From a LinkedIn Vacancy to a Living Laboratory in Najran, Saudi Arabia

Some journeys don’t begin with a formal plan.
They begin with a single opportunity—and the courage to take it seriously.

This is the story of how a LinkedIn vacancy turned into the successful establishment of a plant tissue culture laboratory in Najran, Saudi Arabia, and later became the foundation for multiple biotechnology projects in the Kingdom.

The Opportunity That Changed Everything

I came across the Najran laboratory vacancy on LinkedIn, at a time when my PhD was still in progress. I had not yet defended my thesis, but I already had years of hands-on experience in plant biotechnology, tissue culture, and applied research.

Many would have waited.

I chose to prepare.

Instead of seeing my incomplete PhD as a limitation, I saw the vacancy as a signal—that real-world biotechnology values capability, vision, and execution as much as academic titles.

Preparing Before the Title

Before stepping into Saudi Arabia, I invested in preparation.

I traveled to Dubai and attended ArabLab Expo, one of the most important scientific exhibitions in the region. There, I:

• Evaluated tissue culture and molecular biology equipment

• Finalized equipment procurement lists

• Selected chemicals, media, glassware, and consumables

• Coordinated directly with international suppliers

This was not theoretical planning—it was industrial-scale laboratory preparation.

Completing the Academic Chapter

After this groundwork, I returned to Pakistan and successfully defended my PhD in 2024.

The degree did not change my direction—but it strengthened my foundation. With formal academic completion behind me, I was ready to fully execute what had already been planned.

Back to Dubai: Finalizing the Lab Vision

Once again, I traveled to Dubai, this time with even clearer objectives:

• Purchased additional specialized equipment and chemicals

• Finalized laboratory layout maps and workflow designs

• Designed clean zones, culture rooms, media preparation areas, and growth facilities

• Aligned lab design with international biosafety and tissue culture standards

Every detail—from air flow to bench spacing—was mapped before arrival.

Najran, Saudi Arabia: Turning Plans into Reality ??

When I arrived in Najran, the focus shifted from planning to execution.

The laboratory was established step by step:

• Equipment installation and calibration

• Media preparation protocols

• Culture initiation and multiplication

• Staff guidance and workflow setup

Soon, the lab was not just functional—it was productive.

Ongoing Projects: Conserving Saudi Arabia’s Green Heritage ??

The Najran lab became a hub for plant conservation and propagation, aligned with Saudi Arabia’s environmental and agricultural priorities.

Key focus areas included:

• Endangered and native plant conservation

• Date palm propagation, including work from floral tissues

• Ornamental plants, adapted to local conditions

• Black roses and specialty plants, preserving unique genotypes

These projects were not short-term experiments—they were long-term conservation and sustainability initiatives.

Expansion Beyond Najran: Al-Qassim Project

After completing the Najran establishment phase, I returned to Pakistan—but the journey didn’t stop there.

A second biotechnology project was initiated for Al-Qassim, Saudi Arabia, building on:

• Experience gained in Najran

• Proven lab establishment strategies

• Scalable tissue culture protocols

What began as one LinkedIn vacancy had now become multiple active projects across regions.

Lessons from the Journey

This experience taught me something invaluable:

? Titles matter—but timing, preparation, and execution matter more
? Biotechnology succeeds when science meets logistics and leadership
? Vision without action stays an idea—action turns it into impact

Final Thoughts

The Najran laboratory is more than a facility.
It represents trust, preparation, and applied science.

And it all started with:

• A LinkedIn post

• An unfinished PhD

• A decision to act anyway

Today, the work continues—across borders, labs, and living plants—serving conservation, agriculture, and sustainable development in Saudi Arabia.