• Postdoc (Mole. Genetics & Bioinformatics), Uni. of Bern, Switzerland, 2019
• PhD (Mole. Biology & Biotechnology), UVAS-Pak & Uni. of Missouri-USA, 2015
• M.Phil (Mole. Biology & Biotechnology), UVAS-Pak, 2010

Dr. Rashid Saif is the Associate Professor and Head-Department of Biotechnology/ORIC at
Qarshi University, Lahore, Pakistan. He holds an esteemed ESKAS postdoc fellowship in
Molecular Genetics & Bioinformatics from the University of Bern, Switzerland, where he
researched selective sweep analysis using NGS whole-genome sequencing data in Capra hircus
at the Institute of Genetics.
Dr. Rashid earned his PhD in Molecular Biology & Biotechnology from UVAS, Lahore, Pakistan
with doctoral research at the University of Missouri-Columbia-USA. His work involved GWAS on
feline progressive retinal atrophy and mammary tumors using SNP-chip data and PLINK. Post-
PhD, he served as an Assistant Professor and later Associate Professor at the Virtual University
of Pakistan and Gulab Devi Educational Complex, Lahore, Pakistan. Dr. Rashid’s research
focuses on detecting genomic selection signatures and validating disease/trait-associated
variants in livestock and human species, developing bioinformatics pipelines for multi-omics
data analysis using Linux, R, and Python platforms/tools. He collaborates with institutions like
Langston University, the University of Missouri-Columbia-USA, the University of Bern-
Switzerland and the Tabuk University-KSA. His mentoring extends to undergraduate and
postgraduate students across diverse biotechnology, biochemistry, zoology, MLT, and
molecular pathology disciplines. Dr. Rashid has a significant scholarly footprint with ~55
publications in peer-reviewed journals of international repute along with 02 monographs He
has also presented his research at various national and international forums, including
conferences/seminars in Pakistan, Japan, USA, and Switzerland.

Work Experience

Publications:

2024

• Deep Learning Guided Prediction Modeling of Dengue Virus Evolving Serotype

Zilwa Mumtaz, Zobia Rashid, Rashid Saif, Muhammad Zubair Yousaf *

Accepted: Heliyon, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e32061

• Evolutionary Patterns and Heterogeneity of Dengue Virus Serotypes in Pakistan

Zilwa Mumtaz, Saeeda Zia, Rashid Saif, Faheem ul Haq, Muhammad Zubair Yousaf

Accepted: Evolutionary Biology, doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2023.09.28.559885

• Genetic Association of MSTNVariant (18:66493737T>C) with Racing Performance & Muscle Development in Pakistani Horses

Rashid Saif, Muhammad Hassan Raza, Muhammad Osama Zafar, Wajeeha Tariq, Muhammad Danish Ahmad, Muhammad Wasim

Futuristic Biotechnology: DOI: https://doi.org/10.54393/fbt.v4i01.89

• DNA Barcoding Application in Study of Icthyo-Biodiversity in Rivers of Pakistan

Asma Karim, Rashid Saif, Akhtar Ali, Beenish Nadeem, Hafiza Aqsa Ilyas, Waseem Sajjad

Inter. J. of Multidisc. Research: DOI: https://doi.org/gtppc6

2023

• Genomic Selection Pressure Discovery using Site-Frequency Spectrum & Reduced Local-Variability Statistics in Pakistani Dera-Din-Panah Goat

Rashid Saif, Tania Mahmood, Aniqa Ejaz, Saeeda Zia

“Trop Anim Health Prod”. 55;331 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-023-03758-2

• MicroRNAs hsa-miR-222-3p, hsa-let-7b-5p, hsa-let-7f-5p Regulate their Putative Target Genes HMGA1and CDKN1B in Pakistani Breast Cancer Patients

Hafiz Muhammad Farooq Yaqub, Sehrish Firyal, Ali Raza Awan, Muhammad Tayyab,

Rashid Saif, Mati-ur-Rehman, Muhammad Wasim

Pakistan Journal of Zoology DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.17582/journal.pjz/20221124051117

• Whole-Genome Sequencing and Variant Discovery of Citrus reticulata“Kinnow” from Pakistan

Sadia Jabeen, Rashid Saif, Rukhama Haq, Akbar Hayat, Shagufta Naz

“Functional & Integrative Genomics”. 2023 Jul 8;23(3):227. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10142-023-01153-6

• Expression Profiling of microRNAs HSA-222-3P, HSA-LET-7B-5P, HSA-LET-7F-5P and their Putative Targets HMGA1and CDKN1B Genes in Canine Mammary Tumor

