Top

Dr Rafiq Ahmad

  /  Dr Rafiq Ahmad
Tenured Associate Professor, Biotechnology
Specialization:

Environmental Sciences and Plant Genetics


Email: drrafiq@cuiatd.edu.pk
Phone: +92-992-383591-5

Academics/ Degrees:

  • PhD, Université Paris-Est Créteil (UPEC), France, 2012
  • MS, Université Paris-Est Créteil, France, 2008
  • M.Sc. (Hons.), University of agriculture Faisalabad, Pakistan, 2006
  • B.Sc. (Hons.), University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan, 2004
 
Journal Publications
1. Nauman, M,M. Shahzad,Alghamdi, A.A.,Ahmed, J,R.Ahmad,M.Bilal,S.A.Khan,M.Irshad Enhanced Resilience to Salt Stress: An Integrated Approach Addressing Physiochemical Attributes of Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). , Polish Journal of Environmental Studies, 2025
2. S.A.Khan,R.Ahmad,M.Shahzad,M. Shahzad Morphological, Biochemical, and Gene Expression Responses of Selected Pea (Pisum sativum L.) Varieties to Water-deficit Stress, Romanian Agricultural Research, 2025
3. A.Hassan,S.A.Khan,R.Ahmad Novel halotolerant PGPR strains alleviate salt stress by enhancing antioxidant activities and expression of selected genes leading to improved growth of Solanum lycopersicum, Scientia Horticulturae, 2024
4. S.A.Khan,R.Ahmad,M.Shahzad,Y.Sajjad,M. Shahzad Evaluation of morphological and biochemical variations in peas under two widespread abiotic stresses , Acta Physiologiae Plantarum, 2024
5. R.Ahmad,M. Shahzad,S.A.Khan The ability of selected fungal strains to produce carboxylesterase enzymes for biodegradation and use of bifenthrin insecticide as carbon source: in vitro and in silico approaches, Bioprocess and Biosystems Engineering, 2024
6. R.Ahmad Impact of high tropospheric ozone and nitrogen concentration on total protein and chlorophyll content of 'Pinus roxburghii, June, 2024, 2024
7. S.A.Khan,R.Ahmad,Y.Sajjad Aflatoxins in Wheat Grains: Detection and Detoxification through Chemical, Physical, and Biological Means, Life, 2024
8. R.Ahmad,S.A.Khan,M.Shahzad,M. Shahzad Ectomycorrhiza and ethylenediurea reduced the impact of high nitrogen and ozone stresses and increased the growth of Cedrus deodara, Heliyon, 2024
9. S.A.Khan,A.Hassan,R.Ahmad,M.Shah,Y.Sajjad,M. Shahzad Real time expression and in silico characterization of pea genes involved in salt and water-deficit stress, Molecular Biology Reports, 2024
10. R.Ahmad,Dr. AM Abbasi,M. Shahzad,U.Irshad 32. Combination of melatonin and plant growth promoting rhizobacteria improved the growth of Spinacia oleracea L. under the arsenic and cadmium stresses. M. Asif, R. Ahmad, A. Pervez, D.A.A. Farraj, M.S. Elshikh, Muhammad Shahzad, U. Irshad, A.M. Abbasi, (2023), Physiological and Molecular Plant Pathology, 2023
11. Saddaf Rashid,R.Ahmad,Dr. AM Abbasi,M. Azeem,Dunia A. Al Farraj,S.A.Khan,Mohamed Soliman Elshikh Synthesis of Rumex hastatus-based silver nanoparticles induced the inhibition of human pathogenic bacterial strains, Arabian Journal of Chemistry, 2023
12. Nabeela Zahid,R.Ahmad,S.A.Khan,M.Shah In vitro and in silico validation of antibacterial potential of Pinus roxburghii and Cedrus deodara leaves’ extract against human pathogenic bacteria, Journal of King Saud University-Science, 2023
13. Saba Ahmed,R.Ahmad Organic amendment plus inoculum drivers: Who drives more P nutrition for wheat plant fitness in small duration soil experiment, PlosOne, 2022
14. Nabeela Zahid,R.Ahmad,S.A.Khan,M.Shah Identification of different genotypes of HCV in hepatitis patients of Abbottabad, Pakistan and detection of acute and chronic HCV infection through proteases inhibitors genes expression, Acta Virologica, 1 October, 2021
