Environment & Agriculture Lab
The Environment & Agriculture Lab at SINES advances research and innovation focused on environmental biotechnology, pollution mitigation, climate-smart agriculture, and risk assessment. It integrates experimental, analytical, and computational approaches to tackle environmental challenges including contaminants, climate impacts, and sustainable food systems. The lab also collaborates with industry and government organizations through consultancy, environmental assessments, and commercial laboratory testing for soil, water, and wastewater.
PI Profiles
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Dr. Muhammad Arshad holds a PhD in Ecology from the Institut National Polytechnique de Toulouse, University of Toulouse, France. He is a leading expert in environmental biotechnology, climate resilience, innovative fertilizers, and environmental impact assessment. He has over 15 years of academic, research, and consultancy experience, with specialization in climate change, risk assessment, and nature-based solutions for sustainable agriculture. |
He has authored 110 journal articles, 20 book chapters, and 75+ conference papers, and supervised 8 PhD, 50 MS/MPhil, and 12 undergraduate students, mentoring more than 70 graduate researchersoverall. His work spans national and international research projects exceeding PKR 3 billion. He is also a member of high-level technical committees under MoCC&E, MNFSR, HEC, and PSF, contributing to environmental policymaking and national research initiatives.
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Dr. Marium Fiaz research focuses on antimicrobial resistance, pharmaceutical driven disturbances in key biogeochemical processes, particularly the nitrogen cycle, trace gas monitoring of greenhouse emissions (N₂O, CO₂, CH₄), and the development of bioremediation strategies to protect ecosystem health. She brings international research experience from Institut National Polytechnique de Toulouse (INP-ENSAT), Toulouse, France, and technical expertise from NARC Islamabad and NIAB Faisalabad, supported by publications in high-impact journals. |
Expertise/Capabilities of lab:
- Environmental Biotechnology & Toxicology
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- Antibiotic phytotoxicity & resistance dissemination
- Nitrogen metabolism disruption in plants
- Bio-remediation using microbial communities
- Climate-Smart & Sustainable Agriculture
- Smart crop response modeling
- Nanostructured & slow-release fertilizers
- Nature-based solutions for food security
- Pollution Monitoring & Risk Assessment
- Envirometrics & computational risk tools
- Trace gas analysis (N₂O, CO₂, CH₄)
- Environmental impact & compliance assessments
- Commercial Testing & Consultancy
- Water, wastewater, and soil quality testing
- ESIA, IEE & EMP for infrastructure, highways, and industrial projects
- Monitoring & assessment of soil, water, and air quality
- Soil remediation using biotechnological and nanotechnological approaches
- Impact of fertilizers, pesticides, and pollutants on soil and crops
- Wastewater treatment and reuse in agriculture
- Environmental impacts of antibiotics, heavy metals, pesticides on soil microbes and ecosystems
- Carbon sequestration and resilience strategies for crops under stress (drought, heat)
- Environmental impact assessment & policy-relevant research
Contact Us:
Prof. Dr. Muhammad Arshad
Phone: +92-51-9085-4200
Email: [email protected]
Dr. Marium Fiaz
Phone: +92-051-9085-5752
Email:[email protected]
Projects:
- 2025–2027: Nano-coated phosphorus fertilizer for crop yield improvement. Technology Development Fund (TDF), the Higher Education Commission of Pakistan & FFC Pvt Ltd. PKR 10.6 million
- 2024–2025: GenAI empowered smart agriculture for enhanced productivity in Pakistan. NUST Interdisciplinary Projects. PKR 1.0 million
- 2024–2025: Harnessing earth-abundant and scalable ALF material for decarbonization: A pathway to sustainable solutions. NUST Interdisciplinary Projects. PKR 1.0 million
- 2023–2027: Industrial Water Circularity: REuse, ReSoURce recovery and enerGy
Efficiency for greeNer digitised EU proCEsses (RESURGENCE–101138097–GAP 101138097). Horizon Program European Union. € 9,222,570 - 2023–2025: Development of a slow-release fertilizer to minimize the nutrient loss and
environmental impact of nitrogenous fertilizers. UNESCO. US$ 27,000 - 2023–2024: Climate Change Mitigation for Food Security – Fostering Climate Smart
Agriculture through Nature-based Approaches. NUST Flagship Project. PKR 0.98 million - 2024–2025: Establishment of Environmental Reference Lab under Environmental
Monitoring Center (EMC), Environment Protection & Climate Change Department, Govt of Punjab, Pakistan - 2023: Environmental and Social Impact Assessment of the Institute of Cardiology, Quetta
- 2023: Environmental Assessment & Management Plan, Defence Complex Islamabad
- 2023: Feasibility Study (Environmental and Social Impact Assessment) for Improvement and Widening of National Highway N-45 Section II, Akhagram-Dir, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
- NUST Flagship Project: Climate Change Mitigation for Food Security – Climate Smart Agriculture through Nature-Based Approaches
- HEC–FFC Project: Nano-coated Phosphorous Fertilizer for Crop Yield Improvement
Lab Equipment /Resources:
- UV-Vis Spectrophotometer
- BOD Analyzer Bottles Set & Incubator
- Auto Titrator
- pH Meter & Electrical Conductivity Meter
- Dissolved Oxygen Meter
- Refrigerator & Desiccator
- Fume Hood
- Weighing Balance
- Multi-domain research in soil, water, and air quality
- Support for remediation, pollution monitoring, and impact assessment
- Analytical capabilities for nutrients, heavy metals, antibiotics, and emerging contaminants
Human Resources
Typical Enrollment of lab researchers: 4-6 MS/PhD researchers