RANDA ALHASSAN ZARBAN

Accomplished Assistant Professor and biotechnology researcher specialising in plant biotechnology, molecular biology, and sustainable agriculture. Experience includes leading interdisciplinary research, developing analytical methods, and conducting data analysis. Focused on advancing research that enhances crop improvement and environmental sustainability through collaboration and impactful scientific contributions.

• Invited Speaker: Women Leaders in Technology and Engineering (2025)
• Invited Lecture: Integration of Biomedical Engineering and Molecular Biology (2025)
• Seminar: Using Biotechnology to Enhance Immunity (2024)
• Member, Research Ethics Committee, King Faisal University (2025–Present)
• Research Team Member, Blue Carbon and Mangrove Enhancement Research Group, King Faisal University & Saudi Aramco (2025–Present)
• Member, Food Security and Environmental Sustainability Initiative Office, King Faisal University (2024–Present)
• Communicator, Environmental Sustainability Association, King Faisal University (2026–Present)
• Faculty Representative and Coordinator, Student Guidance and Skills Development Unit, King Faisal University (2024–Present)
• Chair, E-Learning Examination Committee, College of Agricultural and Food Sciences, King Faisal University (2023–2025)

• Women's Leadership Development Program — Vice Presidency for Female Student Affairs & Deanship of Development and Quality Assurance, King Faisal University (May 2026).
• Green Universities Program — Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture (May 2026).
• Research Bioethics Certification — National Committee of Bioethics (NCBE), King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST) (July 2025)
• Researcher KFU 2025 Research Camp — Deanship of Scientific Research, King Faisal University (2025).
• Effective Communication with Learners — Deanship of Development and Quality Assurance, King Faisal University (November 2024).
• Professional Fellowship Certificate in Higher Education — Deanship of Development and Quality Assurance, King Faisal University (December 2024).

• Rashed, N. M., Abd El-Khalek, A. F., El-Gioushy, S. F., Mahmoud, G. A., Alturki, S. M., Alharbi, A. S., Zarban, R. A., & Gawish, M. S. (2026). Integrated effects of sodium nitroprusside, arginine, and salicylic acid on chilling tolerance, antioxidant defense, and postharvest quality of cold-stored 'Keitt' mango fruit. Horticulturae, 12(6), 751.
• Hameed, U. F. S., Jamil, M., Zarban, R. A., Saito, Y., Alashoor, K. F., Balakrishna, A., Asami, T., Arold, S. T., & Al-Babili, S. (2026). Orobanche cumana KAI2d2 mediates the perception of dehydrocostus lactone and strigolactones and is inhibited by triazole ureas. Plant Communications. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.xplc.2026.101889
• Dhawi, F., Ghafoor, A., Al Dossary, O., Alsubaie, B., Zarban, R. A., Alomair, G., Alkhaldi, N. A., Abroguena, J. B. R., & Campbell, C. (2026). Soil amendments improve growth and survival of grey mangroves in arid sabkha, Saudi Arabia. Frontiers in Environmental Science, 13, 2025.
• Hameed, U. S., Zarban, R. A. Y., Haider, I., Jamil, M., Al-Babili, S., & Arold, S. T. (2022). Using crystallographic ‘failures' to identify artificial and endogenous inhibitors for plant growth and defense pathways.
• Zarban, R. A., Hameed, U. F. S., Jamil, M., Ota, T., Wang, J. Y., Arold, S. T., Asami, T., & Al-Babili, S. (2021). Rational design of Striga hermonthica specific seed germination inhibitors. Plant Physiology.
• Zarban, R., Vogler, M., Wong, A., Eppinger, J., Al-Babili, S., & Gehring, C. (2019). Discovery of a nitric oxide-responsive protein in Arabidopsis thaliana. Molecules.