Abdullahi Musa, a Ph.D. student in the Mathematics and Natural Science (MIPA), Faculty of Science and Technology, Universitas Airlangga, recently participated in a one month COMSTECH-Gourmet Industrial Internship Program in Lahore, Pakistan. This prestigious program is a collaboration between the Committee on Scientific and Technological Cooperation (COMSTECH) and Gourmet, a leading industrial group in Pakistan. The first badge of the program which consist of 7 interns (two from Nigerians, three from Palastine, one from Bangladesh and one from Indonesia) aims to provide research students and professionals from Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) countries with hands-on training and industrial exposure in various sectors, including food technology, supply chain management, and research and development.
During this internship, Abdullahi Musa was assigned to the QuinTech Research and Development (R&D) Department of Gourmet. Under the supervision of Dr. Anam Saqib, the head of QuinTech Sciences and other experienced senior and junior researchers, the internship focused on exploring innovative approaches to food processing, natural product development, and industrial research methodologies. A significant part of the training included theoretical and practical sessions on:
- Production of Natural Vinegar from Sugarcane – Investigating fermentation techniques and quality control measures leading to the production of Natural Vinegar.
- Chromatography Techniques – Hands-on training in separating and analyzing natural compounds.
- Exremophiles and Microbial application – Isolation of Extremophiles, their industrial applications and antimicrobial activity testing.
- Multidrug-Resistant Pathogens & Phage Therapy – Whole genome analysis of multidrug-resistant pathogens and Bacteriophage isolation and characterization for therapeutic applications
- Bioinformatics- Utilizing computational tools for biological and chemical data analysis.
Beyond the laboratory work, the internship provided opportunities for networking and collaboration with scientists and industry professionals from Pakistan and other OIC member countries. This exchange of knowledge and expertise broadened the understanding of industrial applications of natural product chemistry, aligning with Abdullahi Musa’s research interests in Natural products and their potential pharmaceutical applications. Moreover, we had the incredible opportunity to explore various cultural, academic, and industrial sites across Pakistan including the iconic Badshahi Mosque, Dilmen Mall, Lahore University, Government College University (GCU), University of Faisalabad and other commercial centers. These visits enriched our overall experience by exposing us to the historical, educational, and economic aspects of the country. Additionally, our visit to Gourmet Sugar Mill and QuinTech Fertilizer provided a deeper understanding of large-scale industrial operations, particularly in sugar production and fertilizer manufacturing. Observing the processing techniques, quality control measures, and innovative technologies used in these facilities strengthened my appreciation for industrial applications of chemistry and biotechnology. Our tours of Lahore and Faisalabad further immersed us in the cultural and economic vibrancy of Pakistan, making this internship an academic, professional and also a cultural experience.
The experience gained from this internship has strengthened academic and industrial connections, opening possibilities for future collaborative research, knowledge exchange, and innovation in the field of natural products and food technology. The Faculty of Science and Technology at Universitas Airlangga believes that such international engagements are crucial for advancing research capabilities and fostering global academic partnerships
