Dr. Asma Zafar

Degree                  Institute/Board                                        Division                         Year

PhD                       Govt. College University, Lahore             1^st Div                             2017
(Biotechnology)
 
M.Phil.                  Govt. College University, Lahore             1^st Div                             2009
(Biotechnology)
M.Sc.                    Govt. College University, Lahore             1^st Div                             2006
(Botany)
B.Sc.                     University of the Punjab, Lahore              2^nd Div                            2004
(Zool, Bot, Chem)
F.Sc.                     B.I.S.E, Gujranwala                                  1^st Div                             2002
(Pre Med)
Matric                   B.I.S.E, Gujranwala                                  1^st Div                           1999
                             
B.Ed                     Allama Iqbal Open University                    1^st Div                           2006
Islamabad

GRE                      Scored 64 in GRE                                                                          2010

1. Four years doctoral research experience under the supervision of Muhammad Nauman Aftab at the institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Govt. College University, Lahore, Pakistan under the topic “Expression of GH13 family gene from Thermotoga petrophila into E. coli and characterization of the recombinant enzyme”.
2. Six months research experience in the project entitled Synthetic gene network for monitoring shear stress sensor activity in endothelial cells under the supervision of Rob Krams at the Bioengineering department, Imperial College, London.
3. One Year post graduate research experience under the supervision of Muhammad Nauman Aftab at the institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Govt. College University, Lahore under the topic Cloning and Expression of xylanase gene from Bacillus licheniformis into E.coli
4. One Year post graduate research experience under the supervision of Muhammad Mohsin javed at the institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Govt. College University, Lahore under the topic Ethnol Fermentation of Low Quality Dates by Yeast.

Published

1. 1. Muhammad N. Aftab, Asma Zafar, , Iqbal I, Kaleem A, Zia KM and Awan AR. Optimization of saccharification potential of recombinant xylanase from Bacillus licheniformis. Bioengineered. (2017). DOI: 10.1080/21655979.2017.1373918. (Impact factor: 1.691)
2. Muhammad N. Aftab, Asma Zafar & Ali R. Awan. Expression of thermostable β-xylosidase in Escherichia coli for use in saccharification of plant biomass, Bioengineered. (2017). DOI: 10.1080/21655979.2016.1267884 (Impact factor: 1.870)
3. Zoltan Kis, Tania Rodin, Asma Zafar, Zhangxing Lai, Grace Freke, Oliver Fleck, Armando del rio Hernandez, Leila Towhidi, Ryan Pedrigi and Takayuki Homma. Development of a synthetic gene network to modulate gene expression by mechanical forces. (2016). Scientific reports. 6: 29643. DOI: 10.1038/srep29643. nature.com/scientific reports/ (Impact factor: 5.228)
4. Asma Zafar, Muhammad Nauman Aftab, Zia ud Din, Saima Aftab, Irfana Iqbal and Ikram ul Haq. Cloning, purification and characterization of highly thermostable gene of Thermotoga petrophila into Escherishia coli. (2015). Biochem. Biotechnol. DOI 10.1007/s12010-015-1912-8 (Impact factor: 1.735)
5. Asma Zafar, Muhammad Nauman Aftab, Zia ud Din, Saima Aftab, Irfana Iqbal, Anam Shahid, Arifa Tahir and Ikram ul Haq. Cloning, Expression and purification of xylanase gene from Bacillus licheniformis for use in saccharification of plant biomass. (2015). Biochem. Biotechnol. DOI 10.1007/s12010-015-1872-z (Impact factor: 1.735)
6. Irfana Iqbal, Muhammad Nauman Aftab, Mohammed Afzal, Asad Ur-Rehman, Saima Aftab, Asma Zafar, Zia Ud-Din, Ateeq ue Rahman Khuharo, Jawad Iqbal and Ikram Ul-Haq. Purification and characterization of cloned alkaline protease gene of Geobacillus stearothermophilus. (2014) Basic Microbiol., 54, pp. 1–12. (Impact factor: 1.823)
7. Saima Aftab, Muhammad Nauman Aftab, Ikram-Ul-Haq, Muhammad Mohsin Javed, Asma Zafar and Irfana Iqbal. Cloning and expression of endo-1 4–β-glucanase gene from Bacillus licheniformis ATCC 14580 into Escherichia coli BL21 (DE 3). (2012). African Journal of Biotechnology. 11 (12), pp. 2846-2854 (Impact factor: 0.5)

Under process

1. Fermenter studies of cloned thermostable Alpha amylase gene from Thermotoga peterophila and application in textile industry. (Manuscript submitted in Basic Microbiology Journal).
2. Cloning, purification and characterization of β-glucosidase gene from Bacillus licheniformis ATCC14580 into coli for saccharification of plant biomass (Manuscript is in process).
3. Kinetic and thermodynamic studies of recombinant alpha amylase protein from Thermotoga petrophila into coli BL21 (DE3). (Manuscript is in process)
4. Optimization of saccharification potential of recombinant hemicellulases from Bacillus licheniformis ATCC 14580 (Manuscript is in process)
5. Screening of Bacillus strains by 16S rRNA from soil samples of Pakistan for the production of probiotics. (Manuscript submitted in Pakistan journal of Zoology)
6. Cloning and expression of protease gene from Thermotoga petrophilla into Escherichia coli BL21 (DE 3) and characterization of the recombinant enzyme. (Manuscript is in process).
7. Cloning, expression and purification of Endoglucanase gene from Bacillus licheniformis ATCC 14580 into Escherichia coli BL21 (DE3) for use in Biomass saccharification. (Manuscript is in process)

