Dr. Manabayeva Shuga Askarovna, Head of the Plant Genetic Engineering Laboratory at the National Center of Biotechnology in Astana, Kazakhstan, has a career spanning three decades. Beginning in 1990 under Prof. Mukhambetzhanov K.K. at Kazakh National Pedagogical University, she earned her Candidate of Biological Sciences degree in genetics in 2000. Notably, from 1995 to 2005, her pioneering research focused on short-stemmed hexaploid wheat genetics, leading to revolutionary advancements in breeding programs. As a recipient of prestigious international scholarships like the InWEnt and DAAD programs in Germany, she conducted research at the University of Texas from 2007 to 2010, focusing on molecular virology and genetic engineering. Her current interests include CRISPR/Cas9-based plant genetic modification and recombinant protein production, with notable publications in renowned journals. Recognized for her contributions, she received a letter of thanks from the Minister of Education and Science of Kazakhstan in 2017 and the award of a breastplate for merits in science development in 2018. Currently leading research on vascular plant species diversity in Kazakhstan, she has supervised numerous scientific projects resulting in 80 publications indexed in Scopus and Web of Science databases, with a Hirsch index of 5.