Najib M. El Assi, Ph.d

PERSONAL INFORMATION
 Nationality:  Jordanian.  
 Date of Birth: 1954. 
 Marital status: Married
		
ADDRESS
The University of Jordan, Faculty of Agriculture, Dept. of Horticulture & Crop Science. Amman 11942, Jordan
Office tel. (962-6) 535-5000 ext. 22346; Cell tel. (962)0777498867; Fax (962-6) 535-5577. E-mail: najibasi@ju.edu.jo; najibasi@gmail.com
Faculty site: www.ju.edu.jo/faculties_agriculture/index.htm
Member site: http://www.ju.edu.jo/sites/Academic/najibasi/default.aspx

Second address: 
P.O Box 13367. Amman 11942, Jordan

EDUCATION
		
1992 - 1996	The University of Florida
Ph.D., Horticultural Sciences, Postharvest Physiology Option	Gainesville, Fl. U.S.A	

1990 - 1992	The University of California  
M.Sc., Vegetable Crops, Postharvest Physiology Option	
Davis, CA. U.S.A	

1972 - 1979	Vasil Colarov Institute  
B.Sc., Fruit & Vegetable Production, Ag. Engineering Option	
Plovdiv, Bulgaria	

PROFISSIONAL EXPERIENCE

August 2004- Up to now
Associate Professor	
Dept. of Horticulture & Crop Science
The University of Jordan, Amman	
Responsibilities
•	Teaching the following courses: 
- Graduate level: Postharvest Technology, Physiology & Biology of Fresh Fruits, vegetables & Cut Flowers. 
     - Undergraduate level: Harvesting, Handling & Storage of Fresh Fruits, Vegetables, Cut Flowers and field Crops; Landscaping. 
•	Conducting research projects related to Postharvest Technology & Physiology.
•	Supervising students pursuing their M.Sc. & Ph.D. degrees in Horticulture (Postharvest Area).
•	Participating in several exam committees for the M.Sc and Ph.D. students.

Other activities related to the Postharvest filed:
•	Chief of the permanent committee for renewing the existing & establishing new marketing standards for fresh fruits, vegetables, & processed foods.
•	Participating in meetings, workshops, conferences related to Postharvest area.
•	Provide consultation services & training to different local & international institutions & organizations in the Postharvest field.

Sept. 1997- Augest 2004
Assistant Professor	Dept. of Horticulture & Crop Science
The University of Jordan, Amman	
Responsibilities
•	Teaching the following courses: 
- Graduate level: Postharvest Technology, Physiology & Biology of Fresh Fruits, vegetables & Cut Flowers; Plant Bioregulators. 
     - Undergraduate level: Harvesting, Handling & Storage of Fresh Fruits, Vegetables, & Cut Flowers; Landscaping; Principles of Horticulture; & Principles of Plant Science; 
•	Conducting research projects related to Postharvest Technology & Physiology.
•	Supervising students pursuing their M.Sc. in Horticulture (Postharvest Area).
•	Participating in several exam committees for the M.Sc and Ph.D. students.

Other activities related to the Postharvest filed:
•	Chief of the permanent committee for renewing the existing & establishing new marketing standards for fresh fruits, vegetables, & processed foods.
•	Participating in meetings, workshops, conferences related to Postharvest area.
Provide consultation services & training to different local & international institutions & organizations in the Postharvest field

Feb. 1996 - June 1996  
University Lecturer	Dept. of Horticulture & Plant Protection
The University of Jordan, Amman	
Responsibilities
•	Carried out lectures in Postharvest Physiology & Biology at the graduate level.

Aug. 1992- May 1996  
Graduate Research & Teaching Assistant.	Dept. of Horticultural Sciences 
The University of Florida, Gainesville	
Responsibilities
•	Planned & conducted doctoral research project to monitor the physiological changes associated with stress responses in irradiated tomato fruit, employed techniques used in the isolation and analysis of plant structural polysaccharides and hydrolytic enzymes. These include gel chromatography, gas chromatography, gel electrophoresis, and ion-exchange chromatography.
•	Assisted faculty members in the department carrying out their teaching responsibilities at the undergraduate level.
•	Conducted research projects related to postharvest area as needed by the department of Horticulture in cooperation with some private companies

Sept. 1990- Aug. 1992 
Graduate Research Assistant  	Dept. of Vegetable Crops,
The University of California, Davis	
Responsibilities
•	Planned & conducted research project toward an M.Sc. program. My studies addresses detailed analysis of postharvest quality parameters in harvested fruit including color, respiratory activity, ethylene production, ion afflux, & general ripening physiology.
Conducted research projects related to postharvest area as needed by the department of Vegetable Crops in cooperation with some private companies.

