PhD students

Start of studies 01-10-2025, end 30-09-2029

Agricultural Sciences, Agronomy (A 001)

• Daiga Birzleja, scientific supervisor Dr. Neringa Rasiukevičiūtė. The effect of essential oils on strawberry phyllosphere microbiome community change and pathogen control 
• Samuel Aanuoluwapo Fasusi, scientific supervisor Dr. Mohammad Almogdad. Chemical, behavioral, and genotypic factors influencing the broad bean weevil (Bruchus ruji.manus Boh.) – faba bean (Vicia faba L.) interaction: towards eco-friendly management strategies 
• Justina Griauzdaitė, scientific supervisor Dr. Alma Valiuškaitė. Determination of apple postharvest microbiome composition and pathogens control by propolis extracts 
• Zarqa Hassan, scientific supervisor Dr. Aistė Balčiūnaitienė. Development and investigation of hybrid functional nanostructures  
• Siddiqua llyas, scientific supervisor Dr. Lina Dėnė. Analysis of plant abiotic stress­related protein interaction by affinity purification – mass spectrometry 
• Raheela Yasi, scientific supervisor Dr. Antanas Ronis. Spread and harmfulness of fungal diseases and pests in corn (Zea mays L.) crop 
• Aaqib Javid, scientific supervisor Dr. Andrius Aleliūnas. Gene editing to enhance productivity and grain quality in wheat 
• Ieva Karpavičienė, scientific supervisor Dr. Akvilė Viršilė. Plant-derived exosome-like nanoparticles: the influence of genotype and cultivation environment on their phytochemical diversity  
• Dovilė Motiejauskaitė, scientific supervisor Dr. Karolina Barčauskaitė. Studies on the migration of microplastics from sewage sludge to deeper soil layers
• Olha Posunko, scientific supervisor Dr. Perttu-Juhani Haimi. Analysis of plant abiotic stress-related protein interaction by affinity purification – mass spectrometry 
• Akin Un, scientific supervisor Dr. Renaldas Žydelis. Development of the Lithuanian soil spectral library: building soil models by combining laboratory Vis-NIR spectral datasets and soil sampling 
• Jurinta Voišvilo, scientific supervisor Dr. Žilvinas Liatukas. Agrotechnological and nutritional value potential of anthocyanin winter wheat breeding material in Lithuanian climate conditions 

Agricultural Sciences, Forestry A 004

• Munawar Ali, scientific supervisor Dr. Povilas Žemaitis. The growth, mortality, and regeneration patterns of Scots pine stands affected by root rot  
• Gediminas Jasinevičius, scientific supervisor Dr. Marius Aleinikovas. Nature-based solutions in the forest-based sector for climate change mitigation and carbon market development 
• Abdellah Saoualih, scientific supervisor Dr. Mindaugas Škėma. Forest therapy as a strategic direction for sustainable tourism in Lithuania 

