Dr. Muhammad Waqas

Assistant Professor
Qualification: Ph.D
Environmental Sciences

Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Qualification:

Ph.D. (Environmental Sciences)

Contact #:      +923329106732 [PAK]

Date of Birth: 10-05-1989                 

Place of Birth: Pakistan

Web: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=0mlRPPwAAAAJ&hl=en

         https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Muhammad_Waqas61

         https://www.linkedin.com/in/muhammad-waqas-a4216266/

In brief

Muhammad Waqas is a Ph.D. in Environmental Science from King Abdul Aziz University, Saudi Arabia. His research was focused on developing novel approaches for optimizing the conversion of Organic Fraction of Municipal Solid Waste to organic fertilizer (compost). He is a team member of solid waste management group at the Center of Excellence in Environmental Studies (CEES) of King Abdul Aziz University, Saudi Arabia. Currently, he is serving Kohat University of Science and Technology, Kohat, Pakistan as assistant professor. During his carrier he has published 24 research articles and 3 book chapters in many peer-reviewed journals. His entire research carrier is focused on environmental research. Recently he also starts working on waste to energy technologies through utilizing the potential of various organic biomass. He presented his research work in various international and national conferences. He also chaired sessions in two international conferences. He is review editor in the Editorial Board of Energy & Environment and Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology and Energy Research. He got Gold Medal in MSc (Hons) and BSc (Hons) and also the recipient of Best Performance Award as an outstanding performance during his academic carrier.    

Education

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) 2015-2017 in Environmental Science (King Abdulaziz University, Saudi Arabia.)- Dec 2017 Dissertation Title “Evaluating the potential of various natural resources in the aerobic bioconversion of food wastes to organic fertilizer”.

Research Interests

  • Environmental Sciences
  • Solid Waste Management
  • Conversion wastes to valuable products
  • Biomass and bioproducts: integrated biorefineries
  • Waste to energy
  • Composting
  • Ecofriendly approaches for crop management

Journal’s Editorial Board

  • Review Editor in “Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology and Energy Research”
  • Reviewer in Energy & Environment

Awards and Honors

International Scholarship for Doctor of Philosophy, from Ministry of Higher Education Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for the session 2015-15.

Gold Medal in M.Sc. (Hons) as department toper during the session 2012-2013.

Gold Medal in B.Sc. (Hons) as department toper during the session 2008-2011.

Best Performance Award by Study Aid Foundation for excellence as department toper 2012.

Travel Grant by Ras Al Khaimah Center for Advanced Materials for International Workshop on Advanced Materials, UAE (2018).

Travel Grant by Higher Education Commission of Pakistan for oral presentation at ICAFOP, Trabzon-Turkey (2019)

Professional Experience

  • Working as Assistant Professor at Department of Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Kohat University of Science and Technology, Kohat, Pakistan.
  • July 2018 – July 2019 as Assistant Professor (IPFP) at Department of Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Kohat University of Science and Technology, Kohat, Pakistan.
  • April 2015 – Feb 2018 (Solid Waste Management (Environmentalist) at Center of Excellence for Environmental Studies (CEES), King Abdul Aziz University-Jeddah, Saudi Arabia). The research at the CEES was focused on developing value added product and bioenergy systems such as composting (organic fertilizer), pyrolysis (fuel-oil), anaerobic digestion (biogas), and transesterification (biodiesel), from indigenous high solid content feedstock such as the organic fraction of municipal solid waste (OFMSW), plastic and animal-related waste.
  • May 2012 - Nov 2014, Research Assistant (Higher Education Commission funded Project: Integrated Management of Trinthema portulacastrum L. in maize grown for grain and forage in irrigated and rainfed areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa-Pakistan).

Research Projects

As Principal Investigator

  • Development of Biochar as Fuel and Catalyst in Energy Recovery Technologies. Funding Agency: Ministry of Education, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Budget: US$ 4500. Status: Completed.
  • Utilizing the bulking agent potential of weed biomass for the bioconversion of organic faction of municipal solid waste to organic fertilizer. Funding Agency: Higher Education Commission of Pakistan. Budget: US$ 3102. Status: Completed.

