Curriculum Vitae Dr. Irfan Aziz (Assistant Professor) Institute of Sustainable Halophyte Utilization University of Karachi Karachi 75270, Pakistan irfanaziz@uok.edu.pk HOME ADDRESS AND PERSONAL House No. B 67, Block 13 D/1, Gulshan e Iqbal, Karachi, Pakistan. Phone: 021 9243131 7 ext. 2288 (Off). Alternate Email: halophyte_irfan@yahoo.com, irfan_aziz68@hotmail.com MAJOR RESEARCH INTERESTS Dr. Aziz s research interest deals with the Physiological Ecology and Biochemistry of Halophytes and Mangroves. He is working on plant water and osmotic relations, antioxidant enzymes and other biochemical aspects on salt tolerance of halophytes and plants in coastal environments. EDUCATION Ph.D. Botany. 2001. University of Karachi, Karachi. Title: Structure, Life History Strategies & Ecophysiology of Indus Delta mangroves. Adviser: Prof. Dr. M. Ajmal Khan. M.Sc., Botany. 1991. University of Karachi, Karachi. Stood First class second in order of merit. B.Sc. (Hons.), Botany. 1990. University of Karachi, Karachi. PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE 2009 to date: Assistant Professor, Institute of Sustainable Halophyte Utilization, University of Karachi. 2006 2009: Assistant Professor, Department of Botany, University of Karachi. June 2004 2006: Assistant Professor & Head, Department of Botany, Govt. Degree Science & Commerce College, Orangi Township, Karachi. November 1995 June 2004: Lecturer & Head, Department of Botany, Govt. Degree Science & Commerce College, Orangi Township, Karachi. 1992 1995: Research Officer, Department of Botany, University of Karachi (projects funded by: International Foundation for Science, Pakistan Science Foundation and University Grants Commission). 1992 2001: Research (Ph.D) student, Department of Botany, University of Karachi.
GRADUATE / POST GRADUATE COURSES TAUGHT Bot. 311. Diversity in Plants. Bot. 411. Introduction to Genetics & Biotechnology Bot. 412. Fundamentals of Plant Physiology Bot. 422. Fundamentals of Plant Ecology Bot. 532. Genetics Bot. 542. Plant Physiology Bot. 631. Plant Sociology CURRENT TEACHING ASSIGNMENTS ISHU. 771. Plant responses to Abiotic stresses ISHU. 772. Ecology of Saline Habiats ISHU. 775. Physiological ecology of halophytes ISHU. 778. Biology of Mangroves MEMBERSHIP OF SOCIETIES / COMMITTEE SERVICES Life member Pakistan Botanical Society. Life Member Pakistan Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology 1993 Present: Member, Botkarians An Alumni Department of Botany, University of Karachi. 1996 2006: Member, College Teachers Botanical Society, Sindh Education Department. 1997 2004: Member, SHEHRI Citizens for better Environment. 2004 2006: Executive Member, College Teachers Botanical Society, Education of Sindh. 2008 Present: Member, Plant Stress Group. 2009 Present: Member, International Society for Mangrove Ecosystems (ISME), Japan 2011 Present: Member, American Society of Plant Biologists. 2011 Present: Member, WWF (World Wide Fund for Nature) COMMUNITY SERVICE 2012: Member BOF, Institute of Sustainable Halophyte Utilization, University of Karachi. 2009 onward: Member, Departmental Research Committee (DRC), Institute of Sustainable Halophyte Utilization, University of Karachi. 2007 2008: Store Incharge, Department of Botany, University of Karachi. ACADEMIC AWARDS / HONORS 2012: Research Productivity Award by PCST, Islamabad, Pakistan 2007 Present: Selected as HEC Approved Supervisor for PhD students by the Higher Education Commission, Islamabad. 2007: Award of Research productivity allowance by PCST, Islamabad, Pakistan
2006: Received a shield from Prof. Dr. M. Qaiser, Dean, faculty of Science, University of Karachi for working as a member of organizing committee and "Resource person" for the HEC workshop on Advances in Plant Ecology (July 3 6, 2006). 2005: Received a shield from Additional Secretary (Academic), Education and Literacy Department, Govt. of Sindh for participating in 5 days Refresher Course in Biology (Jan 31 Feb 4), organized by Govt. D.J. Sindh Govt. Science College, Karachi and Board of Intermediate Education, Karachi. 2004: Received a shield from Prof. Dr. Pirzada Qasim Raza Siddiqui, the Vice Chancellor, University of Karachi for working as a member of organizing committee for the HEC workshop on Current Trends in Plant Sciences (August 23 26, 2004). 2004: Received a certificate from Director General, HEC Regional Centre, Karachi, for participating in the HEC "In Service Training course" (December, 9 15, 2004). 