Dr. Houda Chelaifa

Dr. Houda Chelaifa is a plant scientist specializing in plant genetics, speciation, and evolution, with a strong focus on halophytes and sustainable agriculture. She holds her Ph.D. in Plant Biology from Rennes 1 University, France, where she studied the saltmarsh grass genus Spartina as a model for recurrent hybridization and polyploidy. Her doctoral research was supported by a National Research Fellowship from the French Ministry of Higher Education and Research.

She has extensive experience in plant genomics, having conducted research at INRAe (French National Research Institute for Agriculture, Food, and Environment) on genome organization and domestication in key crop species such as Brassica and wheat. She later joined Masdar Institute (now part of Khalifa University), where she led halophyte research on Salicornia for seven years within the Seawater Energy and Agriculture System (SEAS), an innovative project integrating aquaculture, agriculture, and biofuel production using seawater resources.

Her current research focuses on developing salt-tolerant crops to enhance agricultural productivity in arid and saline environments. By leveraging halophytes' natural resilience, she aims to improve food security, optimize water use in marginal lands, and promote climate-smart agricultural practices. Her work involves international collaborations and has resulted in multiple high-impact publications in plant science and agronomy.