Ghulam Khawaja
Professional Experience
Dr. Ghulam Rasool Khawaja is a plant protection specialist with 25+ years spanning academia, government, and applied R&D at Kaizen Consulting. Previously served as the CEO of Akeed Office for Agricultural Consultations, and a Professor of Entomology in the Department of Plant Protection, College of Food & Agricultural Sciences, King Saud University, following earlier roles as Research Scientist at KACST (Saudi Arabia) and Assistant Entomologist at Pakistan’s Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Livestock. He has led and completed multiple KACST and King Saud University–funded projects and authored 60+ peer-reviewed publications.
Practical Expertise
Dr. Khawaja specializes in eco-friendly, high-precision pest management—RNA interference (RNAi), Integrated Pest Management (IPM), and biological control using entomopathogenic fungi and nematodes—alongside red palm weevil (RPW) surveillance, early detection, and control strategies (including trunk injection trials and diet/rearing protocols). His portfolio includes molecular profiling of RPW–date palm interactions, DNA barcoding and taxonomy work (ants and termites), design of input–output lab workflows, and delivery of farmer advisory and extension services. He is adept in research design, scientific writing, SAS-based statistical analysis, budgeting/financial reporting, and laboratory setup and leadership, with extensive international conference presentations and professional society engagement.
Education & Training
Dr. Khawaja holds a PhD in Agricultural Entomology/Biotechnology from Kobe University, an MSc in Agricultural Entomology and a BSc in Agriculture from the University of Agriculture, Faisalabad. His advanced training includes proteomics (University of Sheffield), an international course in Crop Protection (South China Agricultural University), and WHO IPCS training on toxic chemicals, environment, and health. Thesis topics covered molecular profiling of date palm infested with RPW and silkworm nutrition and silk yield, complementing proficiency in English, Arabic, and Urdu.
