Oluwafemi Ayodeji Adebo is Vice Dean: Global Engagement and Professor of Food Technology at the University of Johannesburg (UJ), South Africa, where he also directs the Centre for Innovative Food Research (CIFR). His research focuses on sustainable food processing, fermentation, food metabolomics, and 3D food printing to enhance nutrition, food security, and health. Listed among the World’s Top 2% Scientists by Stanford University, he has published over 140 journal articles, 29 book chapters, and 2 books (with other books titles in progress), and holds a patent on 3D food printing. Prof. Adebo has secured over ZAR 20 million in research funding and received numerous awards, including the Institute of Food Technologists Emerging Leader Award, NRF Emerging Researcher of the Year, and UJ’s Vice Chancellor’s Distinguished Award. A TWAS Young Affiliate and Member of the South African Young Academy of Science, he serves on editorial boards of leading journals, has delivered keynote talks globally, and actively drives strategic partnerships that advance science and innovation worldwide.

I am Dr. Ghanya Al-Naqeb an Associated Professor of Nutritional Sciences, (Nutrigenomics), a national of Yemen, I have a Ph.D. in Nutritional Sciences (Nutrigenomics) from University Putra Malaysia, Malaysia 2009. as well as a M.Sc. in Nutritional Biochemistry from Universiti Putra Malaysia, Malaysia in 2005, and Nutrition degree, from the University of Damascus, Syria, in 1998. Currently am a senior scientist in the University of Pavia Italy in the Laboratory of Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition, Department of Public Health, Experimental and Forensic Medicine. My research so far is focusing on preclinical investigation on the role of herbal plants, nutrients, functional foods and nutraceuticals in disease prevention (in the area of obesity, oxidative stress, type 2 diabetes, anti-inflammation and cancer) in addition to addressing their toxicology and safety profile. My research experience spans a wide range of methodologies and technologies in green extraction, in vitro and in vivo research, molecular biology research, toxicology, and protein expression. I have gained my scientific experiences from different advanced laboratories in Malaysia.

Mary Amoako (nee Adjepong) is a lecturer and dietician with the Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), in Kumasi, Ghana. At KNUST, she teaches metabolism in health and diseases, nutrition through the human life cycle, and nutrition in emergencies. She holds a Bachelor of Sciences in biochemistry and biotechnology and a Master of Philosophy in human nutrition and dietetics, both from KNUST. She earned a PhD in human nutrition from Michigan State University, East Lansing (US) and a professional certification as a registered dietician with the Allied Health Professions Council, Ghana. She is interested in global nutrition, dietetics, child and maternal nutrition. She received the Borlaug Higher Education in Agricultural Research Development (2014), and the Borlaug Leadership Enhancement in Agriculture Program (2016), both from USAID. She is an early-career fellow of the Organization for Women in Science for the Developing World. In 2023, she received the L'ORÉAL-UNESCO For Women in Science Young Talents Award, for Sub-Saharan Africa, and the Association of Commonwealth Universities Sustainable Development Goals grant.

Noushin Arfatahery is a dynamic researcher and advocate with a Doctor of Biology (PhD) from Freie Universität Berlin, Germany, in collaboration with the Alfred Wegener Institute and Charité University. She also holds a Master’s in Food Microbiology and a Bachelor’s in Medical Science from Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Iran. Her research focuses on aquaculture, microbiology, antibiotic resistance, and sustainable seafood production. She conducted advanced research on the symbiotic interactions of oysters and sea cucumbers during a fellowship at Vancouver Island University, Canada, with a focus on sustainable aquaculture. She presented her work at major international conferences, including the IAFP 2024 in the USA. Dr. Arfatahery was a John Maddox Prize nominee (2017–2019) and a 2022 Aquaculture Award finalist for environmental impact. She is a member of Aquaculture Europe and has published extensively on sustainable aquaculture and seafood safety. Her multidisciplinary expertise and advocacy for women in STEM and food sustainability make her a key contributor to advancing global scientific collaboration.

Mónica Mazariegos is a researcher at the Institute of Nutrition of Central America and Panama (INCAP) Research Center for the Prevention of Chronic Diseases. She obtained a Doctor of Science degree in population nutrition from the National Institute of Public Health in Mexico. She was recently recognized as a Global Health Fellow by the Vanderbilt-Emory-Cornell-Duke Global Health Fellowship Consortium, and as a 2023 Young Scientist Researcher by the Inter-American Network of Academies of Sciences. With over 12 years of experience in nutritional epidemiology, she specializes in the identification and analysis of health challenges from a life-course perspective, applying complex longitudinal data analysis and multilevel approaches in population health. Her research focuses on the epidemiology of all forms of malnutrition, the design and evaluation of nutrition and health policies, maternal and child health, pregnancy and reproductive health across the life-course, and the social and urban determinants of obesity and diabetes. Mazariegos has authored over 25 peer-reviewed publications and continues to contribute to evidence-based solutions for improving the population's health.

