Dr. Hilaire Kpongbe | Chemical Ecology Awards | Excellence in Research Award

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Dr. Hilaire Kpongbe | Chemical Ecology Awards | Excellence in Research Award

Dr. Hilaire Kpongbe, International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Benin

Dr. Hilaire Kpongbe is an accomplished entomologist and chemical ecologist specializing in integrated pest management and nature-based surveillance systems. With a Ph.D. in Environmental Sciences from North-West University, South Africa, and an MSc in Agricultural Entomology from the University of Abomey-Calavi, Benin, he has over a decade of interdisciplinary research experience across Africa. Dr. Kpongbe’s work focuses on semiochemical tools for sustainable pest control, aiming to reduce reliance on harmful insecticides while improving crop protection. He has held research and leadership roles at premier institutions including ICIPE and IITA, coordinated international projects, published scientific papers, and mentored PhD students. Notable recognitions include the DAAD Postdoctoral Fellowship and the ICIPE Governing Council Prize. He is also an active member of several professional entomology associations and serves as a peer reviewer for international journals.

Professional Profile:

ORCID

Summary of Suitability for Excellence in Research Award – Dr. Hilaire Kpongbe

Dr. Hilaire Kpongbe exemplifies Excellence in Research through his impactful work in entomology, chemical ecology, and integrated pest management, addressing real-world agricultural and environmental challenges. With over a decade of multidisciplinary research experience across prestigious institutions such as the International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (ICIPE) and the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Dr. Kpongbe has consistently demonstrated scientific innovation, leadership, and global collaboration.

🎓 Education

  • Ph.D. in Environmental Sciences (Behavioral and Chemical Ecology)
    North-West University, South Africa – Oct 2019
    🧪 Thesis: Insect behaviors & chemical ecology (plant-insect interactions)

  • M.Sc. in Agricultural Entomology (IPM)
    University of Abomey-Calavi, Benin – June 2014
    🌾 Focus: Integrated pest management and plant protection

  • B.Sc. in Life Sciences (Chemistry, Biology & Ecology)
    Université d’Abomey, Benin – Dec 2009
    🔬 Emphasis: Ecology of insects and plants

💼 Work Experience

  • Postdoctoral Fellow
    International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (icipe), Kenya – Apr 2023 to Jan 2025
    🌿 Developed nature-based pest surveillance systems using semiochemicals
    🔍 Pheromone trap testing, plant odor analysis, GC/MS, insect rearing, and student supervision

  • Laboratory Manager
    International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Benin – Jan 2021 to Jan 2023
    🧫 Managed behavioral assays, lab equipment, and GC/MS operations

  • Consultant
    CIRAD, SGPI, IITA, icipe – Multiple periods (2019–2025)
    🧪 Expertise in pesticide residue analysis, environmental audits, and biocontrol strategies
    🌍 Worked across Kenya, Benin, Nigeria, Ghana, and Burkina Faso

  • DAAD Postdoctoral Fellow
    IITA, Benin – Oct 2021 to Sept 2022
    🧲 Validated aggregation pheromones and tested compatibility with natural enemies

  • PhD Research Fellow
    icipe, Kenya – Oct 2015 to Nov 2019
    🐛 Discovered and analyzed semiochemicals; led genetic studies on stink bugs
    🧬 Techniques: DNA extraction, PCR, GC/MS, EAD

🏆 Awards & Honors

  • 🥇 2021 – DAAD Postdoctoral Fellowship

  • 🏅 2019 – icipe Governing Council Prize for Best PhD Science Paper ($200)

  • 🎓 2017–2018 – International Bursary from North-West University, South Africa ($10,200)

🤝 Professional Affiliations

  • 🌍 Member, African Association of Insect Sciences (AAIS) (2021–Present)

  • 🐞 Member, Society of Entomologists of Benin (SERB) (2015–Present)

  • 🌱 Member, IITA Plant Health Network (2020–2022)

  • 📝 Peer Reviewer, International Journal of Tropical Insect Science (2023–Present)

Publication Top Notes:

Exploring levels of egg parasitism and variation in egg cuticular chemistry in different Clavigralla spp.

