Mrs Hajer Darouez |  Horticulturae |  Best Researcher Award

PhD Candidate at  Ghent University,  Belgium

Hajer Darouez is a passionate Ph.D. student at Ghent University with over 4 years of experience in plant biotechnology. Specializing in root-inducing molecules to improve micropropagation techniques, she has conducted groundbreaking research on woody plants and rooting recalcitrant species. Hajer has extensive experience in molecular techniques, advanced data analysis, and propagation methods, developed through her work at the Laboratory for Applied In Vitro Plant Biotechnology at UGent and her internship at Mission Biologica de Galicia in Spain. Her notable research includes transcriptomic analysis, histological techniques, and the use of new compounds to enhance rooting in species like chestnut and poplar.

Publication profile

• Orcid

🎓 Education and Research Focus:

Hajer Darouez is a passionate and dedicated PhD student at Ghent University specializing in plant biotechnology. With more than 4 years of research experience, her expertise lies in rooting recalcitrant and woody plants, particularly through the development of root-inducing molecules to enhance micropropagation techniques. During her PhD, she has pioneered the optimization of propagation methods using innovative approaches.
📝 PhD Dissertation: Application of New Root-Inducing Molecules in Plant Tissue Culture.

🔬 Research Experience:

• Ph.D. Researcher (2019-Present): Conducting research on root-inducing molecules at the Laboratory for Applied In Vitro Plant Biotechnology at UGent, Belgium.
• Part-Time Researcher (2022-2023): Contributed to the VLAIO Moss project focusing on in vitro cultivation for urban greening applications.
• Internship (2023): Four-month internship at Mission Biologica de Galicia in Spain, where she enhanced her expertise in woody species biotechnology and transcriptomic analysis.

🧪 Skills and Techniques:

Hajer is proficient in a variety of molecular techniques, including:

• Histological sections and gene expression studies.
• Advanced data analysis tools.
• Execution of micropropagation optimization experiments.

🌿 Key Projects:

• Hevea Project (2016): Played a key role in sustainable agriculture research, focusing on Hevea brasiliensis cultivation.
• Nigella Sativa Research (2015): Conducted in vitro methods to improve salt stress tolerance in this medicinal plant species.

🏆 Conferences and Presentations:

• Oral Communication (2023): Presented research on dichlorprop esters at the Innovative Woody Plant Cloning Congress in Spain.
• Poster Presentations (2022): Showcased findings at International Symposium on In Vitro Technology and the ATSB Congress on rooting and shoot growth techniques in Lavandula angustifolia.

Publication Top Notes: