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Dr. Zubair Khalid
Dr. Zubair Khalid

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Biography of Dr. Zubair Khalid

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Biography: Dr. Zubair Khalid

Professional Overview

Dr. Zubair Khalid (DVM, MS, PhD) is an accomplished Virologist, Molecular Biologist, and Veterinarian currently serving as a Postdoctoral Research Associate at the University of Maryland (UMD). His research focuses on protecting animal and public health through a One Health framework, bridging the gap between conventional virology, molecular vaccine design, and computational biology.

Professional Philosophy

Dr. Khalid believes in an integrated approach to global health. By combining veterinary clinical insights with cutting-edge molecular tools and computational modeling, he aims to develop sustainable solutions for infectious diseases. His work is driven by the principle that animal health, human health, and environmental stewardship are inextricably linked—a core tenet of the One Health initiative.

Key Research Achievements

  • P.P. Levine Award (2022): Honored by the American Association of Avian Pathologists for pioneering research published in Avian Diseases.
  • mRNA Vaccine Development: Leading innovation in next-generation vaccine platforms for poultry, specifically targeting avian reoviruses and infectious bronchitis virus.
  • Viral Heterogeneity Insights: Uncovered critical mechanisms of viral population maintenance despite plaque purification, impacting how we understand viral evolution and diagnostic accuracy.
  • AI in Virology: Pioneered the application of computer vision and AI models to automate and quantify cytopathic effects in viral cultures.

With a deep expertise in avian pathogens, Dr. Khalid has led pioneering research on vaccine efficacy, viral pathogenesis, and host-pathogen interactions. He is particularly recognized for his work on mRNA vaccine technology and CRISPR-mediated gene editing in avian systems.

Research Expertise

Dr. Khalid’s research program integrates wet-lab virology with advanced multi-omics and bioinformatics tools. His key areas of expertise include:

  • Molecular Virology: Specializing in RNA viruses including Avian Reovirus (ARV), Infectious Bronchitis Virus (IBV), and Infectious Bursal Disease Virus (IBDV).
  • Vaccine Development: Pioneer in mRNA vaccine design and recombinant vectored vaccines (e.g., NDV-vectored vaccines).
  • Bioinformatics & Multi-omics: Utilizing Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS), Transcriptomics, and SNP analysis to study viral evolution and host responses.
  • Gene Editing: Implementing CRISPR-Cas9 tools for avian cell line modification to enhance viral isolation and study gene function.
  • Computational Biology: Developing tools for viral recombination analysis and disease monitoring using AI/Computer Vision.

Education

  • Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Biomedical Sciences (2024)
    • Auburn University, USA
    • Dissertation: "Responses to Avian Reovirus Infection in Vivo, in Ovo, and In Vitro"
  • Graduate Certificate in Bioinformatics (2023)
    • Auburn University, USA
  • Master of Science (MS) in Biomedical Sciences (2021)
    • Auburn University, USA
    • Thesis: "Evaluation of a recombinant Newcastle disease virus-vectored vaccine against infectious bronchitis virus"
  • Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) (2018)
    • University of Agriculture, Faisalabad (UAF), Pakistan
    • Awarded with Academic Distinction.
  • Bachelor of Education (B.Ed.) (2018)
    • University of Agriculture, Faisalabad (UAF), Pakistan

Professional Experience

Postdoctoral Research Associate

University of Maryland (UMD), College Park, MD | Sept 2025 – Present

  • Leading research on the pathogenicity and vaccine efficacy against Infectious Bursal Disease Virus (IBDV).
  • Utilizing advanced molecular and immunological approaches to evaluate viral-host interactions in poultry.

Postdoctoral Associate

University of Georgia (UGA), Athens, GA | April 2025 – Aug 2025

  • Conducted advanced research in CRISPR-mediated gene editing for avian cells.
  • Developed mRNA vaccine candidates against avian viruses and optimized delivery systems.