15. S.A.Khan,M. Shahzad,R.Ahmad,Y.Sajjad Differential variations in total flavonoid content and antioxidant enzymes activities in pea under different salt and drought stresses , Scientia Horticulturae, 2021
16. Javaria Chand,S.A.Khan,R.Ahmad,M. Shahzad Expression of Antioxidant Genes can Increase Cold Resistance in Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.). , Pakistan Journal of Botany, 2021
17. Sadaf Naeem,K.Khan,R.Ahmad,A.Hassan Morphological and molecular markers based screening of maize hybrids against northern corn leaf blight., PJB, , 2021
18. M. Shahzad,Shumail Waheed,R.Ahmad,M.Irshad,S.A.Khan,Q.Mahmood Ca2SiO4 chemigation reduces cadmium localization in the subcellular leaf fractions of spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.) under cadmium stress, Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety , 2021
19. R.Ahmad Prevalence of Diversified Antibiotic Resistant Bacteria within Sanitation Related Facilities of Human Populated Workplaces in Abbottabad. , PLOS ONE, August , 2020
20. R.Ahmad Risk assessment of hazardous elements in wastewater irrigated soil and cultivated vegetables in Pakistan., Arabian Journal of Geosciences 13, no. 22 , 2020
21. Mahnoor Asif,A.Pervez,Q.Mahmood,U.Irshad,R.Ahmad Melatonin and plant growth promoting rhizobacteria alleviate the cadmium and arsenic stresses and increase the growth of Spinacia oleracea, Plant, Soil and Environment, 2020
22. M.Shah,Sadia Asfar,Habiba Zafar,Muhammad Mughees,R.Ahmad,A. Baig,Asma Khan MORPHO-PHYSIOLOGICAL RESPONSE OF HYBRID MAIZE (Zea mays L.) TO SALT STRESS IN COMBINATION WITH EXOGENOUS CALCIUM APPLICATIONS, Applied Ecology and Environmental Research 05/06/2020, 2020
23. R.Ahmad Ecological and health risk assessment of heavy metals in the Hattar industrial estate, Pakistan, Toxin Review, 66-77, 2020
24. S.A.Khan,R.Ahmad,M. Shahzad Salt stress reduces the pea growth and induces the expression of selected antioxidant genes, Pakistan Journal of Agricultural Sciences, 2020
25. R.Ahmad Morpho-physiological response of hybrid maize to salt stress in combination with exogenous calcium applications. , Applied Ecology and Environmental Research, , 2020
26. Hafiz Muhammad Ansab Jamil,Awais Ahmed,R.Ahmad,U.Irshad,Dr. AM Abbasi Identification and inoculation of fungal strains from Cedrus deodara rhizosphere involve in growth and alleviation of high nitrogen stress, Saudi Journal of Biological Sciences, 524-534, 2020
27. R.Ahmad Gene expression and biochemical response of giant reed under Ni and Cu stress, International Journal of Phytoremediation, July, 2019
28. M. Shahzad,Haris Usman,R.Ahmad,S.A.Khan,Zulfiqar A. Saqib,Karl-Hermann Mühling Sodium in the leaf apoplast does not affect growth of maize (Zea mays L.) under saline field conditions, Journal of Applied Botany and Food Quality , 2019
29. R.Ahmad,S.A.Khan,M.Shah,M.Shahzad Unraveling the phytoremediation potential of Parthenium hysterophorus: Expression study of glutathione reductase and phospholipase D-α genes, Polish Journal Of Environmental Studies, April , 2019
30. Saddaf Rashid,M. Azeem,S.A.Khan,M.Shah,R.Ahmad Characterization and synergistic antibacterial potential of green synthesized silver nanoparticles using aqueous root extracts of important medicinal plants of Pakistan, Colloids and Surfaces B: Biointerfaces, April, 2019
31. Mahnoor Asif,A.Pervez,R.Ahmad Role of Melatonin and Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria in the Growth and Development of Plants, CLEAN-Soil, Air, Water, April, , 2019
