MSU Extension

Vahid Rahjoo holds a Ph.D. in Plant Pathology and has been working as a researcher at the Seed and Plant Improvement Institute (SPII) in Iran since 1999. Recently, Vahid has embarked on a new role as a visiting scholar at Michigan State University Extension (MSU Extension), where he is engaged in projects focused on grapevine pathology under supervision of Mr. Esmaeil Nasrollahiazar and Dr. Nikki Rothwell.

Education

• Ph.D., (Sep. 2002 - Feb. 2008), Plant Pathology, University of Tehran, Iran.,

Ph.D. Thesis: "Investigation on Fusarium Ear Rot of corn and determination of genetic variation in common causal agent populations".

• M.Sc., (Sep. 1995 - Oct. 1998), Plant Pathology, Research and Science Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.

M.Sc. Thesis: "Study on geographical distribution of Dutch Elm Disease in Tehran and Karaj regions and in vitro assessment of effect of several fungicides on Ophiostoma ulmi, the causal agent of Dutch Elm Disease".

• B.Sc., (Sep. 1990 - Feb. 1995), Plant Protection, University of Tehran, Iran.

Research Interests

• Plant pathology
• Mycology and fungal diseases of plants
• Plant-microbe interaction
• Genetics of plant pathogens
• Molecular and morphological diagnostics of fungal plant pathogens
• Fungicide resistance
• Mechanisms of plant resistance to fungal diseases
• Mycotoxin analysis

Professional Experience

• Associate Professor, Seed and Plant improvement Institute (SPII), Karaj, Iran. (Jan 2024 - Present)
• Assistant Professor, Seed and Plant improvement Institute (SPII), Karaj, Iran. (July 2009 - Dec 2023)
• Plant Pathology Lab Coordinator, Maize and Forage Crops Research Department, SPII, Karaj, Iran. (Apr 2019 - June 2024)
• Visiting Researcher at Universita Cattolica S. Cuore (UCSC), Piacenza, Italy. (July 2018 - March 2019)
• Head of Maize and Forage Crops Research Department, SPII. Iran. (Oct 2015 - Apr 2018)
• Postdoc Researcher at University of Cordoba, Cordoba, Spain. (Feb 2015 - July 2015)
• Lecturer, Scientific Board of Maize and Forage Crops Research Department, SPII, Iran. (2001- 2008).
• Visiting student at Norwegian Institute for Agricultural and Environmental Research (Bioforsk), Norway (July 2006 – Feb 2007).
• Research associate, Maize and Forage Crops Research Department, SPII, Iran. (1999 -2001).
• Advisor in Plant Pathology and Landscape Designer, Council of Nazarabad, Karaj, Iran. (Oct 1992 – Feb 1994)

Publications

 (Over 400 citations according to Citation Records in Google Scholar):          https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=TLpdnxMAAAAJ&hl=en

Conferences and Presentations

• Over 20 Oral and poster presentations at esteemed international conferences held in the UK, Germany, Italy, Spain, China, Serbia, Belgium, Turkey, Malaysia, Singapore and Iran.

Awards and Honors

• Scholarship from Iranian Ministry of Agriculture to implement research as a visiting researcher at Universita Cattolica S. Cuore (UCSC), Piacenza, Italy (2018 –2019).
• Scholarship from Iranian Ministry of Science, Research and Technology to conduct Ph.D. research as a visiting studnt at Norwegian Institute for Agricultural and Environmental Research (Bioforsk), Norway (2006 –2007).
• Ph.D. Scholarship by the Iranian Ministry of Agriculture (2002 - 2008).
• MSc. Scholarship by the Iranian Ministry of Agriculture (1997 - 1998).

Other Qualifications

Reviewer in the well-known ISI journals such as:

• "Current Microbiology (CMIC)" journal (2023 – Present)
• "Mycologia Iranica" Journal of the Iranian Mycological Society (2017 – Present)
• "Iranian Journal of Plant Protection Science" (2014 – Present)
• “Australian Journal of Crop Science” (2010-2012)

Member of following Scientific Association and Societies:

• The Britain Mycological Society (BMS)
• The Iranian Mycological Society (IMS)
• The Iranian Phytopathological Society (IPS)