Rate My Professor Lisa Morano

Lisa Morano, Ph.D., is a Professor of Biology and Microbiology in the Department of Natural Sciences at the University of Houston-Downtown. She earned a B.S. in Biology from the University of California, Irvine in 1990 and a Ph.D. in Ecology from the University of California, Davis in 1995. At UHD, she has served in various leadership roles, including Chair of the Faculty Affairs Committee, Chair of the 2011 Faculty Awards Committee, and Chair of the President's Retention Taskforce in 2015-2016. Currently, she is the Director of the Center for Urban Agriculture and Sustainability, where she advances hands-on education in sustainable food production systems such as hydroponics, aquaponics, and bioreactors. Dr. Morano moderates panels on sustainability topics, including the President's Lecture Series, and contributes to student research initiatives like the UHD Student Research Conference.

As an ecologist, Dr. Morano specializes in plant-microbe interactions and agroecology, with a focus on diseases of grapevines caused by pathogens like Xylella fastidiosa and factors influencing fruit quality and wine taste. Her research extends to urban agriculture, microbiome analysis using MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry, endophytes, rhizobacteria, and climate change mitigation strategies. Key publications include 'Intersubspecific Recombination in Xylella fastidiosa Strains Native to the United States' (2013), 'Mathematical Modeling of Glassy-Winged Sharpshooter Population' (2014), 'Urban Agricultural and Sustainability Program at Houston’s Downtown University' (2017), 'Solar Powered Aquaponics: Modeling Real World Solutions through Engineering Technology' (2019), 'Development of an Inexpensive Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption—Time of Flight Mass Spectrometry Method' (2021), and 'Classical Soil Gardens versus Outdoor Hydroponic Gardens Utilizing Energy and Water Capture Technologies' (2021). Her work has garnered 829 citations. Dr. Morano has received the UHD Excellence in Teaching Award and is a VoiceThread Certified Educator. She is committed to creating sustainable agricultural systems and protecting ecosystems.