Syed Babar Ali School of
Science and Engineering
Syed Babar Ali School of Science and Engineering
Syed Babar Ali School of Science and Engineering (SBASSE) at LUMS is the first private research school of science and engineering in Pakistan. In higher education, the term research school refers to a model of teaching and scholarship practised by some of the best institutions in the world where the primary function of the university is to create and disseminate new knowledge. SBASSE has consciously modelled itself along the lines of the world’s top research schools and has a highly qualified faculty to accomplish its mission. The hallmark of SBASSE is its no-boundaries philosophy, which encourages cross-disciplinary collaborations not only between various disciplines at SBASSE but also those offered by other Schools at LUMS.
A Different Kind of
Science and Engineering School
in Pakistan
300,000
Square feet of lab and
classroom learning space
70+
Dedicated labs for research,
teaching and support
Accredited by
PEC and NCEAC
Choose your path
Science for Pakistan
Contribution in Science and Technology by the researchers at SBASSE has an impact on the future development of Science in Pakistan.
Meet our Faculty
At SBASSE our faculty members share the boundaries of their life experiences and interests that foster a dynamic learning environment on campus.
Research and Impact
In an extraordinary feat of academic and…
Reference Department:Department of Mathematics
In an extraordinary feat of academic and research brilliance, Nida Javaid, a dedicated biologist, triumphed in her Ph.D. thesis defense by discussing her research on antimicrobial resistance (AMR) on clinically relevant pathogens. 2 weeks after her defense, she was awarded the coveted title of being a Ph.D. doctor. By inculcating the disciplines of Math and Biology, Dr. Nida employed various statistical analyses along with well-thought-out genomic epidemiological approaches to classify and characterize the patterns of Antimicrobial Resistance in Pakistan.
In her thesis presentation, Dr. Nida highlighted the dangers of antimicrobial-resistant pathogens. Due to factors such as lack of surveillance systems, inadequate infection control practices in hospitals, overburdened healthcare systems, and most importantly, the lack of awareness, AMR has become a major public threat in Pakistan. Dr. Nida’s statistical models primarily focus on the patterns of AMR in Pakistan, explicitly examining clinically resistant strains of Streptococcus pneumoniae (S. pneumoniae). S. Pneumoniae is the bacteria behind pneumococcal infections, a lower respiratory tract disease affecting millions worldwide. When bacteria become resistant to the antimicrobials provided as an infection cure, antimicrobial resistance develops, and this causes the birth of ‘Superbugs’.
During her research, Dr.Nida realized the intensity of this prevalent problem and noticed that the burden of pneumonia infections is unevenly distributed. A staggering 50% of bacterial infections and associated fatalities are concentrated in just four countries, with Pakistan being among them. In 2012, a therapeutic revolution was introduced with the discovery of PCV-10, a vaccine targeting 10 serotypes of S.Pneumonia. However, until now, no study has examined the impact of this vaccine on these resistant pathogens. This is when Dr. Nida knew that she had to play her part in understanding and researching these disease patterns. Through her work, she brought the country closer to developing stronger therapeutics and surveillance systems.
What truly sets Dr. Nida’s approach apart is her multi-faceted, interdisciplinary approach. In her prior academic works as the first or second author, Dr. Nida delved into analogous mathematical models of AMR patterns in clinically relevant bacteria. For instance, in her published article titled "Trends in antimicrobial resistance amongst pathogens isolated from blood and cerebrospinal fluid cultures in Pakistan (2011-2015): A retrospective cross-sectional study," she extensively examined antimicrobial resistance patterns, specifically in E. coli strains.
Citation: Javaid, Nida et al. “Trends in antimicrobial resistance amongst pathogens isolated from blood and cerebrospinal fluid cultures in Pakistan (2011-2015): A retrospective cross-sectional study.” PloS one vol. 16,4 e0250226. 26 Apr. 2021, doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0250226
Her passion for Mathematics and Biology drove her to take a varied approach to tackle the problem. Her research was conducted under the guidance of multiple esteemed professors, including Dr. Shaper Mirza, Dr. Sultan Sial, Dr. Safee Chaudhary, and Dr. Adnan Khan, representing both the Math and Life Sciences departments at SSE. Additionally, she received supervision from Dr. Imran Nisar from Aga Khan University in Karachi. Dr. Nida's Ph.D. research also sets up a propeller for further research in therapeutics as she looks at other structural proteins of S.Pneumoniae as a vaccine target.