AGRONOMY

• Ayesha Khan, 2024-10-01–2028-09-30. Tailoring of controlled environment factors for phytochemical enrichment in Amaranthaceae halophytes. Supervisor Dr. Giedrė Samuolienė.
• Algimanta Kundrotaitė, 2024-10-01–2028-09-30. The use of biowaste for reducing ex situ soil pollution. Supervisor Dr. Karolina Barčauskaitė.
• Birutė Jomantaitė, 2024-10-01–2028-09-30. Impact of environmentally friendly tillage on the sustainability of agroecosystems. Supervisor Dr. Gražina Kadžienė, scientific advisor Dr. Jurgita Cesevičienė.
• Egidija Satkevičiūtė, 2024-10-01–2028-09-30. Changes in the rhizosphere and endosphere microbiome of winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) induced by abiotic and biotic factors: metagenomic analysis and functional characterization. Supervisor Dr. Skaidrė Supronienė.
• Jonas Nevecka, 2024-10-01–2028-09-30. Impact of root system improving measures on agroecosystem productivity and climate change mitigation. Supervisor Dr. Monika Toleikienė, scientific advisor Dr. Agnė Veršulienė.
• Klaudija Meižienė, 2024-10-01–2028-09-30. Maintaining of soil potential through integrated crop management and sustainable tillage. Supervisor Dr. Gražina Kadžienė, scientific advisor Dr. Agnė Veršulienė.
• Mudassar Hussain, 2024-10-01–2028-09-30. Valorisation of hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) using enzymatic hydrolysis. Supervisor Dr. Jonas Viškelis, scientific advisor Dr. Viktorija Puzerytė.
• Muhammad Ali Umer, 2024-10-01–2028-09-30. Intercropping halophytes to improve the salinity tolerance of leafy vegetables grown hydroponically. Supervisor Dr. Giedrė Samuolienė.
• Nasim Safari, 2024-10-01–2028-09-30. Controlled environment horticulture for high-value medicinal and aromatic plants. Supervisor Dr. Akvilė Viršilė, scientific advisor Dr. Audrius Pukalskas.
• Otilija Budrytė, 2024-10-01–2028-09-30. Renaturalization of nutrients for maintaining the sustainability of acid soils using biological origin wastes. Supervisor Dr. Ieva Mockevičienė, scientific advisor Dr. Monika Vilkienė.
• Rimantė Savickaitė-Gubskė, 2024-10-01–2028-09-30. Effects of biofuel ash on the bioavailability of heavy metals in soil. Supervisor Dr. Kristina Bunevičienė.
• Roberta Spangelytė, 2024-10-01–2028-09-30. Fermentation-based enzyme-assisted extraction of plant material and their by-products. Supervisor Dr. Paulina Štreimikytė.
• Sidra Tul Muntaha, 2024-10-01–2028-09-30. Evaluating the potential of Nettle plants as a multipurpose bioresource material and its biotic and abiotic effects on agricultural productivity. Supervisor Dr. Modupe Doyeni, scientific advisor Dr. Vita Tilvikienė.
• Tanzila Rafique, 2024-10-01–2028-09-30. Rootstock impact on photosynthetic productivity of grafted vegetable plants. Supervisor Dr. Kristina Laužikė.
• Tautvydas Gurskas, 2024-10-01–2028-09-30. Genetic mechanisms of yield self-regulation in apple tree (Malus domestica Borkh.). Supervisor Dr. Birutė Frercks.
• Muhammad Fahad Hakim, 2024-03-25 – 2028-03-24. Analysis of molecular mechanisms of plant and endophytic bacteria interaction. Supervisor Dr. Danas Baniulis, scientific advisor Dr. Inga Tamošiūnė.
• Justinas Gegeckas, 2024-03-01 – 2028-02-29. Adaptive agrotechnical measures for the stability of crops productivity under changing climate. Supervisor Dr. Virmantas Povilaitis.
• Syeda Hijab Zehra, 2024-02-29 – 2028-02-28. Valorisation of food processing by-products for green metal nanoparticle biosynthesis and development of biodegradable micro / nano polymer composites. Supervisor Dr. Aistė Balčiūnaitienė, scientific advisor Dr. Jonas Viškelis.
• Ameer Hamza, 2024-01-17 – 2028-01-16. Changes in acid soil aggregation and carbon stabilization mechanisms influenced by long-term management. Supervisor Dr. Danutė Karčauskienė, scientific advisor Dr. Ieva Mockevičienė.
• Khadija Ramzan, 2024-01-02 – 2028-01-01. Extraction of natural pigments from by-products of fruit and vegetable processing, modeling of technological processes and practical application. Supervisor Dr. Jonas Viškelis, scientific advisor Dr. Aistė Balčiūnaitienė.
• Yaqoob Sultan, 2024-01-02 – 2028-01-01. Genetical diversity, breeding value and agrobiological evaluation of native birdsfoot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus L.) populations. Supervisor Dr. Eglė Norkevičienė.
• Skaistė Dreskinienė, 2023-10-01 – 2027-09-30. The role of microplastics in the functioning of the agroecosystem. Supervisor Dr. Monika Vilkienė, scientific advisor Dr. Karolina Barčauskaitė.
• Darius Jermala, 2023-10-01 – 2027-09-30. The management of mineral nutrition to control the quality and safety of post-harvest vegetables. Supervisor Dr. Viktorija Vaštakaitė-Kairienė.