32. R.Ahmad Degradation of 2, 2-Dichlorovinyl dimethyl phosphate (dichlorvos) through the rhizosphere interaction between Panicum maximum Jacq and some selected fungi, April, Chemosphere, 2019
33. R.Ahmad Synergistic Plant-Microbial Rhizosphere Mechanism: A Potential Headway for Remediation of Hydrocarbon Polluted Soils., International Journal of Phytoremediation, January, 2019
34. S.A.Khan,R.Ahmad Prevalence and detection of drug-resistant tuberculosis in Hazara Division, Pakistan, Academia Journal of Biotechnology, October , 2018
35. S.A.Khan,R.Ahmad,M. Shahzad Transformation of tomato variety Rio grande with drought resistant transcription factor gene ataf1 and its molecular analysis, Pakistan Journal of Botany, 2018
36. Saddaf Rashid,R.Ahmad Evaluation of DNA damage in traffic police wardens of Pakistan due to cadmium and zinc, Science of the Total Environment, 2018
37. Faiza Rehman,A.Pervez,Khattak,R.Ahmad Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria Impact on Typha latifolia and Phragmites australis Growth and Dissolved Oxygen , CLEAN – Soil, Air, Water, 2018
38. R.Ahmad Transcriptomic responses of catalase, peroxidase and laccase encoding genes and enzymatic activities of oil spill inhabiting rhizospheric fungal strains, Environmental Pollution, April,, 2018
39. R.Ahmad Differential Uptake of Cadmium and Chromium in Brassica oleraceae in Response to Application of Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria, 1814–9596, International Journal of Agriculture and Biology , 2018
40. R.Ahmad Differential expression of antioxidants, Fe and Zn transporter genes in wheat under Pb stress, Pakistan Journal of Botany, 2018
41. R.Ahmad,M. Shahzad Heavy Metals and Glucosinolates Based Defence Mechanisms in Metal Accumulating Plants and Counter Adaptations by Insect Herbivores : A Review, International Journal of Agriculture and Biology , 2018
42. M. Shahzad,R.Ahmad Heavy Metals and Glucosinolates Based Defence Mechanisms in Metal Accumulating Plants and Counter Adaptations by Insect Herbivores: A Review,, International Journal of Agriculture and Biology, 2018
43. R.Ahmad,Ali A Cystatin genes identification and antibacterial activity in medicinal plants used against clinical pathogens., SYLWAN, 2018
44. R.Ahmad,S.A.Khan,M. Shahzad,U.Irshad Metabolic profiling to elucidate genetic elements due to salt stress , CLEAN, Soil, Air, Water, 2017
45. R.Ahmad Synergistic action of rhizospheric fungi with Megathyrsus maximus root speeds up hydrocarbon degradation kinetics in oil polluted soil, Chemosphere, 2017
46. R.Ahmad Mediational influence of spent mushroom compost on phytoremediation of black-oil hydrocarbon polluted soil and response of Megathyrsus maximus Jacq, Journal of Environmental Management, 2017
47. R.Ahmad Synergistic Rhizosphere Degradation of γ-Hexachlorocyclohexane (Lindane) through the Combinatorial Plant-Fungal Action, PLOS ONE, 2017
48. R.Ahmad,A.Pervez,Q.Mahmood Transcriptomic responses of selected genes against chromium stress in Arundo donax L, Toxicological & Environmental Chemistry, 2017
49. R.Ahmad Constructed wetlands: Perspectives of the oxygen released in the rhizosphere of macrophytes, CLEAN–Soil, Air, Water, 2017
50. R.Ahmad Salt stress manifestation on plants, mechanism of salt tolerance and potassium role in alleviating it: a review, Zemdirbyste-Agriculture, 2017
51. R.Ahmad,M. Shahzad,S.A.Khan Molecular characterization of growth and proteolysis related genes in maize under drought stress, Pakistan Journal of Botany, 2017
