Hail Rihan

Dr. Hail Rihan is a Lecturer in Agricultural Technology at the University of Plymouth's School of Biological and Marine Sciences (Faculty of Science and Engineering). He leads the Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) Technology research group, focusing on integrating advanced CEA systems into commercial hydroponic crop production. His work includes developing artificial seed production techniques and studying plant abiotic stress tolerance mechanisms, particularly in wheat and cauliflower under drought, cold, and salinity conditions. He also serves as a Consulting Professor of Vertical Farming at KACST (Saudi Arabia) and Visiting Professor at Jeddah University.

His research spans molecular biology applications for crop improvement, LED lighting optimization in plant factories, and sustainable agricultural practices. Notably, he received the Plymouth University Vice Chancellor’s Early Career Research Award in 2012. Dr. Rihan has extensive teaching experience across multiple universities, including designing modules in plant physiology, biotechnology, and molecular biology techniques. He previously held roles as Head of Plant Research Development at Phytome Research Limited and Post-Doctoral Research Fellow at Plymouth University.

His advising includes supervising undergraduate Honours Projects, co-supervising postdoctoral fellows from Egypt/Iraq, and a successful PhD student focused on wheat drought tolerance. Research interests also encompass phytochemical analysis of medicinal plants, bioactive compound production, and sustainable livestock systems.