Romy Moukarzel

Romy Moukarzel is a Lecturer in the Department of Pest-Management and Conservation at Lincoln University, New Zealand. She transitioned from a Postdoctoral Research Fellowship (December 2020-December 2022) to her current faculty position where she also serves on the Faculty Learning and Teaching Committee since November 2022.

Dr. Moukarzel holds a PhD from Lincoln University, an MSc from the Mediterranean Agronomic Institute of Chania, and additional MSc and BSc degrees from Lebanese University. She is also certified at WSET Level 2 in wine and spirits education.

Her research expertise centers on plant-microbe interactions and plant biochemistry, with particular focus on beneficial microbes as sustainable strategies for improving plant health and growth. She investigates biotic and abiotic factors influencing mycorrhizal fungi and their impact on plant growth parameters, nutrient uptake, and disease resistance. Her current projects examine plant microbiome dynamics, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi effects, climate change impacts on soil microbes, and management practice effects on plant physiology and metabolite accumulation.

Dr. Moukarzel's publication portfolio reveals a strong interdisciplinary focus connecting plant science, microbiology, and sustainable agriculture. Her recent work demonstrates significant attention to New Zealand viticulture challenges, with multiple studies examining how vineyard management practices influence soil microbial communities and grapevine health. She has published extensively on nematode management in agricultural crops, particularly maize, and on the role of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in plant health.

• Recipient of the North Canterbury Wine Growers Association Award (2020)
• Awarded Best Speaker at Letters in Applied Microbiology ECS Research Symposium (2024)
• Junior Editor at Letters in Applied Microbiology (Oxford Academics)

Dr. Moukarzel actively supervises multiple graduate students across various projects, serving as Main Supervisor, Co-main Supervisor, and Associate Supervisor for PhD and MSc research. Her supervision portfolio includes studies on soil microbial dynamics under elevated CO2, arbuscular mycorrhizal communities in Pinot noir, chemical differences in New Zealand Pinot noir, nitrous oxide emissions from regenerative agriculture, and wheat biofortification. She has completed supervision of research on plant parasitic nematodes in maize and copper accumulation in vineyards.

She is a regular contributor to industry conferences including multiple Grape Days events organized by the Bragato Research Institute, demonstrating strong connections with New Zealand's wine industry. Her multilingual abilities in French, Arabic, and Modern Greek enhance her international research collaborations.