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Faculty Profile

  /  Faculty Profile

Dr Usman Irshad

Tenured Associate Professor/Graduate Coordinator
Area of Interest: Soil Microbiology, Microbial Ecology, Ecosystem functioning
Email: usmanirshad@cuiatd.edu.pk
Phone: (92)992-383591-5
 
Academics/ Degrees
  • PostDoc, 2016, INRS University of Quebec Montreal Canada
  • PhD, Centre International d’Etudes Supérieures En Sciences Agronomiques, Montpellier France, 2011
  • MS, University Montpellier II, Montpellier France, 2008
  • M.Sc. (Hons.), Institute of Soil and Environmental Sciences University of Agriculture Faisalabad Pakistan, 2007
  • B.Sc. (Hons.), Institute of Soil and Environmental Sciences University of Agriculture Faisalabad Pakistan, 2005
Professional or Work Related Certifications: 

Certification

Year

Organization/ Country

Transition to latest version of QMS ISO 9001:2015

2018

CUI, CONSTECH-PAKISTAN

Establishment of Lab in COMSATS from my NRPU Research project

2017

HEC and COMSATS Abbottabad Pakistan

QCBS Excellence Award Funding

2016

Quebec Center for Biodiversity Science, Montreal, Quebec CANADA

Invitation award as a young scientist for Phosphorus week

2014

UMR Eco& Sols, Montpellier FRANCE

HEC Approved Supervisor

2018, 2012

Higher Education Commission, Islamabad, PAKISTAN

Scholarships letters for MS leading to PhD study in France from 2007-2011

2007

French Embassy and Higher Education Commission, Islamabad, PAKISTAN

 
Journal Publications
1. Misbah Hareem,U.Irshad Optimizing chili production in drought stress: combining Zn-quantum dot biochar and proline for improved growth and yield, Scientific Reports, 2024
2. M. Awais,R.Nazir,Faridullah,Dr. Akhtar Iqbal,M.Irshad,F.Hafeez,U.Irshad Proficient Lignocellulolytic Novel Bacterial Isolates from Diversified Galiyat Forests of Lower Himalaya, Forests, 2023
3. R.Nazir,F.Hafeez,M.Irshad,Dr. Akhtar Iqbal,U.Irshad Removal of Antibiotic Resistance Genes, Class 1 Integrase Gene and Escherichia coli Indicator Gene in a Microalgae-Based Wastewater Treatment System, Antibiotics, 2022
4. U.Irshad,M.Irshad,Dr. Rafiq Ahmad Organic amendment plus inoculum drivers: Who drives more P nutrition for wheat plant fitness in small duration soil experiment, Plos one 13 April, 2022
5. U.Irshad Richness of Rhizosphere Organisms Affects Plant P Nutrition According to P Source and Mobility, Agriculture, 2021
6. B.Amin,F.Hafeez,Hina Aman,M. Azeem,Dr. Akhtar Iqbal,U.Irshad,R.Nazir Characterization and Cellulolytic Enzyme Potential of P Solubilizers from Pine Forests of Lower Himalaya, INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURE & BIOLOGY, 2020
7. U.Irshad,R.Nazir,A.Pervez The Fate of Lead (Pb) in Multitrophic Interactions Among Bacteria, Fungi, and Bacterivorous Soil Nematodes, Clean Soil Air and Water, 2020
8. Mahnoor Asif,A.Pervez,Q.Mahmood,U.Irshad,R.Ahmad Melatonin and plant growth promoting rhizobacteria alleviate the cadmium and arsenic stresses and increase the growth of Spinacia oleracea, Plant, Soil and Environment, 2020
9. Q.Mahmood,M. Tahir,Z. A. Bhatti,Faridullah,M.Irshad,U.Irshad,M.Bilal Allium cepa assay based comparative study of selected vegetables and the chromosomal aberrations due to heavy metal accumulation, Saudi Journal of Biological Sciences, 2020