Abstracts published

1. Ziauddin, Muhammad Nauman Aftab, Asma Zafar, Irfana Iqbal, Ikram-ul-Haq, Abdul wajid and Masroor Elahi Babar. Probiotics production for poltry birds, Bacillus spp. from Pakistani soils: isolation, identification and screening of selected species. Abstract published in 1^st International Conference on Environment and Biosciences 16^th and 17^th April, 2015.
2. Asma Zafar, Muhammad Nauman Aftab, Saima Aftab, Irfana Iqbal and Ziauddin. Fermenter studies of cloned thermostable Alpha amylase gene from Thermotoga peterophila and application in textile industry. Abstract published in 2^nd International Conference of Biotechnology for Sustainable Development, held in November 26-28, 2014 at Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, GCU, Lahore
3. Oliver Fleck, Zoltan Kis, Asma Zafar, Zhangxing Lai, Takayuki Homma and Rob Krams. Employing synthetic biology and shear stress sensing to tackle atherosclerosis. (2014) Abstarct published in Medical Engineering Centres Annual Meeting and Bioengineering 14 Imperial College London.

1. Attended 6^th International and 15^th National Conference on Dynamic Trends in Plant Science-Fostering Environment and Food Security, held on May, 9-11, 2017, jointly organized by the Sardar Bahadur Khan University, Quetta, Pakistan and Pakistan Botanical Society at Quetta, Pakistan and participated in oral presentation entitled “Purification and Characterization of cloned β-xylosidase enzyme from Bacillus licheniformis ATCC14580 into coli ”.
2. Participated in two days National Conference on “Defeating the Public Enemy, The Mosquito: A real Challenge” (Poster Presentation) held on 3 – 4 December, 2014, organized by Dengue Prevention and Control Cell, Lahore College for Women University, Lahore.
3. Attended two days training workshop on “Fermenter Studies and End Product Analysis by HPLC”, held in June 29-30, 2015 at Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, GCU, Lahore.
4. Attended 2^nd International Conference of Biotechnology for Sustainable Development, held in November 26-28, 2014 at Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, GCU, Lahore and participated in oral presentation entitled “Fermenter studies of cloned thermostable Alpha amylase gene from Thermotoga peterophila and application in textile industry”.
5. Attended one day seminar on “Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Bioinformatics (BMB)” arranged by Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, GC University Lahore, Pakistan, on 23^rd October 2014
6. Attended 2^nd International Conference of Plant Scientists and 11^th international meeting of Plant scientists held in February 22-14, 2011 at Biology Department GCU, Lahore, Pakistan organized by Pakistan Botanical Society
7. Participation in poster competition held at Biotechnology Exhibition and Seminar 2010 on 20-21 October, 2010 organized by Institute of Biochemistry and Biotechnology University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore, Pakistan
8. Attended Pakistan Botanic Garden Conference on “Action Plan for Botanic Gardens network in Pakistan” held in March 24-25, 2006 at GCU, Lahore, Pakistan organized by Botanic Garden GCU, Lahore, Pakistan

1. Availed HEC IRSIP (International Research Support Initiative Program) Scholarship for six months for research in Bioengineering Department at Imperial College London, 2013
2. Availed Indigenous scholarship entitled “Indigenous Ph.D. Fellowship Program” By Higher Education Commission of Pakistan, 2012.

Four gene Bank Submissions

1. KT427375
2. KT427376
3. KT427377
4. KT378295

One year research experience as a Research officer in a project of Cloning, Expression and characterization of alpha amylase genes from Thermotoga petrophila at institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Govt. College University, Lahore funded by Higher Education Commission, Pakistan
One year research experience as a Research officer in a project of Biofuels production from plant    Biomass at institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Govt. College University, Lahore funded by Ministry of Science and Technology, Pakistan
Two years teaching experience as Science teacher at Al farooq educational system. Al-faisal Town Lahore
One year teaching experience at Al-badar girls High School, Gujranwala as Senior Science teacher
Worked as teaching coordinator for one semester at IIB, GCU, Lahore
Three months research experience as an internee under National Internship Program of the Govt. of Pakistan, in Food labs Saman Abad Lahore

Research interests are in the fields of

• Biotechnology
• Molecular Biology
• Microbiology
• Botany

My objective is to compliment and utilize my abilities for constructive purpose in any prestigious and reputable institute and to avail the opportunity of gaining valuable scientific knowledge experience.

• Dr. Ikram-ul-Haq SI, FAPS
  Professor of emeritus
  Institute of Industrial Biotechnology
  GC University, Lahore
  ikmhaq@yahoo.com
• Dr. Muhammad Nauman Aftab
  Associate Professor
  Institute of Industrial Biotechnology
  GC University, Lahore.
  nauman535@yahoo.com