Syed Bilal Hussain

Dr. Syed Bilal Hussain is an accomplished academic and researcher, currently holding the position of Lecturer/Assistant Professor at the School of Agriculture and Food Science, University College Dublin (UCD) since September 2023. His academic journey began with an undergraduate degree in Horticulture from the Department of Horticulture at Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan, Pakistan, in 2012. Building on this foundation, he pursued a master's degree in Horticulture at the same institution, where his research, titled "Physico-Chemical Profiling of Promising Citrus Cultivars Grown Under Different Agro-Climatic Conditions of Punjab (Pakistan)", showcased his early dedication to the field. In 2016, Dr. Hussain embarked on an academic adventure abroad, receiving a Chinese Government Scholarship for his doctoral studies. He completed his Ph.D. at the College of Horticulture & Forestry Sciences, Huazhong Agricultural University, P.R. China. His groundbreaking research during this period centered on the identification and characterization of citrus vacuolar H+-pyrophosphatase genes, shedding light on their crucial role in regulating sucrose and citrate accumulation. Returning to Pakistan after completing his Ph.D., Dr. Hussain rejoined the academic sphere as a Lecturer in the Department of Horticulture at Muhammad Nawaz Shareef University of Agriculture (MNS-UAM), Multan, Pakistan, in 2017. His role encompassed teaching and mentoring undergraduate and postgraduate students, securing research funding, publishing peer-reviewed articles, and actively engaging in research projects aimed at advancing horticultural knowledge. In September 2021, Dr. Hussain embarked on a new chapter in his academic journey by accepting a prestigious postdoctoral research fellowship at the Citrus Research and Education Center (CREC), Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, USA. His postdoctoral research focused on plant phenology and leaf position's impact on carbon fixation and translocation characteristics. Additionally, he made significant contributions to the Hurricane Ian citrus recovery project. Throughout his academic career, Dr. Hussain has been a prolific researcher, with 30 SCI articles and one book chapter to his name. He has also been an active participant in both national and international conferences, presenting his research findings to diverse audiences. His dedication to horticultural science and his extensive experience in teaching, research, and publication underscore his valuable contributions to the field.