Hafiz Muhammad Farooq Yaqub, Sehrish Firyal, Ali Raza Awan, Muhammad Tayyab,

Rashid Saif, Mati-ur-Rehman, Muhammad Wasim  

“Pakistan J. of Zool., pp 1-7, 2022”, https://dx.doi.org/10.17582/journal.pjz/20221124051117

• In-silico Prediction of Azadirachta indicaCompounds as Potential Therapeutic Inhibitor of Lysyl Oxidase to Suppress Canine Mammary Tumor Proliferation

Mehroz Farhan, Rashid Saif, Iram Anjum

“Futuristic Biotechnology”, 3;2 (2023) https://doi.org/10.54393/fbt.v3i02.42

• Identification of Vancomycin Resistant Enterococcus Genes in Clinical Isolates

Mouvez Zeeshan, Aqeela Ashraf, Humaira Niamat, Muhammad Danyall Mustafa, Laiba Riaz, Rashid Saif

“LGU Journal of Life Sciences” 7;3(2023), https://doi.org/10.54692/lgujls.2023.0703290

• Computational Prediction of Nigella sativaCompounds as Potential Drug Agents for Targeting Spike Protein of SARS-CoV-2

Laraib Ali, Rashid Saif, Muhammad Hassan Raza, Muhammad Osama Zafar, Saeeda Zia, Mehwish Shafiq, Tuba Ahmad and Iram Anjum

“Pakistan BioMedical Journal”, https://doi.org/10.54393/pbmj.v6i3.853

• Association Analysis of LCORLGenetic Variant (rs657074013A>AT) with Body-Height and Skeletal Frame in Pakistani Goats

Areeb Khalid, Hajra Ashraf, Hibba Asim, Maleeka Ayman, Rashid Saif

Futuristic Biotechnology: DOI: https://doi.org/10.54393/fbt.v3i02.46

2022

• Mathematical Understandings of Sequence Alignment and Phylogenetics Algorithms: A Comprehensive Review of Computation of Different Methods

Rashid Saif, Sadia Nadeem, Ali Iftekhar, Alishba Khaliq, Saeeda Zia

Adv. life sci., vol. 9, no. 4, pp. 401-411, Dec, 2022 (http://www.als-journal.com/945-22/#abs)

• Computational Prediction of Cymbopogon CitratusCompounds as Promising Inhibitors of Main Protease of SARS-CoV-2

Tuba Ahmad, Rashid Saif, Muhammad Hassan Raza, Muhammad Osama Zafar, Saeeda Zia, Mehwish Shafiq, Laraib Ali, Hooria Younas

Futuristic Biotechnology: DOI: https://doi.org/10.54393/fbt.v2i01.23

• Computer-Aided Drug Designing of Ocimum basilicumCompounds as Therapeutic Agents against RdRp of SARS-CoV2

Mehwish Shafiq, Rashid Saif, Laraib Ali, Tuba Ahmad, Iram Anjum, Anood Suhail

Futuristic Biotechnology: DOI: https://doi.org/10.54393/fbt.v2i02.5

• Pathway Enrichment and Network Analysis of Differentially Expressed Genes in Pashmina Goat

Rashid Saif, Tania Mahmood, Aniqa Ejaz, Saeeda Zia

“Gene Reports” https://doi.org/10.1016/j.genrep.2022.101606

• Computational Prediction of Cassia angustifoliaCompounds as a potential Drug Agents against Main Protease of SARS-nCov2

Rashid Saif, Kanza Ashfaq, Ghafran Ali, Ali Iftekhar, Saeeda Zia, Muhammad Zubair Yousaf

“Advancement in Life Sciences”, vol. 9, no. 1, pp. 36-40, May 2022, http://www.als-journal.com/916-22/

2021

• Detection of Whole Genome Selection Signatures of Pakistani Teddy Goat

Rashid Saif, Jan Henkel, Tania Mahmood, Aniqa Ejaz, Fraz Ahmad, Saeeda Zia

“Molecular Biology Reports” (IF: 2.316) https://doi.org/10.1007/s11033-021-06726-x

• Whole Genome Selective Sweeps Analysis in Pakistani Kamori Goat

Rashid Saif, Jan Henkel, Tania Mahmood, Aniqa Ejaz, Saeeda Zia

“Gene Reports” (IF 0.72), https://doi.org/10.1016/j.genrep.2021.101429

• Whole Genome Comparison of Pakistani Corona Virus with Chinese and US Strains along with its Predictive Severity of COVID-19

