Biologie-USTHB | Algeria
Lilya Boucelha is a Maître-de-conférences A at the Faculty of Biological Sciences, Université des Sciences et de la Technologie Houari Boumediene (USTHB, Algiers), working in the Plant Physiology team of the Laboratory of Biology and Physiology of Organisms. She holds a Master’s in Plant Science & Biotechnologies, a Licence in Plant Biology, Physiology & Genetics, and earned her Doctorate (LMD 3rd cycle) in Genetics, Molecular Plant Physiology & Microbiology (2015) with highest honours. Her research focuses on seed priming (hydro- and osmopriming), seed ageing, abiotic stress tolerance—particularly drought and salinity—and the role of silicon, proline, and redox status in enhancing plant resilience. With over a decade of teaching experience in stress physiology, eco-physiology, and plant biology, she has also served on pedagogical committees and program revision teams. Her funded projects span national and international programmes addressing drought and salinity tolerance, as well as seed quality improvement through priming and silicon-based treatments. She has published 16 international peer-reviewed papers, contributed to 60 conference presentations, and participated in several nationally funded research projects. Her publications have collectively received over 83 citations and an h-index of 5, reflecting steady recognition of her research contributions. In 2022, she was awarded the International Prize for Young Algerian Researchers for Best Oral Presentation within the framework of the PHC Maghreb project, recognizing her excellence in scientific communication and research innovation. Boucelha is also the principal author of the article “Is protein carbonylation a biomarker of seed priming and ageing?”, published in Functional Plant Biology (2021), highlighting her leading contribution to research on seed physiology and oxidative stress biomarkers. She exemplifies a dynamic early-career academic who effectively integrates dedicated teaching with impactful research promoting sustainable crop production under challenging environmental conditions.
Featured Publications
Boucelha, L., Djebbar, R., & Benlahrech, S. (2025). The ambiguous role of silicon in the pregermination treatment of Vigna unguiculata seeds. Journal of Plant Growth Regulation. Advance online publication.
Benlahrech, S., Boucelha, L., Cherchali, A., Djebbar, R., & Ounane, S. M. (2024). Characterization of non-rhizobial endophytic bacteria in Algerian cowpea root nodules: Unveiling potential for nitrogen fixation. Analele Universităţii din Oradea, Fascicula Biologie.
Gueridi, S., Boucelha, L., Abrous-Belbachir, O., & Djebbar, R. (2024). Effects of hormopriming and pretreatment with gibberellic acid on fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.) seed germination. Acta Botanica Croatica.
Lamara, S., Boucelha, L., Djebbar, R., & Chabane, D. (2023). Antioxidant activities in Pimpinella anisum L. callus responding to PEG-6000-induced water stress under light (12 h photoperiod) and dark conditions. Plant Cell, Tissue and Organ Culture.
Beggah, S., Ellouzi, H., Boucelha, L., Zorrig, W., Djebbar, R., & Abrous-Belbachir, O. (2023). Ascorbate attenuates damages caused by paraquat-induced oxidative stress in fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.) seedlings. Journal of Soil Science and Plant Nutrition,