Syeda Safina Ali | Environmental Science | Best Researcher Award

Ms. Syeda Safina Ali | Environmental Science | Best Researcher Award

Research Analyst at National University of Science and Technology, Islamabad, Pakistan

Ms. Syeda Safina Ali is a dedicated Environmental Scientist from Rawalpindi, Pakistan, with a Master’s degree in Environmental Sciences from the National University of Science and Technology (NUST), Islamabad, and a strong academic background in climate adaptation, wastewater treatment, GIS, and sustainable energy. With professional experience as a Research Analyst at the National Disaster Risk Management Fund (NDRMF), she has contributed to national projects such as the PHCSP, BISP, and Pakistan’s Green Taxonomy.

Profile:

🎓 Academic Excellence:

  • MSc in Environmental Sciences (93%, CGPA 3.75/4) – NUST, Islamabad

  • BSc in Environmental Sciences (82%, CGPA 3.82/4) – IIUI, Islamabad

  • Specialized in climate adaptation, wastewater treatment, water management, and GIS.

📚 Research Contributions:

  • 5 Publications (Published/Accepted/In Progress) in Springer, MDPI, and national journals.

  • Topics include:

    • Photosynthetic microbial desalination cells

    • Strategic Environmental Assessment in infrastructure

    • Snowmelt runoff modelling for water resource management

  • Thesis work directly aligned with SDGs 6, 7, 9, 13 & 15.

🧪 Technical Expertise:

  • GIS/RS: ArcGIS, QGIS

  • Numerical Modelling: HEC-RAS, SRM

  • Data Analysis: R, OriginLab, MS Excel

  • Report Writing, Stakeholder Engagement, Policy Drafting

💼 Professional Roles:

  • Research Analyst (Climate Change) – NDRMF, Islamabad
    Supporting national & international climate projects (PHCSP, BISP, Green Taxonomy)

  • HSE Trainer (Part-Time) – Burj Al-Emarat Training Services

  • Internships with PepsiCo, NHA, PMD, NARC – Hands-on field and policy experience

🌱 Volunteer & Reviewer:

  • Peer Reviewer for Elsevier & Springer Nature journals

  • Volunteer with Ministry of Climate Change, Youth Campaigns & Plantation Drives

  • Freelance GIS/RS Specialist, Transcriber & Content Writer

🏆 Certifications & Training:

  • ✅ ISO 14001, 9001, 45001

  • ✅ OSHA 30-Hour General Industry

  • ✅ Risk Assessment, Environmental Sustainability

  • ✅ Courses by UN, World Bank, UNITAR, Oxford Climate Society

🌍 Conferences & Global Engagement:

  • Speaker/Participant at:

    • 8th Intl. Conf. on Water Sciences – MDPI

    • ADB Workshop on Women & Heat Stress

    • Virtual Summer School – Green Chemistry, Indonesia

    • Climate Action Fellowship, Oxford Climate Society School

Publication:

  1. Integration of Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) in Motorway/Highway Planning and Construction: A Case Study for Sustainable Infrastructure Development in Pakistan
    SS Ali, A Batool
    NUST Journal of Natural Sciences, 9(4), 1 (2024)

  2. Sugar Industry Wastewater Treatment Through Photosynthetic Microbial Desalination Cells: A Sustainable Approach
    SS Ali, Z Sheikh
    Environmental and Earth Sciences Proceedings, 32(1), 9 (2025)

 

Athar Mahmood | Agricultural and Biological Sciences | Best Researcher Award

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Athar Mahmood | Agricultural and Biological Sciences | Best Researcher Award

Associate Professor University of Agriculture Faisalabad Pakistan

Dr. Athar Mahmood is a seasoned agronomist and Associate Professor at the University of Agriculture Faisalabad (UAF), Pakistan 🇵🇰. With a robust academic and research background spanning over 15 years, he has made substantial contributions in the domains of sustainable agriculture, biofertilizers, and bioenergy. Dr. Mahmood’s dedication to improving crop productivity under climate-stressed conditions has earned him national and international recognition, fellowships, and project funding. 🌱 His scholarly work bridges traditional agricultural practices with modern biotechnology, reflecting a commitment to sustainable food systems and environmental resilience. 🌍