June 1986-  Sept. 1990
Head of Transportation, Processing, 
& Refrigerated Storage Division 	Agricultural Marketing Organization (AMO), Jordan	

Responsibilities 
Maintaining of high quality produce to the local & export markets, and   reduction of postharvest losses through performing the following tasks:
•	Developed & implemented regulations related to packing, cold storage & refrigerated transport.
•	Arranged & conducted trial shipments to the export markets in Europe and the Gulf States.
•	Issued, developed, & implemented quality standards & grades for fresh fruits & vegetables in cooperation with other government agencies.
•	Participated & arranged training programs related to postharvest area for AMO staff to improve their job performance and effectiveness.
Translated the “Postharvest Technology of Horticultural Crops” book, issued by the University of California, from the English to the Arabic language to be used as a guide for the non-English speaking staff

Nov. 1984-June 1986 
Technical Manager of the Tomato Processing Plant 	Agricultural Marketing & Processing Co., Jordan	
Responsibilities
Directed personnel of 80 employees (400 during the season’s peak) responsible for operating & maintaining of the largest tomato processing plant in the region, & supervised the production of concentrated tomato paste for the local & export markets

Nov. 1981- Nov. 1984 
Senior Quality Control Inspector	Jordan Valley Authority, Jordan	
Responsibilities
Headed & supervised a team of quality control inspectors assigned to:
•	Inspect & approve the suitability of the incoming tomato fruit for processing, & monitoring the quality of the end product, that included laboratory & microscopic tests.
 Inspected and approved suitability of fresh vegetables for the local & export markets during the season production peak in accordance to the standards required by these markets.

Oct. 1979- Nov. 1981 
Experimental Station Manager 	Jordan Valley Authority, Jordan	
Responsibilities
•	Planned & conducted preliminary research projects on fertilization, irrigation, improved varieties, and pesticide & disease control in a Governmental Research Station under the supervision of an American Scientific Team.
•	Developed an extension program to provide the local farmers with the up-to- date information on the cultural practices.
•	Participated in teamwork to introduce a newly developed transplanting technique in the nursery by using polystyrene flats under a very well controlled environment in the green house.

ADDITIONAL PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES AS
CONSULATN, TRAINER & RESEARCHER

•	Provided consultation services to Fresh-Consult (An American-Austrian Consultation Company) during the 1993- 1996 period in the postharvest area:
 -  Held training programs in Bulgaria on the “Proper Handling Procedures & Quality Control of Fresh Fruits” in two German owned processing plants. 
- Carried out a follow-up to supervise & help solving quality deterioration problems occurred during handling the incoming fresh produce in the above mentioned processing plants.

•	Prepared a study on Food Quality Control System in the Near East & North Africa Region & their Effects in the Development of Agricultural Trade.  Submitted to the Food Marketing Associations for the Near East & North Africa, & was presented in the Food Quality Control Conference held in Cairo, 1996. 
•	Held a one-week training of Agricultural Marketing Organization (AMO) staff in the postharvest area in 1996.
•	Provided consultation services & held training programs to the Agricultural Marketing Organization (AMO) in the postharvest area 1996, 1997.
•	Conduct a study on postharvest losses of tomatoes and grapes, from April to August 2000, for the Middle East Regional Agricultural Program sponsored by the European Committee.
•	Assigned as the executive head of the permanent committee for Standards of fresh fruits and vegetables in Jordan since 2001.
•	Acted as FAO sub-regional consultant for Al-Mashrequ Sub-Region. Prepared and presented a report on “The Postharvest Status of Al-Mashrequ Sub-Region” during the Regional Workshop on Global Initiative on Postharvest Technology (GIPHT) for the WANA Region, held in Cairo-Egypt in February, 4-6. 2002.
•	Participated as a trainer in a training program organized by FAO in 2003 in Jordan on postharvest handling of fresh fruits, vegetables, & cut flowers.
•	Conducted a one-year study on Postharvest Losses in tomatoes, eggplants, squashes, and sweet peppers in the Jordan Valley and Upland in Jordan that was funded by the Deanship of Scientific Research at the University of Jordan in 2004.
•	Carried out a three-week consultation services in Iraq for The Service Group, Inc (TSG) on Handling of Fresh Fruits and Vegetables and Food Safety Programs in a project funded by the USAID in 2005.
•	Acted as the Team leader for "Training of Trainers in the Postharvest Area", a three-month training in 2006 for the Ministry of Agriculture funded by the EU.
•	Participated as a team member for the study "Marketing Infrastructure in Jordan". A study that was conducted in 2006 for the Ministry of Agriculture and was funded by the EU.
•	Acted as the team leader for the study "Postharvest Losses of Several Crops in Jordan" for the Ministry of Agriculture and Funded by EU in 2007.
•	Participated as a team member for the study "Feasibility Study for Establishing Marketing Company in Jordan". A study that was conducted in 2007 for the Ministry of Agriculture and was funded by the EU.
•	Conducted a 5-day training course on Food Safety for 30 specialists from the public sector in Jordan in 2007, and the activity was funded by the EU.
•	Conducted a 5-day training course on Postharvest Handling of Fresh Produce for 25 participants from the public and private sectors in Lebanon in 2008, and the activity was funded by the EU.
•	Participated in a six-month study of Transportation of Fresh fruits and vegetables funded by Ministry of Transportation and Ministry of Agriculture in Jordan in 2008.
•	Participated as a team member for of an extended study on "The Feasibility for Establishing Marketing Company in Jordan". A study that was conducted in 2008 for the Ministry of Agriculture and was funded by the Arab Investment Organization.
•	Participated as a trainer in the IAER Postharvest Technology short course for Iraqis in Jordan in 2008. The training was held by the University of California, Davis and Texas A & M and was funded by the USAID.
•	Carried out a 3-day training course on Quality of fresh fruits and vegetables held in Jordan for trainees from Jordan and Syria. The course was funded by the Agricultural Arab Organization in 2009.