Dr. Gomaa Ali is an Associate Prof. at University of Khorfakkan (UAE) and Al-Azhar University (Egypt). He has 17 years of experience working in the research areas of materials science, humidity sensing, graphene, supercapacitors, water treatment, and recycling. He was awarded his Ph.D. from UMP, Malaysia. He is the recipient of some national and international prizes and awards (1. TWAS-AREP (2018), 2. ARSCO Award 2022, 3. MKF-BUE excellence award, BUE (2024), 4. Individuals Award from ASRT, 2021, 5. Obada International Prize (2021), 6. Arab Water Council Award 2022, 7. Gold Medal (Archimedes, Russia, 2014), 8. Green Technology Award (CITREX, Malaysia, 2015), 8. Gold Medal (BIS, UK, 2015). He has been included in Stanford University’s List of the World’s Top 2% of Scientists. He has published over 175 articles and 30 book chapters. So far, he has over 8500 citations and an h-index of 56. He is an Editor of many WoS journals. He is a member of international scientific societies, including TWAS, AAS, ACS, and RSC. He is an Editor of some handbooks, “Waste Recycling Technologies for Nanomaterials Manufacturing” Springer, 2021, Handbook of Biodegradable Materials” Springer, 2022, etc.

New is an associate professor with the School of Pharmacy, University of Nottingham Malaysia (UNM). She obtained a Bachelor of Science (Hon.) in industrial chemistry from the Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, and earned her PhD degree from the National University of Singapore. She then worked as a research scientist at the Institute of Materials Research and Engineering, A*Star, Singapore before taking up her current job at UNM. Her main research interest is in developing DNA-based nanosensors to detect different analytes, such as cancer biomarkers and viral DNA. With computational aid, her group designs DNA probes using simulation algorithm, and then tests them at the bench. Such an approach has reduced random ill-attempts and overall costs, easing sensors customization for different types of targets. She was a Highly Commended Finalist of Women of the Future Southeast Asia, Science, Technology & Digital Category (2020), and received the L’Oréal-UNESCO Fellowship for Women in Science (2021). New is a Young Scientist Network-Academy Science Malaysia affiliate, a member of the Malaysian Institute of Chemistry and of the Committee of Royal Society of Chemistry Malaysia Chapter.

Lydia Rhyman earned her PhD in computational chemistry (2013) from the University of Mauritius, where she is currently a research fellow in the Computational Chemistry Group. Her research interests lie in the use of computational chemistry methods, as a tool that provides insights into chemical systems at molecular levels, to complement experimental results and to solve chemistry-related problems that cannot be assessed at the experimental level. One such example is the characterization of molecular structures and the elucidation of reaction mechanisms. She actively promotes computational chemistry in Africa, as well as science education among girls in secondary schools and at tertiary level. She organises capacity-building activities to encourage students to orient their research toward tackling issues that the African continent is facing. She raises awareness of responsible research practices and integrity. She is an affiliate of the African Academy of Sciences, a member of the Royal Society of Chemistry (UK), the Global Young Academy, and the Commonwealth Chemistry Early Career Network Committee representing the African region.

Prabhat K. Singh is an associate professor with the Radiation and Photochemistry Division of Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Mumbai, India. He received his PhD from Homi Bhabha National Institute (2011) and pursued his postdoctoral work at the University of Pennsylvania, US. His current research interests include ultrafast spectroscopy, supramolecular chemistry, and the use of self-assembled materials to design optical sensors for bio-sensing and chemo-sensing applications. He was honoured with the Young Scientist Award by the Department of Atomic Energy, India (2013), and by the National Academy of Science, India (2017). He served as a member of the Indian National Young Academy of Science (2017–2021) and the National Academy of Sciences, India (2017). He was a Young Associate of the Indian Academy of Sciences, Bangalore (2017–2020) and, since 2023, is a fellow of Maharashtra Academy of Sciences, India. He is also a member of the German Global Young Academy (2020). He has been selected as a Fellow of the Indian Chemical Society and Associate Fellow of the Indian National Science Academy for the year 2023 and has been named a Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry and Biology(UK).