Rashid Saif, Tania Mahmood, Aniqa Ejaz, Saeeda Zia, Abdul Rasheed Qureshi

“Gene Reports” IF 0.72: 23, June 2021, 101139 (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.genrep.2021.101139)

• Computational Prediction of Olea europaeaCompounds as Inhibitors of Main-Peptidase of SARS-CoV2

Rashid Saif, Ghafran Ali, Kanza Ashafq, Saeeda Zia, Abdul Rasheed Qureshi

“Advancement in Life Sciences” 8 (2), 133-136

http://submission.als-journal.com/index.php/ALS/article/view/1040/519

2020

• The LCORL Locus is Under Selection in Large-Sized Pakistani Goat Breeds

Rashid Saif, Jan Henkel, Vidhya Jagannathan, Cord Droegmueller, Christine Flury, Tosso Leeb

“Genes” 11 (2) 168 (IF:3.759), https://doi.org/10.3390/genes11020168

• Introduction to Galaxy Platform for NGS Variant Calling Pipeline

R Saif, A Ejaz, T Mehmood, F Asif, SM Alghanem, TS Ahmad

“Advancements in Life Sciences” 7 (3), 129-134

• Dog Coat Color Genetics: A Review

Rashid Saif, Ali Iftekhar, Fatima Asif, Mohammad Suliman Alghanem

“Advancements in Life Sciences” 7 (4), 215-224

2019

• Selection Signatures in Goats Reveal Copy Number Variants Underlying Breed-Defining Coat Color Phenotypes

Jan Henkel, Rashid Saif, Vidhya Jagannathan, Cord Droegmueller, Christine Flury, Tosso Leeb

“PLOS Genetics” IF: 6.02. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pgen.1008536

• First Step with R for Life Sciences: Learning Basics of this Supporting Tool for NGS Data Analysis

Rashid Saif, Kinza Qazi, Saeeda Zia, Tania Mahmood, Aniqa Ejaz, Talha Tamseel, Suliman Mohammad Alghanem, Adnan Khaliq

“Advancement in Life Sciences” 2019: 6(4), 187-194

• Molecular Expression of Cyclin Dependent Kinase Inhibitor (P21) in Canine Tumors

Saba Manzoor, Rashid Saif, Haleema Sadia, Sehrish Firyal, Muhammad Tayyab, Muhammad Mansha, Asim Khalid Mehmood, Abu Saeed Hashmi, Muhammad Wasim

Journal of Animal and Plant Sciences. (IF 0.529) 29 (4) 2019: 1127-1134  

• A Novel SNP (c.258+43C>T) in LPLGene and Association with Milk Production in Buffaloes

Akhtar Ali, Zukhruf Baig, Masroor Ellahi Babar, Asif Nadeem, Tanveer Hussain, Rashid Saif, Maryam Javed

Journal of “Buffalo Bulletin” (IF 0.096) 38(2) 2019: 327-333

• Use of CO1Gene Sequences for Computing Genetic Diversity Between Cirrhinus mrigala from Two Different Habitats (Farm and River)

Asma Karim, Rashid Saif, Faisal Salamat Ali, Zohaib Gil, Wajid Ali

“Journal of Fishries and Life Sciences” 3(2) 2019: 54-57

• An Overview of Genome-Wide Association Studies for Genetics Novices: A Review

Hafsa Tahir, Aniqa Ejaz, Tania Mehmood, Sidra Riaz, Rashid Saif

“Advancements in Life Sciences” 6(3) 2019: 88-96

2018

• Applications and Efficiencies of the First Cat 63K DNA Array

Barbara Gandolfi, Hasan Alhaddad, Mona Abdi, Leslie H. Bach, Erica K. Creighton, Brian W. Davis, Jared E. Decker, Nicholas H. Dodman, Jennifer C. Grahn, Robert A. Grahn, Bianca Waud, Jens Haggstrom, Michael J. Hamilton, Christopher R. Helps, Jennifer D. Kurushima, Hannes Lohi, Maria Longeri, Richard Malik, Kathryn M. Meurs, Michael J. Montague, James C. Mullikin, William J. Murphy, Sara M. Nilson, Niels C. Pedersen, Carlyn B. Peterson, Clare Rusbridge, Rashid Saif, Diane G. Shelton, Wesley C. Warren, Muhammad Wasim, Leslie A. Lyons

“Scientific Reports” DOI:10.1038/s41598-018-25438-0 (IF: 3.998)

