Prof. Dr. Abdul Rauf Shakoori was born in Sialkot on October 1, 1942. He obtained his Master's degree in Zoology from University of the Punjab in 1962 and doctoral degree from University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, West Germany in the field of Biochemistry/Cell Biology in 1972. He came back to Pakistan in 1973 to rejoin his position as a Lecturer in the University of the Punjab, where he became Professor of Zoology in 1987 and Meritorious Professor of Zoology in 2002.
Prof. Shakoori has put in more than 58 years of meritorious service as a teacher and research scientist. He is amongst the pioneers who introduced modern trends in Biological Sciences and played a key role in introduction of Cellular and Molecular Biology as a subject of study and research in the Universities of Pakistan. He has worked extensively in the field of Cell & Molecular Biology, Biochemical Toxicology, Environmental Biotechnology and Cancer Biology; and made some significant contributions of fundamental importance in understanding the Mechanism of Regulation of Gene Expression in Eukaryotes. His research publications in the domains of Osteogenesis, Growth and Differentiation, Bioremediation, Bioinsecticides and Herbal Medicine have significant implications on the economy of Pakistan.
Prof. Shakoori has published 665 original research articles so far in the journals of international repute. He has more than 6300 Google Scholar citations, 37 h index and 2167 i10 index. Eighty three Ph.Ds., 55 M. Phils. and more than 250 B.Sc (Hons), M.Sc. and M.Sc. (Hons) degrees have been awarded to students who completed their research work under his supervision. He has written 23 books published by National (ZSP, PCTB and USB) and International Publishers (Springer Verlag and Elsevier).
Prof. Shakoori developed collaborative research programs with scientists at the University of Massachusetts, Worcester, MA, USA, where he also held a position of Visiting Professor of Cell Biology for more than 25 years. His research collaboration also extended to the Estee Lauder Companies, Melville, N.Y., USA, Department of Pharmacy, King's College, University of London, Department of Agriculture and Environmental Science, University of Newcastle upon Tyne, U.K., University of Marburg, Germany, University of Vienna, Austria, and University of Essex, Colchester, UK.
On the basis of his outstanding academic performance, he was (1) made Distinguished
National Professor by HEC in 2005, (2) elected Fellow, Pakistan Academy of Sciences in 1991, Fellow, Third World Academy of Sciences (TWAS) in 2004 and Fellow of Islamic World Academy of Sciences in 2024 (3) rated among the top 5 Biologists, and first among Zoologists of the country during 1999-2011. In recognition of his outstanding services for the development of science and his achievements in the field of Cell and Molecular Biology, he was awarded the highest academic award, Aizaz-i-Kamal for the year 1996 by the President of Pakistan, a Civil Award Tamgha-i-Imtiaz by the Government of Pakistan in 1999, Distinguished Scientist of the year Award by Pakistan Academy of Sciences in 2011, and an International ECO Award in the field of Science & Technology by Economic Cooperation Organization in October 2012. In 2019 he was honoured and inducted as Academician in Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Jinan, Shandong, People’s Republic of China.
The excellence achieved by Prof. Shakoori in teaching and research, in modernizing teaching of Biology, his pioneering role in introduction of Molecular Biology as a discipline in the universities, his continued efforts to strengthen University Education through collaborative research programs with leading Universities of the world and involvement in promotion of research culture in universities is also reflected in his efforts in establishing (i) Center of Advanced Molecular Biology, University of the Punjab in 1984, of which he remained CoDirector till 1991m, (ii) Department of Microbiology & Molecular Genetics, University of the Punjab in 2002, of which he was founding Director, (iii) School of Biological Sciences, University of the Punjab in 2002, of which he was one of the three founding Directors till 2019, (iii) Cancer Research Centre, University of the Punjab in 2019 of which he was the Patron in Chief, and (iv) Centre for Biotechnology Research, Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Jinan, Shandong, China in 2020, of which he is the founding Director (Honorary).
Dr. Abdul Rauf Shakoori
Aizaz-i-Kamal, Tamgha-i-Imtiaz, ECO Laureate
Fellow, Islamic World Academy of Sciences
Fellow, The World Academy of Sciences (TWAS)
Fellow, Pakistan Academy of Sciences
Ex-Visiting Professor, U Mass Medical School, MA, USA
Full Member of SIGMA Xi
Academician, Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shandong, China (Rtd) Meritorious Professor
Honorary Director, Center of Biotechnology Research, SAAS, Jinan, Shandong
President, Zoological Society of Pakistan
Professor Emeritus, Distinguished National Professor
School of Biological Sciences
University of the Punjab