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Hire Dr. Shafiya R.

Saudi Arabia

USD 35 /hr

ICMR PostDoctoral Researcher| Food Technology & Bioprocess Consultant | Research Proposal & Scientific Writing Expert

Profile Summary

I am a PhD in Food Technology with postdoctoral research experience. During my postdoctoral research, my work focused on the bioconversion of agri-food waste into value-added biomolecules, including microbial lipids and mycoproteins, for sustainable food and nutrition applications. My doctoral research was centered on the microencapsulation of bioactive compounds, with emphasis on improving stability, controlled release, and functional performance of sensitive bioactives for food applications. This work provided me with strong expertise in encapsulation technologies, formulation design, and structure–function relationships in food systems. I have also worked in academia as an Assistant Professor (full-time) at Lovely Professional University (LPU) and as a Guest Faculty at Amity University, where I was involved in teaching food technology–related courses, mentoring students, and guiding experimental research projects. This academic experience strengthened my ability to communicate complex scientific concepts clearly and apply theory to practical problem-solving. During my postdoctoral research, I was involved in the design and execution of applied research projects, integrating food biotechnology, fermentation, enzyme-based bioprocessing, and functional food development, with particular focus on circular bioeconomy and waste valorisation. My work included process optimization (RSM/DoE), scale-up considerations (TRL 3–5), and technical documentation. I have actively contributed to research proposal development and scientific writing for competitive funding agencies such as ICMR, DBT, SERB, and BIRAC, and I have authored and co-authored multiple peer-reviewed publications in journals related to food science, biotechnology, and nutrition. My expertise includes microbial lipid production, functional and lipid-based food systems (including baby food and geriatric nutrition), microencapsulation, fermentation strategies, enzyme-assisted processing, SOP development, and scientific manuscript editing. I follow a rigorous, ethical, and detail-oriented approach, ensuring confidentiality, scientific accuracy, and clear deliverables for clients. Author/co-author of peer-reviewed publications in food science, biotechnology, and nutrition 🔗 ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1012-3824

Subject Matter Expertise

• ★ Biotechnology & Bioengineering
• ★ Food Microbiology
• ★ Food Processing
• ☆ Microencapsulation
• ☆ Nanobiotechnology
• ☆ Food Preservation
• ☆ Food Safety
• ☆ Food & Beverage Manufacturing
• ☆ Technical & Scientific Writing
• ☆ Journal Selection
• ☆ Manuscript & Journal Article Writing
• ☆ Instructional Materials
• ☆ Release Notes
• ☆ Experimental Protocols
• ☆ SOP & Protocol Writing
• ☆ Textbook Content Writing
• ☆ Science Communication
• ☆ Literature Review
• ☆ Traditional/Narrative Literature Review
• ☆ Systematic Literature Review
• ☆ Scientific Proofreading & Editing
• ☆ Grant Writing

Services

• Writing
• Research
• Product Development

Writing Technical Writing, General Proofreading & Editing

Research Scientific and Technical Research, Systematic Literature Review

Product Development Formulation, Recipe Development, Stability/Shelf Life Testing, Product Evaluation

Work Experience

PostdoctoralResearcher

Islamic University of Science and Technology

June 2022 - June 2025

Assistance Professor

Amity University Rajasthan

January 2022 - June 2022

Assistance Professor

Lovely Professional University

January 2018 - May 2019

Education

Ph.D (Food Science and Technology)

Sher-E-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology - India

January 2014 - January 2018

Certifications

• Certification details not provided.

Publications

JOURNAL ARTICLE

Shafiya Rafiq, Mohd Ishfaq Bhat, Syed Junaid Rashid, Mir Ishfaq Ahmad, Insha Fayaz, M.J. Mir, Tawheed Amin, Darakshan Majid, B.N. Dar, H.A. Makroo (2024). Comparative study on thermo-mechanical, structural and functional properties of pectin extracted from immature wasted apples and commercial pectin . International Journal of Biological Macromolecules.

Shafiya Rafiq, Mohd Ishfaq Bhat, Sajad. A. Sofi, Khalid Muzzafar, Darakshan Majid, B.N. Dar, Hilal. A. Makroo (2023). Bioconversion of agri-food waste and by-products into microbial lipids: Mechanism, cultivation strategies and potential in food applications . Trends in Food Science & Technology.

Shafiya Rafiq, Sajad Ahmad Sofi, Naseer Ahmed, Asmat Farooq, Sajad Majeed Zargar, Fozia Kamran, Tanveer Ali Dar, Shabir Ahmad Mir, B. N. Dar, Amin Mousavi Khaneghah (2023). Nutritional and bioactive characteristics of buckwheat, and its potential for developing gluten‐free products: An updated overview . Food Science & Nutrition.

Shafiya Rafiq, Sajad Ahmad Sofi, Jagmohan Singh, Shabir Ahmad Mir, Sushil Sharma, Parshant Bakshi, David Julian McClements, Amin Mousavi Khaneghah, B.N. Dar (2023). Impact of germination on structural, physicochemical, techno-functional, and digestion properties of desi chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) flour . Food Chemistry.

Shafiya Rafiq and Sajad Ahmad Sofi and Rajkumari Kaul and B. N. Dar(2022). Effect of freeze‐dried kinnow peel powder incorporation on nutritional, quality characteristics, baking, sensorial properties, and storage stability of traditional wheat‐based soup sticks . Journal of Food Processing and Preservation. Wiley

Aayushi Jain and Rahul Mehra and Renu Garhwal and Shafiya Rafiq and Seema Sharma and Barinderjit Singh and Shiv Kumar and Krishan Kumar and Naveen Kumar and Harish Kumar(2022). Manufacturing and characterization of whey and stevia-based popsicles enriched with concentrated beetroot juice . Journal of Food Science and Technology. Springer Science and Business Media {LLC}

Shafiya Rafiq and Sajad Ahmad Sofi and Harish Kumar and Raj Kumari Kaul and Rahul Mehra and Chinaza G. Awuchi and Charles Odilichukwu R. Okpala and Ma{\l}gorzata Korzeniowska(2022). Physicochemical, antioxidant, and polyphenolic attributes of microencapsulated freeze‐dried kinnow peel extract powder using maltodextrin as wall material . Journal of Food Processing and Preservation. 46. (1). Wiley

Sofi, S.A., Singh, J., Rafiq, S., Ashraf, U., Dar, B.N., Nayik, G.A.(2018). A comprehensive review on antimicrobial packaging and its use in food packaging . Current Nutrition and Food Science. 14. (4). p. 305-312.

Rafiq, S., Kaul, R., Sofi, S.A., Bashir, N., Nazir, F., Ahmad Nayik, G.(2018). Citrus peel as a source of functional ingredient: A review . Journal of the Saudi Society of Agricultural Sciences. 17. (4). p. 351-358.

BOOK

Sofi, S.A., Dar, M.A., Rafiq, S.(2018). Food safety management of temperate fruits from farm to fork . Postharvest Biology and Technology of Temperate Fruits. p. 395-403.