As Co-Principal Investigator

  • Applications of Zeolite Catalysts in Waste to Energy Technologies. Grant no: 2/S/1438. Funding Agency: Ministry of Education, Saudi Arabia. Budget: US$ 40,000. Status: Completed
  • Waste Valorization: Renewable Energy and Green Products. Grant no: 1/S/1439. Funding Agency: Ministry of Education, Saudi Arabia. Budget: US$ 32,000. Status: Completed

Publications

  1. Waqas, M., Asam, Z., Rehan, M. et al. (2020). Development of biomass-derived biochar for agronomic and environmental remediation applications. Biomass Conversion and Biorefinery. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13399-020-00936-2 (ISI Impact Factor = 2.602).
  2. Anwar, A. Hanafy, J.S.M. Sabir, K. Alghamdi, H. Almehdar, M. Waqas. (2020). Characterization of Mesophilic Bacteria Degrading Crude Oil from Different Sites of Aramco, Saudi Arabia. Polycyclic Aromatic Compounds. 40(1), 135-143 (ISI Impact Factor = 1.894).
  3. Waqas, A.S. Nizami, A.S. Aburiazaiza, M.A. Barakat, M.I. Rashid, B. Khattak. (2019). Untapped Potential of Zeolites in Optimization of Food Waste Composting. Journal of Environmental Management. 241, 99-112 (ISI Impact Factor = 5.647).
  4. Waqas, M. (2019). The current status and steps towards sustainable waste management in the developing countries: a case study of Peshawar-Pakistan. Indonesian Journal of Urban and Environmental Technology, 3(1), 47-66.
  5. Ihsan, M. Z., Daur, I., Alghabari, F., Rizwan, S., Ahmad, Waqas, Shafqat, W. (2019). Heat stress and plant development: role of sulphur metabolites and management strategies. Acta Agriculturae Scandinavica, Section B—Soil & Plant Science, 69(4), 332-342. (ISI Impact Factor = 1.092).
  6. Waqas, A.S. Nizami, A.S. Aburiazaiza, M.A. Barakat, I.M. Rashid, I.M.I. Ismail. 2018. Optimizing the process of food waste compost and valorizing its applications: A case study of Saudi Arabia. Journal of Cleaner Production. 176: 426-438. (ISI Impact Factor = 7.246).
  7. Waqas, A.S. Aburiazaiza, R. Miandad, M. Rehan, M.A. Barakat. (2018). Development of biochar as fuel and catalyst in energy recovery technologies. Journal of Cleaner Production. (ISI Impact Factor = 7.246).
  8. Waqas, A.S. Nizami, A.S. Aburiazaiza, M.A. Barakat, I.M.I. Ismail, M.I. Rashid. (2017). Optimization of food waste compost with the use of biochar. Journal of Environmental Management. 216, 70-81. (ISI Impact Factor = 5.647).
  9. Waqas, T. Almeelbi, A.S. Nizami. (2017). Resource recovery of food waste through continuous thermophilic in-vessel composting. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 25(6), 5212-5222. (ISI Impact Factor = 3.056)
