What is Dr. Zubair Khalid's research focus?

Dr. Zubair Khalid specializes in molecular virology, mRNA vaccine development, and computational biology, with a focus on avian pathogens like IBDV and Avian Reovirus.

Where is Dr. Zubair Khalid currently working?

Dr. Zubair Khalid is a Postdoctoral Research Associate at the University of Maryland (UMD), specifically within the Department of Animal and Avian Sciences.

Zubair Khalid

Veterinarian, virologist and bioinformatician working on poultry viruses, vaccines and multi-omics computational biology for animal and public health.

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Virology & Molecular Biology

Bioinformatics

Veterinary Medicine

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Publications

10+

Conference talks

Awards and fellowships

10+

Journals reviewed for

170+

Research tools built

Peer-reviewed

Selected publications

All publications

LatestMicrobiology Spectrum · 2026

Molecular Characterization of Infectious Bursal Disease Virus (IBDV) Strains of Genogroup A2B1 Circulating in Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia from 2018 to 2023

Characterization of IBDV strains circulating in the Delmarva region from 2018 to 2023, uncovering an amino acid signature (NRED) in the VP2 capsid hypervariable region that drives viral escape from neutralizing antibody responses.

IBDVMolecular EpidemiologyDelmarvaPoultry Virology

Read the paper

2025Tissue-Specific Transcriptomic Responses to Avian Reovirus Inoculation in OvoViruses, 17(5), 646

2025Molecular Responses to Avian Reovirus Inoculation In VitroViruses, 17(11), 1489

2025Viral Heterogeneity in an Avian Reovirus Isolate Despite Plaque Purification and Differences in Segment-Wise Abundance Between Different Amplification and Purification StepsAvian Diseases, 70(1), 23-31

2023Optimizing the Conditions for Whole-Genome Sequencing of Avian ReovirusesViruses, 15(9), 1938

More publications

2021Enhanced Protection by Recombinant Newcastle Disease Virus Expressing Infectious Bronchitis Virus Spike Ectodomain and Chicken Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating FactorAvian Diseases USDA ARS

2024Responses to Avian Reovirus Infection in Vivo, in Ovo, and in VitroPhD Dissertation - Auburn University

2021Protective Efficacy of a Recombinant Newcastle Disease Virus against Infectious BronchitisMS Thesis - Auburn University

2026Secondary Analysis of the Intestinal Microbiota of Healthy ChickensPoultry Science

2025Response of YPM × Ross 708 Male Broilers to Diets Containing Varying Inclusions of Phytase, Calcium Butyrate, and Bacitracin Methylene Disalicylate During the Grower and Finisher Periods – Part 2: Intestinal Health and PhysiologyPoultry Science

2024Response of YPM × Ross 708 Male Broilers to Diets Containing Varying Inclusions of Phytase, Calcium Butyrate, and Bacitracin Methylene Disalicylate From 1 to 42 d of Age – Part 1: Performance, Processing Yields, and Nutrient DigestibilityPoultry Science

On stage

Conference talks

All talks

ASV Oral · 2024

Application of Artificial Intelligence Models to Quantify Avian Reovirus-Induced Cytopathic Effect

American Society for Virology (ASV) 2024

Columbus, Ohio

WPDC Oral · 2024

Comparative Transcriptomic Analysis of Chicken-origin Cell Lines following Avian Reovirus Inoculation

Western Poultry Disease Conference (WPDC) 2024

Salt Lake City, Utah

IPSF Co-authored Oral · 2024

Meta-analysis of the Normal Chicken Microbiota

International Poultry Scientific Forum (IPSF) 2024

Atlanta, GA

AAAP Poster · 2024

Determination of purity of an avian reovirus isolate following plaque purification

American Association of Avian Pathologists (AAAP) 2024

St. Louis, MO

AAAP Oral · 2023

Systemic Invasiveness and Pathogenicity of an Avian Reovirus Field Isolate Compared to a Reference Strain Following Oral Inoculation

American Association of Avian Pathologists (AAAP) 2023

Jacksonville, FL

IPSF Oral · 2023

Influence of Avian Reovirus infection on the Intestinal Microbiome

International Poultry Scientific Forum (IPSF) 2023

Atlanta, GA

AAAP Co-authored Oral · 2023

The Impact of Salmonella Typhimurium and Coccidiosis Vaccine on the Intestinal Integrity in Broiler Chickens in the Late Stage of Production

American Association of Avian Pathologists (AAAP) 2023

Jacksonville, FL

IPSF Co-authored Oral · 2023

The Impact of Salmonella Typhimurium and Coccidiosis Vaccine on the Cecal Transcriptome in Broiler Chickens

International Poultry Scientific Forum (IPSF) 2023

Atlanta, GA

Recognition

Awards and service

Awards

202201

P. P. Levine Award

American Association of Avian Pathologists

Awarded by the American Association of Avian Pathologists (AAAP) for the best paper published in the journal Avian Diseases (Vol. 65, 2021): 'Enhanced Protection by Recombinant Newcastle Disease Virus Expressing Infectious Bronchitis Virus Spike Ectodomain and Chicken Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor.' Presented at the AAAP Annual Meeting in Philadelphia, PA on August 1, 2022.

