Academic Staff

Feb. 8, 2026, 11:24 a.m.
Iman Hussein Fadhiladeen Alnaqshabandy (PhD) Head of Department
Lecturer
Lecturer in Molecular Microbiology

Scientific Research Center
College of Science
University of Duhok

PhD in Molecular Microbiology, University of York, UK (2015–2020)

MSc in Molecular Microbiology, University of Zakho (2009–2012)

BSc in Biology (Upper First Class), University of Duhok (2003–2007)

My teaching is closely linked to my research in molecular microbiology, antimicrobial resistance, and precision medicine.

Lectures & Modules
I coordinate and contribute to the core Microbiology and Hygiene module for Biomedical Engineering students, integrating lectures on microbial structure, genetics, antibiotic resistance, and hygiene with practical laboratory skills such as aseptic techniques, bacterial identification, DNA analysis, and PCR.

I have also taught Biochemistry courses for Biology students, covering biomolecules, metabolism, and enzymology, while emphasizing the connection between theory and laboratory practice.

Research Supervision

  • Trainer, Research Facilitator, and Supervisor for Participatory Action Research (PAR) Project on Water Scarcity and Contamination, UNICEF, October 2024 – January 2025.

  • Supervisor for three undergraduate students during research projects, University of York, October 2016 – March 2018.

Workshop / Course

  • Brucella Genomics Training at KRG Central Public Health Library organized by Northern Arizona University as part of the DTRA-funded project titled “Phylogeography of Brucellosis in Northern Iraq” September 14-19, 2025
  • She Leads Program – Leadership development Certificate Program, January 2025 – April 2025
  • Phylogeography of Brucellosis in Kurdistan Iraq kick-off & SOP training Erbil, Iraq, February 16-18, 2025
  • Training Course “General DNA Technology” , Scientific Research Center (SRC), University of Duhok, January 2025.
  • Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) training course organized by Northern Arizona University as part of Brucellosis Biosurveillance three-years project, January 2024 - September 2025.
  • Trainer Assistance, Climate Change and GBV Training Course, The Lotus Flower Organisation, August 2024.

  • Two-day Training Course on Science Communication for Researchers, DAAD/TA’ZIZ Project, 19–20 May 2024.

  • Workshop “Statistical Analysis by SPSS”, Scientific Research Center (SRC), University of Duhok, 22–24 May 2023.

  • Workshop “Degrading the gap between the TQA process and academic staff at UoD”, University of Duhok, 15–16 March 2023.

  • First Aid / Basic Life Support Training Course, College of Science, University of Duhok, 29–30 January 2023.

  • Workshop “General DNA Technology” Phase I & II, Scientific Research Center (SRC), University of Duhok, March – May 2022.

  • Workshop “The Outcome of UoD PEER Project to Open the Door of Nanotechnology Field”, College of Science, University of Duhok, 3 March 2022.

  • Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) Training Course, Nano Centre, University of York, June 2018.

  • Confocal Microscopy Training Course, University of York, September 2017.

Conferences

  • Master of Ceremony, 2nd International Conference of Computer Science and Software Engineering (CSASE), University of Duhok, 15–17 March 2022.

  • Attendee, British Biophysical Society (BBS) 60th Anniversary Meeting, United Kingdom via Zoom, September 2020.

  • Attendee, Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) Spectroscopy Meeting Week, University of Sheffield, September 2018.

  • Poster Presentation, Microbiology Society Conference, University of Edinburgh, April 2017.

  • Attendee, International Plasmid Biology Conference, University of Cambridge, September 2016.

Invited Talks / Presentations

  • Trainer Assistance & presentations during Climate Change and GBV training, The Lotus Flower Organisation, August 2024.

Other / Volunteering

  • Trainer, Research Facilitator, and Supervisor for a project titled “Participatory Action Research (PAR) Project on Water Scarcity and Contamination” sponsored by UNICEF, October 2024 – January 2025
  • Volunteer, Hygiene Promotion Awareness Session with displaced children, Save the Children, March 2023.

  • Volunteer, “Science out of the Lab”, York Festival of Ideas, June 2016.

Research

  • Merza, N., Mosa, A., Fadhel Al-deen, I. and Abdullah, Z. (2018) “Fingerprinting and genetic relationship among Escherichia coli strains producing B. Lactamase collected from urine using ERIC/PCR Assay'', Zanco Journal of Pure and Applied Sciences, 30(3), pp. 20-25. doi: 10.21271/ZJPAS.2018.30.3.3. http://dx.doi.org/10.21271/ZJPAS.2018.30.3.3
  • Merza, N., Fadhel Al-deen, I., Khalid, H., Abdullah, Z. and Jubrael, J. (2016) “Molecular Characterization of Extended Spectrum B-lactamase Producing Escherichia coli Isolated from Urine in Kurdistan Region-Iraq”, International Journal of Chemical and Biomolecular Science 2 (2), 51-55

My research focuses on understanding the molecular, genetic, and computational mechanisms that shape infectious diseases, antimicrobial resistance, and precision medicine. I work across several interconnected areas:

Molecular Microbiology & Precision Medicine

I explore how genetic and molecular pathways influence disease outcomes in both microbes and human populations. This includes work on pathogen biology as well as the pharmacogenetic landscape of clinically important genes, supporting the development of personalised and targeted therapies.

Antimicrobial Resistance & Efflux Pump Mechanisms

My interests include the molecular basis of antimicrobial resistance, with emphasis on transporter proteins within major efflux pump families. I investigate gene regulation, in vivo expression profiles under biotic stress, and the functional role of multidrug efflux systems in bacterial adaptation and survival.

Computational Biology & In Silico Analysis

I use a wide range of computational tools—such as molecular modeling, sequence analysis, and bioinformatics pipelines—to study protein structure, functional mutations, and genomic variation in both microbial pathogens and cancer-related genes.

Structural Biology & Protein Function

I apply structural and biophysical approaches to characterise protein–DNA interactions, protein structure–function relationships, and molecular mechanisms underlying cellular processes in bacteria.

Genomics, NGS & Molecular Epidemiology

My work also includes next-generation sequencing (NGS), genomic analysis, and molecular epidemiology to study pathogen diversity and track zoonotic disease patterns, and provide insights relevant to clinical decision-making and public health.

Supervising undergraduate research graduate projects (2021–2023)

Supervising undergraduate students at University of York (2016–2018)