Eric Djomo Nana is a Senior Researcher/Assistant Professor and Head of the Wildlife Research Unit at the Institute of Agricultural Research for Development in Cameroon. He is also currently a Research fellow in the Department of Biology at the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Zoology and a Master of Science in environmental impact assessment from the University of Dschang in Cameroon and a Taught Masters in Parasitology from the University of Yaoundé I in Cameroon. He earned a PhD in ecology from Charles University in Prague, in the Czech Republic. His research interests are in wild meat use and trade and how that affect threatened species, local livelihoods, and facilitate spill over of highly pathogenic viruses. He has published several articles in peer-reviewed impact factor journals and has won several research grants and awards. He is an affiliate of the African Academy of Sciences and The World Academy of Sciences since 2021. He is the current President of Cameroon's chapter of the Society for Conservation Biology. He is also an adjunct professor at the Higher Institute of Environmental Science in Yaounde, Cameroon.

Sabrina Moriom Elias is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Life Sciences at the Independent University, Bangladesh. Her teaching focuses on genomics, bioinformatics, biostatistics and plant biotechnology. She holds a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in biochemistry and molecular biology from the University of Dhaka, Bangladesh. She earned a PhD focusing plant genomics and quantitative genetics from the University of Dhaka. Her research interests are focused on functional genomics studies using gene editing and cloning technologies for development of climate-resilient crops. She worked as a postdoctoral fellow in a continuation of the PhD project and was chosen for the Beachell Borlaug International Scholar impact award from Bayer in 2020. She worked as a researcher in National Jute genome project, Plant Biotechnology Laboratory at Australian National University, as a guest faculty in University of Dhaka, and cBLAST—an online bioinformatics course platform. She is a member of the Global Young Academy and current Secretary of the National Young Academy of Bangladesh.

Carla Eloisa Fernández Espinoza is a Bolivian biologist specializing in freshwater ecology, with a focus on plankton dynamics and high-altitude Andean lakes. Since 2018, she has been a researcher at the Unit of Limnology and Aquatic Resources at the Higher University of San Simón (Universidad Mayor de San Simón, UMSS), Bolivia. She earned her PhD in aquatic resources engineering from Lund University, Sweden, in 2018, supported by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida). Her doctoral research explored the adaptive strategies of daphnids to ultraviolet radiation. Additionally, she holds a Master in environmental sciences, a Diploma in ecology and environment, and a Bachelor in biology, all from UMSS. Her research explores the relationship between plankton dynamics and water quality in extreme environments. For her scientific contributions, she has been awarded with the 2022 Marie Curie Award from the National Academy of Sciences of Bolivia, the 2022 TOYP Cochabamba-Bolivia Award for Leadership and Academic Achievements, and has been selected to represent Bolivia at the 2022 UNESCO-Al Fozan International Prize for the Promotion of Young Scientists.

Koloko Brice Landry is a senior lecturer in molecular biology at the University Institute of Technology, University of Douala, Cameroon, where he earned his BSc and MSc degrees in animal biology. He received his PhD in molecular biology at the Centre of Excellence in Molecular Biology (CEMB), University of the Punjab, Pakistan, under the CEMB-TWAS Postgraduate Fellowship (2016–2020). In 2017, he received the Elsevier Foundation–TWAS Sustainability Case Studies Competition Prize. For his achievements as a young promising scientist, TWAS nominated him to attend the 72nd Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting (in physiology and medicine) in 2023, in Germany. In 2024, he was awarded a fellowship offered by the Committee for International Cooperation and Development from the University of Pavia, Italy. He recently received the 2024 TWAS-DFG Cooperative Visits Programme award from TWAS and DFG (German Research Foundation) to pursue a research collaboration in Germany. His research interests cover the molecular and therapeutic aspects of chronic liver diseases, including viral hepatitis, steatosis, fibrosis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma, using plant-based natural compounds.

Johan David Reyes Chavez is a PhD student at University College Cork in Ireland and a Climate and Innovation Officer at Fundación Ayuda en Acción, Honduras. His research interests are in conservation management, plant biodiversity, biogeographical patters, climate change, and public policy. In recognition of his contributions to the Honduran biodiversity and climate change studies, he was awarded the 2022 Ten Outstanding Young Person award by Junior Chamber International – Honduras in the category of scientific advancements and technology. An Oxford and Cambridge journal author, he has been published in many journals in his field, including Journal of Biogeography, Journal of Tropical Ecology, Plant Ecology, Phytotaxa and Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society.

