Muhammad (Jal) Ghazali, Biodiversity Genomics Laboratory Technician
Jal has been working in molecular laboratory environments for over a decade. He is interested in genetics techniques, contributing to a wide range of scientific research and publications for both plant and animal studies.
Jal graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Biology from the University of North Sumatra, Indonesia, where he was first introduced to laboratory practices. He then worked in the RBGE (Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh) herbarium for three years, digitising Zingiberaceae spirit collections and type specimens.
After completing an MSc, Jal joined the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS) as a Genomics Technician, where he gained hands-on experience in conducting molecular lab experiments, maintaining the lab for day-to-day use, and assisting researchers and students on various projects. As an integral part of the team, Jal collaborated with partners internationally
In his current role as a Biodiversity Genomics Laboratory Technician at RBGE, Jal continues his passion for working in a molecular lab, now with a focus on the plant world.
His initial research at RBGE was as part of the the Saudi Diet Project <link out to project>, investigating which plant species the herbivores in AlUla, Saudi Arabia eat. He was part of a team that spent time in the field, sampling plants that were then sequenced to generate DNA barcode reference libraries, and then collecting animal pellets to identify the plants they had eaten using DNA metabarcoding.
In addition to his technical expertise in the molecular labs, and as well as working in the herbarium, Jal is interested in field research, especially in the tropical forests that he visited many times during his undergraduate studies.
As part of the Science Division team, Jal is always keen to provide support for RBGE staff, associates and students, making sure their projects run smoothly and efficiently.
Email: mghazali@rbge.org.uk
OrcID: 0009-0002-0743-5907