The University of the West Indies, Mona is pleased to announce the promotion of Dr. Noureddine Benkeblia, Senior Lecturer in the Department of Life Sciences to the rank of Professor in Agricultural Sciences, with specialization in Crops Science and Horticulture since October 2010.

Dr. Benkeblia holds a Bachelor of Science degree (Option: Food Technology and Agro-Industries) from the Institute of Agronomy, Algeria (1988) and a Master of Sciences degree and Doctor of Science with an option in Food Sciences and Human Nutrition from the National Institute of Agronomy, Algeria (1993 and 2000 respectively). He also holds the degree of Doctor in Agricultural Sciences with an Option in Plant and Crop Sciences from Kagoshima University in Japan (2007).

Dr. Benkeblia joined the staff at the University of the West Indies, Mona in 2008 as a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Life Sciences having served as a Visiting Professor from August 2002 up to December 2007 at Rakuno Gakuen University in Japan.

Professor Benkeblia comes to UWI, Mona with a distinctive record of reputable publication having conducted almost two decades of research in a wide range of areas including food chemistry, postharvest biology of horticulture crops and plant biochemistry in several countries across the world such as: Algeria, France, Japan, USA and Jamaica. His research includes biochemical and physiological parameters of crops including respiratory parameters, sugars and fructans metabolism, as well as technological parameters for crops preservation. Professor Benkeblia has undertaken extensive research in postharvest changes. The high quality of Professor Benkebia’s research is evidenced by the number of high impact journals that his work has been published in namely: Metabolomics, Food Chemistry, New Phytologist, Journal of Food Biochemistry, Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, Tetrahedron Asymmetry among others. Professor Benkeblia has published seventy (70) refereed articles and over ten (10) non-refereed articles. In addition, he has authored and coauthored five (5) books, edited seven (7) books, and has authored and co-authored eleven (11) book chapters. The appearance of his work in such reputable publications and the extensive citation by other experts of his research demonstrates the high level of respect afforded to Professor Benkeblia by his peers.

Additionally, Professor Benkeblia has presented his research findings at local and international conferences and recently convened the first International Horticulture Symposium in the Caribbean which saw over twenty international experts in attendance. Noureddine Benkeblia’s research has also attracted over JA $20 million in grants.

Professor Benkeblia’s knowledge is highly valued by his peers as demonstrated by the number of editorial boards of international scientific journals on which he serves. He is also engaged as a reviewer for over twenty international scientific journals including high impact journals. Professor Benkeblia has also served as the Scientific Expert of the United Nation Development Programme (UNDP), Science Expert of the National Agency of the Development of Health Research in Algeria and Science Advisory Board in the USA.

He is a member of a number of local and international scientific and professional organizations including the International Society of Horticultural Science (ISHS) as an Executive Committee member and the Jamaica Society for Agricultural Sciences (JAGRIS).

He has taught at both the undergraduate and graduate level in courses including Human Nutrition, Food Safety and Quality, Metabolic Biochemistry, Harvesting and Postharvest Management and the Application of Ionizing Treatments to Food and Food Products. Additionally, Professor Benkeblia has supervised a number of postgraduate students.