• Vytautas Bunevičius, 2023-10-01 – 2027-09-30. Apple tree orchard soil microbiota and soil fatigue of replant sites. Supervisor Dr. Neringa Rasiukevičiūtė, scientific advisor Dr. Juozas Lanauskas.
• Neringa Matelionienė, 2023-10-01 – 2027-09-30. The effects of crop diversification on soil-borne pathogens in no-tillage system. Supervisor Dr. Skaidrė Supronienė.
• Edvinas Meižys, 2023-10-01 – 2028-09-30. Synthesis of fast and slow release fertilizers made from waste of various origins and their application in agriculture. Supervisor Dr. Donata Drapanauskaitė.
• Gabrielė Gvazdauskė (Čapaitė), 2023-10-01 – 2027-09-30. Multifunctional grasslands for sustainable agriculture: climate mitigation, biodiversity and productivity. Supervisor Dr. Kristina Jaškūnė, scientific advisor Dr. Vilma Kemešytė.
• Yasha Jamil, 2022-11-14 – 2026-11-13. Nitrogen fixation efficiency of symbiotic and associative bacteria in the changing climate conditions.Supervisor Dr. Monika Toleikienė.
• Mohsin Ali, 2022-11-01 – 2027-10-31. Evaluation of spring wheat adaptability to abiotic stress using sensor-based  phenotyping tools. Supervisor Dr. Rita Armonienė.
• Ardas Kavaliauskas, 2022-10-01 – 2026-09-30. Integrated Machine Learning and Unmanned aerial vehicle framework for plant stress prediction in agriculture. Supervisor Dr. Renaldas Žydelis.
• Maksims Filipovičs, 2022-10-01 – 2026-09-30. Hyperspectral imaging for early detection of plant diseases. Supervisor Dr. Jūratė Ramanauskienė.
• Rokas Antanynas, 2022-10-01 – 2026-09-30. Management of agroecological niches by incorporating cover and catch crops. Supervisor Dr. Lina Šarūnaitė.
• Rūta Maleckienė, 2022-10-01 – 2026-09-30. Evaluation of compost effectiveness on soil agrochemical properties using extraction fractionation. Supervisor Dr. Rasa Karklelienė.
• Simas Borkertas, 2022-10-01 – 2026-09-30. Effects of fruit and vegetable by-products substrates on the quality and biocemical composition of edible mushrooms. Supervisor Dr. Dalia Urbonavičienė, scientific supervisor Dr. Paulina Martusevičė.
• Simonas Saikauskas, 2022-10-01 – 2026-09-30. The impact of winter and spring wheat cultivars mixtures on leaf spot diseases in different rotation sequences. Supervisor Dr. Jūratė Ramanauskienė.
• Vaida Čepulienė, 2022-10-01 – 2026-09-30. Biodiversity and adaptability in perennial vegetable genus Allium. Supervisor Dr. Rasa Karklelienė, scientific supervisors Dr. Danguolė Juškevičienė, Dr. Jonas Viškelis.
• Vaidė Sakalauskienė, 2022-10-01 – 2026-09-30. Use of fruit and vegetable processing by-products for the development of novel biopolymers. Supervisor Dr. Jonas Viškelis.
• Shayan Syed, 2022-02-15 – 2026-02-14. Development and evaluation of spring wheat breeding material for adaptability to biotic stresses. Supervisor Dr. Andrii Gorash.
• Ahmed Hosney, 2021-11-07 – 2025-11-06. Synthesis and application of sustainable, eco-friendly products with antimicrobial activity. Supervisor Dr. Karolina Barčauskaitė.
• Aistis Petruškevičius, 2021-10-01 – 2026-09-30. Modeling and optimization of biorefining processes for fruits and vegetables and their by-products. Supervisor Prof. Dr. Pranas Viškelis, scientific advisor Dr. Ewelina Hallmann.
• Augustina Kolytaitė, 2021-10-01 – 2025-09-30. The interaction of brown rot blossom blight pathogens with naturaly distributed bacterial antagonists. Supervisor Dr. Birutė Frercks, scientific supervisor Dr. Ingrida Mažeikienė.
• Aurimas Sabeckis, 2021-10-01 – 2025-09-30. The factors affecting the occurrence, severity and distribution of diseases caused by Microdochium spp. pathogens in winter wheat. Supervisor Dr. Roma Semaškienė.
• Evelina Zavtrikovienė, 2020-10-01 – 2026-09-30. Phenotypic diversity and harmfulness to wheat of Fusarium species residing in non-gramineous plants. Supervisor Dr. Skaidrė Supronienė.
• Loreta Meškauskienė, 2020-10-01 – 2024-09-30. Adoption of integrated weed management in sustainable tillage. Supervisor Dr. Gražina Kadžienė.
• Ieva Gudžinskaitė, 2020-11-04 – 2024-11-03. The photophysiological aspects of improving the quality of green vegetables during postharvest storage. Supervisor Dr. Giedrė Samuolienė.
• Agnė Lukošiūtė-Stasiukonienė, 2019-10-01 – 2024-09-30. The influence of agronomic factors on the occurrence of diseases in winter and spring wheat in the context of climate change. Supervisor Dr. Roma Semaškienė.
• Renaldas Ruzgas, 2018-10-01 – 2024-09-30. The impact of crop management on the qualitative and quantitative values of phytocannabinoids and other constituents of industrial hemp (Cannabis sativa L.). Supervisor Dr. Vita Tilvikienė, scientific advisor Dr. Akvilė Viršilė.
• Vilma Živatkauskienė, 2018-03-01 – 2024-02-28. Value of natural and cultural pastures for animal husbandry farms. Supervisor Dr. Vaclovas Stukonis, scientific advisor Dr. Jonas Šlepetys.

