Profile Summary

Dr. Azhar Hussain, PhD Soil Science 2015 (Soil and Environmental Microbiology),

(Teacher / Researcher / Administrator)

He is basically belongs to Bahawalpur, Pakistan born on January 03, 1990. Dr. Azhar is working as Associate Professor BPS-20 in the Department of Soil Science, The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Pakistan. Dr. Azhar was the one of the youngest PhD of the country (PhD completion 25 years and 10 month of age) and also got appreciation letter from the worthy Vice Chancellor, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad for completion of PhD degree in short duration. He has completed PhD under the supervision of famous internationally reputed soil microbiologist Prof. Dr. Muhammad Arshad (Tamgha e Imtiaz, Distinguished National Professor).

Teaching / Research :

Dr. Azhar joined in 2015 as Assistant Professor in Department of Soil Science, The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Pakistan and promoted/appointed as Associate Professor BPS-20 in March 2022 Department of Soil Science, The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Pakistan.

Administrative Assignments:

Along with the teaching assignments Dr. Azhar is actively engaged in administrative assignments at university level in the Islamia University of Bahawalpur as he is served/serving on various positions in different directorates from 2015 to 2024 at the Islamia University of Bahawalpur time to time as

1. Director Students Affairs,

2. Director Alumni Affairs,

3. Senior Tutor,

4. Additional Director Students Affairs (Students Societies),

5. Deputy Director Students Affairs,

6. Deputy Director Students Affairs (Students Societies),

7. Coordinator IUB Students Societies, and 

8. Coordinator Water Management Degree programs.

He has also lead various research projects as Principal Investigator, Team Leader, Co-Principal Investigator, Team Member, Incharge Laboratory and Team Scientist. 

Awards and Appreciations: He is appreciated several time by the various organization/institutes.

I. Youngest Pakistani PhD (Completed degree at 25 years and 10 months age) (Declared by the “The Nation, 19, 08, 2016”) nation.com.pk/19-Aug-2016/youngest-pakistani-phd

II. Appreciation letter with cash prize for completion of PhD within six semesters (less than 3 years) from Worthy Vice Chancellor, University of Agriculture Faisalabad.

III. Agricultural Youth Award 2020-21 (Dr. Qadir Bux Balouch Research and Employee of the year 2020-21) awarded by National Agricultural Youth Commission, Islamabad.

IV. Governor Punjab Chancellor IUB Engr. M. Baligh ur Rehman & Engr. Prof. Dr. Athar Mahboob (T.I.) Vice Chancellor the Islamia University of Bahawalpur awarded appreciation shield for establishment of 175 students societies & students clubs at the Islamia University of Bahawalpur June 25, 2022

V. Awarded/Won 7 different research Projects of 22.231 million rupees from Govt. funding agencies at the Islamia University of Bahawalpur

VI. Declared Prominent Researcher of the Islamia University of Bahawalpur for the year 2020 among TTS faculty based on publications (Research 1 lac Cash and 2 performance base increments for one year only).

Courses/Supervision:

As teacher Dr. Azhar is engaged in teaching different undergraduate & Postgraduate related to Soil Science, Soil and Environmental Microbiology. He is supervising BS, MS and PhD scholars and more than 90 has completed (BS, MS and PhD) their degrees under his supervision. 

Research Grants/Publication:

In research, Dr. Azhar has won 7 projects (5 as Principal Investigator and 2 as Co-PI/Team Member) of funding more than 20 million rupees. Dr. Azhar Hussain has published more than 80 international paper (Research paper, Review Papers & Book Chapters) having 35%  are 1^st Author or Corresponding author with an impact factor of more than 200.

Detail Research Domains:

Agriculture & Soil Science / Soil and Environmental Microbiology / Bio-activated Zinc Coated Urea / Biofertilizers / Biofortification / Composting / Plant Health and Nutrition’s / Waste Management / Bioremediation / Environmental Pollution / Environment / Climate Change / Water / Research Projects Management

Detail Administration Domains at University Level:

Research Projects Management / Academics / Alumni Affairs / Students Affairs / Students Societies / Career Counseling / Social Media Management / Events Managements / Project Management / Admissions / Quality Enhancement / Advance Studies / Cultural Events

Salient Assignment Completed/Achievements:

1. As a In-Charge: Establishment of Prof. Dr. Muhammad Arshad T.I., DNP Soil and Environmental Microbiology Laboratory at Department of Soil Science, the Islamia University of Bahawalpur through academia industry linkages funded by The First Biotech LLC   Lahore.  (Completed 24-06-2022 to 27-03-2023).

2. Role in upgradation of Soil Microbiology and Biotechnology Laboratory, Department of Soil Science, the Islamia University of Bahawalpur 2015-2023.

3. Established more than 50 identified bacterial strains bank having multiple characters strains in Soil Microbiology and Biotechnology Laboratory, Department of Soil Science, the Islamia University of Bahawalpur.

4. As a Deputy Director, Additional and Director time to time 2019-2023 in Directorate of Students Affairs the Islamia University of Bahawalpur established 173 student’s societies, cocurricular activities network, upgradation of Directorate of Students Affairs and taken various other initiatives.  Governor Punjab Province & Chancellor IUB Engr. M. Baligh ur Rehman & Engr. Prof. Dr. Athar Mahboob (T.I.) Vice Chancellor the Islamia University of Bahawalpur awarded appreciation shield for establishment of 175 students societies & students clubs at the Islamia University of Bahawalpur June 25, 2022. (2019-2023).

5. As a Director Alumni Affairs the Islamia University of Bahawalpur 2021-2023 established IUB Alumni Netwrok online portal and registered 25000 alumni within 2 years, published IUB Alumni Newsletter annually, Establishment of IUB Alumni Chapter program at Country Level / city level / Department level and faculty level, Started IUB Alumni Mentorship Program, Started IUB Alumni Award, Started IUB Alumni Scholarship Program. IUB Alumni Meeting/get-together at Department level and city level, Established IUB Alumni Network social media pages and taken various other initiatives.

6. Role to propose and established Directorate of Academics in the Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Pakistan (2020).

7. Worked as event founding coordinator and successfully organized “Bahawalpur Literary and Cultural Festival (BLFC 2020, BLFC 2021, BLFC 2023) at The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Pakistan

8. Served / Serving in various the Islamia University of Bahawalpur Pakistan committee as a Member / Secretary / Chairman for different policy making task time to time.

9. Served / Serving in various department level / Faculty level / University committees as a Member / Secretary / Chairman.

Education:

MSc Hons  2010-12 & PhD 2012-15, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan

B.Sc Hons 2006-10, The Islamia University of Bahawalpur-Pakistan

FSc 2004-06, Govt. Sadiq Ejerton (S.E.) College Bahawalpur-Pakistan

Matriculation 2002-04, Government Secondary School (QaimPur) Bahawalpur-Pakistan

Co-curricular activities: 

When Dr. Azhar was a student he involved in co-curricular activities and remained as selected President, Vice president and General Secretary of official student society SESSS at University of Agriculture Faisalabad for 3 years. He also worked as All Pakistan Student Councilor in “Soil Science Society of Pakistan”. He involved in organizing national/international events/activities.