Qualifications:

• B.Sc. 1998, Botany, Zoology and Chemistr, University of Punjab, Lahore
• MSc. (Biochemistry) University of Agriculture, Faisalabad
• M. Phil. (Biotechmnology) NIBGE / Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad
• Ph.D.(Biotechnology) NIBGE / Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad                               

Research Interests:

1- Biosynthesis of bioactive compounds/antimicrobials from Streptomyces spp. and applications

My most longstanding interest is in the ‘systems biology’ of Streptomyces bacteria – whichare the major producers of antibiotics. We are interested in the isolation, structural solutionand bioactivity investigation of new antibiotic natural products and application in agricultureto control bacterial and fungal diseases of crop plants. Studies also includes new insightsinto the mechanisms controlling antibiotic production by Streptomyces and they shouldenable us to design new ‘synthetic biology’ approaches to activate or enhance antibioticbiosynthetic pathways including non-ribosomal peptide synthetases (NRPSs) and polyketidesynthases (PKSs).                                2- Lipopeptides/biosurfactant biosynthesis by Bacillus spp. and applications

Biosurfactants are produced by many species of yeast, bacteria, and filamentousfungi in the growth media or as part of the cell membrane. Among biosurfactants,lipopeptides are the most known and mainly produced by Bacillus, Pseudomonas,Streptomyces and Aspergillus. The main focus of this project is the isolation andcharacterization of Bacillus spp. from previously unexplored indigenousenvironments to acquire microbe, which could have capability to producelipopeptides in higher amount. Moreover, purification and characterization of thelipopeptides produced by these isolates were also performed using thin layerchromatography (TLC), tandem mass spectrometry (MS) analysis and productionenhancement through irradiation mutagenesis as well as to find suitableapplications.                         

For Updated CV plz click following link