Bashir is a member of the Toxicology team at Cambridge Environmental Assessments (CEA, part of RSK ADAS Ltd), having joined in 2019 as a principal consultant. Currently, Bashir heads the preparation and submission of food enzyme dossiers to EFSA, while undertaking toxicological assessments, weight-of-evidence evaluations, literature searches and study monitoring. With past extensive work experience in in-silico predictive toxicology, he is particularly interested in connecting traditional toxicology with in-silico predictive methods.
Initially, Bashir led the CEA Chemical Field Fate Team, managing the delivery of higher tier GLP field fate studies for plant protection products. He then supported the Environmental Fate and Behaviour team, where he conducted literature searches, performed weight of evidence assessments and curated large residue-monitoring datasets.
With over 15 years of combined academic and industry experience, Bashir brings diverse scientific expertise to his role. For more than a decade, he managed the development of structural alerts for reproductive and developmental toxicity/teratogenicity and endocrine disruption within Derek Nexus, the prediction of toxicity software application. His expertise centres on analysing and critically evaluating toxicological literature and data, encompassing both in vitro and in vivo studies, with a focus on mammalian toxicity endpoints, human safety assessment, and regulatory compliance. He is proficient in conducting human health hazard assessments using various (Q)SAR tools. As an advanced KNIME (Konstanz Information Miner) user, Bashir has developed KNIME workflows for diverse end-uses, including the standardization of pesticide residue monitoring data and the creation of a semi-automated literature search methodology. He provides KNIME support for the automation of GLP mesocosm raw data processing and ad-hoc training to CEA colleagues. Bashir is a certified team manager and has managed 17 members of staff at one point.
Bashir graduated in Chemistry (DEA, ‘avec mention’) at Pierre et Marie Curie University before completing his Ph.D. in Bioorganic Chemistry at The University of Birmingham. He is a member of both the Royal Society of Chemistry and the British Toxicology Society.
Away from his desk, Bashir spends time on several things including cooking, DIY, travelling with family around the world and gardening. He also has a keen interest in five languages and football, especially Liverpool FC. Whenever possible, Bashir also goes hiking with friends and family in the Yorkshire Dales.