"Embarking on the Frontier of Agricultural Innovation: Mr. Ghouri, the Visionary Ph.D. Scholar and Research Assocaite at the Center for Advanced Studies in Agriculture and Food Security, is Pioneering Genetic Excellence in Plants. From Precision Genome Editing to DNA Barcoding, Pathogen Identification, and the Exciting Realm of Bioinformatics, his Research Unleashes the Power of Science for a Greener Future at the University of Agriculture, Faisalabad."

Professional experience:

(1). 16/12/2021 – CURRENT Faisalabad, Pakistan RESEARCH ASSOCIATE PROJECT MANAGER PROFESSOR DR. SULTAN HABIBULLAH KHAN
> Researcher working of CRSIPR/Cas9 mediated genome editing to improve cotton architecture and fiber production
Cotton Transformation.
Meristem/Pollen Tube mediated transformation of CRISPR/Cas9 constructs into elite cotton lines
Business or Sector Agriculture, forestry and fishing (2). 15/08/2018 – 16/08/2021 Faisalabad, Pakistan
RESEARCH ASSISTANT PI DR. AFTAB AHMAD
> Research Assistant working on Development of RNAi based next generation biopesticides to control cotton bollworms.
> Designing of RNAi constructs and cloning in insect feeding vector
> Insect feeding bioassay with dsRNA as a foliar spray
(3). 01/01/2019 – 30/05/2019 Faisalabad, Pakistan
TEACHING ASSISTANT PROF. DR. SULTAN HABIBULLAH KHAN
> Teaching Assistant to assist the Professor manage Post Graduate Courses (Biotech-508 & Biotech-709)
> Assist the Professor in conducting practical classes
> Assist in Mid and Final exams conduction.

Education and Training:

> 06/09/2018 – CURRENT Faisalabad, Pakistan
DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY (PHD) BIOTECHNOLOGY University of Agriculture
> Working as a PhD Candidate in Cotton Biotechnology Lab to develop cotton with better plant architecture and increased fiber production. Website https://web.uaf.edu.pk/
> Thesis CRISPR/Cas mediated mutagenesis of G. hirsutum for improved fiber and mechanical picking
> 06/09/2015 – 11/05/2018 Faisalabad, Pakistan
MASTER OF PHILOSOPHY BIOTECHNOLOGY University of Agriculture
> 06/09/2011 – 20/12/2015 Faisalabad, Pakistan
BSC (HONS) AGRICULTURE (MAJOR SUBJECT: AGRI-BIOTECHNOLOGY) University of Agriculture
>

Skills:

> Algal cultivation, biorefinery, wastewater treatment, waste management/valorisation, stress acclimatization, bioprocess engineering for industrially compounds and biofuels, fermentation, genetic engineering, molecular biology, biochemical analysis, microbiology techniques, spectroscopic technique, circular bioeconomy
> User-end analysis, database searching, primer designing, phylogenetic analysis, omics analysis (specially metabolomics)
> Research, problem solving, process improvement, workflow streamlining, technical communication, writing & presentation skills, statistical analysis, analytical skills, graphical skills, Microsoft office suite, laboratory management/supervision

