Dr. Dr Muhammad Akmal

About

Dr. Muhammad Akmal is a Fish Pathologist and Aquaculture Specialist with over a decade of hands-on experience in operating, maintaining, troubleshooting, and training others in the use of advanced scientific and aquaculture equipment. Currently serving as a Lecturer at the University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences (UVAS), Pakistan, Dr. Akmal specializes in fish disease diagnostics, antimicrobial resistance, bacteriophage therapy, and microbial genomics, supported by international training in South Korea and Japan.

His laboratory expertise includes the maintenance and operation of molecular diagnostics platforms such as PCR thermal cyclers, gel electrophoresis systems, UV documentation systems, spectrophotometers, and fluorometers. He is proficient in setting up and troubleshooting these systems for DNA/RNA quantification, electrophoretic profiling, and nucleic acid amplification. His technical acumen extends to teaching students and research staff through workshops and laboratory courses on molecular diagnostics and microbial techniques.

In the domain of aquaculture research, Dr. Akmal manages small-scale recirculating aquaculture systems to conduct experimental infection trials with fish pathogens and evaluate therapeutic strategies such as phage therapy. He oversees the setup, water quality calibration, and sensor integration using advanced multi-parameter meters, ensuring precise monitoring of dissolved oxygen, pH, salinity, ammonia, and temperature under biosecure conditions. His ability to calibrate and troubleshoot these instruments has been critical during research trials involving pathogenic strains such as Aeromonas hydrophila and Lactococcus garvieae.

Dr. Akmal has led training sessions on bacteriophage isolation, propagation, and purification using double-layer agar methods, precipitation techniques, and ultracentrifugation. His practical knowledge in virology includes plaque assays, spot tests, and ELISA-based immunodiagnostics. He has conducted and facilitated multiple training workshops on Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA), sharing standard operating procedures and technical documentation tailored for postgraduate students and early-career researchers.

In addition to his research and laboratory work, Dr. Akmal has made significant contributions to the aquaculture sector in Pakistan through the development of technical protocols, national training programs, and fish farming manuals used in undergraduate and professional training courses. He has also conducted specialized workshops on Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS), focusing on genome assembly and comparative analysis of bacterial and viral pathogens relevant to aquatic animal health. His materials support both academic instruction and field application, bridging the gap between science and sustainable aquaculture practice.

His professional experience is further reinforced by international exposure—earning the MEXT Scholarship (Japan) and KOICA Fellowship (South Korea)—and involvement in World Bank research reports and scientific presentations in Japan, Korea, and Pakistan. With strong command over lab instrumentation, data interpretation, and equipment-based training, Dr. Akmal plays a key role in enhancing capacity in aquatic animal health diagnostics, biosafety, and applied aquaculture innovation.

Areas of Expertise