Postdoctoral Researcher (TES)

Auburn University, Auburn, AL | Jan 2025 – March 2025

  • Focused on avian reovirus pathogenesis and multi-omics data interpretation.
  • Led scientific writing and manuscript preparation for high-impact journals.

Presidential Graduate Research Fellow

Auburn University, Auburn, AL | 2021 – 2024

  • Conducted comprehensive studies on the in vivo and in vitro pathogenicity of avian reovirus using transcriptomics and metagenomics.

Fulbright Scholar

Auburn University, Auburn, AL | 2019 – 2021

  • Developed and tested a recombinant Newcastle disease virus-vectored vaccine candidate against infectious bronchitis virus.

Veterinarian

Ibrahim Poultry / Al Shifa Veterinary Clinic, Pakistan | 2018 – 2019

  • Managed poultry health operations, including diagnosis, treatment, and vaccination protocols for large-scale avian farms.

Selected Publications

Dr. Khalid has published extensively in top-tier journals such as Viruses, Avian Diseases, and Microbiology Spectrum.

  1. Khalid, Z., et al. (2025). "Viral Heterogeneity in an Avian Reovirus Isolate Despite Plaque Purification and Differences in Segment-Wise Abundance." Avian Diseases.
  2. Khalid, Z., et al. (2025). "Tissue-Specific Transcriptomic Responses to Avian Reovirus Inoculation in Ovo." Viruses.
  3. Khalid, Z., et al. (2023). "Optimizing the conditions for whole-genome sequencing of avian reoviruses." Viruses.
  4. Khalid, Z., et al. (2021). "Enhanced protection by recombinant Newcastle disease virus expressing infectious bronchitis virus spike ectodomain." Avian Diseases.
  5. Khalid, Z., et al. (2026). "Molecular characterization of infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV) strains." Microbiology Spectrum.

Awards & Honors

  • P.P. Levine Award (2022): Awarded by the American Association of Avian Pathologists (AAAP) for the best paper published in Avian Diseases.
  • Fulbright Scholarship: Prestigious international fellowship for graduate studies in the USA.
  • Outstanding Master’s Student Award: Auburn University (2021).
  • Western Poultry Disease Conference (WPDC) Award: 2nd place for Student Presentation.
  • Gold Medal in Debates: University of Agriculture, Faisalabad.
  • Academic Distinction: Awarded during DVM for exceptional academic performance.

Professional Memberships

  • American Association of Avian Pathologists (AAAP)
  • American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA)
  • Fulbright Alumni Association

Technical Skills

  • Molecular Biology: PCR, qPCR, Molecular Cloning, Western Blotting, CRISPR-Cas9.
  • Virology: Viral Isolation, Plaque Assays, Reverse Genetics, Vaccine Efficacy Testing.
  • Computational: Python, R, Shell Scripting, Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) analysis, Phylogenetics.
  • Soft Skills: Scientific Writing, Project Management, Public Speaking, Academic Mentoring.

I have previously worked as a veterinarian and has conducted research in molecular biology/microbiology/virology with background in both wet and dry labs. I have performed cloning (including reverse genetics and rescue of viruses), plaque and neutralization assays, recombinant vaccine candidate testing, microbiome analysis/metagenomics, transcriptomics, viral whole genome sequencing library preparation and antibody affinity and avidity tests. My practical skills extend to preparing primary cells, maintaining secondary cell lines, performing necropsies on animal models and embryos, and utilizing fluorescence and phase contrast microscopy. In bioinformatics, I have conducted transcriptome profiling, protein-protein interaction and network analysis using Cytoscape, phylogenetics, variant/SNP calling, and viral recombination analyses, along with metagenomic characterization, 16S microbiome library preparation and analysis, alternative splicing studies, and introductory work in computer vision and AI modeling. My research background combines hands-on laboratory expertise with advanced computational approaches to drive innovative solutions in microbiology, molecular biology, infectious disease and genomic science.

Contact & Profiles

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