Syed Riyaz-Ul-Hassan is a Senior Principal Scientist in the Microbial Biotechnology Division at CSIR-Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine, Branch Laboratory Srinagar. Riyaz-Ul-Hassan received his Ph.D. from Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh in Agricultural Microbiology, and joined CSIR-Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine, Jammu as  Scientist B in 2006. During his Ph. D. and initial years of his tenure as a Scientist, he worked on the development of molecular methods for the rapid detection of food-borne pathogens, and bioprospecting endophytes for bioactive molecules and industrial enzymes. He collaborated with the industry to develop compatible PCR assays for the detection of several human pathogens by the handheld Micro-PCR system fabricated by the latter. He obtained a BOYSCAST Fellowship from the Department of Science and Technology, New Delhi, to work at Montana State University, USA on Endophytic Biology and Biochemistry, particularly Mycodiesel^® producing strains. The current focus of his research is, understanding the plant-microbe interactions in important medicinal plants, bacterial-fungal interactions, and bioprospecting endophytes for bioactive metabolites. The work has resulted in potential leads for the development of a microbial formulation for corm-rot inhibition and plant-growth promotion in saffron. Subsequently, an agreement has been signed with the industry for the commercial production of this formulation.