52. M.Bilal,Dr. AM Abbasi,R.Ahmad,M. Shahzad Simultaneous Control of Physisorption and Chemisorption in Lab Scale Developed Activated Carbon from Hemp Stalks for Reactive Orange 16: Proof from Isotherm Modeling., Biointerface Research in Applied Chemistry, 2017
53. M. Shahzad,Abdul Qadir,S.A.Khan,R.Ahmad,Sajid Masood,M.Irshad,Fawad Kaleem,Sunjeet Kumar Exogenous Ca2SiO4 enrichment reduces the leaf apoplastic Na+ and increases the growth of okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L.) under salt stress, Scientia Horticulturae, 2017
54. S.A.Khan,R.Ahmad,M. Shahzad The effects of different levels of salinity on growth and proline accumulation in three pea varieties, Minerva Biotechnologica, 2016
55. R.Ahmad,S.A.Khan,M. Shahzad Phytoremediation potential of hemp (Cannabis sativa L.):Identification and characterization of heavy metals responsive genes , Clean- Soil, Air, Water, 2016
56. R.Ahmad Profiling of anti-oxidative enzymes and lipid peroxidation in leaves of salt tolerant and salt sensitive maize hybrids under NaC1 and Cd stress, Sains Malaysiana, 2016
57. Saeed Ahmad Asad,Ayesha Tabassum,Abdul Hameed,Fayyaz ul Hassan,Aftab Afzal,S.A.Khan,R.Ahmad,M. Shahzad Determination of lytic enzyme activities of indigenous Trichoderma isolates from Pakistan, Brazilian Journal of Microbiology, 2015
58. R.Ahmad Determination of lytic enzyme activities of indigenous Trichoderma populations in Pakistan, Brazilian Journal of Microbiology, 2015
59. R.Ahmad Potassium application mitigates salt stress differentially at different growth stages in tolerant and sensitive maize hybrids, Plant Growth Regulation, 2015
60. R.Ahmad,S.A.Khan Molecular cloning, characterization and differential expression of novel phytocystatin gene during tropospheric ozone stress in maize (Zea mays) leaves, Comptes Rendus Biologies, 2015
61. S.A.Khan,R.Ahmad,M. Shahzad Drought stress stunt tomato plant growth and up-regulate expression of SlAREB, SlNCED3, and SlERF024 genes, Scientia Horticulturae , 2015
62. M. Shahzad,S.A.Khan,R.Ahmad,M.Bilal Biocontrol efficacy of different isolates of Trichoderma against soil borne pathogen Rhizoctonia solani, Pol J Microbiol , 2014
63. S.A.Khan,R.Ahmad Biocontrol Efficacy of Different Isolates of Trichoderma against Soil Born Pathogen Rhizoctonia solani., Polish Journal of Microbiology, 2014
64. R.Ahmad Identification and characterization of MOR-CP, a cysteine protease induced by ozone and developmental senescence in maize (Zea mays L.) leaves, Chemosphere, 2014
65. S.A.Khan,R.Ahmad Genetic Transformation of Sugarcane Variety HSF-240 with Marker Gene GUS" , International Journal of Agriculture and Biology, 2013
66. R.Ahmad Bacterial expression, purification and partial characterization of new recombinant cysteine protease from maize leaves: post-transcriptional changes under ozone stress., Pakistan Journal of Botany, 2013
67. R.Ahmad Study of lipid-protein interaction in the secretory pathway of plant cell by raising and using antilipid antibodies against paricular lipids and proteins In Arabidopsis and tobacco Plant., Pakistan Journal of Botany, 2013
68. R.Ahmad Ozone and aging up-regulate type II metacaspase gene expression and global metacaspase activity in the leaves of field-grown maize (Zea mays L.) plants, Chemosphere, 2012
69. R.Ahmad Effect of a new post emergence herbicide application in combination with urea on the growth, yield and weeds control of maize, Zea mays L., 2 March, 2008
70. R.Ahmad Growth and yield response of autumn planted maize and its weeds to reduced doses of herbicide application in combination with urea, 10 january, 2008
 
Conference Publications
1. S.A.Khan,R.Ahmad,Y.Sajjad,Imran Hussain Vermi Fertilizer as a Sustainable Alternative to Synthetic Fertilizers: Impacts on Wheat Yield and Soil Fertility, , 2025
2. R.Ahmad,S.A.Khan,M. Shahzad Effect of ectomycorrhiza and ethylenediurea on cedrus deodara seedlings grown under high nitrogen and ozone stress, , 2022
3. R.Ahmad,S.A.Khan Newly identified fungal strains from Pinus roxburghii rhizosphere showed differential impact on plant growth and in alleviating the high nitrogen stress, , 2019
4. R.Ahmad,S.A.Khan Molecular Characterization of Fungal Strains Isolated from Petroleum Hydrocarbon Contaminated Sites, , 2019
5. S.A.Khan,R.Ahmad Evaluation of important health beneficial metabolites and their genes expression at various harvest stages of kiwifruit , , 2019
6. S.A.Khan,R.Ahmad Metabolic profiling of Pea crop under various salt stress conditions, , 2019
7. Zulfiqar A Saqib,M. Shahzad,R.Ahmad,S.A.Khan,Haris Usman Investigating the role of apoplastic Na+ on the maize (Zea mays L.) growth in different saline soils, , 2019
8. M. Shahzad,Rabbia Shahid,R.Ahmad,S.A.Khan,M.Irshad Effect of nano silica particles on the ionic pattern and expansin genes expression in maize plant under salt stress, , 2019
9. M. Shahzad,Mehran Khan,R.Ahmad,S.A.Khan,M.Irshad Impact of calcium sulphate fertilization on the ionomics and growth-related genes in maize leaves under salinity stress, , 2019
10. S.A.Khan,R.Ahmad,M. Shahzad,Saba Naz, Muhammad Farooq Molecular study of metabolites and genes responsive to salt stress in pea (Pisum Sativum L.), , 2019
11. R.Ahmad,Kinza Manzoor, Hafiz Muhammad Ansab Jamil,S.A.Khan,M. Shahzad Impact of industrial wastewater irrigation on heavy metals uptake, proteases and expansins genes expressions in selected plants, , 2019
12. H.Haroon,J.A.Shah,Nadeem Iqbal ,R.Khan,R.Ahmad,Saeed Asad ,Tatheer Alam,Aziz Ullah Sayal,M.Bilal Thermochemically development of activated carbon from a specific plant precursor biomass for efficient sequestration of hazardous Cr(VI): equilibrium kinetic and isotherm modelling studies, , 2019
13. S.A.Khan,R.Ahmad,M. Shahzad Differential Antioxidant Genes Expression Associated with Tolerance of Pea (Pisum sativum L.) Against Salt Stress , , 2018
14. R.Ahmad,M.Shah,Dr. AM Abbasi,M. Azeem Evaluation of Antibacterial Activity of Bergenia ciliata, , 2017
15. R.Ahmad Molecular characterization of growth and proteolysis genes in maize under drought stress, , 2017
16. R.Ahmad Investigating the selected genes expression in wheat under lead stress, , 2017
17. Faizan Ali Khan,M. Azeem,M.Shah,R.Ahmad Molecular and phytochemical characterization of Justacia adhatoda and Dodonaea viscosa and their bioactivities, , 2016
18. R.Ahmad Molecular and antibacterial characterization of important medicinal plants , , 2015
19. Muhammad Ayaz,,R.Ahmad,M. Shahzad,Noorullah Khan,M.Shah,S.A.Khan Drought stress stunt tomato plant growth and up-regulate expressionof SlAREB, SlNCED3, and SlERF024 genes, , 2015
20. R.Ahmad,S.A.Khan,M. Shahzad Identification and Isolation of Phospholipase D (PLD) and Glutathione Reductase (GR) Genes from Parthenium hyesterophorous, , 2014
21. R.Ahmad “Cysteine protease interaction with cystatin under tropospheric ozone stress in maize (Zea mays L.) leaves, , 2013
22. R.Ahmad Tropospheric ozone induced metacaspase gene expression and enzymatic activity in maize (Zea mays L.) leaves, , 2013
23. R.Ahmad The influence of earthworm apporrectodea caliginosa on the iron transport in two species of Arabidopsis, , 2013
24. R.Ahmad Bacterial expression, purification and partial characterization of mew recombinant cysteine protease from maize leaves: post-transcriptional changes under ozone stress, , 2012
25. R.Ahmad Interaction of defense pathways in two different isolates of stolbur phytoplasma-infected tomato, , 2012
26. R.Ahmad Study of lipid-protein interaction in the secretory pathway of plant cell by raising and using anti-lipid antibodies against particular lipids and proteins in arabidopsis and tobacco plants, , 2012
 
