Ijaz Ahmad
Deputy Manager, Product Quality Assurance and Regulatory Affairs
Engro Fertilizers Ltd, Pakistan
📧 ijazahmad@engro.com | 📞 +92 308 0624850
To the Selection Committee,
I am writing to express my deep interest in the PhD project “Decoupling above- from
belowground litter decomposition and impacts on stabilization of soil organic matter with
increasing aridity” offered at your prestigious institution in Germany. This innovative research
aligns closely with my academic training in Soil Science and extensive practical experience in
soil health management and fertilizer quality assurance.
My professional career spans over several years in managing soil, water, and fertilizer testing
laboratories at Engro Fertilizers Ltd., where I currently serve as Deputy Manager. In this
capacity, I have led the development and implementation of ISO 17025:2017-compliant testing
protocols across six laboratories—four stationary and two mobile units—facilitating tailored
fertilizer recommendations to Pakistani farmers. My work also includes extensive experience
in interpreting analytical results, conducting root cause analysis, maintaining data integrity,
and overseeing laboratory operations.
The focus of this PhD project on using 13C-labelled litter and examining the decomposition
patterns under a precipitation gradient directly correlates with my interest in understanding
nutrient cycling and soil organic matter stabilization in arid and semi-arid systems. As
Pakistan’s agriculture faces increasing challenges from climate change and water scarcity, I
am particularly motivated by the project's objective to disentangle above- and belowground
litter responses to aridity—an area critical for improving carbon modelling and developing
climate-resilient agricultural strategies.
Moreover, my collaboration with national and international research institutes like NARC,
PCSIR, and NIAB, along with government regulatory bodies like PSQCA, has honed my
abilities to bridge science, policy, and practice—skills I plan to leverage in your interdisciplinary
research environment.
My academic background includes an M.Sc. (Hons) in Soil Science from the University of
Agriculture, Faisalabad, with peer-reviewed publications in the areas of nutrient dynamics and
soil health under stress conditions. I am confident that my strong foundation in soil carbon
science, coupled with my practical insight into arid land fertility and regulation, positions me
as an ideal candidate to contribute to this project.
Thank you for considering my application. I am enthusiastic about the opportunity to work
within a dynamic and globally recognized research environment and contribute to solutions
that address critical environmental challenges.
Sincerely,
Ijaz Ahmad