Dr. Salma Batool

About

With over a decade of multidisciplinary research and academic experience, I have developed strong expertise in the maintenance, troubleshooting, installation, and training related to specialized scientific and pharmaceutical equipment in both academic and industrial research settings. My work spans biochemical research, drug delivery systems, nanotechnology, and antimicrobial resistance, with extensive hands-on experience in laboratory instrumentation.

During my Ph.D. in Biochemistry, conducted in collaboration with the University of Utrecht (Netherlands) and Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS), I was trained in advanced instrumentation including rotary evaporators, lyophilizers, UV-Vis and FTIR spectrophotometers, and HPLC systems for phytochemical analysis, extract standardization, and nano-formulation development. I fabricated and characterized nano-liposomes and biogenic silver nanoparticles, utilizing dynamic light scattering (DLS), zeta potential analyzers, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and fluorescence microscopy.

As a researcher at the Department of Pharmaceutics, University of Utrecht, I gained critical insights into formulation science and lab automation. My role involved frequent calibration, troubleshooting, and performance validation of dissolution testers, centrifuges, and spectroscopic equipment, ensuring adherence to international standards. I also contributed to method development using technical manuals and SOPs tailored for natural product extractions and drug delivery experiments.

Throughout my academic tenure at the University of Central Punjab (UCP), I have organized and conducted multiple laboratory hands-on training sessions, workshops, and national-level science festivals. These events emphasized the use and maintenance of analytical and microbiological equipment such as autoclaves, laminar flow hoods, ELISA plate readers, PCR machines, and microbial incubators. I have trained graduate students on biosafety protocols, equipment handling, and antimicrobial assays including efflux pump inhibition and berberine accumulation tests.

My recent projects include the microbial synthesis of nanoparticles using auxin and phosphate-solubilizing bacteria, and the characterization of nanoparticles for plant growth and antimicrobial potential. These required routine use of atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS), UV-Vis spectroscopy, and controlled environment growth chambers. I also led technical training on plant-based synthesis, antimicrobial bioassays, and nano-fertilizer formulation.

In support of student research, I’ve developed laboratory manuals and SOPs covering nanoparticle synthesis, in vitro cytotoxicity assays (MTT), antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST), and fluorescence-based screening for efflux activity. I also supervised thesis projects that required in-depth instrument troubleshooting and method standardization across biological and biochemical platforms.

Certified in publication writing and citation management tools such as EndNote, and having completed Ph.D. supervision training, I continue to serve as a reviewer for international journals and actively contribute to capacity building through my role as event and publication head in scientific workshops.

My experience reflects a strong commitment to operational excellence in lab environments, combining technical proficiency with the ability to train and mentor teams in specialized research workflows across scientific and medical domains.

Areas of Expertise