Profiles
Dr Naofel Aljafer
Research Fellow
School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences (Faculty of Science and Engineering)
Biography
Biography
Dr Aljafer is working with the FIND project to detect and diagnose plant diseases using imaging techniques: Chlorophyll Fluorescence (CF) Imaging and Normalised Difference Vegetative Index (NDVI). He is also aiming to optimise early detection methods of nutrient deficiency and disease symptoms for crops grown in open field, greenhouse, and plant factory systems.
Qualifications
2013 - 2017
Ph.D. in Biosciences: School of Biosciences, University of Nottingham. (Thesis Title: Compare and improve phytoplasma diagnostics techniques and use the techniques at evaluate control strategies).
2011 - 2012
M.Sc. in Environmental Bioscience in a Changing Climate: School of Life Science, the University of Warwick.
2005 - 2009
B.Sc. (Hons) in Biotechnology BSc in Agriculture: Faculty of Agriculture Damascus University, Syria (2005/2009). The Graduate Project: Efficacy of Chemical Control against Fusarium Wilt Disease (Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. Lentils) on lentils.
Professional membership
2014 - now Society of the British Society for Plant Pathology (BSPP), UK
2016 - now International Society for Biological and Environmental Repositories (Isber).
2019 - now New Phytologist Trust.
Teaching
Teaching
Teaching interests
| 2013 - 2017 | Demonstrator in Introductory Plant pathology Course for MSc students (C123P1), School of Biosciences, University of Nottingham, UK. |
| 2013 - 2017 | Demonstrator in Integrated Disease Management for MSc students (D241DM), School of Biosciences, University of Nottingham, UK. |
| 2009 - 2010 | Teaching & Research Assistant (Microbiology & Plant Protection) Faculty of Agriculture, Damascus University, Syria. |
Research
Research
Research interests
We are deploying fluorescence imaging equipment in vertical farming systems to monitor plant disease and nutritional status. We are working alongside our sister project, Plant Factory, in order to provide an integrated sensing system and we are developing knowledge which will allow for the automatic assessment of plant health.
Publications
Publications
Key publications
Key publications are highlighted
JournalsAljafer, N. and Dickinson, M., 2021. Evaluating LAMP assays for detection of phytoplasmas classified in different ribosomal groups. Journal of Plant Pathology, pp.1-7.
Mohamed, S.J., Rihan, H.Z., Aljafer, N. and Fuller, M.P., 2021. The Impact of Light Spectrum and Intensity on the Growth, Physiology, and Antioxidant Activity of Lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.). Plants, 10(10), p.2162.
Abeysinghe, S., Abeysinghe, P.D., Kanatiwela-de Silva, C., Udagama, P., Warawichanee, K., Aljafar, N., Kawicha, P. and Dickinson, M., 2016. Refinement of the taxonomic structure of 16SrXI and 16SrXIV phytoplasmas of gramineous plants using multilocus sequence typing. Plant Disease, 100(10), pp.2001-2010.
Personal
Personal
Conferences organised
2019 Plastid Preview 2019, University of York, UK
2018 The International Conference on Arabidopsis Research (ICAR) in Turku, Finland.
2018 Plant Imaging, 3D X-ray imaging in Hounsfield Facility, the University of Nottingham, UK
2017 Plant Health: Challenges and Solutions workshop, Antalya, Turkey
2016 Learn How to Analyze Microarray and Next Generation Sequencing Data with Partek Software at Imperial College London, UK.
2014 COST FA0807 – WG3 New Perspectives in phytoplasma Disease Management (Barcelona, Spin).
2013 COST FA0807 – WG1 School on Methodologies to improve phytoplasma DNA extraction from plants and insects (Ankara, Turkey).