Rate My Professor Syed Salman Ashraf

Professor Syed Salman Ashraf is a Professor and Chair of Biological Sciences at Khalifa University. He earned a BS in Biochemistry from Iowa State University in 1988, an MS in Biochemistry and Biophysics from the same institution in 1991, and a PhD in Biochemistry from North Carolina State University in 1999. Prior to joining academia, he worked for over six years in biotech companies in North America, focusing on drug discovery and applied biotechnology. He brings more than 19 years of academic experience teaching Chemistry and Biochemistry courses while building an independent research program.

His research centers on environmental remediation, applied biotechnology, enzyme engineering, and protein structure and function, with particular emphasis on using novel bacterial isolates and oxidoreductase enzymes for wastewater treatment. His laboratory has developed sensitive LC-MS/MS assays for detecting organic pollutants and created biocomposites by immobilizing peroxidases on porous supports. He has spearheaded the establishment of the undergraduate program in Cell and Molecular Biology as well as MSc and PhD programs in Molecular Life Sciences at Khalifa University. Professor Ashraf has authored over 120 publications and holds four US patents. He previously served as Associate Dean for Postgraduate Studies at the university for two years.