  10. S. Nizami, M. Rehan, M. Waqas, M. Naqvi, O.K.M. Ouda, K. Shahzad, R. Miandad, M.Z. Khan, M. Syamsiro, I.M.I, Ismail, D. Pant. (2017). Waste biorefineries: Enabling circular economies in developing countries. Bioresource technology, 241, pp.1101-1117. (ISI Impact Factor = 7.539)
  11. Qadeer, M. Anjum, A. Khalid, M. Waqas, A. Batool, T. Mahmood. (2017). A Dialogue on Perspectives of Biochar Applications and Its Environmental Risks. Water, Air, & Soil Pollution. 228 (8): DOI: 10.1007/s11270-017-3428-z (ISI Impact Factor = 2.041)
  12. S. Nizami, M. Rehan, M. Naqvi, O. Odua, K, Shahzad, M. Syamsiro, M. Waqas, R. Miandad, Z. Islam, I.M. Ismail. (2017). Energy, Economic and Environmental Savings by Waste Recycling: A Case Study of Madinah City. Energy Procedia 142: 910–915.
  13. Anjum, R. Miandad, M. Waqas, F. Gehany, M.A. Barakat. (2016). Remediation of wastewater using various nano-materials. Arabian Journal of Chemistry. 12(8), 4897-4919. (ISI Impact Factor = 4.762).
  14. Anjum, R. Miandad, M. Waqas, I. Ahmad, Z.O.A. Alafif, A.S. Aburiazaiza, M. Barakat, T. Akhtar. (2016). Solid waste management in Saudi Arabia: A review. Journal of Applied Agriculture and Biotechnology. 1(1): 13-26.
  15. I. Daur, Z.H. Shah, M.Z. Ihsan, S. Ali, Waqas, H.M. Rehman, A.A. Al-Feel, A.K. Elsafori, S.S. Sohrab. (2017). Occurrence, comparative growth and composition of Tribulus terrestris L. under variable in-situ water stress. Pakistan Journal of Botany. 49(5): 1641-1646. (ISI Impact Factor = 0.80).
  16. Waqas, I.A. Khan, A.S. Abu-Rizaiza, M.Z. Ihsan, I. Daur. (2016). Assessment of herbicides and mulches against weeds and yield of chickpea cultivars. International Journal of Biosciences. 9(1): 282-290. (ISI Impact Factor = 0.55)
  17. Hashim, K.B. Marwat, M. Saeed, M. Haroon, M. Waqas, S. Fahad. (2013). Developing a sustainable and eco-friendly weed management system using organic and inorganic mulching techniques. Pakistan Journal of Botany. 45: 483-486. (ISI Impact Factor = 0.80)
  18. Waqas, M.I. Khan, I. Khan, R. Khan and A.M. Khan. (2012). Efficiency of weed extracts through their priming effects on the seed germination on wheat and chickpea. Herbologia. 13(1): 21-30.
  19. Waqas, M.I. Khan, I. Khan, R. Khan and A.M. Khan. (2012). Efficiency of weed extracts through their priming effects on the seed germination on wheat and chickpea. Herbologia. 13(1): 21-30.
  20. Saeed, M. Haroon, M. Waqas, S. Fahad, S. Ali, H. Bibi, Z. Din. (2013). Mulching: A management practice for weeds in maize. Pakistan Journal of Weed Science Research 19(4): 403-410
  21. Saeed, S. Ullah, Z. Shah, M. Iqbal, M. Waqas, M. Haroon, H.U. Shah. (2013). Proximate composition and mineral content of maize grains influenced by mulching. Pakistan Journal of Weed Science Research. 19(3): 349-355.

