Biography
I am Majid, an agricultural engineer and specialist in integrated pest management (IPM). My journey in this field began with a bachelor’s degree in plant protection from the College of Agriculture at Salahaddin University in 2010. Then I strengthened my specialty when I obtained my master’s degree in IPM from CIHEAM-IAM-Bari in 2015, in Bari, Italy.During my time there, I immersed myself in researching plant diseases and developing innovative strategies to minimize their impact on crops. Specifically, I focused on the identification and detection of grape phytoplasmas, employing cutting-edge molecular techniques such as PCR, RT-PCR, LAMP, cloning, and NGS..
Continuing my career progress, I completed my Ph.D. at the University of Milano, 2022, Italy. Throughout my doctoral studies, I dedicated my efforts to breeding disease-resistant peach varieties that can effectively combat brown rot. By conducting extensive phenotyping and genotyping of peach populations, I gained profound insights into the genetic factors that influence resistance to brown rot caused by Monilinia spp. My research made significant strides in identifying crucial genetic markers associated with disease resistance and other important fruit traits. To achieve these outcomes, I utilized advanced techniques such as GWAS and QTL analysis, combined with NGS data.
Alongside my research endeavors, I am currently engaged in teaching in different departments at college of Agriculture Engineering Sciences at Salahaddin University. Within this role, I have the privilege of instructing various subjects related to plant diseases. My teaching portfolio includes horticultural plant diseases, forest pathology, mycology, and mushroom cultivation, among others.
At present, my research efforts revolve around several key areas of focus.
Such as:
Pests and diseases of Mushroom production
Key vegetable diseases
Key horticultural disease
Wild Mushroom Identification