Dr. Maria Gerakari | Agronomy | Young Scientist Award
Plant Breeding at Agricultural University of Athens | Greece
Dr. Maria Gerakari is a highly dedicated agronomist whose research in plant breeding and genetics focuses on developing high-yield and stress-tolerant crop varieties, particularly legumes and vegetables of nutritional and economic importance. With a PhD in Plant Breeding and Genetics and a Master’s in Sustainable Agriculture and Agro-Meteorology from the Agricultural University of Athens, she combines deep scientific knowledge with innovative research applications. Her professional experience includes serving as a research assistant in multiple European and national projects, contributing to experimental design, biochemical analyses, and advanced molecular techniques such as DNA/RNA extraction, gene expression studies, qPCR, and transcriptome sequencing. Dr. Gerakari has published 17 research papers cited in 208 documents, achieving an h-index of 5, reflecting her growing influence in agronomy research. Her research interests encompass sustainable agriculture, genetic improvement, and crop resilience to environmental stress. She has participated in international collaborations, including a Short-Term Scientific Mission at Goethe University in Frankfurt, and gained valuable experience in agricultural industry settings. Recognized for academic excellence, she graduated with distinction and continues to contribute innovative approaches to sustainable crop productivity. Her achievements exemplify scientific rigor, collaboration, and a commitment to advancing modern agricultural science and global food security.
Profile : Scopus | Google Scholar | ORCID
Featured Publications
Kapazoglou, A., Gerakari, M., Lazaridi, E., Kleftogianni, K., Sarri, E., & Tani, E., et al. (2023). Crop wild relatives: A valuable source of tolerance to various abiotic stresses. Plants, 12(2), 328.
Mladenov, V., Fotopoulos, V., Kaiserli, E., Karalija, E., Maury, S., Baranek, M., et al. (2021). Deciphering the epigenetic alphabet involved in transgenerational stress memory in crops. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 22(13), 7118.
Kapazoglou, A., Tani, E., Avramidou, E. V., Abraham, E. M., Gerakari, M., et al. (2021). Epigenetic changes and transcriptional reprogramming upon woody plant grafting for crop sustainability in a changing environment. Frontiers in Plant Science, 11, 613004.
Lazaridi, E., Kapazoglou, A., Gerakari, M., Kleftogianni, K., Passa, K., Sarri, E., et al. (2024). Crop landraces and indigenous varieties: A valuable source of genes for plant breeding. Plants, 13(6), 758.
Kapazoglou, A., Gerakari, M., Lazaridi, E., Kleftogianni, K., Sarri, E., & Tani, E., et al. (2023). Crop wild relatives: a valuable source of tolerance to various abiotic stresses. Plants, 12(2), 328.