SPECIAL TRAINING & PROGRAMS
•	1982: A Three-Month Training Course in “ Postharvest Technology”, Overseas Research & Development National Institute, London.
•	1989: A Three-week Training Course in Management, US AID in cooperation with the Jordanian Government.
•	1989: A Three-week Training Course on the “ Reduction of Postharvest Losses”, The University of California, Davis.
•	1990: A Three-month Training course in Business, American Language Center -  Jordan
•	2007: A two-week training course on Meeting and Conference Management. Center of Consultation- The University of Jordan, Amman- Jordan.

PUBLICATIONS

•	Assi, N., A. Martinez. & J. Ahrens. 1991. Vibration Injury in Tomato Fruit. HortScience. Vol. 26 (6). p. 778 (Abstract).
•	Assi, N., & J. Ahrens. 1992. Vibration of Tomato Fruit Causes Abnormal Ripening. HortScience. Vol. 27 (6). p. 603 (Abstract).
•	El-Assi, N., D. J. Huber. & J. K. Brecht. 1994. Softening of Gamma-Irradiated Tomato Fruits. HortScience Vol. 29 (5). p. 566 (Abstract).
•	El-Assi, N., D. J. Huber. & J. K. Brecht. 1995. Softening of Irradiated Tomato Fruits. HortScience Vol. 30 (4). p. 815 (Abstract).
•	El-Assi, N., & R. Hattar. 1996. Food Quality Control System in the Near East & North Africa Region & their Effects in the Development of Agricultural Trade.  Submitted to the Food Marketing Associations for the Near East & North Africa, & was presented in the Food Quality Control Conference held in Cairo, 1996. 
•	El-Assi, N., D. J. Huber. & J. K. Brecht. 1997. Irradiated-induced Changes in Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) Fruit & Pericarp Firmness, Electrolyte Afflux & Cell Wall Enzyme Activity as influenced by Stage of Ripening. J. American Society of Horticultural Sciences 122 (1): 100-106.
•	Dris. R, R. Niskanan & N. El Assi. 2000. Effect of CaCl2 sprays, heat, and combined CaCl2 -heat treatments on the quality of apples (Malus domestica Borkh.). J. Appl. Hort., 2(2): 79-83.
•	Sasivimon Chomchalow, N. M. El Assi, S. A. Sargent, and J. K. Brecht. 2002. Fruit Maturity and Timing of Ethylene Treatment Affect Storage Performance of Green Tomatoes at Chilling and Nonchilling Temperatures. HortTechnology 12 (1), 104-114.
•	Najib M. El Assi. 2002.Postharvest Losses of Peppers and Squashes Produced For Local Markets In Jordan. Mu’tah Lil-Buhuth wad-Dirasat 17 (2), 35-46.
•	Al-Laham O., N. M. El Assi, M. Fayyad. 2003. Impact of treated wastewater irrigation on quality attributes and contamination of tomato fruit. Agricultural Water Management 61, 51-62.
•	Najib M. El Assi. 2004. Alleviating Chilling Injury and Maintaining Quality of Tomato Fruit by Hot Water Treatment. Emirates Journal of Agricultural Sciences. Vol (16) 1; p 01-07. 
•	Najib M. El Assi. 2004.Postharvest Losses of Tomatoes and Eggplants Produced For Local Markets In Jordan. Journal of King Saud Universit. Vol 17/1; p 37-46.
•	Najib M. El Assi. 2005. Quality preservation and reduction of chilling injury occurance of tomato fruit by warm water treatment. Mu’tah Lil-Buhuth wad-Dirasat 20 (2), 37-50.
•	Jaradat S. and N. El Assi. 2007. Prediction of the Optimum Harvest Date for Three Apple (Malus domestica Borkh.) Cultivars in Jordan. Acta Horticulturae 741, p73-80. 
•	Hammash F. and N. El Assi. 2007. The Influence of Pre-storage Waxing and Wrapping on Quality Attributes of Stored "Shamouti" Oranges. Acta Horticulturae 741, p 133-139. 
•	Najib El Assi and Azmi Abu-Rayya. 2007. Yield and Quality of Onion Bulbs as Affected by Manure Applications. Acta Horticulturae 741, p 265269.
•	Al-Najdawi O., A. Dayoob, G. Rasheed and N. El Assi. 2007. Quality of Strawberries Grown in Soil less Culture as Affected by Flower, Fruit Thinning or GA3 Sprays. Acta Horticulturae 741, p 151-157.
•	AlLaham. O, N. M. El Assi, and M. Fayad 2007. Translocation of Heavy Metals to Tomato (Solanum Lycopersicom L.) Fruit Irrigated with Treated Wastewater. Scientia Horticulturae 113/3 p 250-254.
•	Najib El Assi. and Amer Jabarin 2007. Technical and Economical Evaluation of Traditional vs. advanced Handling of Grapes in Jordan. Journal of Agronomy 6(30: 454-458.
•	Kilany L., J. Sawan., and N. El Assi. 2007.. Maintaining High Quality Roses by a Simple Locally-Made Forced-Air Cooling Unit. Jordan Journal of Agricultural Sciences 3 (3): 222-232.
•	Nawaf M. Freihat, A. K. Al-Shannag, and N. El Assi. 2008. Qualitative Responses of " Nabali" Olive Oil to Harvesting Time and Altitueds at Sub-Humid Mediterrnian. International Journal of Food Properties, 11:561-570.
•	Najib El Assi., Amer Jabarin, and Hmood Al Dobei. 2009. Technical and Economical Evaluation of Traditional vs. Advanced Handling of Tomatoes in Jordan. Journal of Agronomy 8(1): 39-44.
•	El-Assi N., and N. Alsmeirat. 2010. Total Aroma and other Quality Factors of Hugo Charantais Melons Affected by Harvest Date and Refrigeration. International Journal of Botany 6(1): 21-27.
•	N. Alsmeirat, and El-Assi N. 2010. Changes in Esters, Alcohols, and Acetaldehyde in Two Cultivars of Charantais Melon as Influenced by Harvest Date and Storage. International Journal of Botany 6 (2): 81-88.

