Prof. Zaki Anwar Siddiqui Elected Fellow of the National Academy of Agricultural Sciences (NAAS)

 

Prof. Zaki Anwar Siddiqui Elected Fellow of the National Academy of Agricultural Sciences (NAAS)

Aligarh, November 12: Prof. Zaki Anwar Siddiqui, an eminent plant pathologist from the Department of Botany, Aligarh Muslim University (AMU), has been elected as a Fellow of the National Academy of Agricultural Sciences (NAAS), India—one of the nation’s most prestigious scientific honours recognizing outstanding contributions to agricultural research, education, and innovation.

Prof. Siddiqui is internationally acclaimed for his pioneering studies on the complex interactions among plant-parasitic nematodes, fungi, and bacteria, and for developing sustainable, eco-friendly biological control strategies applicable across diverse cropping systems. His research has not only deepened scientific understanding of plant-microbe relationships but also contributed significantly to improving agricultural productivity and environmental resilience.

Prof. Siddiqui’s association with AMU began in 1979 as a Pre-University student. He went on to earn his B.Sc., M.Sc., M.Phil., and Ph.D. from the University and joined the Department of Botany as a Lecturer in 1996, rising to the rank of Professor in 2012. Earlier, he served as a CSIR Research Associate (1992–1995) and a Visiting Professor at Kyoto University, Japan (2007–2008), engaging in collaborative research on plant pathology.

With over 35 years of distinguished academic service, Prof. Siddiqui has authored more than 167 research papers and review articles, edited two scholarly volumes published by Springer (Netherlands), and led major research projects funded by the DST and UGC, New Delhi. He is also a Fellow of the Indian Botanical Society and the Indian Phytopathological Society.

An inspiring teacher and mentor, Prof. Siddiqui has supervised 11 Ph.D. scholars and over 30 M.Sc. students. His international acclaim includes invited lectures across continents—from Australia and Spain to Japan and Latin America.

At AMU, he has also rendered notable administrative service as Member-in-Charge, Department of Land and Gardens (2019–2025) and Assistant Dean, Students’ Welfare (2009–2012).

His election to NAAS stands as a proud moment for AMU, highlinting the University’s continued excellence in agricultural and life sciences research.