Nezar H Samarah

Biography:

Dr. Samarah holds a permanent appointment as a Professor at the Department of Plant Production at Jordan University of Science and Technology (JUST) in Irbid, Jordan where he has also served in various leadership positions at JUST including Head of Department of Plant Production, Assistant and Vice Dean of Scientific Research, and Vice Dean of Graduate Studies. Dr. Samarah’s research interests include the interaction effect of seed maturity and environmental conditions on seed quality of important field crops; the effect of drought stress on seed production of field crops; the biochemical and molecular processes of crops grown under stress; studying mechanisms to produce genetically modified crops that tolerate drought stress; acquisition of seed desiccation tolerance and vigor during seed development and maturation; cultural practices to improve crop productivity in rainfed Mediterranean regions; relationship of seed quality tests to field emergence under semiarid rainfed Mediterranean conditions; breaking seed dormancy, enhancing seed germination and seedling establishment of major crops in Jordan. Dr. Samarah consulted on multiple projects involving the seed industry including the “Conservation and Sustainable Use of Dry Land Agro-biodiversity in West Asia” project. He has received several distinctions during his academic career. He was the top of his class during his undergraduate studies and received a scholarship from JUST to pursue his MSc and PhD in the United States. Dr. Samarah also received the Sigma Xi Research Award, Research Excellence Award, Gamma Sigma Delta Award, Fulbright Scholarship for Sabbatical Leave at Iowa State University, the Abdul Hameed Shoman Award for Young Arabic Scientists, and the Arab Fund Fellowship. His research activities are reflected in his 51 scientific articles in international, peer-reviewed journals. Dr. Samarah has attended 28 international conferences and scientific meetings in crop and seed science and technology. Dr. Samarah received his BSc. in Plant Sciences from JUST in 1994, an MSc in Seed Science from Mississippi State University in the United States in 1997, and a PhD in Crop Physiology/ Seed Science and Technology from Iowa State University in the United States in 2000. Research interest: Crop Physiology/ Seed Science and Technology