From Lahore to Freiberg
I grew up in Pakistan and completed my undergraduate degree in Chemical Engineering at the University of the Punjab in 2010, graduating with a distinction scholarship. My early career took me into industry — I spent nearly three years as an Assistant Manager for R&D at Style Textile in Lahore, working on applied projects for international brands including Nike, Adidas, and Reebok.
In 2013 I moved to Saudi Arabia on a government scholarship to pursue my MS at King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals (KFUPM), where I worked on photocatalytic conversion of CO₂ to hydrocarbons using Cu-Zn/TiO₂ catalysts. This cemented my interest in catalysis as a tool for solving real environmental and energy challenges.
I then joined the Technical University of Munich (TUM) in 2017 as a DAAD scholar, completing my PhD (Dr.-Ing.) in 2022 on the modification of graphitic carbon nitride (g-C₃N₄) for redox and hydrogen-related applications. Alongside my doctoral research I taught core chemical engineering courses at UET Lahore and supervised DAAD and Erasmus visiting researchers at TUM.
Since August 2023 I have been a Postdoctoral Researcher at TU Bergakademie Freiberg (TUBAF), where my work sits at the heart of the sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) value chain — from methanol-to-olefins using zeolite catalysts, to hydrotreating and hydrocracking of Fischer–Tropsch feeds, in close collaboration with industrial partners including Ineratec.
Beyond research, I am a passionate photographer, biker, and traveller — documenting journeys across Germany, Pakistan, and beyond through my Instagram and YouTube channel.
Academic & Professional
Lead researcher on MTO for SAF (REF4FU), hydrotreating & hydrocracking for SAF production (Ineratec, OptiSAF), and planned MTA catalyst development. Responsible for end-to-end reactor commissioning, catalyst screening, DoE-based optimization, and industrial stakeholder presentations.
Delivered core undergraduate courses including Mass Transfer, Separation Processes, Wastewater Treatment, Particle Technology, and Environmental Engineering. Supervised undergraduate thesis projects and mentored students for research-oriented careers.
Developed modified graphitic carbon nitride photocatalysts for redox and hydrogen applications. Supervised DAAD and Erasmus visiting researchers. Developed analytical workflows using HPLC and LC-MS for reaction product analysis.
Led applied R&D projects aligned with Nike, Adidas, and Reebok compliance requirements. Coordinated cross-functional teams for product development, quality assurance, and process improvement to meet international sustainability standards.