Dr Muhammad Zubair Khan
Assistant Professor
Research Area: Agricultural Biotechnology [Plant Breeding and Molecular Genetics with specialization in Biofunction Development through Genetic and Metabolic Pathway Engineering of Plants and Microbes
About Me
Dr. M. Zubair Khan was awarded MEXT Research Scholarship in 2013 for doctoral degree program from the Research Institute for Bioresources and Biotechnology, Ishikawa Prefectural University, Japan. He completed his doctoral degree with major in Biofunction Development which involved Genetic, Metabolic and Pathway Engineering of Plants (Molecular Plant Breeding) and Microbes for Industrial Gains. His research interests and works are focused to molecular breeding of crop plants for secondary metabolites specially the carotenoids and molecular breeding for abiotic stress resistance in crop plants such as tomato and sweetpotato etc.
Soon after his PhD, he joined as an assistant professor at the Department of Biotechnology, University of Kotli Azad Jammu and Kashmir and served from August 2017 to November, 2019 on HEC, IPFP and university contract. He additionally performed duties as the Laboratory Incharge of the Molecular Biology and biotechnology Research Laboratory.
Later, he joined as an assistant professor on TTS at the Department of Plant Breeding and Molecular Genetics on November, 2022 where he is still actively performing his duties involving the teaching of undergraduate and graduate courses including graduate student’s thesis supervision. He is HEC Approved supervisor from 28-10-2020 and has supervised ten undergraduate and graduate students so far.
He has completed one SRGP project funded by HEC. Recently, he was awarded a Grant award of PKR 8.178450 million by HEC, Pakistan under NRPU, titled; “Genetic improvement of sweet potato and amaranth for Pro-vitamin A carotenoids through conventional and integrated molecular breeding technologies.”
He is HEC Trusted Reviewer being expert of reviewing NRPU Research Grants FY 2021-2022 onwards. He is Member Editorial Board of numerous peer reviewed journals such as; Current Biotechnology, Biocatalysis and Agricultural Biotechnology and Acta Scientific Agriculture. He is a Member of Reviewer Hub Elsevier and is also reviewers board member of BMC Plant Biology, PeerJ-Plant Biology Sciences, PeerJ-The Journal of Life and Environmental Sciences, PeerJ-Plant Biology Sciences, International Journal of Agricultural Science and Food Technology,The Journal of Engineering Research and Sciences (JENRS),Journal of Pure and Applied Agriculture, )Acta Scientific Agriculture (05-11-2020), Advances in Science, Technology and Engineering Systems Journal (ASTESJ), Sarhad Journal of Agriculture, Applied Biological Research, etc.
Dr M. Zubair Khan has published his research in peer reviewed journals such as PLOS ONE, Journal of Biosciences, SABRAO Journal of Breeding and Genetics, MDPI-Catalysts, International Journal of Nanomedicine, Tetrahedron Letters and Chemistry and Ecology etc. He has authored one book titled: “Autumn-olive: a medicinal plant from Azad Kashmir”. He has also authored book chapters in IntechOpen publishers on Molecular Breeding of Sweetpotato Carotenoids and Underutilized Grasses Production: New Evolving Perspectives.
He is member of various scientific and social bodies such as: UK Pakistan Science and Innovation UPSIGN Global Network and Core Group, Burleigh Dodds Science Publishing, The Japan Society for Bioscience, Biotechnology, and Agrochemistry (JSBBA), Molecular Biology Society of Japan, Japan Society for Promotion of Science, International Carotenoids Society, Japan Student Support Organization, Tokyo, Japan, International Association for Agricultural Sustainability, Ministry of Education Culture, Science, Sports and Technology Japan , MEXT Alumni Association Japan and Pakistan [MAAP], Kanazawa University Alumni Association Japan, Ishikawa Prefectural University Alumni Association , Ishikawa Foundation for International Exchange, Ishikawa, Japan, Network for International Communication, Ishikawa, Japan and others.
He has organised, participated and presented his research works in numerous national and international conferences, webinars, seminars, and symposiums. [List is quite long and is beyond the scope of brief biography].
Major Certifications
Dr M. Zubair Khan has received numerous professional certificates in the fields of agriculture extension, Agriculture finance, Banking, Japanese Language Certificate, Certificate of appreciations for organising international conferences at University of Kotli AJK and University of Poonch Rawalakot, Certificate of appreciation from deputy director agriculture for community-based activities on integrated pest management in rural areas etc.