10. Hafiz Muhammad Ansab Jamil,Awais Ahmed,R.Ahmad,U.Irshad,Dr. AM Abbasi Identification and inoculation of fungal strains from Cedrus deodara rhizosphere involve in growth and alleviation of high nitrogen stress, Saudi Journal of Biological Sciences, 524-534, 2020
11. U.Irshad,R.Nazir,A.Pervez,S.Naqvi Bacterial feeder Nematodes: Facilitator or competitor for Plant Phosphorus in soil, Journal of soil science and plant nutrition, 2019
12. U.Irshad Bacterial subspecies variation and nematode grazing change P dynamics in the wheat rhizosphere, Frontiers in Microbiology, Frontiers in Microbiology, 2018
13. M.Irshad,U.Irshad,Q.Mahmood FRACTIONATION OF PHOSPHORUS IN SOILS AMENDED WITH POULTRY MANURE CO-COMPOSTED WITH SUGARCANE AND CABBAGE WASTES, BIOSCIENCE JOURNAL, 2018
14. R.Ahmad,S.A.Khan,M. Shahzad,U.Irshad Metabolic profiling to elucidate genetic elements due to salt stress , CLEAN, Soil, Air, Water, 2017
15. M.Irshad,U.Irshad,F.Hafeez Changes in plant nutrients during composting of cow manure with poplar leaf litter, Compost Science and Utilization, 2017
16. Waseem Hayat,Hina Aman,R.Nazir,U.Irshad,M. Azeem,Dr. Akhtar Iqbal Analysis of ecological attributes of bacterial phosphorus solubilizers, native to pine forests of Lower Himalaya, Applied Soil Ecology, 2017
17. U.Irshad,R.Nazir,Dr. Akhtar Iqbal Novel P-Solubilizers from Calcium Bound Phosphate Rich Pine Forest of Lower Himalaya, Geomicrobiology Journal, 2017
18. S.Naqvi,M.Bilal,U.Irshad,M.Shah,J.Hussain Biodegradation of organophosphorus insecticides by indigenous soil bacterium isolated from agricultural contaminated soil, september 2016, 2016
19. H.Zaffar,U.Irshad,A.Pervez,S.Naqvi Mode of action, toxicity and biodegradation of organochlorinated pesticides: A mini overview, Journal of Applied Environmental and Biological Sciences, 2016
20. Sara Khan,Habiba Zaffar,S.Naqvi,R.Ahmad,Abdul Rehman Khan,M.Shah,M.Bilal,Dr. Mazhar Iqbal,U.Irshad Biodegradation of Malathion by Bacillus licheniformis strain ML-1, Archives of Biological Sciences, 2016
21. Sara Khan,H.Zaffar,U.Irshad,R.Ahmad,Abdul Rehman Khan,M.Shah,M.Bilal,M. Iqbal,S.Naqvi Biodegradation of malathion by Bacillus licheniformis strain ML-1, Archives of Biological Sciences, 2015
22. U.Irshad From soil to plant, the journey of P through trophic relationships and ectomycorrhizal association, Frontiers in Plant Sciences, 2014
23. U.Irshad,Alain Brauman,Cécile Villenave,S.A.Khan,S.Shafiq,Claude Plassard Nitrogen and Phosphorus Flow Stimulated by Bacterial Grazer Nematodes in Mycorrhizosphere of Pinus pinaster , INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURE & BIOLOGY, 2013
24. U.Irshad Phosphorus acquisition from phytate depends on efficient bacterial grazing, irrespective of the mycorrhizal status of Pinus pinaster, Plant and Soil, 2012
25. U.Irshad Grazing by nematodes on rhizosphere bacteria enhances nitrate and phosphorus availability to Pinus pinaster seedlings, Soil Biology & Biochemistry, 2011
26. U.Irshad Isolation and screening of rhizobia for improving growth and nodulation of lentil (Lens culinaris Medic) seedlings under axenic conditions, Soil & Environment, 2007
 
