Dr. Ahmed is serving as an Associate Professor at the Dr. Muhammad Ajmal Khan Institute of Sustainable Halophyte Utilization (MAK-ISHU), University of Karachi. He got his Ph.D. in Botany/Plant Eco-physiology from the University of Karachi, with a dissertation on the germination ecology of salt playa halophytes. He has been actively involved in teaching and research since 2013, focusing on saline agriculture, plant abiotic stresses, and halophyte physiology.

Reasearch Focus: Dr. Ahmed's research interest is based on utilizing degraded lands for crop cultivation, studying salinity's effects on plants, and exploring salt secretion mechanisms in halophytes. He has won multiple research grants, including projects funded by Higher Education Commission (HEC) Islamabad) and Sindh Higher Eucation Commission (S-HEC).

Credenetials: He has published about 60 research articles, edited one book, and also hold five NCBI patents. My work has garnered a total impact factor of 125, an h-index of 19, and over 1,400 citations. Dr. Zaheer has a close collaboration with renowned international scientists & peers in the field of halophyte biology like Dr. Sergey Shabala (Austrailia), H-W. Koyro (Germany) and Dr. Anne-Aliénor Véry (France).

Professional Societies: Dr. Ahmed is also a member of several professional societies working on Halophytes. He has also supervised numerous Ph.D. and M.Phil research students.

• Ph.D. Botany/Plant Eco-physiology 2012. University of Karachi, Karachi.
  Adviser: Prof. Dr. M. Ajmal Khan.
  Title: Seed germination of halophytes of Upper Hunza, Pakistan.
  
  
• M.Sc. (Botany- Plant Ecology). 2003 - 04. Department of Botany, University of Karachi, Karachi, Pakistan.
  Project: "Alleviation seawater salinity effect on the seed germination of perennial halophytes using L-ascorbic acid (Vitamin C)"
  Adviser: Prof. Dr. M. Ajmal Khan.
  
  
• B.Sc. Hons. (Botany). 2000 - 2003. University of Karachi, Karachi, Pakistan.
  
  
• Intermediate (Pre-Med). 1998 - 2000. D. J. Govt. Science College, Karachi, Pakistan.
  
  
• Matriculation (Science). 1996 - 1998. Board of Secondary Education, Karachi, Pakistan.

MAJOR RESEARCH INTEREST

• Reveal the osmotic and ionic effect of salinity on Halophyte growth, physiology and biochemistry
  
  
• Understand the mechanism of ion transport in Halophyte
  
  
• Reveal the salt secretion mechanisms in Halophyte

2007: Assisted in editing the Book entitled "Crop and forage production using saline waters" under the
supervision of Prof. Dr. M. Ajmal Khan

2006: Assisted in editing the Book entitled "Sabkha Ecosystems Volume II: West and Central Asia" (Springer Published) under the supervision of Prof. Dr. M. Ajmal Khan

2006: Assisted in editing the Book entitled "Ecophysiology of High Salinity Tolerant Plants" (Springer Published) ISBN-10 1-4020-4017-2 (HB) under the supervision of Prof. Dr. M. Ajmal Khan

ACADEMIC AWARDS AND HONORS

2019: Invited lecture (PCR technique) in Centralized Research Laboratory – UoK.

2017: International Botanical Congress (IBC) 2017 Excellent Academic Award, China

2017: HEC travel grant (265.40/TG/R&D/HEC/2016/21354) to attend “European Geosciences Union (EGU) 2017 congress” 23-28 April, Vienna, Austria.

2016: Organizing committee member - International Synergy Meeting on the Sustainable Utilization of Saline Resources in Support of the UN Sustainable Development Goals with special Emphasis on Renewable Energy based on biofuel, December 5 & 7, 2016, UoK.

2016: Organizing committee member – workshop on Sustainable Development and Environment Protection, December 3 & 4, 2016, ISHU, UoK.

2016: Organizing committee member - Science for a Sustainable Future” an event on World Science Day, 10th November 2016, ISHU, UoK.

2016: Organizing committee member - 14th National & 5th International Conference of Botany “Climate Change and Phytodiversity: Challenges and Opportunities” January 15-18, 2016 Department of Botany, UoK.

2013: Higher Education Commission approved supervisor

2013: PSF travel grant (PSF/P&D/TG – II (927)/13) to attend 2 International Conference on Optimum Utilization of Salt Affected Ecosystems in arid regions from September 9-12, 2013 at Cairo, Egypt

2012: Assisting in edit the Book entitled "Sabkha Ecosystems Volume IV: Cash Crop Halophytes & Biodiversity Conservation" (contract signed by Springer) under the supervision of Prof. Dr. M. Ajmal Khan S.I.

2011: Research Productive Scientist Award - by PCST, Islamabad, Pakistan

2010: Research Productive Scientist Award - by PCST, Islamabad, Pakistan

2010: Received a scholarship from JSPS through “University of Tsukuba, Japan" for complete Ph.D. research work (from 01, March 2010 to June 30, 2010)

2009: Received a scholarship (split-Ph.D.) from HEC through “International linkage between University of Karachi and University of Tsukuba for complete Ph.D. research work (from 01, Sep 2008 to Aug 30, 2009)

2009 : Received a scholarship (split-Ph.D.) from HEC through "International linkage between University of Karachi and University of Tsukuba for complete Ph.D. research work (from 01, Sep 2008 to Aug 30, 2009)

2007: Received a shield from Prof. Dr. M. Qiaser, Dean, faculty of Science, University of Karachi for working as a member of organizing committee and "Resource person" for the HEC workshop on "Advances in Plant Ecology" (July 3-6, 2006)

PROFESSIONAL SOCIETIES

2010: Pakistan Biochemistry and molecular biological Society

2006: Pakistan Botanical Society

2006: ISHU - International Society for Halophyte Utilization

GENBANK RECORDS

Aeluropus lagopoides putative vacuolar Na+/H+ antiporter (NHX) mRNA, complete cds
(AlaNHX; GenBank: GU199336)
Ahmed,M.Z., Shimazaki,T., Kikuchi,A., Khan,M.A. and Watanabe,K.N.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/nuccore/272972706
http://srs.ebi.ac.uk/srsbin/cgi-bin/wgetz?-e+[EMBL:GU199336]+-newId

Prof. Dr. M. Ajmal Khan
Institute of Sustainable Halophyte Utilization
University of Karachi,
ajmalk@uok.edu.pk


Dr. Salman Gulzar
Institute of Sustainable Halophyte Utilization
University of Karachi
salmang@uok.edu.pk