Luqman Safdar

I am a PhD candidate in Plant Sciences with a focus on integrating hyperspectral imaging and molecular genetics to uncover grain protein content (GPC) variation in wheat. My professional experience includes roles as a Bioinformatics Assistant, where I developed python-based pipelines for RNA-Seq and Gene Ontology analysis, and as a Visiting Researcher analysing GWAS at leading research institutions. Through these roles and my academic projects, I have gained expertise in computational genomics and transcriptomics, advanced phenotyping using hyperspectral imaging and statistical analysis in R and python. I hold an MPhil in Plant Breeding & Genetics from Quaid-i-Azam University, during which I investigated phosphorus use efficiency in wheat under varying conditions through genetic association studies. As I look ahead in my career, I aspire to secure roles involving plant genomics or phenomics research that drive agricultural innovation aimed at improving crop quality traits.

• Poster presentation at the 3rd International Wheat Congress, 22–27 Sep 2024, Perth, Australia.
• Oral presentation at Wheat and Barley Reproductive Development Symposium, 19–20 Sep 2024, University of Adelaide.
• Posted presentation at the HDR Symposium, hosted by University of Adelaide on 17–18 Sep 2024.
• Oral presentation at the 10th Nursten Symposium, 22–23 Jun 2023, University of Nottingham.
• Poster presentation at the Biosciences PGR Symposium, 6–8 July 2022, University of Nottingham.
• Oral presentation at the 8th Nursten Symposium, 24–25 Jun 2021, University of Nottingham.
• Presented a 3MT oral presentation at the Adelaide-Nottingham Alliance Launch in April 2023, Australia.
• Oral presentation at the HDR Symposium in 2021, organised by the University of Adelaide.
• Served as an organising committee member for the International Conference on Emerging Trends in Plant Proteomics, 2–4 Oct 2017, Quaid-i-Azam University.
• Poster presentation at the International Conference on Conventional and Modern Approaches in Plant Science in November 2017 at Punjab University.

• Next Generation Sequencing Bioinformatics, 18–22 Oct 2021, Wellcome Sanger Institute.
• Data Manipulation and Visualisation in R, 7–8 Jun 2022, Intersect Australia.
• Python for Genomic Data Science (online), Johns Hopkins University in Oct 2022.
• Linear Regression and Modelling (online), Duke University in Feb 2023.
• Applied Machine Learning in Python (online), University of Michigan in Jul 2023.

• Awarded Adelaide-Nottingham Joint Scholarship for PhD.
• Awarded bursary from Wellcome Connecting Science for NGSB course.
• First award for the poster presentation at UoN Bioscience PGR symposium 2022.
• Won second position award scholarship in the 1st semester of MSc.
• Published MSc and MPhil research in peer reviewed international journals.
• Published review and opinion articles from the literature review of PhD.

• Active member of Sutton Bonington Cricket Club, Nottinghamshire Country, since 2022.
• Other than Cricket, I like to play Badminton, Chess or Board Games in spare time.
• Reading is one my favourit hobbies. The Order of Time by Carlo Rovelli is one of my all-times favourite books. Another top pick would be The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho.
• Whenever I can, I love to go hiking in the mountains to spend time close to nature.
• I like to take interest in world politics to stay informed on emerging developments.
• I enjoy watching sports, particularly Cricket, Tennis and sometimes Football world events.
• In TV, I like to watch Sci-Fi, Psych Thriller and Adventure-based shows.