Conference Publications
1. U.Irshad Impact of industrialization and urbanization on nematodes abundance and diversity, , 2019
2. U.Irshad,A.Pervez Diversity analysis of soil mineral and organically bound phosphorus microbiome in gallyat region abbottabad, , 2019
3. U.Irshad,A.Pervez Behavior of grazing nematodes in functioning of sanitizing bacteria and fungi under heavy metal stress, , 2017
4. U.Irshad Food web interactions in wheat rhizopshere, , 2016
5. U.Irshad Does soil functional diversity enhance organic P cycling and plant P nutrition?Phytate mineralization as a case study., , 2015
6. Claude Plassard,U.Irshad,R.Nazir,Palwasha Rehman An initiative of sustainable phosphorus use in P- rich mining zone of lower Himalaya region of Pakistan, , 2014
7. Palwasha,Wasim hayat,U.Irshad,R.Nazir,Claude Plassard An initiative of sustainable phosphorus use in P- rich mining zone of lower Himalaya region of Pakistan, , 2014
8. U.Irshad Do trophic relationships in soil enhance plant P nutrition? Phytate mineralization as a case study, , 2014
9. R.Nazir,U.Irshad Pushing the phosphorus from limiting to sustainable: Microbial drivers from lower Himalaya, , 2014
10. U.Irshad Soil Microbial food web and nutrient flow in plant growth, , 2013
11. U.Irshad Trophic relationships: role of bacteria, fungi and nematodes interactions on mineral nutrition from organic P and N in the rhizosphere of Pinus pinaster seedlings , , 2012
12. U.Irshad Trophic relationships: role of bacteria, fungi and nematodes interactions on mineral nutrition from organic P and N in the rhizosphere of Pinus pinaster seedlings , , 2011
13. U.Irshad Effect of trophic relationships in the rhizosphere on mineral nutrition of Pinus pinaster , , 2011
14. U.Irshad Effect of trophic relationships in the rhizosphere on mineral nutrition of Pinus pinaster , , 2010
15. U.Irshad Mycorhization et relations trophiques bactéries-nématodes dans la rhizosphère : un avantage pour la nutrition minérale du Pin maritime ?, , 2010
16. U.Irshad Effect of trophic relationships in the rhizosphere on mineral nutrition of Pinus pinaster , , 2010
17. U.Irshad TROPHIC RELATIONSHIPS IN THE RHIZOSPHERE: EFFECT OF FUNGAL, BACTERIAL AND NEMATODE INTERACTIONS ON MINERAL NUTRITION OF PINUS PINASTER, , 2010
18. U.Irshad Trophic relationships in the rhizosphere of woody plants: effect of the communities of fungi, bacteria and nematodes on mineral nutrition of Pinus pinaster, , 2008
19. U.Irshad Trophic relationships in the rhizosphere of woody plants: effect of the communities of fungi, bacteria and nematodes on mineral nutrition of Pinus pinaster, , 2008
 
 
Profile/Bio
PROFESSIONAL AND RESEARCH EXPERIENCE
  • May 2012 to Continued: Assistant Professor, Department of Environmental Sciences, COMSATS Institute of Information Technology, Abbottabad, Pakistan
  • Sep. 2008 to Dec. 2012: PhD Scholar INRA-SupAgro, UMR-Functional Ecology and Biogeochemistry
  • Jul. 2008 to Aug. 2008: Research Associate, INRA-SupAgro,UMR-Rhizosphere and Symbiosis, Montpellier France
  • Jan. 2008 to Jun. 2008: Internship trainee INRA-SupAgro, UMR Rhizosphere and Symbiosis, Montpellier France
  • Mar. 2005 to May. 2005: Internship trainee National agriculture research centre, Soil microbiology Section, Islamabad, Pakistan
Professional Trainings Attended: 

  • PostDoc Training (01-01-2016 to 31-08-2016) INRS (IAF-Armand Frappier) Montreal Canada, University of Quebec, Canada.
  • Workshop on "Young Scientist Workshop on phosphorus" Montpellier (8-31-2014 to 8-31-2014). Montpellier France. CIRAD France
  • Seminar “Reflexives research methods and linguistics”  Balaruc, France  (3/15/2010-3/19/2010)
  • Practical training at the National Institute for Agricultural Research in Montpellier, France (01-01-2008 to 31-08-2018) UMR Eco & Sols Montpellier SupAgro France. INRA France
  • Internship Training (01-06-2006 to 27-06-2007) University of Agriculture. Faisalabad, Pakistan. Pak US need based scholarship.
  • Practical training at the National Agricultural Research Centre, Islamabad, Pakistan (03-03-2005 to 30-05-2005) NARC Islamabad


 
Associations
  • Member, International Society for Microbial Ecology
  • Member, Soil Science Society of Pakistan
 
Research Interests

Microbial food web and Phosphorus cycling, Trophic relationships in micro and macro fauna

 
Awards
  • Awarded US need based merit Scholarship by US Ambassador in 2005 for M.Sc. (Hons.) studies
  • Awarded Oversees Scholarship by the Higher Education Commission, Islamabad, Pakistan for PhD studies in France
 
Research Projects
Funded research projects

No.

