Khalil Kariman

Khalil Kariman is a Senior Research Fellow at the School of Agriculture and Environment, The University of Western Australia (UWA), specializing in soil microbiology and sustainable agricultural solutions through beneficial microbial symbioses, notably his discovery of "feremycorrhiza".

His academic foundation includes:

• PhD in Soil Biology from UWA (2009-2013), investigating phosphate toxicity tolerance in jarrah seedlings.
• MSc in Plant Pathology from Tarbiat Modarres University (2002-2004), focusing on arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in sugarcane.
• BSc in Agricultural Sciences (Plant Protection) from Gorgan University (1998-2002).

Dr. Kariman's research centers on microbial-driven soil fertility enhancement, with core expertise in feremycorrhiza (a novel plant-fungus symbiosis he identified), nutrient cycling, and stress tolerance mechanisms. His work pioneers eco-friendly alternatives to chemical fertilizers by leveraging soil microbes for carbon sequestration and sustainable crop production, directly addressing global phosphorus scarcity and environmental degradation.

His recent publications reveal a cohesive focus on bio-based agricultural innovation, emphasizing phosphorus-efficient biofertilizers, salinity resilience, and biological disease control. These studies collectively advance nature-mimicking solutions for food security while reducing ecological footprints across farming systems.

His scientific excellence is recognized through:

• Marschner Young Scientist Award (2022) for groundbreaking work on fungal biofertilizers
• Rising Stars 2021 Award (2nd prize, UWA) highlighting research impact to policymakers and industry

Dr. Kariman leads major funded initiatives including a GRDC Postdoc Fellowship (2019-2022) for "Exploiting the Potential of a Novel Fungal Biofertiliser" and a prestigious four-year ARC Fellowship (2024) targeting the global phosphorus crisis. He actively mentors graduate students while collaborating internationally with experts like Prof Zed Rengel, driving translational research that bridges laboratory discoveries with field applications for sustainable agriculture.

His interdisciplinary work integrates soil science, microbiology, and plant physiology within UWA's research ecosystem, contributing significantly to UN Sustainable Development Goals through practical, scalable solutions for resilient food systems.