Dr. Waqas Ahmed

B.Sc. (Hons) Food Science and Technology (UAF),
M.Sc. (Hons) Food Technology (UAF)
PhD (Food Technology)
Associate  Professor

Tel:   +92-42-99211449-50 ext. 296      
Mobile: +92 333 595 0108
Email: waqas.niaz@uvas.edu.pk

Biography

Dr. Waqas Ahmed is working as Associate  Professor at the Deptt of Food Science and Human Nutrition, Faculty of Bio-Sciences, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore since 29 February, 2016. He has completed his B.Sc (Hons) Food Science and Technology in 2010 and M.Sc (Hons) Food Technology in 2012 from National Institute of Food Science and Technology, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad-Pakistan. During his M.Sc (Hons) research, he has also served as Research Associate in HEC funded research project entitled “Developing and Exploring the Role of Edible Coatings to Improve Quality and Shelf life of Whole and Minimally Processed Fruits”. 

During his PhD research, he has been working on iron deficiency anemia and explored suitability of fortified edible coatings to address iron deficiency anemia. He has also worked at Food Bioprocess Engineering Group at Michigan State University, East Lansing, USA during the course of his PhD research where he majorly worked on exploring the nutritional attributes associated with the variations in processing conditions. Besides, he also attended Food Safety and HACCP training at Pennsylvania State University.
Dr. Waqas has significant scientific contributions as well. Till date he has authored three book chapters (02 International and 1 National) and has authored 24 publications published in International Journal of Scientific repute. He is the member of North America Society of Nutritionists, Society of Nutritional Sciences, Michigan State University and Pakistan Society of Food Scientists and Technologists.  

Apart from academia, Dr. Waqas has been quite active in co-curricular activities during his educational career. He is currently the Global Youth Ambassador of A World At School, a subsidiary organization of United Nations. Additionally, he has served as President of Quiz Club, Art and Literary Forum, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad and Editor English of University Literary Magazine “Kisht e Nau”. On recognition of his contribution to co-curricular activities, he has also been awarded with University Color and Roll of Honor from the University of Agriculture, Faisalabad.

Areas of Interest:

Dr. Waqas is interested in exploring the feasibilities of food fortification on addressing micronutrient deficiencies in vulnerable segments. Additionally, he is interested to plan and suggest certain novel strategies that could be beneficial to cope up with the escalating incidence of nutritional insufficiencies in populations with special reference to micronutrients. Additionally, he has some good background to conduct food preservation based studies especially aimed at improving the nutritional quality and shelf life of perishable commodities. In this context, he has already worked on the development of edible coatings and assessed their suitability to work as agents to improve the shelf life of certain fruits and vegetables. Currently, he is extending his research expertise to Punjab Fortification Alliance, Govt of the Punjab for food fortification related activities. 