Publications

(1). Analysis of SARS-CoV-2 RNA-dependent RNA polymerase as a potential therapeutic drug target using a computational approach SO Aftab, MZ Ghouri, MU Masood, Z Haider, Z Khan, A Ahmad, ... Journal of translational medicine 18, 1-15
(2). An outlook on global regulatory landscape for genome-edited crops A Ahmad, N Munawar, Z Khan, AT Qusmani, SH Khan, A Jamil, S Ashraf, ... International journal of molecular sciences 22 (21), 11753
(3). Identification of edible fish species of Pakistan through DNA barcoding MZ Ghouri, M Ismail, MA Javed, SH Khan, N Munawar, AB Umar, ... Frontiers in Marine Science 7, 554183
(4). Regulatory, ethical, and social aspects of CRISPR crops A Ahmad, MZ Ghouri, N Munawar, M Ismail, S Ashraf, SO Aftab CRISPR crops: the future of food security, 261-287
(5). Nanotechnology: Transformation of agriculture and food security MZ Ghouri, Z Khan, SH Khan, M Ismail, SO Aftab, Q Sultan, A Ahmad Bioscience 3, 19
(6). Strigolactones for sustainable plant growth and production under adverse environmental conditions A Raza, R Javed, Z Zahid, R Sharif, MB Hafeez, MZ Ghouri, MU Nawaz, ... Plant Performance Under Environmental Stress: Hormones, Biostimulants and
(7). Rna Editing with Crispr/Cas13 S Ashraf, MZ Ghouri, MA Javed, H Zafar, H Ali, SH Qari, A Ahmad The CRISPR/Cas Tool Kit for Genome Editing, 219-254
(8). Gene action and combining ability analysis of quantitative traits associated with grain yield in wheat under drought stress and normal irrigation conditions S Sattar, B Nawaz, A Tahir, A Ahmed, M Naeem, MZ Ghouri, M Jamshaid GJBB 7 (4), 642
(9). Genome editing in cotton: challenges and opportunities Z Khan, SH Khan, A Ahmed, MU Iqbal, MS Mubarik, MZ Ghouri, F Ahmad, ... Journal of Cotton Research 6 (1), 3
(10). Nanotechnology: An Elixir to Life Sciences Z Khan, SH Khan, MZ Ghouri, H Shahzadi, SF Arshad, U Waheed, ... Preprints
(11). Regulation of CRISPR edited food and feed: legislation and future MZ Ghouri, N Munawar, SO Aftab, A Ahmad GMOs and political stance, 261-287
(12). Understanding floral biology for CRISPR-based modification of color and fragrance in horticultural plants Z Khan, A Razzaq, T Sattar, A Ahmed, S Habibullah Khan, ... F1000Research 11, 854
(13). Applications of CRISPR/cas system in plants SH Khan, H Tariq, I Farooq, H Tasleeem, MZ Ghouri, MS Mubarik, Z Khan The CRISPR/cas tool kit for genome editing, 285-309
(14). First-generation transgenic cotton crops A Ahmad, MZ Ghouri, A Jamil, SH Khan, N Ahmad, M Rahman Cotton Precision Breeding, 229-255
(15). CRISPR/Cas-based techniques in plants Z Khan, B Binyameen, U Waheed, MS Mubarik, MZ Ghouri, T Sattar, ... CRISPR Crops: The Future of Food Security, 37-61
(16). CRISPR Crops A Ahmad, MZ Ghouri, N Munawar, M Ismail, S Ashraf, SO Aftab Springer
(17). Breeding Cotton for Insect/Pests Resistance HMN Cheema, AA Khan, MA Khan, MA Pervez, MZ Ghouri, A Ahmad, ... Cotton Breeding and Biotechnology, 199-232
(18). Reengineering of the CRISPR/Cas System Z Khan, T Sattar, M Siddique, Z Ali, AA Khan, SO Aftab, MZ Ghouri, ... The CRISPR/Cas Tool Kit for Genome Editing, 149-186
Applications of CRISPR/Cas Beyond Simple Traits in Crops SH Khan, MZ Ghouri, S Aslam, MS Mubarik, Z Khan, MQ Ahmad, M Sajjad CRISPR Crops: The Future of Food Security, 231-260
(20). 12 Breeding Cotton for Insect/Pest Resistance HMN Cheema, AA Khan, MA Khan, MA Pervez, MZ Ghouri, A Ahmad, ... Cotton Breeding and Biotechnology, 191