Book Chapters

  1. Waqas, M., Korres, N. E., Khan, M. D., Nizami, A. S., Deeba, F., Ali, I., & Hussain, H. (2019). Advances in the Concept and Methods of Seed Priming. In Priming and Pretreatment of Seeds and Seedlings (pp. 11-41). Springer, Singapore.
  2. Waqas, M. Rehan, A.S. Aburiazaiza, A.S. Nizami. 2018. Wastewater Biorefinery based on Microbial Electrolysis Cell: Opportunities and Challenges. Pp: 347-374. Elsevier Publisher.
  3. Waqas, M. Rehan, A.S. Nizami. 2018. Conversion of Waste to Fermentation Products: Encyclopedia of Food Security and Sustainability. Reference Module in Food Science. Elsevier Publisher. DOI: 10.1016/B978-0-08-100596-5.22294-42.

Conference/Workshop Presentations

  1. Environmental Awareness Workshop "Driving Waste Towards Recycling" Organized by Department of Botanical and Environmental Sciences, Kohat University of Science and Technology on 09 January 2020 (Workshop Organizer).
  2. First International Conference on Sustainability of Natural Resources: Sustainable Solid Waste Management Organized by University of Qassim, Qassim Kingdom of Saudi Arabia from 5 - 6 November 2019.
  3. Invited speaker in Two days training for Faculty, students and researchers on “Pesticides Safety” Sponsored by HEC (SIOP) under the approved project “Pesticide safety; a step towards clean environment”
  4. International Workshop on Advanced Materials organized by Ras Al Khimah Center for Advanced Materials from Feb 18-20, 2018 Ras Al Khimah, UAE.
  5. International Conference on Advance Technologies and their Application in Agriculture from March 27-29, 2017. Organized by National Research Center, Cairo-Egypt.
  6. 6th GCC Environment Forum: Environmental and Sustainable Forum under the initiative of the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture from April 5-6, 2017.
  7. The Scientific Faculties Forum held in Faculty of Computing and Information Technology at King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudia Arabia 28-29 Oct 2015.
  8. 1st International Conference on Applied Chemistry (ICAC 2015) Chemistry for Sustainable World from November 18- 19, 2015. Organized Department of Chemistry, King Abdul-Aziz University, Jeddah-Saudi Arabia.
  9. 1st National Conference on “Prospect and Opportunities for Agricultural Development in Pakistan” organized by University of Haripur Pakistan from June 25-27, 2013 at Khanispur-Aubia Pakistan.
  10. 4th International Weed Science Conference on Vegetation Management in 21st Century held at Agricultural University Peshawar from September 06-08, 2012.
  11. International Science Conference on Agriculture and Food Security Issues in Global Environmental Perspectives from July 11-13, 2012. Organized by Faculty of Agriculture, Rawalakot, the University of Azad Jammu & Kashmir-Pakistan.
  12. 1st National Conference on Poverty Alleviation through Sustainable Management of Biodiversity in Pakistan from September 29-30, 2012. Organized by Institute of Plant Science and Biodiversity, University of Swat.               
  13. International Conference on Climate Change: A Challenge for Agriculturists from May 28-30, 2012. Organized under HEC Sponsored Project “International Linkages of Pakistani Universities with Foreign Universities”.
  14. International conference on Prospects & Challenges to Sustainable Agriculture from July 14-16, 2011. Organized by Faculty of Agriculture, Rawalakot, The University of Azad Jammu & Kashmir.
  15. 3rd International Weed Science conference held at Agricultural University Peshawar on April 18-20, 2011.
  16. 22nd Asian Pacific International Weed Science Conference held at GC University Lahore from 8 - 12 March 2010.
  17. International day on Biological Diversity “Forest Biological Diversity” organized by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Agricultural University Peshawar, Pakistan on 25th May, 2011.

Sessions Chaired in Conference

  1. International Conference on Advance Technologies and their Application in Agriculture” from March 27-29, 2017. Organized by National Research Center, Cairo-Egypt.
  2. 3rd International Conference on Agriculture, Food, Veterinary and Pharmacy Sciences (ICAFOP) from April 16-18, 2019 at Double Tree by Hilton Hotel Trabzon-Turkey.

Training and Workshops

  1. Laboratory Safety Workshop during 3rd Scientific Forum for People Working in the field of Safety in the Universities held on 28 Feb 2015, at King Abdulaziz University Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
  2. Workshop on “Bioremediation of Petroleum Hydrocarbons under Extreme Conditions” held at King Abdulaziz University Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on 31st March 2015.
  3. Workshop on “Role of Extremophiles on Biodegradation of Petroleum Hydrocarbons” held on 2nd December 2015, at King Abdulaziz University Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
  4. Training on “Awareness, Teaching and Training on Weed Management Techniques for Farmers, Faculty members, Students, Researchers and Extensions Workers across the Province (KPK, Pakistan) organized by Department of Weed Science, The University of Agriculture Peshawar-Pakistan from 11-12 September 2014.

Participations

  1. International Symposium on “Nanotechnology for Environmental Application” held on 20-21 December 2015 organized by Faculty of Meteorology, Environment and Arid Land Agriculture, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
  2. Seminar on “Latest Advancements in Nanotechnology Solutions using FEI SEM and DualBeamTM Microscopy held on 14th April 2015 organized by Naizek Global Engineering Systems-Lab Systems Division and FEI, The Netherlands.
  3. “World Earth Day” celebration organized by Faculty of Meteorology, Environment and Arid Land Agriculture, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia held on 22nd April 2015 (Organizer).

Technical Skills

Laboratory analytical skills:

  • Flash Point Analyzer
  • Bomb Calorimeter
  • Measurements of Alkalinity, pH, Dry matter, Volatile solids, TOC etc.

Computing skills:

  • MS office
  • MS Visio
  • SPSS statistical software
  • Statistics 8.1
  • Typing (35 WPM)

Social skills and competences

  • Good communication skills and developing links

Organizational skills and competences

  • Very active in management practices