Publication


  1. Chapter in International Book. Masood Sadiq Butt, Muhammad Siddiq and Waqas Ahmed. 2012. Tangerine, Mandarin and Clementine. In: Tropical and Subtropical Fruits: Postharvest Physiology, Processing and Packaging. Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Co, Ames, Iowa USA. pp. 419-434.
  2. Chapter in Book: Chapter 11: Strategies to Address Food Safety Concerns in Meat Industry. 2016. In. A Text Note on Meat Technology by Muhammad Issa Khan. Published at University of Agriculture, Faisalabad Press.
  1. Muhammad Tauseef Sultan, Masood Sadiq Butt, Imran Pasha, Mir Muhamamd Nasir Qayyum, Farhan Saeed and Waqas Ahmed. Preparation and evaluation of dietetic cookies for vulnerable segments using black cumin fixed oil. Pak. J. Nutrition. (2011) 10 (5): 451-456
  2. Waqas Ahmed, Masood Sadiq Butt and Mian Kamran Sharif. Comparative Estimation of Alginate and Soy Based Coatings on pH and Vitamin C Contents of Strawberry (Fragaria Ananassa L) at Controlled Climate Chamber. Journal of Food Processing and Technology (2013). 4(280), 2
  3. Masood Sadiq Butt, Imran Pasha, Muhammad Tauseef Sultan, Muhammad Atif Randhawa, Farhan Saeed and Waqas Ahmed. Black pepper and health claims: a comprehensive treatise. Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition. (2013) 53:9, 875-886. [5.548]
  4. Imran Pasha, Farhan Saeed, Muhammad Tauseef Sultan, Farhan Saeed, Rizwana Batool, Mahwish Aziz and Waqas Ahmed. Wheat allergy & intolerence; recent updates and perspectives.  Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition. (2014) DOI  10.1080/10408398.2012.659818 [5.548]
  5. Ammar Ahmad Khan, Masood Sadiq Butt, Muhammad Atif Randhawa, Waqas Ahmed and Muhammad Tauseef Sultan. Extraction and characterization of pectin from grapefruit (Duncan cultivar) and its utilization as gelling agent. (2014). International Food Research Journal. 21(6): 2195-2199
  6. Masood Sadiq Butt and Waqas Ahmed. Preserving Strawberry (Fragaria Ananasa) Using Alginate and Soy Based Edible Coatings. (2014). American Journal of Food Science and Technology, Vol. 2, No. 5, 158-161. Available online at http://pubs.sciepub.com/ajfst/2/5/4 DOI:10.12691/ajfst-2-5-4
  7. Waqas Ahmed and Masood Sadiq Butt. Application of biodegradable coatings to improve quality and shelf life of minimally processed melon dices. (2014). Pakistan Journal of Food Science. 24 (2):82-90
  8. Tanzeela Abdullah, Tahir Zahoor, Waqas Ahmed and Muhammad Saeed. Effect of Moringa oleifera seed extract on drinking water quality of some selected areas of district Faisalabad. (2014). Pakistan Journal of Food Science, 24(1):13-17.
  9. Saira Tanweer, Aamir Shehzad, Waqas Ahmed. Compositional and mineral profiling of zingiber officinale. (2014). Pakistan Journal of Food Science, 24(1):21-26.
  10. Masood Sadiq Butt, M. Tauseef Sultan, Mahwish Aziz, Ambreen Naz, Waqas Ahmed, Naresh Kumar and Muhammad Imran. Persimmon (Diospyros kaki) fruit: hidden phytochemicals and health claims. (2015). XCLI Journal 14:542-561 [0.562]
  11. Summer Rashid, Faqir Muhammad Anjum, Allah Rakha and Waqas Ahmed. Effects of extrusion cooking on the dietary fibre content and water solubililty index of wheat bran extrudates. (2015). International Journal of Food Science and Technology [1.354].
  12. Muhammad Tauseef Sultan, Masood Sadiq Butt, Roselina Karim, Rabia Shabir Ahmad and Waqas Ahmed. Nigella sativa fixed and essential oil improves antioxidant status through modulation of antioxidant enzymes and immunity. Pakistan Journal of Pharmaceutical Sci. (2015) 28(2):589-95  [1.103]
  13. Iahtisham ul Haq, Masood Sadiq Butt, Hafiz Ansar Rasul Suleria and Waqas Ahmed. Physicochemical behavior of zinc fortified sodium caseinate based edible coated apricots during storage in controlled atmosphere (2015). Accepted in Journal of Food Processing and Preservation [0.83]
  14. Muhammad Tauseef Sultan, Masood Sadiq Butt, Roselina Karim, Waqas Ahmed, Ubedullah Kaka, Shakeel Ahmad, Saikat Dewanjee, Hawa ZE Jaafar and M. Zia-Ul-Haq. 2015. Nigella sativa fixed and essential oil modulates glutathione redox enzymes in potassium bromate induced oxidative stress. BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine. 15: 330 DOI 10.1186/s12906-015-0853-7 [2.25]
  15. Waqas Ahmed, Masood Sadiq Butt, Mian Kamran Sharif and Tahira Iqbal. Effect of storage on cooking quality attributes and fortificants stability in edible coated iron-folate fortified basmati rice. Accepted in Journal of Food Processing and Preservation.
  16. Summer Rashid, Allah Rakha, Aamir Shehzad, Waqas Ahmed and Muhammad Sohail. Effect of Basil Seed Gum on Physico-Chemical and Rheological Properties of Bread. Accepted in Journal of Food Processing and Preservation.
  17. Waqas Ahmed, Masood Sadiq Butt, Kirk D Dolan, Muhammad Tauseef Sultan, Mian Kamran Sharif, Azmat Ullah, Iahtisham ul Haq and Summer Rashid. Pasting Properties of Pectin Coated Iron-Folate Fortified Basmati Rice. Accepted in Journal of Food Processing and Preservation.
  18. Waqas Ahmed and Summer Rashid. 2017. Functional and therapeutic potential of inulin: A comprehensive review. Accepted in Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition. 
  1. Delivered a presentation on “Effect of Storage on Cooking & Pasting Attributes of Methyl Cellulose Coated Iron Fortified Basmati Rice” in International Conference on Food Processing held at Sharjah, United Arab Emirates 22-24 January, 2018
  2. Delivered a presentation on “Effect of Fortified Diets on Serum Iron Biomarkers in Anemic Female Subjects” in International Conference on Recent Advances in Clinical Research held at University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore 19-20 December, 2017.
  3. Delivered a presentation on “Food Fortification in Pakistan Challenges & Prospects”  in International Conference Food and Nutrition Security held at GC University, Faisalabad 7-8 March 2017.
  4. Delivered a presentation on “Edible coatings; innovative approach for fortification of cereals” in International Conference on Nutritional Therapies against Lifestyle Related Disorders held at National Institute of Food Science and Technology, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad on 29-30 May, 2014.
  5. Delivered a presentation on “Edible coatings and nutritional fortifications- their amalgam; a prospective concept to address micronutrient deficiencies in developing economies” in International Conference Emerging Issues in Nutrition and Food Safety held at National Institute of Food Science and Technology, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad on 21-23 Oct, 2013.
  6. Delivered a presentation “Effect of soy based coatings on quality indices of strawberry kept in controlled climate and room temperature” in 2nd International conference on Future prospective of food processing industry in Pakistan held at GC University, Faisalabad (11-12 Dec, 2012)
  7. Delivered a presentation on “Comparative study of various edible coatings on overall quality and shelf life of strawberry kept at controlled climate chamber” in 23rd All Pakistan Food Science Conference held at PCSIR labs complex, Lahore on 10, Dec, 2012
  8. Delivered a presentation “Combating nutritional deficiencies using food additives” in National UIP seminar on developing local food additives/preservatives held at Institute of Agricultural Sciences, University of the Punjab, Lahore (22 Nov, 2012)
  9. Delivered a presentation “Alginate Based Edible Coating on Strawberries; an Approach to Address Post Harvest Losses” in International Conference on Prospects to Sustainable Agriculture held at Faculty of Agriculture, Rawalakot. University of Azad Jammu & Kashmir held on 14th to 16th July, 2011.

