Mr. Afzal Hussain

Assistant Professor

Environmental Sciences

Biography

Education

SrNo.	Year	Degree	Board/University
1	2021	PhD	Government College University Faisalabad, Pakistan
2	2017	MPhil	Government College University Faisalabad, Pakistan
3	2015	BS (Hons)	Government College University Faisalabad, Pakistan
4	2011	Intermediate	BISE Gujranawala
5	2009	Matriculation	BISE Gujranawala

Experience

SrNo.	From	To	Category	Designation	Organization
1	02/01/2022	To date	Academic Experience	Assistant Professor	The University of Lahore, Pakistan
2	02/26/2020	01/31/2022	Academic Experience	Lecturer	The University of Lahore, Pakistan
3	03/28/2018	03/27/2020	Academic Experience	Research Associate	Government College University Faisalabad, Pakistan

Publications

SrNo.	Title	Category	Sub Category
1	Effect of titanium dioxide nanoparticles and co-composted biochar on growth and Cd uptake by wheat plants: A field study (IF 8.3)	Publication	Journal Article
2	Phosphorus Fertilizers Enhances the Phytoextraction of Cadmium through Solanum nigrum L. Plants. (IF 3.935)	Publication	Journal Article
3	S-Fertilizer (Elemental Sulfur) Improves the Phytoextraction of Cadmium through Solanum nigrum L. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. (IF 3.390)	Publication	Journal Article
4	Zinc fortification and alleviation of cadmium stress by application of lysine chelated zinc on different varieties of wheat and rice in cadmium stressed soil. Chemosphere. (IF 7.086)	Publication	Journal Article
5	Microbe-Citric Acid Assisted Phytoremediation of Chromium by Castor Bean (Ricinus Communis L.) (IF 8.943)	Publication	Journal Article
6	Application of Cerium Dioxide Nanoparticles (CeO2 NPs) and Chromium Resistant Bacteria Reduced Chromium Toxicity in Sunflower Plants (IF 6.627)	Publication	Journal Article
7	Application of potassium, zinc and boron as potential plant growth modulators in Gossypium hirsutum L. under heat stress. (IF 2.669)	Publication	Journal Article
8	Mitigation of Salinity Stress in Barley Genotypes with Variable Salt Tolerance by Application of Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles (ZnO NPs). (IF 6.627)	Publication	Journal Article
9	Decadal Impacts of Climate Change on Rainfed Agriculture Community in Western Somaliland, Africa (IF 3.889)	Publication	Journal Article
10	Investigation of Lithium Application and Effect of Organic Matter on Soil Health. Sustainability (IF 3.251)	Publication	Journal Article
11	Combined use of different nanoparticles effectively decreased cadmium (Cd) concentration in grains of wheat grown in a field contaminated with Cd. Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety (IF 6.291)	Publication	Journal Article
12	Combined Citric Acid and Glutathione Augments Lead (Pb) Stress Tolerance and Phytoremediation of Castorbean through Modulation of Gas Exchange Attributes Antioxidants Machinery and Pb Uptake. Sustainability (IF 3.251)	Publication	Journal Article
13	Morphological and biochemical responses of different rice varieties exposed to cadmium stress. Pakistan Journal of Agricultural Sciences (IF 0.748)	Publication	Journal Article
14	Effects of nanoparticles on trace element uptake and toxicity in plants: A review. Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety (IF 6.291)	Publication	Journal Article
15	abc	Publication	Journal Article
16	Metals Phytoextraction by Brassica Species	Publication	Book Chapter
17	Alleviating lead-induced phytotoxicity and enhancing the phytoremediation of castor bean (Ricinus communis L.) by glutathione application: new insights into the mechanisms regulating antioxidants, gas exchange and lead uptake	Publication	Journal Article
18	Alleviation of Cadmium Phytotoxicity Using Silicon Fertilization in Wheat by Altering Antioxidant Metabolism and Osmotic Adjustment	Publication	Journal Article
19	Silicon Fertilization: A Step towards Cadmium-Free Fragrant Rice	Publication	Journal Article
20	Combined application of citric acid and Cr resistant microbes improved castor bean growth and photosynthesis while it alleviated Cr toxicity by reducing Cr+6 to Cr+3. Microorganisms. (IF 4.128)	Publication	Journal Article
21	Influence of Metals and Metalloids on Microbial Diversity of Soil and Ecosystem	Publication	Book Chapter
22	Hydrogen sulfide alleviates chromium stress on cauliflower by restricting its uptake and enhancing antioxidative system. Physiologia plantarum (IF 4.500)	Publication	Journal Article
23	Approaches in Enhancing Thermotolerance in Plants: An Updated Review. Journal of Plant Growth Regulation (IF 4.169)	Publication	Journal Article
24	Simultaneous mitigation of cadmium and drought stress in wheat by the soil application of iron nanoparticles. Chemosphere (IF 7.086)	Publication	Journal Article