Cristina Romero-Rodríguez is a professor and head of the Department of Chemical Biology, at the National University of Asunción (UNA), in Paraguay, where she is also an assistant professor of biochemistry. She obtained a degree in biochemistry from the Faculty of Chemical Sciences (UNA). Then she earned a Master of Science in cellular, molecular, and genetic biotechnology, and a PhD in biosciences and agrifood sciences both from the University of Cordoba, Spain. Her research interests are in biological science and focus on the study of plant-microorganism interaction that she investigates through biochemical and proteomic approaches. Romero-Rodríguez is an active member of the National Incentive Program for Researchers of the National Council of Science and Technology of Paraguay. In the last five years, she has participated in seven financed projects (three as principal investigator), which allowed the development of a master's thesis, and the building of capabilities to develop doctoral programs in biological sciences in Paraguay. She serves as an associated editor for Physiological and Molecular Plant Pathology and is a member of the editorial board of other national journals.

Al-Qadhi received her PhD degree with a major in oral biology from Cairo University, Egypt, and her research focuses on tissue regeneration using stem cells derived from oral tissues and evidence-based dentistry, a rare achievement for a woman from Yemen. Her master's project was about the effect of Khat extract on the oral tissues, as the habit of Khat chewing is a major health and social problem in Yemen. She has published several scientific articles in international journals. She received several awards, including the academic distinction for the highest-ranked undergraduate students, and a postgraduate scholarship from the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research in Yemen. She was selected as a TechWomen emerging leader representing her country in the USA in 2014. She had worked as an assistant lecturer at the University of Science and Technology in Yemen. Now, she is looking to pursue her scientific journey as a researcher in stem cells and tissue regeneration in a safe environment where she can improve her technical skills, gain knowledge, and make a positive impact on her community as well as the host institute.

Ahlam Zaid Alkilani, PhD, is an Associate Professor and Dean of the Faculty of Pharmacy at Zarqa University, Jordan. She earned her B.Sc. and M.Sc. in Pharmaceutical Sciences from the University of Jordan and her Ph.D. in Pharmaceutical Technology from Queen’s University Belfast, UK. An expert in polymeric and nanoparticle-based transdermal drug delivery systems, she has authored numerous high-impact publications, achieving an H-index of 20 and ~3,000 citations. Her pioneering work has earned prestigious honors, including the L’Oréal–UNESCO For Women in Science Award (Levant Region) in 2024 and selection to the TWAS Young Affiliates Program (2023–2028). She has also received Best Poster Awards at leading international conferences. Through her leadership, research, and mentorship, Dr. Alkilani is advancing pharmaceutical innovation and inspiring the next generation of scientists.

Alexander Birbrair received his bachelor’s degree in biomedicine from Santa Cruz State University in Brazil. He completed his PhD in neuroscience at the Wake Forest School of Medicine. Then, he joined as a postdoc in stem cell biology at Albert Einstein School of Medicine in New York. His laboratory is interested in understanding how the cellular components of different tissues function and control disease progression. His group explores the roles of specific cell populations in the tissue microenvironment by using state-of-the-art techniques. In 2018, Alexander was elected affiliate member of the Brazilian Academy of Sciences, and, in 2019, he was elected member of the Global Young Academy, and in 2021, he was elected affiliate member of TWAS. He is the Founding Editor and Editor-in-Chief of Current Tissue Microenvironment Reports, and Associate Editor of Molecular Biotechnology. Alexander also serves on the editorial boards of several other international journals.

Dr. Chika Ejikeugwu is a Fellow of the Alexander von Humboldt-Stiftung (AvH) in Germany and currently serves as a Senior Research Fellow at the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research, Leipzig, Germany. He is also the founder of the online microbiology education platform www.MicrobiologyClass.net, dedicated to advancing microbiology learning and research. He previously held a DAAD Postdoctoral Fellowship at the Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing (BAM), Berlin, Germany (2021). He is currently a COFUND Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Fellow under Horizon Europe, funded by the European Union. His first postdoctoral training was on HIV-1 at the Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan (2018), supported by the Matsumae International Foundation Postdoctoral Fellowship in Tokyo. He earned his PhD in Pharmaceutical Microbiology and Biotechnology from Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Nigeria. In addition to his international research engagements, Dr. Ejikeugwu is a Senior Lecturer at Enugu State University of Science & Technology, Nigeria, where he mentors undergraduate and postgraduate students in microbiology. His research interests span antimicrobial resistance & One Health.