Naeif Matar

Background

About Naeif Matar

As Head of Microbiology at Genomines (Ph.D. in Plant–Microorganism Interactions, Université Paris-Saclay), I lead the microbiology team and support our biotech and chemistry teams to bring biological methods into metal extraction and recovery. My journey spans continents from a Ph.D. focused on plant–microorganisms interactions to hands-on experience across microbiology, biotechnology, agriculture, and metal purification and analysis. I’m driven by one idea: the microbiome can unlock the potential of phytoaccumulation. In practice, we design plant-associated consortia that solubilize metal ions and promote plant growth and stress tolerance. The outcome: higher metal accumulation in plants, healthier biomass, and cleaner downstream recovery. I also lead the biological foundation of our technology optimizing field trials and scaling microbiome solutions for industrial applications. I helped establish the groundwork for Genomines’ first lab-scale, plant-based nickel extraction, later validated by a top-tier industry partner. That motivation powers my work at Genomines, where we pair rhizosphere biology with smart bioprocessing to build a cleaner, more resilient metal supply.