FORESTRY

• Anum Bhatti, 2024-10-01–2028-09-30. Use of non-native tree species in urban environments and their impact on ecosystem service. Supervisor Dr. Diana Marčiulynienė, scientific advisor Dr. Monika Mačiulienė.
• Saulius Papečkys, 2024-10-01–2028-09-30.  Analysis of the implementation of environmental goals in protected areas. Supervisor Dr. Marius Aleinikovas. 
• Yanal Alkuddsi, 2024-02-27 – 2028-02-26. Environmental and economic assessment of biomass production from energy crops. Supervisor Dr. Marius Aleinikovas.
• Milana Šilanskienė, 2023-10-01–2027-09-30. Biocontrol of Pinus sylvestris and Fraxinus excelsior pathogens under climate change conditions. Supervisor Dr. Vaida Sirgedaitė-Šėžienė, scientific advisor Dr. Dorotėja Vaitiekūnaitė.
• Olegas Beriozovas, 2023-10-01–2027-09-30. The problem of property rights in the context of forest development and sustainable development of the forest sector. Supervisor Dr. Mindaugas Škėma, scientific advisor Dr. Dalia Perkumienė.
• Emilis Armoška, 2022-10-01 – 2026-09-30. Influence of natural disturbances on tree species composition changes in coniferous stands. Supervisor Dr. Povilas Žemaitis. 
• Ilona Kavaliauskienė, 2022-10-01 – 2026-09-30. DNA marker based genetic structure and diversity of Norway spruce populations in Lithuania (Picea abies (L.) H.Karst.). Supervisor Dr. Virgilijus Baliuckas.
• Raitis Rieksts-Riekstinš, 2022-10-01 – 2026-09-30. Tree breeding effect on growth and resistance of young Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) stands. Supervisor Dr. Virgilijus Baliuckas.
• Egidijus Vigricas, 2021-10-01 – 2025-09-30. Emissions of green house gasses from forests organic soils. Supervisor Dr. Iveta Varnagirytė-Kabašinskienė.
• Valentinas Černiauskas, 2021-10-01 – 2025-09-30. Biomonitoring of air pollution in the context of climate change. Supervisor Dr. Iveta Varnagirytė-Kabašinskienė.
• Aliaksandr Padutau, 2020-12-01 – 2025-11-30. Genetic and phenotypic structure of Scots pine families in second generation seed orchards. Supervisor Dr. Virgilijus Baliuckas.