• Molecular Characterization of EGLN1Gene in Fast and Slow-Moving Animals of Diversified Terrain

Rashid Saif, Naila Naz, Beenish Tariq, Ali Iftekhar

“Advancements in Life Sciences” 5(4) 2018: 171-178

• CO1gene based identification and phylogenetic analysis of two fresh water fish species Labeo gonius and Cirrhinus mrigala (family: Cyprinidae) from river Ravi, Punjab, Pakistan

Asma Karim, Rashid Saif, Zohaib Gill, Faisal Salamat, Akhtar Ali and Asem Razzaq

“MRJ of Agricultural Science and Soil Sciences” 6 (3) 2018: 24-31 (IF: 0.613)

• Single Nucleotide Somatic Variants of Tp53Gene in Widespread Neoplasms of Canis Familiaris

Rashid Saif, Ali Raza Awan, Leslie Lyon, Barbara Gandolfi, Muhammad Wasim

“Journal of Animal and Plant Sciences” 28 (5) 2018: 1329-1338 (IF:0.490)

• Computational Proteomic Data Mining of Heat Shock Protein β1 using Mathematica Software

Rashid Saif, Saeeda Zia, Kinza Qazi, Fatima Asif, Aniqa Ejaz, Tania Mehmood, Talha Tamseel

Merit Res. J. Microbiol. Biol. Sci. 6(4) 2018: 043-053

• Sequence Diversity of MAOAGene within Wild and Docile Animal Species

Rashid Saif, Beenish Tariq, Naila Naz

“Advancements in Life Sciences” 5 (3) 2018: 135-142

• Targeted Pinpoint Gene Editing Tool, CRISPR/Cas9: A Review

Hafsa Tahir, Rashid Saif, Talha Tamseel, Fraz Ahmad

“International Journal of Biosciences” http://dx.doi.org/10.12692/ijb/12.5.101-117

2017

• Expression Profiling of Hspb1and Tp53 Genes through RT-qPCR in Different Cancer Types of Canis familiaris

Rashid Saif, Ali Raza Awan, Muhammad Tayyab, Masroor Ellahi Babar, Saeeda Zia, Muhammad Wasim

“Iranian Journal of Biotechnology” (IF 0.973) DOI: 10.15171/ijb.1505

• Genome-Wide Association Study of Cat Mammary Tumor using 63,000 SNP Chip through PLINK Data Analysis Tool Set

Rashid Saif, Leslie Lyons, Barbara Gandolfi, Hafiza Maleeha Ahmad, Ramlah Ejaz, Muhammad Wasim.

“International Journal of Biosciences” doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.12692/ijb/11.1.75-82

• Genomic Data Mining through Python Language

Rashid Saif, Kinza Qazi, Talha Tamseel, Saeeda Zia

“International Journal of Biosciences” (IF 0.553) doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.12692/ijb/11.3.116-125

• Glyphosate: Cancerous or Not; Perspectives from Both Ends of the Debate

Syeda Aamna Hassan, Farwa Akhlaq, Muhammad Tayyab, Ali Raza Awan, Sehrish Firyal, Waqas Ahmad Khan, Rashid Saif, Muhammad Wasim

“Advancements in Life Science” 4(4); 108-112

• Genetic Contribution of BDNFGene in Obsessive Compulsive Disorder in Pakistani Punjabi Population

Javeria, Masroor Ellahi Babar, Tanveer Hussain, Rashid Saif, Sadaf Rashid, Hanan Sarfraz , Abbas Ali Shah , Muhammad Wasim1 and Muhammad Abdullah

Pakistan Journal of Zoology (IF 0.491), doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.17582/journal.pjz/2017.49.4.sc7

• Exploration of Novel Somatic Hspb1mutations in Widespread Neoplasms of Canis Familiaris

Rashid Saif, Ali Raza Awan, Leslie A. Lyons, Barbara Gandolfi, Muhammad Wasim

“International Journal of Biosciences” (IF 0.553) doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.12692/ijb/10.5.265-272

2016

• Mammary Tumor Associated Hspb1Mutation and Screening of Eight Cat Populations of the World

Rashid Saif, Leslie Lyons, Barbara Gandolfi, Ali Raza Awan, Muhammad Tayyab, Masroor Ellahi Babar, Muhammad Wasim