2004: Received a certificate from Prof. Dr. Pirzada Qasim Raza Siddiqui, the Vice Chancellor, University of Karachi for participating in the HEC workshop on Current Trends in Plant Sciences (August 23 26, 2004). 1991: Received Certificate of Merit for obtaining First class 2 nd position in M.Sc (Final examination) from University of Karachi, Karachi 75270. RESEARCH STUDENTS (LAST 48 months) Ms. Farzeen Khan: (Ph.D) Ms. Sumaira Manzoor (M.S) Ms. Sonia Bano (M.Sc) RESEARCH FUNDED 2007: Stress tolerance in Mangroves. National Research Program for Universities (NRPU) project, Funded by HEC, Islamabad. 2007: Ecophysiological responses of four halophytes before and after rains. DFS Grant, University of Karachi. 2009: Photosynthetic performance of mangroves under saline conditions. DFS Grant, University of Karachi. 2010: Research grant for M.S / PhD students, Faculty of Science, University of Karachi. CONFERENCES, WORKSHOPS, INVITED LECTURES / PAPER PRESENTATIONS 2011. Attended a training course on Desertification and its control in Developing Countries from September 11 September, 26, 2011 in Lanzhou, Gansu Province, P.R. China. 2011. Aziz, I, F. Khan, A. Hameed & M. Ajmal Khan. 2011. Effects of Sea salt on ROS balancing and activity of Antioxidant Enzymes in Ceriops tagal. 2nd International Conference of Plant Scientists & 11th National Meeting of Plant Scientists. Department of Botany, GC University Lahore Pakistan. (February 22 24, 2011). 2011. Ahmed, M. Z, I. Aziz, S. Gulzar, S. Manzoor, S. Bano, S.M. Anees and M.A. Khan. 2011. Effects of Chemical Pretreatment on the Seed Germination of Three Salt Tolerant Grasses. 2nd International
Conference of Plant Scientists & 11th National Meeting of Plant Scientists. Department of Botany, GC University Lahore Pakistan. (February 22 24, 2011). 2011. Khan, F, I. Aziz, S. Gulzar & M. A. Khan. 2011. Photosynthetic Responses, Lipid Peroxidation And Water Status of Mangroves under Salt Stress. 2nd International Conference of Plant Scientists & 11th National Meeting of Plant Scientists. Department of Botany, GC University Lahore Pakistan. (February 22 24, 2011). 2010: Attended a workshop on Physiological Ecology of Salt Tolerance (April 27 29 th ), Institute of Sustainable halophyte Utilization, University of Karachi. 2010: Invited to participate in Three days academic retreat for HEC approved supervisors (July 29 31, 2010), Sponsored By HEC, Islamabad. Venue: HEC regional Office, Karachi. 2009: Implementation of the strategy for development of Biotechnology in Pakistan (27 28 February) organized by ICCBS and PABIC at HEJ, Karachi. 2008: Attended 2 nd National Conference of Life Scientists, (January 30 31, 2008), Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan. 2008: Attended PAS (Pakistan Academy of Sciences) workshop on Recent Trends in Plant Sciences: Impact on Biodiversity, (April 16 18, 2008), Institute of Sustainable Halophyte Utilization, University of Karachi. 2007: Invited lecture on "Diversity" in HEC sponsored workshop on Advances in Plant Ecology Ecophysiological constraints (December 17 19, 2007), Department of Botany, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan. 2006: Presentation entitled "Ecophysiological responses of two grasses and a sedge from an inland population of Karachi University campus". International Symposium on strategies for crop improvement against abiotic stresses, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan. 2006: Presentation on "Plant Ion Relations" in Life Sciences HEC Workshop on advances in Plant Ecology (July 3 6, 2006), Department of Botany, University of Karachi. 2006: Presentation entitled "Water status and accumulation of compatible osmolytes in some halophytes before and after rains". 9th National Conference of Plant Scientists, University of Sindh, Jamshoro, Pakistan. 2005: Lecture on "Measurement techniques of Solute Potential" in Workshop for Biology Practical (Feb. 8 12) organized by Govt. Degree College for Boys and Girls, Stadium Road, SRE Majeed, Karachi in Collaboration with PNS Bahadur, Pakistan Navy. 2005: Lecture on "Bioenergetics" in "Five days Refresher Course in Biology"(Jan 31 Feb 4) Organized by Govt. D.J. Science College, Karachi and Board of Intermediate Education, Karachi. 2005: Attended 5th International Symposium on Recent Trends in Plant Disease Management (Dec, 20 22, 2005). University of Karachi, Karachi, Pakistan.
2004: Six days In service Training Program for B.Sc. College Teachers of Botany (December 9 15) organized by Karachi Regional Office, HEC. 2004: Attended HEC Workshop on "Current Trends in Plant Sciences" (August 23 26), Department of Botany, University of Karachi. 2003: Presentation on Seasonal variation in water relations of Halopyrum mucronatum growing near Sandspit, Karachi at 8th National Conference of Plant Scientists, University of Karachi, Karachi, Pakistan. 2000: Attended 7th National Conference of Plant Scientists, Quaid e Azam Campus, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan. 2000: Attended International conference on "Technology and Development in the New Millennium", University of Karachi, Karachi, Pakistan. 1995: Attended Third International Conference on "Food Science and Technology" Department of Food Science, University of Karachi. 1994: Attended International Symposium on High Salinity Tolerant plants", Department of Botany, University of Karachi. MANUSCRIPT REVIEWER 2010 present: International Journal of Plant Physiology and Biochemistry 2009 present: Pakistan Journal of Botany 2009: Environmental and Experimental Botany, Elsevier. 2003: Journal of Tropical Forest Science, Malaysia. PUBLISHED BOOK Aziz, I., Agha F. and S. Gulzar. 1999. Practical Botany for B.Sc. Part II (Paper IV). Imran Publishers, Karachi, Pakistan. pp.44. LIST OF PUBLICATIONS PEER REVIEWED PAPERS 1. Aziz, I. & M.A. Khan. (2000). Effect of seawater on osmoregulation of A. marina from Indus Delta, Pakistan. Pak. J. Bot. 36:151 170. 2. Khan, M.A. & I. Aziz (2001). Salinity tolerance in some mangrove species from Pakistan. Wetland Ecol. & Manag. 9 (3):229 233. (Australia). 3. Aziz, I. & M.A. Khan. (2001). Experimental assessment of salinity tolerance of Ceriops tagal seedlings and saplings from the Indus Delta, Pakistan. Aquat. Bot. 70 (3): 259 268. (The Netherlands).
4. Aziz, I. & M.A Khan. (2001). Effect of seawater on the growth, ion content and water potential of Rhizophora mucronata Lam. J. Plant Research. 114 (1115): 369 374. (Japan). 5. Aziz, I. & M.A. Khan. (2001). Seawater tolerance of Rhizophora mucronata. Pak. J. Bot. 33: 619 628. 6. Aziz, I. & M.A Khan. (2001). Ecophysiology of A. marina populations growing in polluted coasts around Arabian sea. Pak. J. Bot. 33 (4): 429 441. 7. Aziz, I. & M.A. Khan. (2003). Proline and Plant Water Status of some desert shrubs before and after rain. Pak. J. Bot. 35 (5): 911 915. 8. Aziz, I., S. Gulzar, M. Noor & M.A. Khan. (2005). Seasonal variation in water relations of Halopyrum mucronatum (L.) Stapf., growing near Sandspit, Karachi. Pak. J. Bot. 37: 141 148. 9. Aziz, I. (2007). Seasonal flux in water potential, proline and chlorophyll content in desert shrubs at Ziarat valley, Balochistan, Paistan. Pak. J. Bot. 39(6): 1995 2002. 10. M. Qasim, S. Gulzar, Z. K. Shinwari, I. Aziz & M.A. Khan. (2010). Traditional Ethnobotanical uses of halophytes from Hub, Balochistan. Pak. J. Bot. 42: 1543 1551. 11. B. Gul, R. Ansari, I. Aziz & M. A. Khan. (2010). Salt tolerance of Kochia scoparia: a new fodder crop for highly saline arid regions. Pak. J. Bot. 42 (4): 2479 2487. 12. Aziz, I, B. Gul, S. Gulzar & M.A. Khan. (2011). Seasonal variations in plant water status of four desert halophytes from semi arid region of Karachi. Pak. J. Bot. 43 (1): 587 594. 13. M. Moinuddin, S. Gulzar, I. Aziz, Abdel Rahman A. Al Atar, A.K. Hegazi & M.A. Khan. (2012). Evaluation of Forage Quality among Coastal and Inland Grasses from Karachi. Pak. J. Bot. 44: 573 577. 14. Hameed, A; Hussain, T; Gulzar, S. Aziz, I; Gul, B & M. A. Khan. 2012. Salt tolerance of a cash crop halophyte Suaeda fruticosa: biochemical responses to salt and exogenous chemical treatments. Acta Physiol. Plant. (Accepted for publication) Manuscript Submitted: 15. Hameed, A; Hussain, T; Aziz, I; Gulzar, S; Gul, B & M. A. Khan. 2012. Salinity tolerance in Limonium stocksii. Can. J. Bot. Manuscripts under preparation: Aziz, I. 2012. Water status and accumulation of compatible osmolytes in some halophytes before and after rains. Khan, F; Aziz, I & M. Ajmal Khan. 2012. Differential response of antioxidant enzymes is the key determinant of salt tolerance in mangrove seedlings and saplings. Aziz,I; Gulzar, S; Khan, F; Ahmed, M.Z & M.A. Khan. 2012. Photosynthetic responses of mangroves under saline conditions. Aziz, I; Ahmed, M.Z, Saeed, S and M. A. Khan. 2012. Effect of L Ascorbic Acid on Growth, Water relations and Photosynthesis of Urochondra setulosa (Trin.) C.E. Hubbard under saline stress. Aziz, I. & M.A. Khan. 2012. Ecophysiological responses of two grasses and a sedge from an inland population of Karachi University campus.
ABSTRACTS 2011. Aziz, I, F. Khan, A. Hameed & M. Ajmal Khan. 2011. Effects of Sea salt on ROS balancing and activity of Antioxidant Enzymes in Ceriops tagal. 2nd International Conference of Plant Scientists & 11th National Meeting of Plant Scientists. Department of Botany, GC University Lahore Pakistan. 2011. Ahmed, M. Z, I. Aziz, S. Gulzar, S. Manzoor, S. Bano, S.M. Anees and M.A. Khan. 2011. Effects of Chemical Pretreatment on the Seed Germination of Three Salt Tolerant Grasses. 2nd International Conference of Plant Scientists & 11th National Meeting of Plant Scientists. Department of Botany, GC University Lahore Pakistan. 2011. Khan, F, I. Aziz, S. Gulzar & M. A. Khan. 2011. Photosynthetic Responses, Lipid Peroxidation and Water Status of Mangroves under Salt Stress. 2nd International Conference of Plant Scientists & 11th National Meeting of Plant Scientists. Department of Botany, GC University Lahore Pakistan. Gulzar, S, Aziz. I, Ahmed, M.Z & M. A. Khan. 2008. Diurnal and seasonal trends of water relations and photosynthesis in four co occurring desert species. 10 th National Meeting of Plant Scientists, Faisalabad. Aziz, I; Saeed, S, Ahmed, M.Z & M. A. Khan. 2008. Effect of L Ascorbic Acid on Growth, Water relations and Photosynthesis of Urochondra setulosa (Trin.) C.E. Hubbard under saline stress. 10 th National Meeting of Plant Scientists, Faisalabad. Aziz, I. & M.A. Khan. 2006. Ecophysiological responses of two grasses and a sedge from an inland population of Karachi University campus. International Symposium on strategies for crop improvement against abiotic stresses, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan. Aziz, I. 2006. Water status and accumulation of compatible osmolytes in some halophytes before and after rains. 9th National Meeting of Plant Scientists, University of Sindh, Jamshoro. Aziz, I. 2003. Seasonal variation in water relations of Halopyrum mucronatum growing near Sandspit, Karachi. 8th National Meeting of Plant Scientists, Karachi, Pakistan, 24 28 February, 2003, Aziz, I. & M.A. Khan. 2000. Seawater tolerance of Rhizophora mucronata. 7th Plant Science conference, University of Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan, 14 16 November, 2000. I. Aziz & M.A. Khan. 1999. Comparative Salt Tolerance of some mangrove species from Pakistan. "Sustainable problem of halophytes". Agadir, Morocco, April 5 12, 1999. M.A. Khan & I. Aziz. 1995. Osmoregulation in Avicennia marina: a salt secreting mangrove. The first Western Pennsylvania symposium of ecologists, evolutionary biologists and systematics from Powder mill Biological station, Rector, Pennsylvania, ISA, March 31 April 2. Aziz, I. & M.A. Khan. 1994. Growth & water relations of salt secreting and excluding mangrove species under saline conditions. International symposium on high salinity tolerant plants, Karachi, Pakistan, December 12 16. M.A. Khan & I. Aziz. 1994. Mechanisms of Osmoregulation in Indus Delta mangroves. Asia Pacific symposium on mangrove ecosystems, September 1 3, Hong Kong. M.A. Khan & I. Aziz. 1994. Mechanism of Osmoregulation in A. marina. Regional Conference on Environment & Biodiversity. Department of Botany, Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu, Nepal. March 17 19.