Title

Status

Participation

PI/Co-PI

Donor agency

Amount M PKR

1

Utilisation of complex network of microbial interactions for mobilisation of soil phosphorus inaccessible for plant growth

Ongoing

 

Principal Investigator

HEC

2.70

 

 

2

Phosphorus use improvement in legume cereal based agricultural system

Approved

International

Collaborator

Other than HEC/CIIT

Local government Sichuan province China

5.50

Chinese Yuan

(300000)

3

Isolation and identification of bacterial grazer nematodes: their effect on rhizo-bacterial communities and phosphorus uptake by pine seedlings

Completed

Principal Investigator

HEC

0.5

4

Metabolic bases of soil biota interactions and their biocontrol potential for host plant

Ongoing

Co- Principal Investigator

HEC

0.5

5

Isolation and characterization of carbamate hydrolase from indigenous bacterial species

Completed

Co- Principal Investigator

CIIT

0.2

Total amount received as Pi and Co-Pi in 5 and half years

(2012-2018)

9.4 M PKR


Submitted Projects as PI and Co-PI:

6

Innovative microbial multitrophic interaction-based approaches to rapidly adapt

wheat to saline stress

Submitted

Principal Investigator

HEC

6.37MPKR

(63700)

7

Enzyme based degradation of Chlorinated pesticides and determination of complete pathway of selected Chlorinated pesticides

Submitted

Co- Principal Investigator

HEC

3.65MPKR

(36500)

Total amount expected

10.02M PKR (100200)

 
Students Supervised
BS projects Supervised: 

No.

Student Name

Thesis title

Status

Registered/

Completed

 

1

Adeline Becquer

Microbial Functional Biology

 

Completed

2010

2

Qirrat Sajjad

 

Salinity bacteria and nematodes

 

Completed

2013

3

Bushra Haroon

 

Phosphorus leaching

 

Completed

2013

4

Jumria Jonathan

 

Temperature  change and microbial food web

 

Completed

2013


MS Students Supervised: 

No.

Student Name

Thesis title

PhD/

MS

Supervisor/

Co-Supervisor

Status

Registered/

Completed

1

Muhammad Nadeem

Behaviour of Grazer Nematodes in Functioning of Sanitizing Bacteria and Fungi under Heavy Metal Stress

PhD

Supervisor

Registered

2018-2022

2

Saba Ahmed

Developement of P based biofertlizer from scratch waste with the use of microbial consortia

PhD

Supervisor

Registered

2016-2020

3

Moniba Zahid Mehmood

Variation in Nematode Community Composition modified by Industrialization & Urbanization

PhD

Co-Supervisor

Registered

2018-2022

4

Safwan Awan

Trophic interactions in wheat rhizosphere

MS

Supervisor

In Progress

5

Shahrukh Malik

Determination of Secondary Roles Performed by Organic Phosphorus Mineralizing Microbes in Plant Growth

MS

Supervisor

Completed

6

Rabia Jalil Khan

 

Assessment of Phosphorus Impact on local Community and Soil Health of Phosphate Mining Zone

 

MS

Supervisor

Completed

2015

7

Palwasha Rehman

Growth Improvement of Pine Seedlings through Phosphorus Nutrition by Underground Prey-Predator

MS

Supervisor

Completed

2014

8

Imran Salim

Quality assessment and heavy metals impact on soil and community health by the use of industrial waste and tube well water for irrigation in hattar

MS

Supervisor

Completed

2013

9

Muhammad Nadeem

Behaviour of Grazer Nematodes in Functioning of Sanitizing Bacteria and Fungi under Heavy Metal Stress

MS

Co-Supervisor

Completed

10

Moniba Zahid Mehmood

Variation in Nematode Community Composition modified by Industrialization & Urbanization

MS

Co-Supervisor

Completed

11

Sumera Bibi

Diversity Analysis of Soil Mineral and Organically Bound Phosphorus Microbiome in Galliyat Region Abbottabad

MS

Co-Supervisor

Completed