It goes without saying that the modern era…
Reference Department:Department of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering
It goes without saying that the modern era is surely a scientific era. With recent advancements in the field of research, diseases once considered “incurable” diseases are no longer a matter of distress for the 21st-century individuals, thanks to the incredible scientists and their valuable research. Considering the pace at which researchers are discovering cures for the most dreadful diseases, it is not impractical to think of the myth of a “panacea” may soon become a reality. However, certain widely prevalent diseases such as Alzheimer (AD) and Dementia, that unfortunately have no known cure and remain areas of intensive research globally.
The scientifically motivated students of LUMS are also keeping pace with the world by exhibiting strong commitment and actively contributing towards research in this field. One such example is our bright PhD Chemistry scholar, Kainat Ahmed, who has recently successfully defended her PhD proposal. Kainat’s insightful research in the area of potent heteroaromatic hydrazone-based 1,2,4-triazine motifs development to treat Alzheimer Disease, has been published in the renowned “Journal of Molecular Structure” by Elsevier.
1,2,4-Triazine based hydrazone scaffolds are organic compounds that were synthesized after a series of complex chemical reactions using heteroaromatic aldehydes. Heteroatomic aldehydes are a class of organic compounds that contain at least one heteroatom, such as oxygen (O), nitrogen (N), or sulfur (S), in addition to a carbonyl group (-C=O) and a hydrogen atom (-H) attached to the same carbon atom. The synthesized hydrazone are biologically active compounds that have shown promising results in combating neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. Apart from having a unique chemical structure, these motifs are also found to possess strong antioxidant activity and cholinesterase inhibition properties, which make them suitable for curing Alzheimer’s disease.
Alzheimer’s disease is a condition characterized by progressive decline in cognitive function, memory loss and behavioral changes. One of the key neurotransmitters affected in Alzheimer's disease is acetylcholine, which plays an important role in memory and learning. Cholinesterase inhibitors are a class of drugs that are commonly used in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. These drugs work by inhibiting the breakdown of acetylcholine, thereby increasing its levels in the brain. By increasing acetylcholine levels, cholinesterase inhibitors can help to improve cognitive function and slow down the progression of the disease. Two types of cholinesterase enzymes targeted by cholinesterase inhibitors are acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE).
Therefore, a radical approach for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease could involve the AChE and BChE enzymes, which play a crucial role in restoring an which progressively restore the concentration of acetylcholine. Previous research in this area yielded interesting results, where heterocyclic motifs in the form of potent free radical scavengers proved to be effective inhibitors for different enzymes, such as cholinesterase. Kainat along with her co-researchers synthesized new conjugates of 1,2,4-triazine and heteroaromatic aldehydes bridged with hydrazone skeleton, which showed effective activity as potent free radical scavengers and strong inhibitors of cholinesterases that cause Alzheimer’s disease.“Research is to see what everybody else has seen, and think what nobody else has thought.”-Albert Szent-Gyorgyi.
An innovative research technique employed by Kainat and co-researchers involved the utilization of quantum chemical and molecular docking studies to gain deeper insights into the mode of action of these motifs. These methods allowed them to explore the compounds’ electronic and structural properties, as well as their potential interactions with biological targets such as enzymes or receptors. The study’s results unveiled significant findings regarding the structure-activity relationships of the compounds. Specifically, the researchers identified crucial structural features that facilitated their interaction with cholinesterase enzymes and the scavenge reactive oxygen species. The development of these compounds represents an exciting advancement in the field of medicinal chemistry.
The publication of this article in a prestigious scientific journal and the defense of her PhD proposal is proof of Ms. Kainat’s dedication and commitment to her work. We extend our congratulations and wish her continued success in her endeavors.