25	Citric Acid Assisted Phytoremediation of Chromium through Sunflower Plants Irrigated with Tannery Wastewater. Plants (IF 3.935)	Publication	Journal Article
26	Cyperus laevigatus L. Enhances Diesel Oil Remediation in Synergism with Bacterial Inoculation in Floating Treatment Wetlands. Sustainability (IF 3.251)	Publication	Journal Article
27	N-Fertilizer (Urea) Enhances the Phytoextraction of Cadmium through Solanum nigrum L. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (IF 3.390)	Publication	Journal Article
28	Effect of gibberellic acid on growth, biomass, and antioxidant defense system of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) under cerium oxide nanoparticle stress. Environmental Science and Pollution Research (IF 4.223)	Publication	Journal Article
29	Effects of selenium on the uptake of toxic trace elements by crop plants: A review. Critical Reviews in Environmental Science and Technology (IF 12.561)	Publication	Journal Article
30	Recent Advancement and development of chitin and chitosan-based nanocomposite for Drug Delivery: Critical approach to clinical research. Arabian Journal of Chemistry (IF 5.165)	Publication	Journal Article
31	Combined application of citric acid and 5-aminolevulinic acid improved biomass, photosynthesis and gas exchange attributes of sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) grown on chromium contaminated soil. International Journal of Phytoremediation (IF 2.528)	Publication	Journal Article
32	Zinc and iron oxide nanoparticles improved the plant growth and reduced the oxidative stress and cadmium concentration in wheat. Chemosphere (IF 5.778)	Publication	Journal Article
33	Seed priming with silicon nanoparticles improved the biomass and yield while reduced the oxidative stress and cadmium concentration in wheat grains. Environmental Science and Pollution Research (IF 3.056)	Publication	Journal Article
34	Responses of wheat (Triticum aestivum) plants grown in a Cd contaminated soil to the application of iron oxide nanoparticles. Ecotoxicology and environmental safety (IF 4.872)	Publication	Journal Article
35	Alleviative role of exogenously applied mannitol in maize cultivars differing in chromium stress tolerance. Environmental Science and Pollution Research (IF 3.056)	Publication	Journal Article
36	Alleviation of cadmium accumulation in maize (Zea mays L.) by foliar spray of zinc oxide nanoparticles and biochar to contaminated soil. Environmental Pollution (IF 6.792)	Publication	Journal Article
37	Silicon nanoparticles enhanced the growth and reduced the cadmium accumulation in grains of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). Plant Physiology and Biochemistry (IF 3.720)	Publication	Journal Article
38	Citric Acid Enhances Plant Growth, Photosynthesis and Phytoextraction of Lead by Alleviating the Oxidative Stress in Castor bean. Plants (IF 2.632)	Publication	Journal Article
39	Morphological and physiological responses of plants to cadmium toxicity	Publication	Book Chapter
40	Role of zinc–lysine on growth and chromium uptake in rice plants under Cr stress. Journal of Plant Growth Regulation (IF 2.047)	Publication	Journal Article
41	Fulvic acid prevents chromium-induced morphological, photosynthetic, and oxidative alterations in wheat irrigated with tannery waste water. Journal of Plant Growth Regulation (IF 2.047)	Publication	Journal Article
42	Zinc oxide nanoparticles alter the wheat physiological response and reduce the cadmium uptake by plants. Environmental Pollution (IF 4.358)	Publication	Journal Article
43	5-aminolevulinic acid; heavy metal stress; antioxidant enzymes; nutrients uptake; stress tolerance mechanisms. Journal of Plant Growth Regulation (IF 2.047)	Publication	Journal Article
44	Potential of Duckweed (Lemna minor) for the Phytoremediation of Landfill Leachate. Journal of Chemistry (IF 1.726)	Publication	Journal Article
45	Morpho-physiological responses of maize cultivars exposed to chromium stress. International Journal of Agriculture & Biology (IF 0.802)	Publication	Journal Article
46	The ameliorative role of 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) under Cr stress in two maize cultivars showing differential sensitivity to Cr stress tolerance. Journal of Plant Growth Regulation (IF 2.047)	Publication	Journal Article
47	Role of Zinc in Alleviating Heavy Metal Stress.	Publication	Book Chapter
48	Role of Iron in Alleviating Heavy Metal Stress	Publication	Book Chapter
49	Effect of zinc-lysine on growth, yield and cadmium uptake in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and health risk assessment. Chemosphere (IF 4.427)	Publication	Journal Article
50	Foliar application of aspartic acid lowers cadmium uptake and Cd-induced oxidative stress in rice under Cd stress. Environmental Science and Pollution Research (IF 2.800)	Publication	Journal Article