• Safdar LB, Fisk ID, Foulkes MJ (2023). The role of plant vasculature in tackling N2O emissions. Trends in Plant Science, 28(12). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tplants.2023.09.012
• Safdar LB, Foulkes MJ, Kleiner FH, Searle IR, Bhosale RA, Fisk ID, Boden SA (2023). Challenges facing sustainable protein production: Opportunities for cereals. Plant Communications, 4(6). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.xplc.2023.100716
• Safdar LB, Dugina K, Saeidan A et al., (2023). Reviving grain quality in wheat through non-destructive phenotyping techniques like hyperspectral imaging. Food and Energy Security, 12, e498. https://doi.org/10.1002/fes3.498
• Safdar LB†, Umer MJ†, Almas F et al., (2021). Identification of genetic factors controlling phosphorus utilization efficiency in wheat by genome-wide association study with principal component analysis. Gene, 768, 145301. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gene.2020.145301
• Safdar LB, Almas F, Umer MJ et al., (2020). Genetic dissection of Ni toxicity in a spring wheat diversity panel using 90K SNP array. Current Plant Biology, 24, 100175. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cpb.2020.100175
• Safdar LB, Almas F, Sarfraz S et al., (2020). Genome-wide association study identifies five new cadmium uptake loci in wheat. The Plant Genome, 13(2), e20030. https://doi.org/10.1002/tpg2.20030
• Safdar LB, Andleeb T, Latif S et al., (2020). Genome-Wide Association Study and QTL Meta-Analysis Identified Novel Genomic Loci Controlling Potassium Use Efficiency and Agronomic Traits in Bread Wheat. Frontiers in Plant Science, 11(70). https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2020.00070
• Umer MJ†, Safdar LB† et al., (2020). Identification of key gene networks controlling organic acid and sugar metabolism during watermelon fruit development by integrating metabolic phenotypes and gene expression profiles. Horticulture Research, 7. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41438-020-00416-8
• Xu Y, Wei Y, Zhou Z, Cai X, Boden SA, Umer MJ, Safdar LB et al., (2023). Widespread incomplete lineage sorting and introgression shaped adaptive radiation in the Gossypium genus. Plant Communications, 5(2). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.xplc.2023.100728
• Liu L, Qin L, Safdar LB et al., (2023). The plant trans-Golgi network component ECHINDA regulates defense, cell death, and endoplasmic reticulum stress. Plant Physiology, 191(1). https://doi.org/10.1093/plphys/kiac400
• Uddin S, Safdar LB et al., (2021). Green Synthesis of Nickel Oxide Nanoparticles from Berberis balochistanica Stem for Investigating Bioactivities. Molecules, 26(6), 1548. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules26061548
• Uddin S, Safdar LB et al., (2021). Green synthesis of nickel oxide nanoparticles using leaf extract of Berberis balochistanica: Characterization and diverse biological applications. Microscopy Research and Techniques, 84(9), 2004-2006. https://doi.org/10.1002/jemt.23756
• Tehseen MM, Tonk FA, Tosun M, Amri A, Sansaloni C, Kurtulus E, Yazbek M, Ozseven I, Safdar LB, Shehadeh A, Nazari K (2021). Genome Wide Association Study of Resistance to PstS2 and Warrior Races of Stripe (Yellow) Rust in Bread Wheat Landraces. The Plant Genome, 14(1), e20066. https://doi.org/10.1002/tpg2.20066
• Zhao C, Safdar LB et al., (2020). Mutation of a PHYTOENE DESATURASE 3 gene causes yellowish-white petals in Brassica napus. The Crop Journal, 9(5), 1124-1134. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cj.2020.10.012
• Zhao C, Liu L, Safdar LB et al., (2020). Characterization and fine mapping of a yellow-virescent gene regulating chlorophyll biosynthesis and early stage chloroplast development in Brassica napus. G3:Genes|Genomes|Genetics, 10(9), 3201-3211. https://doi.org/10.1534/g3.120.401460
• Razzaq A, Ali A, Safdar LB et al., (2020). Salt stress induces physiochemical alterations in rice grain composition and quality. Journal of Food Science, 85(1), 14-20. https://doi.org/10.1111/1750-3841.14983
• Umer MJ, Gao L, Gebremeskel H, Safdar LB et al., (2020). Expression pattern of sugars and organic acids regulatory genes during watermelon fruit development. Scientia Horticulturae, 265, 109102. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scienta.2019.109102

• Dr. Scott Boden, Assoc. Prof., Plant Research Centre, School of Agriculture, Food and Wine, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, 5063, Australia. Contact: scott.boden@adelaide.edu.au, +61 (0)83 131551
• Dr. John Foulkes, Assoc. Prof., Dept of Plant and Crop Science, School of Biosciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, LE12 5RD, UK. Contact: john.foulkes@nottingham.ac.uk, +44 (0)115 951 6024
• Dr. Ian Fisk, Professor, International Flavour Research Centre, School of Biosciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, LE12 5RD, UK. Contact: ian.fisk@nottingham.ac.uk, +44 (0)115 951 6037
• Dr. Umar Masood Quraishi, Professor, Dept of Plant Sciences, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, Islamabad, 45320, Pakistan. Contact: umasood@qau.edu.pk, +92 (0)51 9064 4093