بلاشبہ ٹیکنالوجی انسانی زندگیوں میں…
Reference Department:Department of Computer Science
بلاشبہ ٹیکنالوجی انسانی زندگیوں میں آسانی، علم و ہنر میں ترقی اور ترویج کا باعث ہے لیکن اس کے معاشرے میں بڑھتے مضر اثرات سے انکار نہیں کیا جا سکتا۔ کیا زبان زد عام مصنوعی ذہانت خصوصاً ڈیپ فیک کا منفی استعمال واقعی انسانی سوچ اور رویوں میں تبدیلی لا نے کی سکت رکھتا ہے؟ اس موضوع پر لمز میں جاری یہ تحقیق ۳ مرتبہ بین الا قوامی میٹا انٹیگرٹی ایوارڈ اپنے نام کرنے میں کامیاب ہوئی
اس کہانی کا آغاز سردیوں کی ایک دوپہر میں ہوا جب لمز کے تین ساتھی ،ڈاکٹر آغا علی رضا ، ڈاکٹر عائشہ علی، اور ڈاکٹر احسان ایوب قاضی اپنی اپنی تحقیق پر تبادلہ خیال کر رہے تھے ۔ ڈاکٹر عائشہ اور ڈاکٹر احسان نے ڈیجیٹل خواندگی اور گمراہ کن معلومات اور اطلاعات کے عوام پر اثرات سے متعلق اپنے کام کا ذکر کیا۔ اس دوران ڈاکٹر آغا نے اپنے ساتھیوں کو اپنا ایک سافٹ ویئر1 دکھایا جو تحریر کو تقریر میں بدلنے کی صلاحیت کا حامل تھا۔ انھوں نے اس تکنیک کے ذریعے تحریر کو ایک معروف ادبی شخصیت کی آواز میں منتقل کرکے اصل اور نقل کی پہچان کرانے کا تجربہ کیا تھا۔ یوں گفتگو کے دوران ان ساتھیوں کو مل کر کام کرنے کا خیال آیا اور باہمی مشاورت سے اس کام کو با ضابطہ تحقیق کے طور پر آگے بڑھانے کا عمل شروع ہوا ۔
سن ۲۰۱۹ء میں ڈاکٹر عائشہ اور ڈاکٹر احسان نے پہلی بار میٹا انٹیگرٹی ایوارڈ جیتا ۔ سن ۲۰۲۰ء اور ۲۰۲۳ء میں اس انعام کی جیت اسی تحقیقی سلسلے کی اہم کڑی ہے ۔
۲۰۱۹ میں پیش کیے جانے والے کام کا بنیادی مقصد پاکستان کے لوگوں میں ڈیجیٹل خواندگی کو جانچنا اور تدریسی و تعلیمی سرگرمیوں کے ذریعے ترقی پذیر ممالک کے لوگوں میں ممکنہ طور پر غلط معلومات اور اطلاعات کی شناخت کی صلاحیت کو بہتر بنانا تھا۔ ڈاکٹر عائشہ کے مطابق ایسی افواہوں اور معلومات کے پھیلاؤ کو روکنے کے لیے نشریاتی پابندیوں کا بھی استعمال کیا جا سکتا ہے لیکن اس لائحہ عمل کے برعکس ان کی توجہ صارفین کو ذی شعور اور صاحب فہم و ادراک بنانے پر مرکوز رہی۔ اس ضمن میں ایک ہزار گھرانوں کا انتخاب کر کے آر سی ٹی ٹیسٹ کیےگئے۔ ڈیجیٹل خواندگی کو جانچنے اور مختلف عوامل کے حقیقی محرکات کا، اتفاقات کی بجاۓ عملی شواہد کی بنیاد پر ،تعین کرنے کے لیے بنیادی طور پر مقداری تشخیص2 کا استعمال کیا گیا ۔ صنف ، آمدنی ، اور عمر کے ڈیجیٹل خواندگی اور گمراہ کن معلومات کی صلاحیتِ نشاندہی پر اثرات سے متعلق تجزیہ کیا گیا۔ نیز رویوں سے متعلق ڈیجیٹل گیمز کے ذریعے حقائق کی پڑتال کے لیے موجود خدمات3 کی طلب میں کمی یا بیشی پر کیفیاتی تجزیات بھی کیے گئے۔ اس تحقیق سے ثابت ہوا کہ لوگوں میں ڈیجیٹل خواندگی میں کمی ان کے گمراہ کن معلومات سے متاثر ہونے کے امکانات سے براہ راست نسبت رکھتی ہے۔
ڈاکٹر آغا کی ٹیم میں شمولیت کے بعد اس تحقیقی سلسلے کو تکنیکی تناظر میں مزید آگے بڑھایا گیا۔ ۲۰۲۰ میں پیش کی جانے والی سفارشات میں گمراہ کن معلومات خصوصاً ڈیپ فیک4 کے لوگوں کے رویوں پر اثرات کو پرکھنا، انکے سیاسی نظریات کے بدلاؤ اور معاشرتی تقطیب5 میں ایسی معلومات کے کردار کی تصدیق کرنا ،شامل تھا۔ اس تحقیق کے نتائج سے گمراہ کن معلومات کے ابتدائی و ارتقائی عوامل کی شناخت اور انسانی رویوں پر اس کی قوت اثر واضح ہو گئی ۔ اب اگلا قدم صارفین کو ایسی ضرر رساں یا گمراہ کن معلومات کی نشاندہی کے لیے با صلاحیت بنانا تھا۔
۲۰۲۳ میں اس ایوارڈ کا محور موثر قیمت اور قابل افزائش ڈیجیٹل تدریسی سفارشات کی تشکیل ہے جوعام صارفین میں ڈیجیٹل خواندگی کو بہتر بنا سکیں ۔ڈاکٹر آغا کے مطابق اس ضمن میں ٹیم کے پیش نظر دشوار امر یہ ہے کہ جب لوگوں میں ڈیپ فیک اور اس سے منسوب تدلیس و تلبیس کا شعور اجاگر کرنے کی کوشش کی جاتی ہے تو عموماً وہ صحیح چیز کو پہچاننے میں بھی تذبذب کا شکار ہو جاتے ہیں اور ہر چیز کو ہی غلط سمجھنے لگتے ہیں۔ اس طرح بجائے فائدے کے ، الٹا نقصان ہونے کا خدشہ ہے۔