 
Profile/Bio

·  August 2012 till now: Assistant
Professor in the Department of Environmental Sciences (Biotechnology program),
COMSATS University Islamabad, Abbottabad Campus.

·      24th May
till 24th August 2012: Assistant Professor in
the Department of Environmental Sciences, Quaid-i-Azam University Islamabad.

·       September 2008-March 2012- PhD student, University of Paris-Est Creteil,
Paris, France.

September 2007-March 2008- M.S. student in University of Paris12, Paris, France

 
Research Interests
  • Microbial gene
    transformation, molecular identification and characterization of useful
    microbial strains for bioremediation of hydrocarbons, pesticides and heavy
    metals
  • Monitoring, assessment and
    removal of environmental pollutants such as tropospheric ozone, CO2
    and nitrogen and development of biological indicators/Molecular
    markers/biosensors
  • Synthesis of plants extract,
    green synthesized nanoparticles and recombinant proteins for control of
    human pathogens and environmental pollutants.
  • Cloning of genes, cDNAs and
    regulatory elements and their application
 
Awards

1.   Ø
Won a best researcher award 2019 of Department
of Biotechnology, COMSATS University Islamabad, Abbottabad
  campus on outstanding contribution in
research

Ø
Won seven research projects as a PI and Co-PI
having total worth of more than 10.21 million Pak rupees

Ø
Established a lab from my research projects  and appointed 2 fully funded Research
Associates as a MS and PhD students under my supervision

Ø
Won a best young researcher Award of 2018 of
COMSATS University Islamabad, Abbottabad
campus on outstanding contribution in research

Ø
Published more than 54 research articles (27
Published  as a first and corresponding
author) having more than 145 cumulative impact factor

Ø
Appreciation letters and cash prize  received from the Director of COMSATS
University Islamabad for the academic years 2015, 2016 and 2021 for
extraordinary performance in research and teaching

Ø
Won the Research Productivity Awards (RPA) and increments
letters from COMSATS University Islamabad for consecutive 8 years from
2013-2020 for good performance in research work and teaching

Ø
Won a silver medal (2nd Position) on
the oral presentation in an international conference held in QAU, Islamabad,
Pakistan

Ø
Supervised an international PhD student from
Nigeria for six months on TWAS-CIIT sandwich International scholarship program

Ø
Appointed as an editorial board member of three
international research Journals

Ø
Supervised 13 BS, 19 MS and 2 PhD students  as well as 3 PhDs and 5 MS students are
currently under my supervision

 
Research Projects

S.
No.

Description

Funding Agency and
Funding Amount

 

Status, Year,

PI/Co-PI

1

Investigating the
symbiotic relationship of ectomycorrhizal and pine trees grown on different
soils under elevated O3 and high nitrogen load.

HEC-NRPU research
project, 6.05 million Pak Rupees

Ongoing,

2017-2020,

PI

2

The impact of
drought stress on endoproteases genes expression in maize

CIIT-CRGP, 0.3
million Pak Rupees

Ongoing,

2018-2020,

PI

3

Comparative Study of Leaf Apoplastic Na+ and
Growth-Related Proteins in Maize Leaves under Actual Saline Environment

HEC-NRPU research
project, 2.11 million Pak Rupees

Ongoing,

2018-2021,

Co-PI

3

Evaluation of
Antimicrobial potential of plant mediated Ag-nanoparticles and Identification
of defensins and cystatin in selected medicinal plants

CIIT-CRGP, 0.3
million Pak Rupees

Ongoing,

2018-2020,

Co-PI

4

Synergistic mycorhizodegradation (a clean technology) for
remediation of different contaminated soils.

TWAS-CIIT, 0.5 million Pak
Rupees

         Completed,

2016-2017,

PI

 

5

Identification
and characterization of lead (pb) responsive genes in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

Higher Education Commission  of Pakistan (HEC), 0.5 million Pak Rupees

Completed,

2015-2016,

PI

6

Identification of genes involved
in phytoremediation from different hyperaccumulators   plants and recombinant protein expression,
purification, and functional analysis of proteinase inhibitors from medicinal
plants.

Higher Education Commission  of Pakistan (HEC), 0.5 million Pak Rupees

Completed,

2013-2014,

PI

 
Students Supervised

PhD:

1.      Shahida Shaheen, CIIT/SP14-R67-001/ATD,
COMSATS, Pakistan. Exploring the genetic potential of Arundo donax L. as a
hyperaccumulator agent of heavy metals. (Ph.D. thesis  co-supervised in 2014-2019)

2.      Faiza Rehman, CIIT/SP13-R67-001/ATD, COMSATS,
Pakistan. Assessing rhizospheric oxygen released by macrophytes exposed to
controlled climatic variables and PGPR in constructed wetlands. (Ph.D. thesis
co-supervised in 2013-2019)

3.      Michael Dare Asemoloye, A PhD student from
Food and Environmental Mycology/Biotechnology Unit, Department of Botany,
Ibadan, Nigeria on TWAS-CIIT scholarship for six month under my supervision
(September 2016-February 2017).