Participation in scientific events as Organizer and Resource Person

(1). Three-Day “National training course on algae biotechnology: Innovation for the sustainable future of food, feed, and bioproducts” March 04-06, 2024, organized by BioEcoTech Research Cluster at GCUF. (Role: Resource Person)
(2). Two-Day “International conference on food security challenges and opportunities in D-8 countries” & “Launching ceremony of D-8 designated research center” March 6-7, 2023, organized by CAS-AFS at UAF. (Role: Member organizing committee)
(3). Two-Day “5th National symposium on advances in biotechnology-towards circular bioeconomy” & “Launching ceremony of Asian Federation of Biotechnology (Pakistan Chapter)” February 27-28, 2023, co-hosted by UAF, GCUF, and NIBGE. (Role: Organizer)
(4). Two-Day National Workshop on “R-Language for bioinformaticians” November 17-18, 2020 organized by Department of Bioinformatics and Biotechnology, Government College University Faisalabad, Pakistan. (Role: Organizer)
(5). One-Day Training Workshop on “infrared spectroscopy: principle & applications” Februabt 25, 2016, at the Department of Bioinformatics & Biotechnology, GCUF (Role: Organizer)
(6). Two-Day National Workshop on “government-industry-academia linkage” in collaboration with Faisalabad Chamber of Commerce & Industry, and HEC, Pakistan, 25-26 Jan 2016. (Role: Member organizing team)
(7). One-Day activity on “Spoken and Written Novelty” organized by cultural and character-building society, Department of Bioinformatics and Biotechnology, GC University Faisalabad (Role: Member organizing committee)

Conferences, symposia, seminars, and trainings

2024
(1). Two-Day “International symposium on nanobiology: integrating nanotechnology and microbiology ” held on 28-29 Feb 2024, organized by GC University Faisalabad.
(2). Two-Day “4th BRI Sino-Pak Agriculture Forum ” held on 09-10 Nov 2023, organized by UAF, Faisalabad.
(3). 2023
One-Day workshp on “Research and publication ethics ” held on 20 February 2023, organized by Pakistan Journal of Agricultural Science.
(4). 2022
Three-Day “International conference on climate change : Impacts & solutions ” held on 07-09 Nov 2022, organized by UAF, Faisalabad.
(5). 2022
Five-Day workshop on “Ensuring the sustainablity of Energy-Water-Environment Nexus” held on 23-27 May 2022, organized by British Council at GC University Faisalabad.
(6). 2022
Two-Day symposium on “Advacnes in Biotechnology, trends, challenges, and opportunities” held on 01-04 March 2022, Pakistan, organized by GC University Faisalabad. (Poster presentation, 3rd Prize winner)
(7). 2021
Two-Day conference “Surabaya International Health Conference” held on 21-22 August 2021, Indonesia (online), organized by Nahdlatul Ulama University Surabaya, Indonesia (Oral presentation)
(8). 2021
One-Day conference “ International Conference on Energy, Water, & Environment-ICEWE” held on 31 March 2021, Pakistan (online), organized by University of Engineering & Technology, Lahore
(9). Three-Day training workshop on “ The Role of Youth in Promoting Democracy and Democratic Values” held on 20-22 February 2021, organized by Peace and Education Foundation
(10).Three-Day “International Conference on Recent Updates in Biotechnology” held on 16-18 October 2019 at AIOU, Islamabad, organized by Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan, Pakistan (Posters presented)
(11). 2019
Two-Day workshop on “Phylogenetic Analysis; Methods & Applications” held on 15-16 April 2019 at Department of Bioinformatics and Biotechnology, organized by GC University Faisalabad
(12). 2019
Four-Day 1st International Workshop on “Scholarly Writing and Publishing” held on18-21, March 2019 co-organized by Alexander von Humboldt foundation, United States Department of Agriculture, and UAF, at UAF, Faisalabad, Pakistan
(13). 2018
One-Day “16th Young Leaders Summit 2018” March 11, 2018 held at Convention Center Islamabad organized by Positive Pakistan
(14). 2018
One-Day Seminar on “Cell Culture & Protein Biology Innovations” February 20, 2018 organized by Department of Bioinformatics & Biotechnology in collaboration with Invitrogen, Thermo Scientific
(15).