2022-present Importance of plant-soil feedback in urban ecology: potential to promote sustainable cities.
In collaboration with Lena Neunkamp (Uni. Münster, DE)
2021-2023 Belowground biodiversity of grasslands – conservation needs and potential to promote sustainable agriculture. FORMAS (co-PI)
(PI: Karina Clemmensen, SLU)
2019-2023 Land-use intensification alters ecosystem functions in grasslands: insights from the soil fungal community. FORMAS (PI)
2019-2022 Impact of global change on phyllosphere microbiomes in grasslands. SNF (PI)
2017- 2019 The effect of ecosystem engineers on soil functioning in agricultural and forest habitats
- Lecturer 'Macroevolution', 'Microbes I: Why are microbes successful on Earth?', 'Microbes II: The key roles of microbes in driving ecosystem functions and life on the biosphere', within 'Träd och skogsekologi' course, for Bachelor students, SLU, Uppsala (2022)
-Guest Lecturer 'Ecosystem services in grassland ecosystems in the context of global change' within 'The importance of biodiversity for sustainability course', for PhD students of the EJP soil, SLU, Uppsala (2021)
-Guest Lecturer 'Soil biodiversity and ecosystem services' within 'The importance of biodiversity for sustainability course', for bachelor students, IPS, Bern (2021)
-Lecturer within the 'Advanced course in Community Ecology', responsible for the Soil Ecology lectures, for bachelor students, IPS, Bern (2020-2022)
-Lecturer within the 'Soil Biology course' for master students SLU, Uppsala (2017-2019)
-Course leader for the 'Mini nematode identification course' for PhD student at the dept. of Ecology (2018)
-Lecturer within the 'Ecology course' for bachelor students, dept. of Forest Ecology and Management, SLU, Umeå (2013-2017)
-Lecturer for the 'Ecology course' for bachelor students, field excursion, dept. of Ecology and Environmental Science, Umeå University (2013-2017)
-Teaching assistant for the 'Botanical course' for bachelor students, field excursion, dept. of Forest Ecology and Management, SLU, Umeå (2014)
I am involded in the AgroMixNorth project: Climate-smart resilience through diversified cropping systems - Identifying springboards in Nordic and Baltic agriculture led by Prof. Anke Herrmann (2023-2027)
EDUCATION
2023-current M.B.A. in Sustainability and Management. SUMAS, Gland, CH.
2016 Ph.D. in Biology defended the 21st of October 2016. Department of Forest Ecology and Management. SLU, Umeå.
2011 M.Sc. in Biology, Ecology for Forest, Agronomy and Environment. Specializing in ecosystems functioning & management University of Lorraine, FR.
2009 B.Sc. in Biology. Specializing in Biology of Organisms and Ecosystems University of Lorraine, FR.
CO-SUPERVISOR
2022-present
PhD student Vestine Mukamparirwa, University of Rwanda, Kigali, RW
project: Potential of organic inputs from agroforestry tree biomass to improve soil nutrient content in two contrasting regions of Rwanda.
Supervisors: Aida Bargués Tobella, SLU, Umeå, SE; Salim Maliondo, Sokoine University of Agriculture, Tanzania; Canisius Mugunga, University of Rwanda
Previous supervision
2020-2023 PhD student Kaisa Torppa, Dept. of Ecology. SLU, Uppsala
project: Interactions between earthworms, nematodes and AM fungi and their role in the functioning of agricultural soils.
Main supervisor: Astrid Taylor
2019 -2023 PhD student Thu Zar Nwe, Inst. of Plant Science. Bern University, CH.
project: Direct and indirect effects of nitrogen addition on soil fauna and soil functioning in grasslands.
Main supervisor: Eric Allan
2021-2023 PhD student Yikang Chen, Bern University, CH and Hainan University, CN
project: Effects of nitrogen addition on plant and root-associated arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal communities and their underlying mechanisms in an alpine meadow.
Main supervisor: Shurong Zhou
MAIN-SUPERVISOR
2023
Bachelor student Kris Hebeisen. Inst. of Plant Science. Bern University, CH.
Project: Root Colonization Measurements of Beneficial Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi and Dark Septate Endophytes.
2022
Bachelor student Alice Lavarenne. Inst. of Plant Science. Bern University, CH.
Project: Legacy effects of ley diversity on germination rate and growth of cereal crops.
Master student Joseph Volery, Inst. of Plant Science. Bern University, CH.
Project: Direct and indirect effects of nitrogen addition on keystone species in grasslands.
Bachelor student Lisa Gurtner, Research practical. Inst. of Plant Science. Bern University, CH.
Project: Effects of nitrogen addition on soil nematodes in grasslands.
2021
Bachelor student Sina Aregger, Research practical. Inst. of Plant Science. Bern University, CH.
Project: Project: Impacts of plant diversity loss on soil nematodes in grasslands.
2020
Bachelor student Vanessa Fricker, Research practical. Inst. of Plant Science. Bern University, CH.
Project: Impacts of nitrogen addition and plant diversity on soil fauna in grassland ecosystems.
Cheng Y., Rutten G., Liu X., Ma M., Maaroufi N.I.*, Zhou S*. Host plant height explains the effect of nitrogen enrichment on arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal communities. New Phytologist
*Shared last authorship
Torppa K., Viketoft M., Maaroufi N.I., Vahter T., Vasar M., Öpik M., Weih M., Taylor A. Soil compaction affects arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis differently for spring wheat varieties with contrasting root traits. In press in Plant & Soil