Conferences

Awards

SrNo.	Year	Awarding Organization	Description
1	2021	The University of Lahore, Pakistan	“Research Productivity Award 2021” among top 50 researchers at University of Lahore in 2021

Memberships

Courses Taught

SrNo.	Type	Title	University	Semester
1	BS	Pollution Control Technologies	The University of Lahore, Pakistan	7th
2	BS	Environmental Toxicology	The University of Lahore, Pakistan	5th
3	BS	Public Health and Environment	The University of Lahore, Pakistan	8th
4	BS	Environmental Economics	The University of Lahore, Pakistan	6th
5	BS	Biology II	The University of Lahore, Pakistan	2nd
6	BS	Basic Chemistry	The University of Lahore, Pakistan	1st
7	MPhil	Research Methods in Environmental Sciences	The University of Lahore, Pakistan	MPhil 2nd
8	BS	Philosophy and Environment	The University of Lahore, Pakistan	3rd

Project Supervisor

Services

Books

Research Fundings

Extracurricular Activities

SrNo.	Hobbies	Interests

Languages and Skills

SrNo.	Langues	Skills
1	English (Official Language)
2	Urdu (National Language)
3	Punjabi (Mother Language)

Active Collabrations

Consulting Experience

Achievements / Rewards

Dr Akhtar represents Pakistan, explores collaboration with Germany on global issues

Description

In a substantial ambassadorial effort, Prof Dr Rabia Akhtar (Director of the Center for Security, Strategy, and Policy Research (CSSPR)) represented Pakistan as a thought leader in a delegation of five eminent scholars from Asia. This delegation, constituted by the Asia chapter of Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES), visited Berlin, Germany, to engage in dialogues and meetings aimed at understanding Germany’s viewpoints on key global issues, from June 13-15, 2023.

The FES Strategic Foresight Group, comprising scholars from Pakistan, Thailand, India, South Korea, and Indonesia, sought to gain insights into Germany’s perception of the world, the interconnectedness of geopolitics and geoeconomics, and the overall security and stability of different regions. By interacting with parliamentarians, scholars, and think tank experts, the group aimed to identify Germany’s foreign policy direction amidst intensifying great power competition, technological advancements, and the Russo-Ukrainian war.

Dr Akhtar articulated Pakistan’s aspirations to become a regional and global connector, and expressed her belief that the country could serve as Germany’s partner in promoting peace. She said academic collaboration between the two countries must lay the groundwork for better ties. In that regard, she hoped that the University of Lahore (UOL) and CSSPR will like to establish linkages, to work on security and strategic issues with policymakers, universities, and think tankers in Germany.

Moreover, during the meetings with German officials and academicians, including Dr.Martin Thummel (Deputy Head for East Asia, Southeast Asia and the Pacific, Federal Foreign Office), Dr Akhtar along with the delegation underlined the importance of collaboration between nations in an increasingly interconnected world. It was argued that Europe and Asia should not be considered separate arenas, as common threats and opportunities necessitate a collective approach.

The participants engaged in thought-provoking discussions on how Germany’s foreign policy has evolved amid geopolitical tensions and how the country aims to strike a balance between values-based and interests-based approaches, particularly in the face of the evolving Sino-U.S. rivalry. Central to these discussions was Germany’s embrace of Zeitenwende, signifying a transformative shift in its foreign and defence policies following the war in Ukraine. German officials highlighted that this philosophy would enable their country to contribute positively to regional and global stability.

