Dr. Tanzeela Riaz

Dr. Tanzeela Riaz is an Associate Professor of Zoology and Chairperson of the Department of Biological & Chemical Sciences at the University of Rasul, Mandi Bahauddin, Pakistan. She received her PhD in Zoology from the University of the Punjab, Lahore, in 2015. Throughout her academic career, she remained a recipient of merit scholarships and was awarded the prestigious Higher Education Commission (HEC) Indigenous PhD Fellowship. With more than 12 years of teaching, research, and academic administration experience, Dr. Riaz has established herself as a distinguished academician, researcher, and higher education leader. She has supervised over 50 MS/MPhil scholars, 3 PhD scholars, and more than 60 undergraduate research projects, reflecting her strong commitment to research mentorship and capacity building. Her research focuses on Nano pesticides, sustainable agricultural insect pest management, biological potential of medicinal plants, environmental toxicology, enzyme biotechnology, and pesticide biochemistry. She has authored numerous articles in peer-reviewed international journals with impact factors and has contributed chapters to scholarly books. She is also serving as Co-Principal Investigator (Co-PI) of Pakistan Science Foundation funded research project, aimed at developing innovative and sustainable solutions to agricultural and environmental challenges. In addition to her research and teaching responsibilities, Dr. Riaz has extensive experience in academic leadership and institutional development. She has participated in several national and international conferences with she presented her research. She also worked as an organizer in numerous national and international conferences, seminars and training programs. At the University of Rasul, she has played a pivotal role in curriculum development, quality assurance, research promotion, and the establishment of teaching and research laboratories. She actively contributes to strengthening the University's research ecosystem through her role as Deputy Director, Office of Research, Innovation and Commercialization (ORIC), where she supports research planning, innovation, industry collaboration, and grant development. As Chairperson, Dr. Riaz provides strategic leadership for the Department of Biological & Chemical Sciences, overseeing the academic and research activities of the disciplines of Zoology, Biotechnology, Biochemistry, Chemistry, and Environmental Science. She is deeply committed to mentoring students and young researchers, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration, and promoting a culture of academic excellence, innovation, and community engagement. Her vision is to develop graduates equipped with the scientific knowledge, research skills, and professional competencies needed to address emerging biological, environmental, and agricultural challenges at both national and global levels.