Dr. Md. Nurealam Siddiqui                                                                                                                      Associate Professor                                                                                                                                Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology                                                                              Faculty of Agriculture                                                                                                                                        Gazipur Agricultural University (GAU)                                                                                                              Gazipur 1706, Bangladesh                                                                                                                                  Email: nuralambmb@gau.edu.bd

SHORT BIOGRAPHY:

Md Nurealam Siddiqui, PhD, is a plant molecular biologist with more than 14 years of experience in research, teaching, mentoring, and academic leadership. He is currently an Associate Professor in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at Gazipur Agricultural University, Bangladesh. He earned his PhD in Crop Molecular Genetics from the University of Bonn, Germany, and conducted postdoctoral research at INRAE, France, and the University of Missouri, USA.

His interdisciplinary research integrates plant genomics, quantitative genetics, molecular breeding, high-throughput phenotyping, computational biology, and stress physiology to understand and improve crop adaptation. His work spans rice, wheat, barley, maize, soybean, and switchgrass, with a focus that led to the discovery of genomic architecture, candidate genes, and mechanisms underlying crop adaptation to challenging environments. Dr. Siddiqui has published more than 70 peer-reviewed articles, with over 4,500 Google Scholar citations and an h-index of 27. His scientific contributions have been recognized through several national and international competitive awards, including the Gold Medal Award from the Bangladesh Academy of Sciences (BAS) in 2023.

Beyond research, he is passionate about student-centered education, mentoring future scientists, and fostering interdisciplinary collaboration. His long-term goal is to harness plant genomics, molecular breeding, biotechnology, and emerging computational approaches to develop resilient crops and contribute to global food security.

RESEARCH EXPERTISE:  

  • Plant biochemistry and abiotic stress physiology
  • Quantitative genetics, genomics and molecular breeding
  • Nutrient signaling on root system architecture
  • Regulation of root system architecture by the environment
  • High-throughput phenotyping
  • Functional characterization of the underlying candidate genes in crop plants.

RESEARCH EXPERIENCES:  

Postdoctoral Fellow | University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA
2026 – 2027
Project: Physiological and Molecular Mechanisms Regulating Root Growth Acclimation to Water Deficits in Maize

Postdoctoral Researcher | University of Montpellier, INRAE, France
2024 – 2025
Project: Harnessing Natural Genetic Diversity to Identify the Bases of Beneficial Crop to Fight Climate Change

Research Assistant | University of Bonn, Germany
2018 – 2022
Project: Breeding Innovations in Wheat for Resilient Cropping Systems (BRIWECS)

Principal Investigator | Gazipur Agricultural University, Bangladesh
2013 – Present
Research Program: Physiological, Biochemical, and Molecular Responses of Plants to Abiotic Stress

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCES:

2022–Present | Associate Professor
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Gazipur Agricultural University, Bangladesh

2015–2022 | Assistant Professor
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Gazipur Agricultural University, Bangladesh

2013–2015 | Lecturer
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Gazipur Agricultural University, Bangladesh

2012–2013 | Lecturer
Department of Biochemistry, SFMFC, Jamalpur, affiliated with Bangladesh Agricultural University

EDUCATION:

2026| Postdoctoral Researcher
Division of Plant Science and Technology
University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA

2025 | Postdoctoral Researcher
French National Research Institute for Agriculture, Food and Environment (INRAE), France

2022 | Ph.D. in Crop Molecular Genetics
University of Bonn, Germany

2012 | M.S. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Hajee Mohammad Danesh Science and Technology University (HSTU), Bangladesh

2010 | B.Sc. in Agriculture
Hajee Mohammad Danesh Science and Technology University (HSTU), Bangladesh

FELLOWSHIPS AND AWARDS:

2026 — Postdoctoral Research Fellowship
Postdoctoral Researcher, Division of Plant Science & Technology, University of Missouri, Columbia, USA.

2024 — Make Our Planet Great Again (MOPGA) Visiting Fellowship
French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, France.

2024 — Young Scientist Award
International Plant Phenotyping Network (IPPN), to attend the 12th International Symposium of the International Society of Root Research (ISRR), Leipzig, Germany.

2023 — Associate Fellow
Bangladesh Academy of Sciences (BAS), elected in recognition of scientific contributions.

2023 — Gold Medal Award in Biological Sciences (Junior Group)
Bangladesh Academy of Sciences (BAS), for outstanding research accomplishments among young Bangladeshi scientists.

2023 — Next Generation Scientist Award
New Phytologist Foundation and National University of Singapore.

2022 — BSMRAU-TA Research Impact Award
Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agricultural University Teachers Association, for excellent research impact.

2021 — BSMRAU-TA Research Award
Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agricultural University Teachers Association, for outstanding research accomplishment.

2021 — DAAD Outstanding Involvement Award
German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), recognizing outstanding involvement among international students at German universities.

2018–2022 — DAAD Fellowship
German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), PhD Candidate, INRES–Plant Breeding, University of Bonn, Germany.

2011 — JENESYS Visiting Fellowship
Japan International Cooperation Centre, under the Invitation Program for Science and Technological Human Resources.

2011 — 2012 — NSICT Fellowship
Ministry of National Science and Information & Communication Technology, Government of Bangladesh.

2010 — Dean’s List Award
Faculty of Agriculture, Hajee Mohammad Danesh Science and Technology University, Bangladesh, for outstanding undergraduate academic achievement.

SELECTED NOTABLE PUBLICATIONS:

Total Citations:>4000 , H-index: 26. Full list of publications, please visit: google scholar

  • Siddiqui, M. N., Ambaw, A. M., Shrestha, A., Pandey, K., Teferi, T. J., Gabi, M. T., & Ballvora, A. (2025). Natural genetic variation in nodal root growth angle and anatomy underlies drought tolerance in bread wheat. Environmental and Experimental Botany, 106220.
  • Siddiqui, M. N., Jahiu, M., Kamruzzaman, M., Sanchez-Garcia, M., Mason, A. S., Léon, J., & Ballvora, A. (2024). Genetic control of root architectural traits under drought stress in spring barley (Hordeum vulgare L.). The Plant Genome, 17(2), e20463.
  • Ghosh, P. K., Rahman, M. M., Saha, A. K., Ashrafuzzaman, M., Tofazzal Islam, M., & Siddiqui, M. N.* (2024). Mechanistic insight into the physiological and biochemical traits improvement by mycorrhiza biofertilization in soybean under phosphorus-starved conditions. Journal of Plant Growth Regulation, 1–14.
  • Siddiqui, M. N., Pandey, K., Bhadhury, S. K., Sadeqi, B., Schneider, M., Stich, B., Léon, J., & Ballvora, A. (2023). Convergently selected NPF2.12 coordinates root growth and nitrogen use efficiency in wheat and barley. New Phytologist, 238, 2175–2193.
  • Siddiqui, M. N., Melesech, T. G., Abebaw, A. M., Tesfaye, J. T., Dadshani, S., Léon, J., & Ballvora, A. (2023). Genetic dissection of candidate genes underlying root phenotypic plasticity for adaptation to drought in bread wheat. BMC Genomic Data, 24(1), 1–16.
  • Siddiqui, M. N., Schneider, M., Barbosa, M., Léon, J., & Ballvora, A. (2022). Natural selection under conventional and organic cropping systems affect root architecture in spring barley. Scientific Reports, 12, 20095.
  • Siddiqui, M. N., Tesfaye, J. T., Abebaw, A. M., Melesech, T. G., Koua, P., Léon, J., & Ballvora, A. (2021). New drought-adaptive loci underlying candidate genes on wheat chromosome 4B with improved photosynthesis and yield responses. Physiologia Plantarum, 173(4), 2166–2180.
  • Siddiqui, M. N., Léon, J., Naz, A. A., & Ballvora, A. (2021). Genetics and genomics of root system variation in adaptation to drought stress in cereal crops. Journal of Experimental Botany, 72(4), 1007–1019.
  • Siddiqui, M. N., Mostofa, M. G., Rahman, M. M., Tahjib-Ul-Arif, M., Das, A. K., Mohi-Ud-Din, M., & Tran, L. S. P. (2021). Glutathione improves rice tolerance to submergence: Insights into its physiological and biochemical mechanisms. Journal of Biotechnology, 325, 109–118.
  • Siddiqui, M. N., Mostofa, M. G., Akter, M. M., Srivastava, A. K., Sayed, M. A., Hasan, M. S., & Tran, L. S. P. (2017). Impact of salt-induced toxicity on growth and yield-potential of local wheat cultivars: Oxidative stress and ion toxicity are among the major determinants of salt-tolerant capacity. Chemosphere, 187, 385–394.