Speech Title : Insect Biotechnology for Sustainable Food Security: Innovations,
Challenges, and Future Prospects
Prof. Zain Ul Abdin is an accomplished entomologist with extensive academic and research experience. Currently serving as a Professor in the Department of Entomology at the University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan, he has dedicated over 20 years to teaching and research in his professional field. Prof. Zain holds a Ph.D. in Entomology, specializing in Insect Molecular Biology, from the University of Basilicata, Italy. He earned both a master's and a bachelor's degree in Entomology from the University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan. In 2020, he completed his Fulbright Postdoctoral Program at Florida International University in Miami, USA. His primary research focuses on developing innovative tools and strategies for sustainable insect pest management. His research areas encompass insect functional genomics, proteomics, gene regulation, and the study of bioactive genes and peptides with potential insecticidal properties, with an integrated approach to insect pest management (IPM). Prof. Zain has a prolific research record, with 60 refereed articles published in peer reviewed journals and numerous abstracts presented at prestigious conferences. As the principal investigator, he has secured five competitive research grants, supervised the successful completion of eight Ph.D. students, and mentored 125 Master's and M.Phil. students. In the academic realm, Prof. Zain has taught various entomology courses at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels. His extensive expertise encompasses multiple aspects of insect biology, ecology, physiology, molecular biochemistry, and toxicology. Furthermore, Prof.short Zain has presented his research and development work at several esteemed international conferences in different countries, including the USA, UK, Canada, Poland, and Italy. His contributions to the field of entomology have made a significant impact both locally and on a global scale. He is a Fellow of the Royal Entomological Society, U.K., and a member of the Entomological Society, USA.
