Hazem Sharaf

From Giza, Egypt

Previously at The American University in Cairo (B. Sc. 2007, M. Sc. 2014) and King Abdullah University for Science and Technology (Visiting Student - 2014-2015)

Worked as Software Engineer at ITWorx, Computational Genomics Specialist at The American University in Cairo, and Business Development Executive at Eduteko

Research interest I am exploring plant-microbe interactions within agroecosystems. Main research is the interactions between soybean and symbiotic endophytes living inside the root nodules. I am looking into what types of bacteria, beside the nitrogen-fixing diazotrophs, live inside the nodules, how they respond to environmental changes and plant accessions. In addition, I am also studying how different fertilizer amendments affect the soil bacteria associated with apple orchards, and how that reflects on the saplings/trees growth. Occasionally, I do some comparative bacterial genomics work as well. What I like most about my research is that it is a combination of field, lab and computational tasks.

Advisor Mark Williams (Horticulture)

Primary Track Life Sciences

Secondary Track Statistics

Hobbies I like mushroom hunting (Boletes, Lactarius, chanterelles, cauliflower), playing tennis, gardening, travelling. I also love watching films and going to the cinema on Tuesdays in Blacksburg.  My dream is to do a handstand, and to maintain it for 3 minutes.