“Iranian Journal of Veterinary Research” (IF 0.172),17(4);231-236

Doi: https://doi.org/10.22099/ijvr.2016.3907

• Hspb1and Tp53 Mutation and Expression Analysis in Cat Mammary Tumors

Rashid Saif, Ali Raza Awan, Leslie Lyons, Barbara Gandolfi, Muhammad Tayyab, Masroor Ellahi Babar, Asim Khalid Mehmood, Zia Ullah, Muhammad Wasim

“Iranian Journal of Biotechnology” (IF 0.309), DOI: 10.15171/IJB.1480

• Insight of Tp53 Mutants and its effect on Protein in Different Felineand Canine Neoplasms

Rashid Saif, Ezza Khan, Arooj Azhar Shahnaz Choudhry, Tanveer Husaain, Masroor Ellahi Babar, Ali Raza Awan, Muhammad Tayyab, Saeeda Zia, Muhammad Wasim

“Advancements in Life Science” HEC recognized “Y” Category, 3(2); 42-50

• In silico Characterization of Hspb1Mutant Protein in Canine and Feline Cancers

Rashid Saif, Arooj Azhar, Ezza Khan, Shahnaz Choudhry, Tanveer Husaain, Masroor Ellahi Babar, Ali Raza Awan, Muhammad Tayyab, Muhammad Wasim

“Pak J.of Bioch. Mol. Bio. 49 (1) 2016:18-28

• Exposure and Vulnerability: Health related symptoms, attitude and practices towards handling agricultural pesticides among vendors of central Punjab, Pakistan

Muhammad Shahzad, Atif Yaqub, Muhammad Sheeraz, Rashid Saif

BIOLOGIA (Pakistan), June, 2016, 62 (1), 57-67

2015 

• Mitochondrial ATP6& ATP8 Genes Based Molecular Diversity and Phylogenetic Analysis in Punjab Urial (Ovis vignei punjabiensis)

Tanveer Hussain, M. E. Babar, M. M. Mustafa, Rashid Saif, Fiaz Hussain, M. Aqeel, N. Naveed, M. T. Pervez, W. A. Khan, Ziaullah, S. Shahzad and A. Yaqub

Journal of Animal and Plant Sciences, 25(3Supp. 2) 2015 Special Issue Page:311-317 (IF: 0.422)

• Polymorphic status of PRKAA2gene in Pakistani buffaloes

Waqas Ahmad Khan, Tanveer Hussain, Masroor Ellahi Babar, Asif Nadeem, Ali Raza Awan, Ambrin Fatima, Rashid Saif

“International Journal of Agriculture and Biology”, doi: 10.17957/IJAB/15.0149

2013

• Genomic Exploration of Pakistani Buffalo – Our Black Gold

Tanveer Hussain, Masroor Ellahi Babar, Asif Nadeem, Rashid Saif, Wajid Ali

“Buffalo Bulletin”, 32 (Sp. Issue 2): 658-661.  (IF: 0.067)

2012

• DNA Fingerprinting of Pakistani Buffalo Breeds (Nili-Ravi, Kundi) Using Microsatellite and Cytochrome b Gene Markers

Rashid Saif, Masroor Ellahi Babar, Ali Raza Awan, Asif Nadeem, Abu Saeed Hashmi, Tanveer Hussain

“Molecular Biology Reports” doi: 10.1007/s11033/011-0808-0 (IF 1.828)

• Molecular Phylogeny of Pakistani Riverine Buffalo Based on Genetic Variability of Mitochondrial Cytochrome b

Rashid Saif, Muhammad Wasim, Masroor Ellahi Babar

“Molecular Biology Reports” doi: 10.1007/s11033-012-1835-1 (IF 1.828)

• Role of Cancer Awareness in Prevention of its Outbreak: Current Scenario in Pakistan

Rashid Saif, Muhammad Zubair Yousaf

“Pak J. of Bioch & Mol. Bio., 2011;44(4):164-169”

Honors/Awards

1. Postdoc award; Swiss Government Excellence Scholarship
2. PhD award; IRSIP-HEC, University of Missouri-Columbia, USA
3. Summer Institute award in “Statistical Genetics” University of Washington-Seattle, USA
4. The Hans-Sigrist Foundation Award, UniBe-Switzerland
5. HEC Travel Grants for Pakistani Researcher- ABLS-2017, Kyoto, Japan
6. Indigenous PhD Fellowship Program-HEC, Pakistan
7. Keynote/Travel award ICNSET 2019, Sapporo, Japan

Industry Experience

Hatchery Manager, Sadiq Brothers Poultry, Rawalpindi, Pakistan

Assay Development & NGS Adoption Consultant, Molecular Diagnostics & Medical Lab Industry