•	Najib M. El Assi, Nihad Alsmeirat, and Nazeer Alhadidi. 2010. Determination of the Optimum Harvest Date for 'Magenta' Charentais Melon (Cucumis melo L.) Fruit in Jordan. Jordan Journal of Agriculture Sciences. Accepted.

LANGUAGES
•	Arabic language: Mother tongue.
•	English: Excellent speaking, reading, & writing.
•	Bulgarian: Good speaking, reading, & writing.
•	French: learning.
AWARDS RECEIVED

•	US AID Scholarship to pursue an M.Sc. degree at The University of California, Davis, in 1990.
•	Graduate Research Assistantship awarded from the Institute of Food & Agricultural Sciences (IFAS), to pursue a Ph.D. degree at The University of Florida, Gainesville, in 1992.
•	Recipient of  “ Certificate of Recognition” from The University of Florida for the achievement of accumulative GPA of 4.0 in 1994.
•	Recipient of  “ Certificate of Recognition” from The University of Florida for the achievement of accumulative GPA of 4.0 in 1995.
•	Recipient of the “Presidential Recognition of Outstanding Students” from the President of The University of Florida for the achievement of accumulative GPA of 4.0 & for an outstanding research project in 1996.

REFERNCES

•	Dr. Adel A. Kader, Professor Emeritus of Postharvest Physiology- Department of Plant Science, the University of California, One Shields Avenue, Davis, CA 95616, USA. Phone: 530-752-0909. E-mail: aakader@ucdavis.edu.
•	Dr. Jeffery Brecht, Professor at the Horticultural Sciences Dept. at the University of Florida, Gainesville, Fl.32611. Phone: (352) 392-4711. Fax. (352) 392-6479. E-mail: jkb@ifas.ufl.edu.
•	Dr. Mostafa Qrunfleh, Professor & Former Minister of Agriculture, Department of Horticulture and Crop Science, Faculty of Agriculture, the University of Jordan-Amman, 11942 Jordan. Phone: +962-6-535-5000 ext. 22339. Email: mostafaq@ju.edu.jo.
•	Dr. Omar M. Kafawin, Professor and Dean, Faculty of Agriculture, the University of Amman 11942, Jordan. Phone: +962-6-535-5000 ext. 22525. Email: kafawin@ju.edu.jo.