Furthermore, the delegation stressed the importance of inter-regional dialogues, trade, and economic cooperation between Germany and Asian countries during their meetings with parliamentarians. Geoeconomics emerged as a key theme, with experts acknowledging its potential to promote interdependence, peace, and stability. However, they also expressed caution, and were mindful of the geopolitical complexities that could hinder its effectiveness.

Dr Ashraf becomes Pakistan’s top and world’s 12th most cited Plant Science researcher

Description

What traits set exceptional academic leaders apart? One is their ongoing commitment to academic excellence. Prof Dr Muhammed Ashraf (Rector, UOL), in an interview with the Press and Publications Cell (PPC) of the University of Lahore (UOL), shared how his commitment to academics and research led him to stand amongst the top-cited Plant Science researchers in the world.

The second edition of Research.com rankings of the best researchers was released recently. According to these rankings, Dr Ashraf stood 12th in the list of top-cited researchers with a massive number of 72,461 citations and 1,169 publications in the field of Plant Science.

While sharing his sentiments with the PPC team, he said, “It is a great honour and privilege for me to be among the world’s top-cited Plant Science researchers. Barely people from third-world countries like Pakistan get such immense acknowledgement for research, but I, hailing from a developing country, take pride in the fact that I was able to garner the limelight along with researchers from advanced countries like America, Germany, etc.”

Motivation for Plant Science Research

For most of his academic life, Dr Ashraf has been conducting research anchored on Plant Science, his field of specialisation for which he has recently been recognised globally. Revealing his motivation behind his research drive, he mentioned that “Research is the key element for institutions and even for academicians to leave an unprecedented imprint on the global academic spectrum. The only sound way to project novel ideas pertaining to your field is through research, and that is what keeps me right on track with research. To make significant contributions to the field of Plant Science, I try to continually explore and conduct impactful research.”

Global Acclamation

In continuing the discussion of his research motivation, on a lighter note, he shared that he received a congratulatory email from Mr Rattan Laal (The Ohio State University, the United States). “To my surprise, Mr Laal, the world’s most cited researcher, shared his congratulatory remarks with me. I am humbled to the core by this global acclamation that I have received so far,” he said.

Catering to Contemporary Plant Science Issues

In every field of study, researchers try to address and explore solutions for the most pressing issues. In Plant Science and Agronomy, the focal point of researchers nowadays is the impact of climate change on plants and, broadly, on the agriculture sector. Upon being asked about the impact of his research, the UOL Rector stated that “Climate change, undoubtedly, has adversely affected the lives of plants, animals, and even humans. My focus is particularly on plants and agriculture. Through my research, I have always tried to address and highlight the pressing issues that are being faced mainly by Asian and African countries, and this is also one of the reasons that my research is getting global acknowledgement because it caters to global issues. Majorly, my work is based on different plant stresses such as drought, salinity, waterlogging, temperature extremes etc.”

Fundamentals of Research, Publications, and Rankings

Not many people are familiar with the Research.com rankings, and in fact, they lack even the most basic knowledge of research rankings. During his interview with PPC, Dr Ashraf summarised the entire research ranking process by saying that “A researcher gets ranked based on his number of publications and citations. Researchers should try to publish their work in international journals, which will increase their chances of maximum citations. The more publications and citations, the higher the H-index, and ultimately, the better the chances of getting ranked at the top.”

Tips for soon-to-be Early-career Researchers

There is no short cut to conduct profoundly organic research, and that is what Dr Ashraf said. “Dedication and hard work are the keys to achieve research goals. Nevertheless, to stand out in the pool of researchers, it is pertinent, especially for Plant Science research aspirants, to focus on technological and digital advancements, keeping oneself up-to-date with international contemporary research trends, and fuelling the urge of discovery by gaining more and more knowledge,” he advised the students.

Dr Tahir explores the role of financial risk-taking attitude in consumer satisfaction

Description

A consumer’s attitude of financial risk tolerance (FRT) plays an important role in his/her financial decisions, thereby determining his well-being. FRT is a consumer’s preference for the amount of risk he undertakes while making investments. Recently, a lot of research studies have been conducted on consumer well-being and FRT. Being motivated by this trend in financial research, Dr Muhammad Tahir (Assistant Professor, Lahore Business School, the University of Lahore (UOL)) and fellow researchers explored the relationship amongst financial literacy, propensity to plan (PTP), FRT, financial satisfaction, and life satisfaction.

