Campus Directory

Pronouns he/him/his

Division Physical & Biological Sciences Division

Department/College/Unit Environmental Studies Department

Title Postdoctoral Scholar

Affiliation Staff

Staff Type Postdoctoral Scholar

Areas of Expertise Tropical Forest
Agroecology and Agriculture

Web Site

Primary Office Location Nat Sci 2 Main Building
439

Office Hours for Students/ Office Hours Monday - Friday, 9 am - 5 pm

Mail Stop Environmental Studies

Biography, Education and Training

Mohammad Rahmat Ullah is a Postdoctoral Scholar at the University of California, Santa Cruz, working on cover crop management and nitrogen cycling. He previously held a prestigious Alexander von Humboldt Fellowship at the University of Bayreuth, Germany, and earned his Ph.D. from the University of Sydney, Australia. His research focuses on soil–plant–microbe interactions, climate change, and sustainable resource management. He has also contributed to global environmental efforts through international organizations such as the FAO of the United Nations and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

Summary of Expertise

Background in soil biogeochemistry and microbial ecology, with focus on nitrogen cycling, carbon dynamics, and climate change impacts.

Research Interests

Research on soil–plant–microbe interactions, C and N cycling, and climate impacts, with focus on management practices that enhance ecosystem resilience and sustainability.

Teaching Interests

• Soil biogeochemistry

• Natural resource governance

• Climate change and ecosystem dynamics

• Scientific writing 

Awards, Honors and Grants

• Alexander von Humboldt Fellowship (Postdoctoral Research Fellow, University of Bayreuth, Germany, 2023–2025)

• University of Sydney International Scholarship (Ph.D. studies, The University of Sydney, Australia, 2017–2021)

• Gregory Award, Society of American Foresters (SAF), USA (2015)

• Asia-Pacific Network for Sustainable Forest Management (APFNet) Scholarship (Master’s studies, Beijing Forestry University, China, 2010–2012)

• Francis Henry Loxton and Alexander Hugh Thurburn Scholarships, The University of Sydney

• A. B. Temu Award, and National Science, Information & Communication Technology (NSICT) Fellowship, Bangladesh

• Research Assistantship, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)-funded project, Bangladesh

Selected Performances

Mentor: 7 students (UCSC grad and PhD)
Mentees: 9-months, Forestry Australia (Mentor: Dr. Kevin Harding) 
Peer Learning Advisor: 4-years, Uni of Sydney, Australia

Selected Publications

Ullah MR, Kengdo SK, Peršoh D, Tian Y, Heinzle J, Malo CU, Shi C, Lueders T, Poll C, Wanek W, Schindlbacher A, Borken W. 2026. Long-term soil warming decreases fungal biomass and alters fungal but not bacterial communities in a temperate forest. Soil Biology and Biochemistry, 110120.

Ullah MR, Wegend K, Kellner H, Peršoh D, Borken W. 2024. A mesocosm study on carbon transfer mechanisms from deadwood to litter through fungal hyphal growth. Applied Soil Ecology 207, 105939.

Ullah MR, Carrillo Y, Dijkstra FA. 2023. Relative contributions of fungi and bacteria to litter decomposition under low and high soil moisture in an Australian grassland. Applied Soil Ecology, 182, 104737.

Ullah MR, Carrillo Y, Dijkstra FA. 2021. Drought-induced and seasonal variation in carbon use efficiency is associated with fungi: bacteria ratio and enzyme production in a grassland ecosystem. Soil Biology and Biochemistry, 155, 108159.

Ullah MR, Carrillo Y, Dijkstra FA. 2021. Biocides provide a source of carbon and nitrogen directly to surviving microbes and indirectly through a pulse in microbial necromass. Applied Soil Ecology, 160, 103862.

Ullah MR, Corneo PE, Dijkstra FA. 2020. Inter-seasonal Nitrogen Loss with Drought Depends on Fertilizer Management in a Seminatural Australian Grassland. Ecosystems, 23, 1281–1293.

Yan F, Ullah MR, Gong Y, Feng Z, Chowdury Y, Wu L. 2012. Use of a no prism total station for field measurements in Pinus tabulaeformis Carr. stands in China. Biosystems Engineering, 113, 259–265.

Ullah MR, Liu XD, Al-Amin M. 2013. Spatial-temporal distribution of forest fires and fire weather index calculation from 2000 to 2009 in China. Journal of Forest Science, 59, 279–287.

Ullah MR, Al-Amin M. 2012. Above-and below-ground carbon stock estimation in a natural forest of Bangladesh. Journal of Forest Science, 58, 372–379.

Wahed MA, Ullah MR, Irfanullah HM. 2016. Human-Elephant Conflict Mitigation Measures: Lessons from Bangladesh. IUCN Bangladesh Country Office, Dhaka, 30 pp. ISBN: 978-984-34-1219-5.

Al-Amin M, Ullah MR. 2010. Impact of Climate Change on Tree Species Diversity of Hill Forests of Bangladesh. Climate change, biodiversity and food security in the South Asian region, Macmillan Publisher, India (Book chapter), pp. xvi+457p. ISBN-13: 9780230328211.