4.      Saddaf Rashid, CIIT/SP15-R62-002/ATD,
Evaluation of antimicrobial potential of green synthesized Ag-nanoparticles and
defensin proteins of selected medicinal plants.
(Ph.D. thesis under Supervision is in progress).

5.      Nabeela Zahid, CIIT/SP16-R62-002/ATD,
Comparative study of human and plant proteases inhibitors against HCV. (Ph.D. thesis under Supervision is in
progress).

6.      Hafiz
Muhammad Ansab Jamil, CIIT/FA17-R62-002/ATD, (Ph.D. thesis under Supervision is in progress).

7.      Muhammad Farooq, CIIT/SP15-R62-001/ATD.
(Ph.D. thesis under co-supervision, is in progress).

8.      Syeda Shaima Meryem, CIIT/FA14-R67-002/ATD,
COMSATS, Pakistan. Evaluation of quorum sensing in rhizobacteria for inducing
resistance in plants against heavy metal stress. (Ph.D. thesis under
co-supervision is in progress).

9.      Asma Khan, CIIT/SP13-R62-003/ATD, COMSATS,
Pakistan. Transcriptomic and proteomic analysis of Zea mays in response to salt
stress under hydroponic conditions. (Ph.D. thesis under co-supervision is in
progress)

10.  Mahnoor
Asif, Role of Melatonin and PGPR in
spinach under heavy metal stresses.
(Ph.D. thesis under Co-Supervision is in progress).

MS:

1.
Hélène
LARUE, UMR-7618, University of Paris-Est Creteil, France. Impact of ozone on
maize: Production of two recombinant proteases. (M.S. thesis supervised in
2011-2012)

2.
Zara
Tehsin, CIIT/FA12-R02 004/ATD, COMSATS, Pakistan. Identification and isolation
of Phospholipase D (PLD) and Glutathione Reductase (GR) genes from Cannabis
sativa and Parthenium hyesterophorous. (M.S. thesis supervised in 2013-2014)

3.
Rafiah
Rehman, CIIT/FA13-RO2-008/ATD, COMSATS, Pakistan. Molecular and antibacterial
characterization of important medicinal plants of Pakistan. (M.S. thesis
supervised in 2014-2015)

4.
Komal
Arif, CIIT/SP14-R02-002/ATD, COMSATS, Pakistan. Study the molecular mechanism
of growth and proteolysis in maize in response to drought stress. (M.S. thesis
supervised in 2015-2016)

5.
Faizan
Ali Khan, CIIT/FA14-R02-001/ATD, COMSATS, Pakistan. Molecular, antibacterial
and phytochemical characterization of Justacia adhatoda and Dodonaea viscose.
(M.S. thesis supervised, 2015-2016).

6.
Hafiz
Muhammad Ansab Jamil, CIIT/SP14-R02-001/ATD, COMSATS, Pakistan. Investigating
the Genetic Response in Wheat under Lead Stress. (M.S. thesis supervised,
2016-2017).

7.
Hadia
Ahmed, CIIT/ FA15-RO2-002/ATD, COMSATS, Pakistan. To Study the Expression of
‘Cathepsin B’ and ‘Cystatin C’ Genes in Diabetic Nephropathy. (M.S. thesis
supervised, 2016-2017).

8.      Kinza Penzy, CIIT/SP16-R02-002/ATD, Impact of
industrial wastewater irrigation on heavy metals uptake, proteases and
expansins genes expressions in selected plants. (M.S. thesis supervised in
2016-2017).

9.      Awais Ahmed, CIIT/FA16-R02-002/ATD, Molecular
and physiological analysis of cedrusdeodara seedlings and associated
ectomycorrhiza under high nitrogen stress. (M.S. thesis supervised in
2017-2018).

10.  Maryam Bibi, CIIT/FA16-R02-002/ATD,
Investigating the impact of high nitrogen load on Pinusroxburghii and its
symbionts. (M.S. thesis supervised in 2017-2018).

11.  Aamina Azeem, CIIT/FA16-R02-001/ATD,
Molecular characterization of fungal strains isolated from petroleum
hydrocarbon contaminated sites. (M.S. thesis supervised in 2017-2018).