 

Research Projects:

SN

Project Tittle (Ongoing)

Principle Investigator (PI)

Amount

Funding Agency

1

Comparative Assessment of Various Edible Films and Coatings and Evaluate them for Overall Nutritional Quality and Product Safety in Perishable Foods

Dr. M. Waqas

2.9 Million PKR

HEC, Pakistan

2

Development of Multiple Fortified Noodles as a Dietary Intervention Against Micronutrient Deficiencies

Dr. M. Waqas

.375 Million PKR

HEC, Pakistan

Conferences/Workshops attended:

  1. Attended 26th Annual GM Trout Lecture at the Deptt of Food Science and Human Nutrition, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI
  2. Attended a symposium on nutritional behaviors at the Deptt of Food Science and Human Nutrition, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI
  3. Participated in 1st International Conference on Safe Food and Human Health, organized by Institute of Food and Home Sciences, GC University, Faisalabad, Pakistan on 10th-11th January, 2012.
  4. Participated in International Conference on Emerging Issues in Food Safety, organized by National Institute of Food Science and Technology, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad on 14-16th November, 2011.
  5. Trainer in two days training course on edible Coatings organized by National Institute of Food Science and Technology, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad on 25-26th November, 2011.
  6. Participated in One Day Seminar on Functional and Nutraceutical Foods (Let Food be the medicine) held on 13th Aug, 2011 at National Institute of Food Science and Technology, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad
  7. Participated in 21st All Pakistan Food Science Conference held on 13th Dec, 2010 at PCSIR Labs, Lahore, Pakistan.
  8. Participated in 2nd “Youth in Governance” workshop held on 17th October, 2010 at Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan Auditorium, Faisalabad, Pakistan
  9. Participated in International Conference on Emerging Trends in Human Nutrition organized by National Institute of Food Science and Technology, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad (Feb 2010)
  10.  Participated in international workshop on Food Grains, organized by Deptt of Agronomy, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad (Nov, 2009)
  11. Participated in International Conference on Human Nutrition, organized by National Institute of Food Science & Technology, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad (Nov, 2009)
  12. Participated in 5th Youth in Governance workshop at BZ University, Multan
  13. Participated in 3 days workshop on performing arts conducted by Arts Club, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad
  14. Participated in 2 days workshop on communication skills and leadership development organized by Quiz Club, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad