Nadia Yasseen Gafar Osman

Seasoned plant biotechnology researcher with 20+ years of expertise in parasitic plant biology (Striga spp.), microbial biocontrol, and sustainable weed management. Lead advanced molecular research using RNA-Seq, transcriptome analysis, metabolomics, and bioinformatics to identify biocontrol targets and exploit novel bacterial strains. Deliver impactful lectures in plant molecular biology, botany, microbiology, and environmental studies while mentoring students and managing academic departments.

Drive research innovation through grant writing, 2 publications in peer-reviewed Q2/Q3 journals, multiple ongoing publications, patent development (Master's bacterial strain), and interdisciplinary collaborations. Successfully nominated and sponsored a candidate from my institute to the prestigious 5-10 ASFI program—Africa's distinguished initiative for researcher collaboration and leadership. Excel in project management, time management across 8+ years balancing teaching/research, and laboratory organization for antimicrobial medicinal plant screening. Deliver precise statistical analysis (SPSS, R) and in vitro assays to advance sustainable agriculture solutions.

Proactively secure international funding (OWSD PhD Fellowship, SEARCA Grant) and build global partnerships to reestablish high-quality plant biotechnology research in conflict-affected regions. Commit to mentoring young researchers, publishing in top journals, and contributing cutting-edge biocontrol strategies that enhance food security and crop resilience for hiring organizations.

• African Science Frontiers Initiative (ASFI) since 2025
• Member of Organization for Women in Science for the Developing World (OWSD) since 2020.
• Member of Sudanese Women in Science Organization (SWSO) since 2013
• Member of the Sudanese Biological Association (SBA), 2005.

• 22 May- 20 July 2023, Practical training program for learning practical skills in hardware technology (large-scale integrated circuits) and software technology (programming) for an advanced information society at Kyushu Institute of Technology, organized by Japan Student Service Organization (JASSO).
• 3 April, 2019 – 29 May 2019, training period in Molecular Biology at Osaka Prefecture University organized by the Japan International Cooperation Agency under the international cooperation program of the government of Japan.
• March 2009, Department of Biology from Central Lab, Ministry of Science and Technology, (Biochemistry, Microbiology, Molecular biology and Immunology).
• July 2009, Department of Food &Water Microbial Analysis, National Health Laboratory's.
• 6th -7th August 2024, LC-MS and Molecular Networking Data mining workshop organized and held in the Institute of Systems Biology (INBIOSIS) Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM).
• 5th - 7th July 2022, Advanced Transcriptomics: Concept and Practice Workshop (Virtually), Director, Institute of Systems Biology (INBIOSIS) Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM).
• 23th- 25th March 2015, Minia, Egypt, Minia international conference for agriculture and irrigation in Nile basin countries (oral presentation of accepted paper en titled: In vitro evaluation of bacteria isolated from sugar cane as a biological agent of Striga hermonthica).
• 25th-26th March 2014, 5th International Workshop in Biotechnology, Commission for Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering (CBGE), National Center for Research (NCR), Khartoum, Sudan.
• 11th-15th July 2010, 2nd International Workshop on Molecular Immunology and Drug Discovery, Medicinal and Aromatic Plants Research Institute (MAPRI), National Center for Research (NCR), Khartoum, Sudan.

• Bacteria as potential biocontrol agents for managing purple witchweed (Striga hermonthica) in grain sorghum. Weed Science. https://doi.org/10.1017/wsc.2024.42. Osman, N. Y., Ahmad-Hamdani, M. S., Oslan, S. N., Zulperi, D. M., Hashim, A. M., & Saidi, N. B. (2024).
• Biological Control Strategies of Purple Witchweed, Striga hermonthica: A Review. Osman, N.Y.; Hamdani, M. S.; Oslan, S. N.; Zulperi, D. M. and Saidi, N.B. Pertanika Journal of Tropical Agricultural Science, 46 (1) Feb. 2023.
• Influence of acetic acid, pH and buffers on Striga hermonthica seeds germination. Gafar, N.Y.; Hassan, M.M.; Rugheim A.M.E.; Osman, A.G.; Abdelgalni, M.E. and Babiker A.G.T. Journal of Agriculture and Veterinary Science, 11(12) Ver. II, PP 74-78, (December 2018).
• Influence of acetic acid. pH and buffers on Striga hermonthica seeds germination. Nadia Yasseen Gafar and Mohammed Mahgoub Hassan. International journal of current microbiology and applied sciences, 5(1) 2016.
• In vitro study of endophytic bacteria, carbohydrates and their combination on early developmental stages of Striga hermonthica (Del.) Benth. Nadia Yasseen Gafar, Mohammed Mahgoub Hassan, Magdoline Mostafa Ahmed, Awad Galal Osman, Migdam Elsheikh Abdelgani and Abdelgabar Eltyeb Babiker. Advances in environmental biology, 10(6): 66-74, June 2016.
• Effects of plant growth regulators and NaCl on early development stages of Striga hermonthica. Magdoleen Osman, Mohammed Hassen, Rania Abakeer, Nadia Gafar. Migdam Abdelgani. International journal of agronomy and agriculture research, 6 (3):106-115, 2015.
• Evaluation of endophytic bacterial isolates on germination and haustorium initiation of Striga hermonthica (Del) benth. Gafar, N.Y.; Hassan, M.M.; Rugheim, A.M.E.; Osman, A.G.; Mohamed, I.S.; Abdelgani , M.E. and Babiker, A.GT. International journal of farming and allied sciences, 4(4):302-308,2015.

Available upon request