Though scholarly acumen for consumer well-being is rapidly developing, not much is known regarding the collective roles of financial literacy, PTP, and FRT. Dr Tahir’s study addressed this gap by showing that financial literacy, risk-taking attitudes, and planning propensities are all interconnected and necessary ingredients to improve financial and life satisfaction.

Dr Tahir’s analytical study titled “Role of financial risk-taking attitude in personal finances and consumer satisfaction: evidence from Australia” revealed a strong partial mediation of FRT between financial literacy and financial satisfaction. Moreover, the analysis showed that a high PTP combined with a high FRT results in high financial satisfaction.

For achieving the main objective of the research, the Household, Income, and Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA) survey was taken into consideration. Furthermore, Dr Tahir used the variance-based partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM), also known as the PLS path modelling approach, to test the proposed hypotheses of the study empirically.

The findings of Dr Tahir’s research study showed the importance of creating financial plans in accordance with risk tolerance. Considering the relevance of increasing financial literacy, Dr Tahir suggested that the use of tools that could help consumers plan and spent in risky investments might lead them to have a more financial and life satisfaction.

UOL chemist explores an eco-friendly alternative thickening agent for textile printing

Description

Textile printing is the most versatile and vital methodology for introducing colour and design to textile fabrics. Different types of thickeners (chemical compounds) are used for printing, such as polysaccharide thickener, synthetic thickener, and emulsion thickener. Synthetic thickeners are highly criticised for endangering the environment at the manufacturing stages.

Dr Dure Najaf Iqbal (Associate Professor, Department of Chemistry, The University of Lahore) and her team of researchers explored an eco-friendly alternative for synthetic thickeners that is effective in the textile printing process. The team revealed that guar gum could serve as an outstanding natural thickener, stabiliser, and gelling agent and could as well be used in various industrial units, including food, cosmetics, textiles, oil fracturing, and mining. Guar gum is one of the most important naturally occurring non-ionic high molecular weight polysaccharides and consists of galactomannan, which has vast applications in various fields.

Dr Iqbal and her team synthesised carboxymethyl guar gum (CMG) via monochloroacetic acid under alkaline conditions. The carboxymethylation of guar gum was accomplished by the Willianson ether technique and the reaction conditions were optimised during the course of the experiment. Guar derivatives with variable degrees of substitution (DS) were prepared and confirmed by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The DS was determined quantitatively by the titration method for each derivative.

For this research study, native guar gum was purchased from National Guar Industries, Karachi, with a molecular weight of 1.043 106 g/mol. Whereas, all the chemicals and reagents used were of analytical grade and were purchased from Merck, Germany.

The result proved that the substituted guar gum is an eco-friendly, non-hazardous thickener as compared to synthetic thickeners. Furthermore, the penetration properties, fixation ability, and colour fastness of guar gum were compared with those of commercial alginate thickeners. The printing trial of the thickener CMG also showed that carboxymethyl guar gum could easily replace conventional thickeners without any compromise on printing results and could prevent fabric stiffness. The tested water-holding capacity (a central aspect that determines commercial applications of gums) of guar gum made it ideal for improving the texture of end products in diverse industrial formulations.

Also, it was revealed that the implementation of carboxymethyl guar gum in textile printing can reduce the economic burden associated with exporting alginate and other synthetic thickeners. This, in turn, could enable exporters to offer competitive pricing without compromising on quality.

Faculty / Staff Profiles

Mr. Afzal Hussain

Assistant Professor

Environmental Sciences

Biography

Education

Experience

Publications

Conferences

Awards

Courses Taught

Project Supervisor

Services

Books

Research Fundings

Extracurricular Activities

Languages and Skills

Active Collabrations

Consulting Experience

Dr Akhtar represents Pakistan, explores collaboration with Germany on global issues

Dr Ashraf becomes Pakistan’s top and world’s 12th most cited Plant Science researcher

Dr Tahir explores the role of financial risk-taking attitude in consumer satisfaction

UOL chemist explores an eco-friendly alternative thickening agent for textile printing