Meet Our Scholar of the Month for June: Dr. Sofiane BOUDALIA
Dive into the groundbreaking work of Dr. Sofiane BOUDALIA, a leading force in in Agri-Food Sustainability and Climate Change. From pioneering research to impactful policy integration, his dedication is shaping a greener future. Stay tuned for exclusive insights from this inspiring academic trailblazer!
Dr. Sofiane BOUDALIA is an Associate Professor in Agri-Food Sustainability and Climate Change at Guelma University in Algeria. In 2004, Sofiane obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Animal Biology from Badji Mokhtar University in Annaba, Algeria. He then left his hometown and traveled to France to continue his studies in Dijon, where he earned a Bachelor’s degree in Biology and Cell Physiology (2008) from the University of Burgundy. Following this, he pursued a Master’s degree in Food Quality at the National Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Food and Environment (AgroSup) in Dijon. During his studies, he completed an internship at the National Institute for Agricultural Research (INRA), where he discovered his interest in Food Toxicology.
Sofiane subsequently completed a thesis on Food Toxicology and obtained a Ph.D. in Food Science, Food Safety, and Toxicology at the University of Burgundy. He initially worked for a short time at a consulting firm, where he helped conduct clinical trials in oncology, he joined the Picardy Regional Cancer Network (ONCOPIC) at the University Hospital Centre (CHU) of Amiens to manage clinical trials in oncology. In 2014, after ten years in Europe, Sofiane returned to his native country and has since applied his talents to higher education and scientific research.
Currently, he is participating in the One Planet Fellowship program, which aims to enhance knowledge and build a scientific network in agri-food sustainability within the context of climate change in Africa, focusing on smallholder farmers. He has participated in various training courses, including Mentoring Orientation Workshops, Leadership, and Gender Responsive Research courses, which have helped him cultivate leadership skills and hone his scientific research capabilities. These experiences have also contributed to expanding his professional network and developing mentoring skills that are highly valued in both Africa and Europe.
Innovation in Action
Sofiane’s research interests center around the characterization, composition, and valorization of eco-friendly and local food, to develop sustainable functional foods (enrichment with herbs, medicinal plants, essential oils, animal proteins … etc.) that promote health and/or reduce the risk of diseases, and also evaluated the impact on people involved in all supply chains. He managed several international projects (H2020, EP7, Erasmus Capacity Building, …) which recommend the transformation of agriculture, food systems, and consumption models into more sustainable systems (implementation of climate change strategies for adaptation and mitigation, decreasing the carbon footprint and greenhouse gas fluxes, replacing fossil fuels with renewable energy, genetic conservation, and preservation of local breeds which are well adapted to the local environment, redeploying biodiversity, sustainable land-use, biocontrol use, CSA and Conservation Agriculture practices). However, all these research activities have a strong and direct link with Climate Change (adaptation and/or mitigation).
His research is invaluable to the community as it provides insights into:
- Climate Change Adaptation and/or Mitigation in Agriculture
- Implementation of Agroecological Principles in Algeria
- Production Stage (Agriculture)
- Transformation Stage (Eco-Friendly Food Processing)
Sofine however, is a member of the Production and Quality of Agricultural Products. The “Production and Quality of Agricultural Products” team aims to improve nutritional qualities while considering environmental factors such as fighting climate change and developing innovative solutions for green food processing. They operate in two major themes:
- Sustainable Food: In this field, they characterize and valorize local foods and develop eco-friendly, cost-effective, local, and slow foods that aim to provide better products for consumers, benefit those who produce them, and protect the planet.
- Food Safety and Toxicology: In this field, they study the impact of emerging contaminants, such as pesticide residues and heavy metals, on human and animal health.
Awards and Recognitions:
- Best Poster presentation “Honey quality and production under climate change uncertainty: Preliminary study from Algeria”. 1st International Conference BEekeeping products valorization and biomonitoring for the SAFEty of BEEs and HONEY (https://www.besafebeehoney.eu/), Larissa, Greece 2024.
- Best scientific publication in Algeria of “A+ rank,” organized in collaboration with the National Council for Scientific Research and Technologies in the field of food security (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.141830) 2023.
- Fact-finding mission grant: Water/Energy/Food WEF-NEX-LABS Project.
- One Planet Fellowship. (Agriculture sustainability and climate change).
- Fellowship from the French National Institute for Agricultural Research (INRA), Division: Nutrition, Chemical Food Safety and Consumer Behavior. France.
- Fellowship from the Burgundy Council (Région Bourgogne), Dijon-France.
- Congress bursary from the French Society of Toxicology
Navigating the Early Scholar Journey: Overcoming Hurdles and Embracing Growth
As an early career scholar in Africa, Sofiane faces challenges such as limited funding opportunities and difficulties in accessing mentorship and professional networks. To overcome these, he seeks diverse funding sources, forms partnerships, utilizes online resources, and engages in professional associations. he prioritizes time management, continuously updates his skills through online courses and workshops, and builds strong relationships with local and international researchers to enhance his career development and research impact.
Culture Shocks in the Diaspora: Unveiling the Learning Curve
The most significant culture shock was probably the different approaches to research and collaboration, which vary significantly in terms of work ethic, language, funding search, and hierarchical structures. However, he overcame these differences with adaptability and flexibility, together with an open-minded attitude, learning to appreciate and navigate various work styles. Building trust and relationships with local researchers also helps bridge these gaps.
Words of Wisdom for Fellow International Students: Navigating Uncharted Waters
Sofiane advices young researchers to strengthen their technical capacities, stay curious, and focused, and develop a dynamic network within Africa and internationally. Moreover, they need to build a strong foundation of knowledge, seek mentorship, network widely, be resilient and persistent in the face of challenges, communicate effectively, uphold ethical standards, give back to the community, and act as agents of change. By following these principles, young researchers can navigate their academic and research careers successfully, make meaningful contributions to their fields, and effectively address societal challenges.
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