Dr. Maged Saad
Senior Research Scientist in the Center for desert Agriculture at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, KSA
Team Coordinator, DARWIN21, KAUST, Thuwal, KSA
Ph.D. Biochemisty and Molecular Biology, University of Geneva (UNIGE), Switzerland.
M.Sc. Molecular Biochemistry, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt
B.S. Biochemisty, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt
As a molecular biologist, I have a deep interest in the adaptation of microbes to their hosts. I am fascinated by the bacteria and their mechanisms to interact with plants and modulate the plant immune system. I believe that basic and applied research on microbes will resolve upcoming challenges in areas such as medicine and agriculture, and I am working at my best to contribute a share to these aims.
The DARWIN21 project aims to provide sustainable solutions to re-establish agriculture in arid regions or under extreme environmental conditions. By creating a global knowledge base of desert rhizosphere microbes associated with pioneer plants that live under extreme heat, drought and/or salt conditions, new strategies may be developed to replant desert areas and transform deserts into sustainable agricultural systems. Dr. Saad’s research focuses on developing different biological solutions to mitigate constraints such as soil health, low yield, abiotic, biotic stresses and nutrient assimilation in agricultural production in Arid and semi-arid ecosystems.