Mrs. Alice Njolke Mafe | Microbiology | Best Researcher Award

A. N. Mafe is a passionate Food and Industrial Microbiologist at Taraba State University with extensive expertise in probiotics, gut microbiome research, and sustainable food systems, focusing on integrating microbiology, health, and sustainability to advance global food security, human health, and cancer prevention, currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Microbiology at Nasarawa State University Keffi, Nigeria, with prior academic achievements including an M.Sc. in Applied Microbiology and Plant Pathology with First Class Honors from the University of Jos and a B.Sc. in Microbiology with Upper Second Class Honors from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria, holding certifications such as SSETS Fellow for Stimulating Sustainable Entrepreneurial Thinking in Scientists from Lancaster University UK and AFRIP, International Career Coaching Programme certification from Envirofly Consulting UK, and Cisco Certified Network Associate credential, having served as Principal Investigator for the Institutional Based Research Grant under TETFund-TSU on the evaluation of Chlamydia trachomatis among sexually active women in Taraba State, managing a budget currently lecturing courses in Food and Industrial Microbiology at Taraba State University, supervising over 53 undergraduate research projects, and conducting laboratory-based microbiology training, actively engaged in Ph.D. research on probiotics and their role in mitigating mycotoxin toxicity using both in vitro and in vivo models with Drosophila melanogaster and Wistar rats, recognized with a Letter of Commendation from SSETS Pilot Fellowship, contributing to the mentoring and coaching of young scientists through ICCP Phase 2.0 and SSETS Pilot 2.0 programs, author of over 35 peer-reviewed publications in high-impact journals including studies on intelligent detection and biopreservation strategies of probiotics and postbiotics for foodborne pathogens, innovative food preservation methods addressing early-onset colorectal cancer, encapsulation and protection of probiotics using biopolymer hydrogels, modulation of Alzheimer’s disease progression through gut microbiota influenced by Mediterranean diet, chitosan derivatives enhancing gut microbiota and immune system, and strategies for control of mycotoxins in foods to reduce cancer risks, demonstrating a consistent record of research excellence, academic leadership, and global scientific collaboration.