Ms. Maria Afzal | Plants | Best Researcher Award
Recently graduated at PMAS Aric Agriculture University Rawalpindi, Pakistan
Maria Afzal is a motivated and skilled botanist with a strong background in plant genomics, molecular biology, and functional genetics. With an MPhil in Botany (Plant Sciences) from PMAS Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi, she specializes in genomic approaches for enhancing crop stress tolerance, particularly in rice and cotton. Her research integrates classical botany with modern genomic tools and bioinformatics to address critical challenges in plant science, including salinity stress, metal toxicity, and gene function characterization. She has contributed to high-impact publications and is proficient in both wet-lab and computational techniques, making her a versatile early-career scientist with great potential in plant biotechnology and agricultural research.
Publications Profile
🎓 Education Details
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MPhil in Botany (Plant Sciences)
PMAS Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi
Sept. 2022 – Nov. 2024 (Expected)
Thesis: Salt Tolerance Mapping in Rice: GWAS Insights and Genomic Patterns -
Bachelor of Science (Hons.) in Botany
Government Gordon College, affiliated with University of Gujarat
Aug. 2016 – Aug. 2020
Relevant Coursework: Plant Systematics, Molecular Biology, Plant Physiology, Biochemistry, Genetics
👩🔬 Professional Experience
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Research Experience
Hands-on expertise in functional genomics and molecular biology including:-
DNA/RNA extraction, PCR/qRT-PCR
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Primer design, gene docking, phenotypic data collection
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Genetic transformation and gene editing
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Hydroponics and infusion cloning
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Bioinformatics tools (TBtools, Cytoscape, MEGA7, ClustalX, SMART, NCBI, Pfam, Phytozome)
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Internship
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National University of Science and Technology (NUST)
Internship Duration: Dec 2019 – Jan 2020 (1 Month)
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🌱 Research Interests
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Functional Genomics & Gene Editing in Crops
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Stress Tolerance Mechanisms in Plants (Salinity, Heavy Metals)
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Molecular Breeding and Trait Mapping using GWAS
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ABC Transporters and Plant Defense Mechanisms
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Evolutionary Genomics and Bioinformatics Applications in Agriculture
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Nanotechnology in Plant Tissue Culture
🏆 Awards and Honors
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Selected Participant in multiple international seminars and webinars hosted by prestigious universities and international organizations.
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Contributor to peer-reviewed journals with high impact factors (up to 6.0).
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Recognized for scientific writing and data analysis contributions to plant genomics publications.
🔍 Conclusion
Maria Afzal is a forward-thinking plant scientist whose multidisciplinary training in plant biology, genomics, and molecular biotechnology equips her to tackle global agricultural challenges. With strong research credentials, diverse technical skills, and active engagement in scientific communities, she is well-positioned to contribute to academic, research, and industry roles in plant science, genetics, and environmental sustainability.
Publications 📚
📘 1. Research Article
Malik W.A., Afzal M., Chen X., Cui R., Lu, Wang S., Wang J., Mahmood I., Ye W.
🔬 Systematic Analysis and Comparison of ABC Proteins Superfamily Confer Structural, Functional and Evolutionary Insights into Four Cotton Species.
📄 Industrial Crops & Products, 177 (2022): 114433.
📈 Impact Factor: 5.6
🧬 2. Nanotechnology in Plant Science
Malik W.A., Mahmood I., Razzaq A., Afzal M., Shah G.A., Iqbal A., Zain M., Ditta A., Asad S.A., Ahmad I., Mangi N., Ye W.
⚗️ Exploring Potential of Copper and Silver Nanoparticles to Establish Efficient Callogenesis and Regeneration System for Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.).
📄 GM Crops & Food Biotechnology (2021): 1917975.
📈 Impact Factor: 3.1
🌿 3. Environmental Stress & Plant Metabolism
Malik W.A., Afzal M., et al.
🧪 Anthocyanin Biosynthesis Mediated Alkaline Stress Tolerance, Induced by Glucose-6-Phosphate Dehydrogenase Enzymes in Cotton.
📄 Journal of Environmental Informatics (Accepted).
📈 Impact Factor: 6.0
🧪 4. Heavy Metal Tolerance in Crops
Malik W.A., Afzal M., et al.
🌱 Oxidizing the Odds: FAD-linked Oxidase Flavoenzymes Empower Cotton for Cadmium-Free Harvests.
📄 Industrial Crops & Products (Under Review).
📈 Impact Factor: 5.6
🧬 5. Scientific Commentary
Malik W.A., Afzal M., et al.
🔄 A New Consensus Required for a Unified Nomenclature System of ABC Transporters.
📤 Under Submission.
📊 6. Structural Biology & Evolution
Malik W.A., Afzal M., et al.
🧠 Domain-Based Reorganization of ABC Transporters Confer Novel Structural, Functional and Evolutionary Approaches in Plants.
📤 Under Submission.
