Microbiome and Genomics Lab

Dr. Abdul Latif Khan

Office Location: SAB1, 218
Office Tel: +1 713 743 5642
Office Fax: +1 713 743 4032
Email: alkhan@uh.edu

Waqar Ahmad

Waqar joined the lab as Ph.D. student. He is working on exploring plant stress microbiomes. He uses multi-OMIC approaches to understand the role of abiotic stresses, specifically the impact of greenhouse gases on shaping the plant microbiome and biosynthetic pathways. His other interests include isolating, characterization, and identifying salt and temperature-tolerant endophytic microbes and utilizing them as a stress alleviating strategy for growing crop plants in salinity and temperature stresses.

Lauryn Coffman

Lauryn is investigating the changes in microbiome of soybeans (Fiskeby III) due to abiotic stress conditions caused by climate change. Future projects include the studying Halophytes as a potential source of genetic and microbial properties of plants thriving in extreme conditions. With a primary interest is to understand how the macroscopic properties observed in living systems emerge from the complex interplay of microscopic interactions utilizing interdisciplinary methods.

Nadia Uzoma

Nadia is a graduate student in the Microbiome and Genomics Lab. She graduated with her bachelor’s degree in biotechnology from the University of Houston in 2022. She is currently working on fungal genomics and evaluating its CO2 sequestering potential. With a primary interest in bioinformatics, her future projects include whole genome sequencing of Preussia sp. She previously worked on using the silicon as a stress mitigation strategy for drought in tomato plants.

Imad Aijaz

Imad Aijaz has a keen interest in the intersections of microbiology, stem cells, and bioinformatics. He is committed to advancing knowledge and contributing to breakthroughs in these fields. He is always seeking new opportunities to contribute to the biotechnology industry and make a positive impact on society.

Luis “Luey” Flores

Luey Flores completed a Bachelor of Science in Biotechnology at the University of Houston in 2022. His research interests include bioremediation and genetic engineering. Luey currently investigates the recycling of spent lithium-ion batteries by bioleaching of metal extraction by microorganisms.

Muzna Baloch

Muzna Baloch is an undergraduate student at the University of Houston, majoring in Biotechnology and specializing in biomanufacturing. Her current project is on heavy metals translocating bacteria and their genetic makeup.

Tisha Haukongo

Tisha Haukongo is a Biotechnology undergraduate at the University of Houston, and minoring in Medicine & Society. Her current project is researching the help and improvements that microbial consortiums can have on and bring to plants, with focus on pearl millet, sorghum, and soybeans.

Past Students