Profile

Scopus

Google Scholar

🎓 Education

Dr. Mahmood earned his Ph.D. in Agronomy from Justus Liebig University of Giessen, Germany (2007–2012), where he focused on sorghum as an energy crop. He completed his M.Sc. in Agronomy (2005–2007) and B.Sc. (Hons.) in Agriculture (2001–2005) at the University of Agriculture Faisalabad. Earlier, he pursued intermediate (pre-medical) at Government Science College, Faisalabad (1999–2001) and matriculation in science from Government High School Salarwala (1996–1998). 📚

👨‍🏫 Experience

Currently serving as an Associate Professor at UAF, Dr. Mahmood has previously worked as an Assistant Professor at University of Sargodha (2012–2013). He undertook postdoctoral research at Southern University of Queensland (SUQ), Australia, supported by the Endeavor Fellowship (2016–2017), where he also held a visiting academic position. 🌏 His career also includes mentoring students, curriculum development, and active involvement in campus leadership and scientific committees.

🔬 Research Interests

Dr. Mahmood’s research focuses on sustainable agriculture, biofertilizer development, biogas production, and climate-smart farming. 🌾 He is particularly interested in biosaline agriculture, organic waste management, and the physiological response of crops under abiotic stresses. His multidisciplinary approach bridges agronomy, environmental sciences, and renewable energy, aiming to build more resilient agricultural systems.

🏆 Awards

Dr. Athar Mahmood has received numerous accolades including:

  • 🥇 Talented Young Scientist Program Award for Postdoctoral Study in China (2018–2019)
  • 🥈 Endeavor Fellowship (Australia) for postdoctoral studies at SUQ (2016–2017)
  • 🎓 HEC-DAAD Ph.D. Scholarship in Germany (2007–2012)
  • 🎖️ Visiting Academic position at University of Southern Queensland
  • ✅ Recognized as an HEC Approved Supervisor in Pakistan

📚 Publications Top Notes: 

Here are his recent impactful publications with links, publication years, journal names, and citations:

Mahmood, A. et al. (2025). Transforming field crops with CRISPR/Cas: a new era in genome editing. Rendiconti Lincei: Scienze Fisiche e Naturali.
Cited by: 5

Mahmood, A. et al. (2025). Impact of nitrogen, sulphur, and foliar applied thiourea on growth, oil yield, and fatty acid profile of canola. Polish Journal of Environmental Studies, 34(3), 2337–2347.
Cited by: 2

Mahmood, A. et al. (2025). Silicon-mediated modulation of maize growth, metabolic responses, and antioxidant mechanisms under saline conditions. BMC Plant Biology, 25(1), 3.
Cited by: 3

Mahmood, A. et al. (2024). Morphophysiological and biochemical assessment of cotton germplasm under salt stress. Cogent Food & Agriculture, 10(1).
Cited by: 4

Mahmood, A. et al. (2024). Selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) and salinity stress in Citrus limon. Biocatalysis and Agricultural Biotechnology, 62.
Cited by: 1

Mahmood, A. et al. (2024). Salicylic acid improves salinity tolerance in barley. BMC Plant Biology, 24(1), 1–16.
Cited by: 6

Mahmood, A. et al. (2024). Thiourea boosts tomato yield under salt stress. Plants, 13(23), 3318.
Cited by: 2

Trehalose: A promising osmo-protectant against salinity stress—physiological and molecular mechanisms and future prospective

Mahmood, A. et al. (2024). Glutathione and zinc improve maize photosynthesis under water stress. Brazilian Journal of Botany, 47(3), 795–808.
Cited by: 1

Mahmood, A. et al. (2024). Heat stress responses and mitigation strategies in crops [link pending publication].