Mari Moora - Biography#

Mari Moora is a leading Estonian ecologist and Vice Rector for Research at the University of Tartu. She earned her B.Sc. in Biology (Genetics) from the University of Tartu in 1989 and completed her PhD in Plant Ecology and Ecophysiology in 1998 with a dissertation on the role of arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis in species coexistence. Her academic journey began as a junior researcher at the Estonian Agrobiocentre, followed by roles as laboratory technician and research fellow at the University of Tartu. She broadened her expertise during a postdoctoral period at the University of Helsinki’s Viikki Biocentre (2000-2001).

Mari Moora’s research focuses on community ecology, plant–plant interactions, and plant–microbe mutualisms, particularly the diversity and functioning of mycorrhizal fungi. She has contributed significantly to understanding how soil biota shape plant communities and ecosystem processes. Her work spans local and global scales, addressing biodiversity, invasive species, and climate change impacts. She has published over 150 scientific papers in leading journals such as Nature, Science, Nature Communications and Ecology Letters, accumulating more than 20,000 citations and an h-index of 66, placing her among Estonia’s most influential ecologists.

In addition to her research, Mari Moora has held numerous leadership roles. She served as Vice Dean for Research and Development (2017-2019), chaired the Plant Ecology chair (2021–2023), and became Vice Rector for Research of University of Tartu in 2023. Internationally, she contributes as an evaluator for European Commission programs and as a panel member for ERC Starting Grants, FWO ( The Research Foundation – Flanders) and the German DFG Biodiversity Exploratories. She has also served as Academic Editor for PLOS ONE and regularly reviews for top-tier journals.

Her achievements have been recognized with prestigious awards, including the Republic of Estonia National Science Award (2016), the Alma Tomingas Medal (2023), and the Order of the White Star, 4th Class (2025). She is an active member of the International Association for Vegetation Science and has coordinated major research projects, such as studies on plant–microbe mutualisms and agroecology under future climate scenarios.

Mari Moora combines high-impact scholarship with strategic leadership, advancing ecological science and fostering research excellence at the University of Tartu and beyond.