MARDAN (Khyber Mail): Dr. Shah Fahad, Assistant Professor in the Department of Agronomy at Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan, has been recognized with the prestigious Best Young Researcher Award 2024 by the Higher Education Commission (HEC) of Pakistan.
Dr. Fahad’s distinguished career in agriculture and plant sciences has made a lasting impact on the global scientific community. Holding a PhD in Agronomy from Huazhong Agricultural University, China (2015), and postdoctoral research credentials from the same institution (2015–2017), Dr. Fahad has authored over 560 peer-reviewed publications, boasting a cumulative impact factor of 3012.94. Additionally, he has contributed 120 book chapters to leading publishers, including Springer, Wiley-Blackwell, and Elsevier, and edited 20 book volumes on critical topics in agriculture and climate change.
His research focuses on climate change, plant physiology, plant breeding, nutrition, stress responses, and tolerance mechanisms. His outstanding achievements have earned him numerous accolades, including the Fulbright Scholarship, International Young Rice Scientist Award, KP Science, Technology & Innovation Award 2019, Dr. Shah Jahan Gold Medal in Agriculture (Pakistan Academy of Sciences, 2021), and the COMSTECH Young Researcher Award 2021.
Dr. Fahad’s global recognition includes five consecutive years (2020–2024) on Stanford University’s World’s Top 2% Scientists list and appearances on Clarivate’s Highly Cited Researchers lists in 2021 and 2022. He is a member of the Pakistan Academy of Sciences and a recipient of honors such as the Chinese Government Scholarship, the Hubei Government Postdoctoral Award, and the Top International Peer Reviewer accolade in 2019.
Dr. Fahad’s leadership and groundbreaking research continue to inspire, positioning him as a transformative figure in the fields of agronomy and climate science. His recent HEC recognition underscores his dedication to advancing agricultural innovation in Pakistan and beyond.