Isopentyl butanoate: aggregation pheromone of the brown spiny bug, Clavigralla tomentosicollis(Hemiptera: Coreidae), and Kairomone for the egg parasitoid Gryon sp. (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae)

Dr. Bingwan Liu | Ecosystem | Best Researcher Award

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Dr. Bingwan Liu | Ecosystem | Best Researcher Award

Dr. Bingwan Liu, Northeast Forestry University, China

Dr. Liu Bingwan is an Associate Professor at the College of Wildlife and Preserved Area, Northeast Forestry University, specializing in wildlife ecology and management, with a particular focus on animal behavior. He obtained his Ph.D. in Ecology from the Graduate School of the Chinese Academy of Sciences in 2002 and his B.S. in Biology from Shandong Normal University in 1997. Dr. Liu’s research primarily revolves around the Mongolian gazelle, with extensive studies on habitat selection, food composition, foraging strategies, and behavioral rhythms, particularly around Hulun Lake in Inner Mongolia, China. His work also explores the intersection of local traditional culture and biodiversity conservation. Since 2009, Dr. Liu has expanded his research to wild boars and their damage control measures in Hunchun Natural Reserve in Jilin Province, as well as biodiversity conservation in the Liang Shui National Natural Reserve in Heilongjiang Province. He has authored more than 80 research papers and contributed to five books. His notable publications include studies on the effects of group size on gazelle vigilance, winter habitat selection, and the effectiveness of electronic fences in wild boar control. Dr. Liu is dedicated to the conservation of wildlife and has made significant contributions to understanding the dynamics between wildlife and human impact.

Professional Profile:

SCOPUS

🏆 Summary of Suitability for Best Researcher Award: Dr. Liu Bingwan

Dr. Liu Bingwan is a distinguished researcher and academic whose contributions to wildlife ecology and biodiversity conservation are of significant value. His multifaceted research expertise, particularly in the ecology of Mongolian gazelle and wild boar management, as well as his pioneering work in biodiversity conservation, strongly support his candidacy for the Research for Best Researcher Award. Below are the key factors that highlight his suitability

Education 🎓

  • Ph.D. in Ecology (2002)
    Graduate School of Chinese Academy of Sciences

  • B.S. in Biology (1997)
    Shandong Normal University

Work Experience 🧑‍🏫

  • Associate Professor
    College of Wildlife and Preserved Area, Northeast Forestry University

  • Researcher
    Focus on wildlife ecology, Mongolian gazelle, wild boar behavior, and biodiversity conservation around Hulun Lake, Inner Mongolia, and other natural reserves.

Research Interests 🌱

  • Wildlife Ecology & Management

  • Animal Behavior

  • Habitat selection, foraging strategy, and grassland fence effects on Mongolian gazelles

  • Human-livestock interaction and wildlife habitat selection

  • Damage control of wild boars in Hunchun natural reserve for tigers

  • Biodiversity conservation and management at Liang Shui national natural reserve, Heilongjiang Province

Achievements 🏅

  • Published over 80 papers and contributed to 5 books

  • Pioneered research on wildlife behavior and biodiversity conservation in China

  • Active researcher in Mongolian gazelle and wild boar damage control

  • Contributed significantly to GIS models for habitat suitability evaluation

Awards & Honors 🏆

  • Award for Research Contributions in Wildlife Ecology and Conservation

  • Recognized for scientific publications in top ecological journals

  • Leading Scholar in the field of wildlife ecology at Northeast Forestry University

  • Honored as a key contributor to biodiversity conservation research in China

Publication Top Notes:

Comparing Durations of Different Countermeasure Efficacies Against Wild Boar (Sus scrofa) in Cornfields of Hunchun, Jilin Province, China