2022-202302

Presidential Graduate Research Fellowship

Auburn University Graduate School

Awarded by the Auburn University Graduate School in recognition of exemplary scholarship and innovation while exhibiting academic promise in the pursuit of doctoral education.

Auburn University Presidential Graduate Research Fellowship 2022-2023 certificate awarded to Dr. Zubair Khalid, signed by George T. Flowers (Dean of the Graduate School) and Christopher B. Roberts (President, Auburn University)

202403

Scientific Presentation Award

Western Poultry Disease Conference

Recognized for outstanding research presentation in poultry disease research at the annual Western Poultry Disease Conference.

2020-202104

Outstanding Master's Student Award

Auburn University

Awarded by the Auburn University Graduate School in recognition of outstanding contributions to graduate education and research in pathobiology during the Master of Science program.

201905

Fulbright Scholarship

Fulbright Program, U.S. Department of State

Selected as a Fulbright Scholar to pursue an MS in Biomedical Sciences at Auburn University (2019-2021), testing a recombinant Newcastle disease virus-vectored vaccine against infectious bronchitis virus.

201306

Gold Medal and Certificate of Honor in Debates

University of Agriculture, Faisalabad

Awarded for representing the university and winning several nationwide debate competitions, demonstrating exceptional communication and leadership skills.

Service

Peer reviewer for 10+ journals

Scientific ReportsNature Portfolio

BMC GenomicsBMC · Springer Nature

Veterinary ResearchBMC · Springer Nature

VirulenceTaylor & Francis

European Poultry ScienceUlmer

npj Biofilms and MicrobiomesNature Portfolio

American Chemical SocietyACS Publications

Free to use

Research tools

All 170+ tools

PDB 2FK0 · drag to rotate

3D Protein Structure Viewer

Open any PDB entry, AlphaFold model or your own structure file. Rotate it, colour it by chain or confidence, and highlight residues, all in the browser.

PDBAlphaFoldCartoon and surface

Open

Does in ovo vaccination protect broilers against IBDV?

Supports

Mixed

Evidence tableExport to Excel

Literature Review Generator

Ask a research question and get the relevant papers, an evidence table and a cited review you can export to Excel.

Semantic ScholarEvidence tableCitations

Open

CCitation CheckerClean up a reference list in any style.OOmniAlign StudioExtract mutations against a reference.TTCID50 CalculatorViral titer by Reed and Muench.PPlaque Assay and MOIPFU/mL and volume for a target MOI.qqPCR Standard CurveEfficiency, R squared and copy number.PPrimer Tm CalculatorMelting temperature and GC content.

Path

Experience and education

Full CV

ExperienceSept 2025 - Present
Researcher
University of Maryland, College Park, MD
Exploring pathogenicity and vaccine efficacy against infectious bursal disease virus through advanced molecular and immunological approaches.
ExperienceApril 2025 - Aug 2025
Postdoctoral Associate
University of Georgia, Athens, GA
Advanced research in CRISPR-mediated gene editing, mRNA vaccine development, and RNA virus detection with focus on avian viral systems.
ExperienceJan 2025 - Mar 2025
Postdoctoral Researcher (TES)
Auburn University, Auburn, AL
Conducted research on avian reovirus pathogenesis and contributed to scientific writing and publication activities.
Education2024
PhD, Biomedical Sciences
Auburn University
Education2023
Graduate Certificate, Bioinformatics
Auburn University
Experience2021 - 2024
Presidential Graduate Research Fellow
Auburn University, Auburn, AL
Explored in vivo and in vitro pathogenicity of avian reovirus utilizing multi-omics approaches for comprehensive understanding of viral pathogenesis.
Education2021
MS, Biomedical Sciences
Auburn University
Experience2019 - 2021
Fulbright Scholar
Auburn University, Auburn, AL
Tested a recombinant Newcastle disease virus-vectored vaccine candidate against an infectious bronchitis virus through comprehensive efficacy studies.
Education2018
Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Veterinary Medicine
University of Agriculture, Faisalabad
Education2018
B.Ed., Bachelor of Education
University of Agriculture, Faisalabad

Let's Connect

LinkedInProfessional updatesOpen

Google ScholarCitations and papersOpen

ORCID0000-0002-2302-7287Open

ResearchGateFull texts and Q&AOpen

GitHubCode and pipelinesOpen

UMD ProfileUniversity of MarylandOpen

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