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Dr. Md. Arifur Rahman Khan is an accomplished agronomist affiliated with the Department of Agronomy at Gazipur Agricultural University (GAU), Gazipur, Bangladesh. He also serves as a Visiting Research Scientist in the Institute of Genomics for Crop Abiotic Stress Tolerance (IGCAST) at Texas Tech University (TTU), Texas, USA. Born in 1981 in Mymensingh, Bangladesh, Dr. Khan has made significant contributions to the fields of agronomy and crop physiology through his extensive research, teaching, and professional engagements.

Dr. Khan earned his B.Sc. in Agriculture (Honours) in 2005 and M.S. in Agronomy in 2008 from Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh. In recognition of his academic excellence, he was awarded the Ministry of Science and Technology Fellowship by the Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh to pursue a Ph.D. in Agronomy, which he successfully completed in 2015. Later, in 2017, he received the prestigious Indian Science and Research Fellowship from the Government of India, which enabled him to undertake postdoctoral research at the Indian Institute of Technology, Guwahati, India. He also served as a Postdoctoral Researcher at the IGCAST, TTU, USA, from 2023 to 2025.

Dr. Khan’s research focuses on plant phenotyping, climate change adaptation, and the physiological and biochemical responses of crops to abiotic stress. His scientific interests encompass a diverse range of crops, including strawberry, grapevine, rice, cowpea, sorghum, and maize, with particular emphasis on the development of stress-tolerant and high-performing varieties. He has strong expertise in hybridization techniques, elite crop line management, and nutrient optimization, as well as in designing innovative strategies for enhancing plant resilience to environmental stresses.

Throughout his career, Dr. Khan has led and collaborated on several national and international research projects, addressing critical challenges in agronomy, crop physiology, and sustainable agriculture. His continued commitment to scientific innovation contributes significantly to crop improvement, food security, and climate resilience on both national and global scales.

Teaching and Research Focus

With a Ph.D. in Agronomy and over 15 years of experience in teaching agronomic courses such as Cereal Crop Production, Pulse and Oilseed Crop Production, and Fundamentals of Agronomy, I have had the privilege of mentoring both graduate and undergraduate students at the university level. My research has involved a combination of field and laboratory experiments across a variety of crops, including sorghum, cotton, soybean, rice, grape, strawberry, wheat, maize, cowpea, and mungbean. The primary focus of my work has been to enhance the productivity, sustainability, and resilience of cropping systems, particularly under rainfed conditions.

1. Abiotic stress mitigation: Exploring strategies to mitigate these stresses through agronomic practices, biochar, zinc oxide nanoparticles, ethanol, and acetic acid.
2. Breeding programs: Actively involved in the breeding programs for rice, sorghum, soybean and cowpea, aiming to enhance crop performance and resilience.
3. Growth and yield analysis: Investigating growth, development, and yield traits of various plants under abiotic stresses such as drought, heat, cold, salinity, submergence, waterlogging, and heavy metals.

Post-Bachelor Professional Experience

• Visiting Scientist, Tran and Thayne Montague’s Lab, Department of Plant and Soil Science, Texas Tech University (TTU), USA. 1/2025 – Present.
• Professor of Agronomy, Gazipur Agricultural University, Gazipur, Bangladesh (BD). 1/2025 – Present.
• Research Scientist, Thayne Montague’ Lab, Department of Plant and Soil Science, TTU, USA. 4/2024 – 1/2025.
• Research Scientist, Tran’s Lab, Institute of Genomics for Crop Abiotic Stress Tolerance, Department of Plant and Soil Science, TTU, USA. 4/2023 – 3/2024.
• Professor, Agronomy, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agricultural University (BSMRAU), Gazipur, BD. 8/2022 – 3/2023.
• Associate Professor, Agronomy, BSMRAU, Gazipur, BD. 8/2017 – 8/2022.
• Research Trainee, Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, India. 10/2016 – 3/2017.
• Assistant Professor, Agronomy, BSMRAU, Gazipur, BD. 11/2013 – 8/2017.
• Lecturer, Agronomy, BSMRAU, Gazipur, BD. 7/2012 – 11/2013
• Lecturer, Agronomy and Seed Science, Sylhet Agricultural University, BD. 8/2010 – 6/2012.
• Graduate Research Assistant, Bangladesh Agricultural University, BD. 1/2009 – 8/2010

 Areas of Expertise

• Specialized in developing new rice and soybean varieties by employing hybridization techniques to enhance yield, disease resistance, and adaptability.
• Expertise in understanding and improving plant resilience to abiotic stresses.
• Proficient in designing and implementing effective crop production strategies and managing nutrient requirements for cereal crops to optimize growth, yield, and overall plant health.

Research Focus

• Variety development, Stress physiology and Nutrient management in plant
• Strategic environmental and sustainability assessment
• Climate change adaptation and Disaster management.

Research Grants

• Ministry of Science and Information & Communication Technology, Government of Bangladesh;
• Research management Wing (RMW) of Gazipur Agricultural University (GAU);
• Krishi Gobeshona Foundation (KGF) Ministry of Agriculture, Government of Bangladesh.

Professional Membership

• Life member of Krishibid Institution Bangladesh (KIB), Bangabandhu Krishibid Parishad, Bangladesh Society of Agronomy (BAS) and Bangladesh Association for the Advancement of Sciences (BAAS).
• Vice President, Bangabandhu Parishad, Gazipur District Chapter, Gazipur.