Senior Research Scientist, Agriculture Victoria, Horsham, Victoria

Saqib is a plant pathologist with a PhD in Soil and Environmental Microbiology from Charles Darwin University and a strong passion for applied research that delivers practical, sustainable disease management outcomes for growers. Based at the Horsham SmartFarm, he works across field, glasshouse, and laboratory environments, integrating disease epidemiology, diagnostic technologies, and research delivery to support Victorian farming systems.  

In his role with Agriculture Victoria, Saqib contributes to disease surveillance and resistance phenotyping programs, with a strong focus on improving grower profitability and strengthening the resilience of cropping systems.  

Prior to joining Agriculture Victoria, Saqib worked for over a decade as an Associate Professor at COMSATS University Islamabad, Pakistan. His research there focused on plant–microbe interactions, including the isolation and characterisation of plant pathogenic and beneficial microorganisms. His work encompassed molecular diagnostics (such as marker development, qPCR and sequencing), field-based disease evaluation, and the development of biocontrol strategies for economically important crop diseases.