I, Dr. Md. Nurealam Siddiqui is an early career scientist. Currently, I am serving as an Associate Professor & Head of the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agricultural University (BSMRAU) in Bangladesh with 12 years of teaching and research experiences in the field of plant biochemistry, plant molecular biology, abiotic stress physiology, quantitative genetics and molecular breeding of water and nutrient use efficiency, plant molecular nutrition, and crop functional genomics. At present, I am engaged in research on genetic and molecular mechanisms of nutrient transport and abiotic stress tolerance in crop plants. Enhancement of crops in nutrient and water use efficiency by regulating root growth and development is my main research targets. I am also interested in the conserved genetics underpinning plant responses to different environments.
I have obtained Bachelor of Science in Agriculture (Honours) in 2009 and Master of Science in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology in 2012 from Hajee Mohammad Danesh Science and Technology University (HSTU), Bangladesh. I have been awarded PhD in Crop Molecular Genetics from the University of Bonn, Germany in 2022 through prestigious German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) Fellowship.
I am well experienced with research methods and teaching strategies of plant molecular biology. Besides this, I do have experience in high-throughput phenotyping, quantitative genetics and genome analysis in modern plant breeding. I have developed a unique skill set that encompasses genome-wide association studies (GWAS), large-scale phenotyping, statistical analysis of phenotypic data, modern molecular tools, transcriptomics, nutrient uptake and transport assays and biochemical analyses. I have also developed skills on the basis bioinformatics tools and functional characterization of genes/proteins combining genetic, phenotypic, physiological and molecular techniques.
In recognition of academic achievements, I have been awarded several prestigious national and international fellowship and awards notably “German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD)” fellowship 2018-2022 for pursuing PhD, “Make Our Planet Great Again (MOPGA) Visiting Fellowship 2024” funded by the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, “Japan-East Asia Network Exchange (JENESYS) Fellowship 2011” in Japan as Visiting Fellow, “BSMRAU-TA Research Award” in 2021 and 2022 for outstanding research accomplishment and “DAAD Outstanding Involvement Award 2021” among international students studying in German Universities, Next Generation Scientist Award 2023 by the New Phytologist Foundation and Young Scientist Travel Award 2024 by the International Plant Phenotyping Network (IPPN). Recently, I have been awarded “BAS-Gold Medal Award 2023” by the Bangladesh Academy of Sciences (BAS) in Biological Science (Junior Group) for excellent research contribution in science among young scientist in Bangladesh. I also elected as an Associate Fellow of Bangladesh Academy of Sciences (BAS) for the year of 2023.
As a faculty member at university level, I am actively engaged in both teaching and research. In my current role, I have demonstrated genetic and genomic skills through investigation of mechanisms related to abiotic stress tolerance and nitrate transport in crop plants. I also provide mentoring to both my postgraduate students, lab members and to colleagues. Being an active researcher, I supervise several postgraduate students as part of their dissertations. At the same, I teach different aspects of Plant Biochemistry and Molecular Biology such as Molecular Genetics, Plant Physiology and Biochemistry, Molecular Plant Nutrition, and Biological Chemistry at undergraduate and graduate levels. I have presented research findings in many international conferences/symposia in USA, Germany, Japan, Singapore and Pakistan. I am actively involved in many professional networks/organizations at home and abroad.
I also enjoy participating and serving as the guest editor and reviewer in several highly reputed journals. I do have more than 2350 citations in Google Scholar with 24 h-index and +140 impact factor as of today. My future aim of work is to incorporate cutting-edge molecular breeding and biotechnological tools in crop plants to improve agriculture for securing global food security.
Research Interest: For details, please visit Curriculum Vitae- Siddiqui
- Plant biochemistry and stress physiology
- Quantitative genetics, genomics and molecular breeding
- Molecular plant nutrition
- High-throughput phenotyping
- Functional characterization of candidate genes in crop plants.