لوگوں کو با شعور بنانے کی یہ کاوش ترقی پذیر ممالک کی کم ڈیجیٹلی خواندہ آبادی پر مرکوز ہے۔ حکمت عملی کے تحت مستند اور معتبر ذرائع سے نشان زدہ معلومات کا استعمال کر کے تین بنیادی مقاصد کے حصول کے لیے کام کیا جائے گا۔
ان میں (ا) جعلی معلومات کی نشاندہی کے طریقے بتانا، (ب) جذباتی اور اشتعال انگیز مواد تخلیق کرنے کی تراکیب سے آشنا کرنا، اور (ج) معلومات کی پڑتال کے لیے موجودہ اداروں اور ان کی خدمات سے مستفید ہونے کا ہنر سکھانا شامل ہیں ۔ یہاں گیمز کے استعمال کا مقصد صارفین کی توجہ کا حصول ہے۔ اس تحقیق کے نتائج کو ماپنے کے لیے صحیح اور غلط کی نشاندہی کی صلاحیت اور معاشرتی رویوں میں تبدیلی پر تجزیہ کیا جائے گا۔
مزید برآں اس تحقیق میں پہلے سے موجود مماثل سرگرمیوں اور سفارشات کا تقابلی جائزہ بھی لیا جائے گا۔ اس مقصد کے حصول کے لیے ایسا فریم ورک تیار کیا جائے گا جو ڈیجیٹل گیمز سے استفادہ کرتے ہوئے ان سفارشات کا موازنہ کر سکے اور ان کی تاثیر کو عملی طور پر جانچ سکے ۔ یہ کام چونکہ صارفین اور انکے رویوں سے متعلق ہے لہذا معاشرتی سیاق کو مد نظر رکھتے ہوئے یہ جائزہ حکومتی فیصلہ سازی کی سطح پر بہتر حکمت عملی کی تیاری اور نفاذ میں بے حد مدد گار ثابت ہو گا۔ ٹیم کا خواب اور عزم ہے کہ مستقبل میں اس تحقیق سے ایسی معیاری سفارشات جنم لیں جنھیں آنے والے دنوں میں نصاب کا حصہ بنایا جا سکے۔
۲۰۲۳ میٹا ایوارڈ کے لیے دنیا بھر کی ۳۹۴ یونیورسٹیوں سے موصول ہونے والی ۵۰۴ درخواستوں میں سے محض ۹ کامیاب ہو ئیں۔ ڈاکٹر احسان کے مطابق ایک مسابقتی پیشکش6 میں بہت سی باتیں اہم ہیں ۔ ان میں زیر غور مسئلہ کے حقیقی مقاصد و اہمیت ، شدت و اثرات، سیاق و سباق ، حوالہ متن ، ماہرانہ حکمت عملی اور سرمایہ کار ادارے کی پیشکش کے مقاصد میں دلچسپی و ہم آہنگی کے ساتھ ساتھ قابل، باصلاحیت،ہم خیال اور سرگرم کثیر الشعبہ ٹیم کی موجودگی نہایت اہم کردار ادا کرتے ہیں۔ ڈاکٹر احسان اور انکی ٹیم کی نظر میں لمز میں اساتذہ اور محققین کو ملنے والی آزادی وقت ، حمایتی لوگ اور معاون نظام ان کی گُونا گُوں کامیابیوں کی بنیاد ہیں۔
ڈاکٹر عائشہ علی لمز شعبہ معاشیات میں اسسٹنٹ پروفیسر ہیں اور توانائی، انفارمیشن معاشیات اور سیاسی معاشیات میں دلچسپی رکھتی ہیں۔
ڈاکٹر آغا علی رضالمز سکول آف سائنس اینڈ انجینیئرنگ کے شعبہ کمپیوٹر سائنس میں اسسٹنٹ پروفیسر اور سینٹر فار سپیچ اینڈ لینگویج ٹیکنالوجیز7 کے بانی ہیں ۔
ڈاکٹر احسان ایوب قاضی لمز سکول آف سائنس اینڈ انجینیئرنگ کے شعبہ کمپیوٹر سائنس میں ایسوسی ایٹ پروفیسر ہیں اور گمراہ کن معلومات کی روک تھام ، ڈیجیٹل ترقی ، کلاؤڈ /ایج کمپیوٹنگ 8 اورٹیکنالوجی و منصوبہ سازی کے تعامُل پر تحقیق کرتے ہیں۔
- Software
- Quantitative Evaluation
- Fact checking services
- Deep Fake
- Polarization
- Competitive Proposal
- Center for Speech and Language Technologies (CSaLT)
- Cloud/Edge Computing
The use of mathematical modeling in the…
Reference Department:Department of Mathematics
The use of mathematical modeling in the fight against diseases and pandemics is not new. Scientists and mathematicians have used mathematical modeling to identify the cause of diseases and estimate their transmission rates. Since it helps calculate the transmission rate and the proportion of the population at risk of infection, this methodology becomes crucial for pandemic control. For the recent novel coronavirus (COVID-19) too, such models were created, which helped gauge its spread and hence aided authorities in making suitable decisions to prevent its spread.
