Dr Sohaib Sadiq

Profile

I am a dedicated researcher and educator in the field of carbohydrate chemistry. I began my academic journey by earning a BSEd (BSc + BEd) degree from the Federal College of Education in Islamabad, Pakistan, becoming a certified teacher. I gained valuable teaching experience over ten years in Pakistan and the Republic of Maldives.

In pursuit of advanced studies, I joined the University of Huddersfield, where I completed an MSc in Analytical Chemistry in 2010. My passion for research led me to pursue a PhD in Carbohydrate Chemistry under the guidance of Prof. Andrew P. Laws. I was awarded a Vice Chancellor’s scholarship to persue my PhD and completed PhD in 2015 with a thesis titled, "Characterization of Bacterial Exopolysaccharides." During my doctoral studies, I actively participated in numerous national and international conferences and published my research in several prestigious journals.
Since 2016, I worked as a postdoctoral research assistant in the Department of Chemical and Biological Sciences, School of Applied Sciences at the University of Huddersfield.

I also led Carbohydrate Research Laboratory at the University of Huddersfield, during which my research primarily focuses on the isolation and characterization of polysaccharides produced by probiotic bacteria (Lactic Acid Bacteria and Bifidobacteria), utilizing advanced analytical techniques, including High-Performance Anion-Exchange Chromatography with Pulsed Amperometric Detection (HPAEC-PAD), Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS), High Pressure Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR), I was also involved in developing innovative methods for isolating and characterizing the structures of exo- and capsular polysaccharides.
 

Responsibilities

• Managing Sample Preparation Labs on Level 1 of the Sir William Henry Bragg Building
• Running inductions for MNP/BioNano, Chemistry, Tissue, and Bacterial Labs to ensure safe practices.
• Maintaining and calibrating equipment to ensure reliable and accurate research outcomes.

Research interests

My research expertise spans several key areas within carbohydrate chemistry:

• •    Fermentation of probiotic bacterial cultures: Specializing in Bifidobacteria and Lactic Acid Bacteria (LAB).
• •    Characterization and isolation of bacterial polysaccharides: Focusing on both exopolysaccharides (EPS) and capsular polysaccharides (CPS).
• •    Bioactive polysaccharides: Exploring their potential applications and benefits.

My research investigates the structural characterization of polysaccharides produced by probiotic bacteria, focusing on those excreted into the environment (exopolysaccharides – EPS) and those attached to the cell surface (capsular polysaccharides – CPS). My work extends to developing novel methods for polysaccharide isolation and employing various analytical techniques, including HPAEC-PAD, GC-MS, HPLC, NMR, and others, to understand the structural and functional properties of these biomolecules.My studies extend to lactic acid bacteria cultures traditionally used in dairy product enhancement, which have shown protective effects against pathogenic strains in preclinical studies.

Qualifications

• PhD - Biochemistry
• MSC - Analytical Biochemistry
• BSEd (BSc + BEd)

Professional memberships

• Fellow Higher Education Academy (FHEA)
• Member Royal Society of Chemistry (MRSC)
• Managing Safely by Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH)