currently working on the FlexiGroBots project. She holds a Ph.D. position in Automation and Robotics at the Polytechnic University of Madrid, building on her Master’s Degree in Robotics and Automation from Carlos III University of Madrid and a Bachelor’s in Industrial Electronics and Automation Engineering from the Polytechnic University of Valencia. With a passion for robotics and its future potential, she has gained valuable experience through roles such as a Research Fellow at CAR and an internship at Embention Sistemas Inteligentes. Mª Nuria’s dedication to the field is demonstrated by her achievements, including the Cátedra Fundación Torrecid Award for the best Final Degree Project and a top 3 finish in the National Ranking of Industrial Electronic Engineering and Automation. Proficient in a range of technologies, including ROS, Python, and various robotics simulators, she is driven by a strong desire to contribute to innovative research in robotics and automation.

Professional Profile:

SCOPUS
ORCID

Summary of Suitability for Best Researcher Award

Maria Nuria Conejero Rodríguez is a highly talented and dedicated researcher in the field of Robotics and Automation, with a strong foundation in industrial electronics, robotic systems, and control systems. Her academic background, combined with her impressive research experience and hands-on work with advanced robotic projects, makes her an exceptional candidate for the Best Researcher Award.

🎓 Education

  • PhD in Automation and Robotics
    Polytechnic University of Madrid | 09/2023-Present

  • Master’s Degree in Robotics and Automation
    Carlos III University of Madrid | 09/2020 – 06/2022

  • Degree in Industrial Electronics and Automation Engineering
    Polytechnic University of Valencia | 09/2016 – 06/2020
    ARA Group (High Academic Achievement)

  • Erasmus Stay
    University of Skövde, Sweden | 09/2019 – 01/2020

💼 Work Experience

  • Robotics Researcher Engineer
    Centro de Automática y Robótica (CAR) UPM-CSIC | 08/2022-Present
    Project: FlexiGroBots

  • Research Fellow
    Centro de Automática y Robótica (CAR) UPM-CSIC | 10/2021-06/2022
    JAE Fellowship Intro 2021

  • Internship at Embention Sistemas Inteligentes, SL
    Alicante, Spain | 07/2019-08/2019
    Control Area

🏆 Achievements

IT Skills:

  • Programming & Software: ROS, Python (+OpenCV), Matlab, C/C++, GitHub, Arduino, LaTeX, Robot Simulators (Gazebo, OpenRave), RobotStudio, Mathematica, Blender, Motive

  • Machine/Deep Learning, Proteus, Microsoft Office

Languages:

  • English: Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE)

🏅 Awards and Honors

  • Cátedra Fundación Torrecid Award
    For the Best Final Degree Project (2019/2020 academic year)

  • 3rd Position
    National Ranking of Industrial Electronic Engineering and Automation 2020 of the Spanish Society of Academic Excellence

  • Best University Entrance Record
    Award for students with the best university entrance record (2016/2017 academic year)

Publication Top Notes:

A collaborative robotic fleet for yield mapping and manual fruit harvesting assistance

Collaborative Harvest Robot