Dr. Maryam Fazlollahi Mohammadi is a Forestry Lecturer at South East Technological University (SETU), Ireland. She holds a Ph.D. in Forestry from Tarbiat Modares University, Iran, where her research focused on the effects of topography on forest ecosystems, including soil and tree regeneration. With expertise in forest ecology, carbon modeling, and forest management, Dr. Fazlollahi Mohammadi has contributed to various research projects, including the Terrain-AI project, which aims to improve carbon flux estimates for climate mitigation. She has published several papers in top-tier journals and has collaborated with multiple academic and industry partners. At SETU, she teaches and supervises both undergraduate and postgraduate students, while also being involved in industry and research collaborations.
Mrs. Maryam Fazlollahi Mohammadi | Soil Ecology | Best Academic Researcher Award
Mrs. Maryam Fazlollahi Mohammadi, South East Technological University, Ireland
Profile
Summary:
Mrs. Maryam Fazlollahi Mohammadi is an outstanding candidate for the Best Academic Researcher Award due to her exceptional contributions to forest ecology, her innovative research on the effects of topography on forest ecosystems, and her involvement in high-impact, collaborative projects like Terrain-AI. Her ability to blend academic excellence with practical applications, teaching, and mentoring makes her a strong asset to both the academic and broader environmental communities. Her research continues to influence forest management and conservation practices, with a focus on carbon modeling, soil management, and biodiversity.
🎓 Education
Chai Yanjun earned his PhD from the Institute of Agricultural Environment and Sustainable Development at the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences. His academic background laid a strong foundation for his career in environmental engineering and sustainable agriculture.
💼Experience
After completing her Ph.D., Maryam worked as a lecturer at various Iranian universities, teaching modules on Ecology, Soil Fertility, Experimental Design, and Agriculture and Livestock Management. She also served as an occasional lecturer at University College Dublin (UCD) in the Forest Climate and Carbon course, where she prepared and delivered lectures, developed quizzes, graded exams, and mentored students. In 2021, Maryam started a postdoctoral position at UCD, working on the Terrain-AI project, which explores the impact of management and disturbances on forest carbon uptake. Since December 2022, she has been a Forestry Lecturer at South East Technological University (SETU), where she teaches at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels, supervises students, and organizes field trips and labs.
🔬Research Focus
Maryam’s research is centered around forest ecology, particularly the effects of topography on forest ecosystems. She has studied soil physical, chemical, and biological traits, forest regeneration, herbaceous species, and tree distribution. Her work in the Hyrcanian forests of Iran has significantly contributed to understanding species selection based on soil conditions and forest management practices. Currently, her postdoctoral research in the Terrain-AI project aims to improve carbon flux estimates across complex environments and develop more accurate climate mitigation strategies.
🛠️Skills
Maryam is proficient in a variety of software tools, including MS Office, ArcGIS, MATLAB, R, SPSS, and statistical analysis tools such as EndNote and GS+. She has also completed a project management course for postdocs and applies this knowledge to her current projects. Her communication, analytical, and organizational skills have been key to her academic success, including the completion of her degrees and the timely delivery of reports.
🏆Awards
Maryam received funding from the Ministry of Science and Technology of Iran to develop an international collaboration, which led her to work at the University of Torino, Italy, for six months during her Ph.D. Additionally, she has published six papers in prestigious journals like Scientific Reports, Nature, and Applied Soil Ecology Journal, with her most recent work focusing on forest soil characteristics and tree species distribution.
📚 Publications
Title: Topographic patterns of soil traits and macro fauna in oriental beech forests in Iran
Year: 2025
Authors: M. Fazlollahi Mohammadi, Maryam; B. Tobin, Brian; A. Kulmatiski, Andrew; S.G. Jalali, Seyed Gholamali; Y. Kooch, Yahya
Journal: Applied Soil Ecology
Conclusion:
Mrs. Maryam Fazlollahi Mohammadi’s academic journey and research accomplishments highlight her as a leader in the field of forestry. Her strengths in research excellence, collaboration, and education, combined with her ability to translate academic findings into practical solutions, make her an ideal candidate for the Best Academic Researcher Award. To further enhance her career, she could focus on broadening her research scope and increasing her visibility in public and policy circles, while continuing to make significant contributions to forest and environmental science.