On June 30, at the ED 1.25 Dissertation Council operating under the Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnologies of the Ministry of Science and Education of the Republic of Azerbaijan, the defense of the dissertation submitted by Shahla Elshan gizi Alakbarova for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Biology, in the specialty 2411.02 – Plant Physiology, on the topic 'Investigation of the physiological adaptation features of cotton plant under gamma irradiation and salt stress conditions' was held.

The scientific supervisor of the dissertation is doctor of biological sciences, Professor Elimkhan Jafarov, the scientific advisor is PhD in Biology, Associate Professor Arif Gaziyev. The official opponents are corresponding member of ANAS Ibrahim Azizov, doctor of biological sciences Vafa Gasimova, and PhD in Biology, Associate Professor Atif Zamanov.

At the meeting chaired by Academician Irada Huseynova, the applicant presented the main components of the dissertation, emphasizing that, for the first time, the functional changes in the physiological parameters of cotton plants under the separate and combined effects of gamma irradiation and salt stress had been comprehensively and comparatively investigated. The results of the scientific research are not only of theoretical and fundamental importance, but also provide an understanding of the physiological and biochemical mechanisms of adaptation processes occurring in the leaf and root system cells of cotton plants under the influence of irradiation and high salt concentrations.

Then, an extensive discussion was held around the dissertation, and various suggestions and recommendations were voiced. The applicant answered the questions of the council members and responded to the comments and suggestions made by the opponents. After the applicant’s concluding remarks were heard, a vote was conducted.
 Based on the results of the voting, a decision was made to petition the Supreme Attestation Commission under the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan for awarding Shahla Alakbarova the degree of Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Biology.