Aligarh, May 16: Prof. Nafees Ahmad Khan, a distinguished scholar in the Department of Botany at Aligarh Muslim University (AMU), has been recognized as the top researcher at AMU, 9th in India, and 577th globally by Research.com, a leading academic platform for researchers. This recognition comes from the 2024 edition of the rankings for the best scientists in Plant Science and Agronomy.
Prof. Khan’s groundbreaking research focuses on the mechanisms of plant hormonal and nutritional regulation to optimize photosynthetic machinery using ionomics and metabolomics for sustainable development. His work aims to mitigate the adverse effects of abiotic stress factors such as salinity, heavy metals, and temperature variations by enhancing nutrient-use efficiency through the synergistic action of signaling molecules like ethylene, nitric oxide, abscisic acid, and hydrogen sulfide. These advancements promise to create abiotic stress-resilient plants, significantly improving food security in India.
Expressing his gratitude, Prof. Khan told Radiance, “I feel highly elated and delighted to receive such recognition for the second consecutive year. I am thankful to Almighty Allah for blessing me with much more than I deserve and for the responsibility that I have been able to fulfill successfully. Congratulations to all the research students of the lab, collaborators, and well-wishers for believing in me.”
With around 200 research papers and 22 edited books to his name, Prof. Khan has received numerous accolades, including the UGC-Research Award, Fellowships from the National Academy of Sciences, the Linnean Society of London, the Indian Botanical Society, and the Indian Society of Plant Physiology. He has been recognized as a Highly Cited Researcher from 2019 to 2023 and received the India Research Excellence Citation Award-2023 by Clarivate Analytics (Web of Science), along with the Plant Science and Agronomy in India Award for 2023 and 2024 by Research.com.
Prof. Khan’s research outcomes not only highlight his contributions to the scientific community but also present viable solutions for creating resilient agricultural practices to ensure food security in the country.