Mohsin Ali, a Ph.D. student at the department of Mathematics at LUMS, formulated deterministic models for his Ph.D. thesis, which was successfully defended on Friday, May 5th ,2023. The thesis was titled “Mathematical Modelling of Some Infectious Diseases” and was examined by a committee including members from both LUMS and otter institutions such as Ajman University in UAE and the University of the Punjab in Lahore. The defense was supervised by Dr. Adnan Khan, an associate professor of Mathematics at LUMS.
Dr. Mohsin’s primary data source was the NCBI database, and the initial model investigated the effects of asymptomatic persons in spreading the disease, which was the main issue with this disease i.e., the inability to observe symptoms early enough, making containing the disease a big challenge. Ali calculated the basic reproduction number based on incidence data from the initial outbreak in Wuhan. This estimate aligned with others and was considered low during the initial stages of the pandemic due to fewer infected individuals. He then covered isolation and quarantine procedures, as well as the medication and treatment needed to control the illness, into his calculations. From this, he predicted the COVID-19 epidemic curve during the pandemic's initial stages in Pakistan in 2020.
By analyzing incidence statistics for the pre-and post-relaxation period of social distancing measures, he calculated the fundamental reproduction number, which helped predict the epidemic curve. In the absence of significant attempts to manage the epidemic, the curve would have peaked around mid-September 2020. It was also found that the disease severity and illness-related factors are both linked to age and co-morbidities such as heart diseases and hypertension.
Interestingly, in his thesis, potential patients were divided into two main groups; a low-risk group of teens with high immunities and a high-risk group comprising the elderly. It was evident that changes in the relative number of these low- and high-risk susceptible groups significantly influenced the effect of disease and mortality. Further, to understand how co-infection can affect pneumonia transmission, Dr. Mohsin examined the relationship between influenza and pneumonia respiratory illnesses. His model also exhibited a backwardly diverging curve in the presence of co-infection, indicating that bringing the disease’s reproduction rate to zero might not be sufficient. However, it can depend on the first susceptible population.
Numerical simulations and models were also presented to corroborate the theoretical conclusions of the thesis. An essential factor, 'Ro', was defined as the basic reproduction number that determined the decay or increase in the curves of the disease.
The importance of basic Mathematics is often overlooked and imagined to be restricted to examinations and classrooms. However, with the right arithmetic and modeling, it is even possible to understand disease dynamics and take steps to counter it!
As summer approaches, high temperatures in…
Reference Department:Department of Electrical Engineering
As summer approaches, high temperatures in Pakistan bring a host of challenges beyond the physical discomfort of the heat. With frequent power outages plaguing the country’s energy grid, keeping cool and comfortable can be a struggle. Pakistan, like many other countries, is turning to renewable energy like rooftop solar panels and net metering to power homes and businesses. However, unlike technologically advanced countries, Pakistan does not have a distribution management system (DMS) to handle the influx of renewable energy from rooftop solar panels.
Dr Raheel Zafar, Assistant Professor from the Department of Electrical Engineering at LUMS, is working on solutions to help manage energy grids more efficiently and reliably, not only for Pakistan but globally. In 2023, he published two papers in IEEE Access, one as the first author of an international collaboration and the other one with his research assistant as the corresponding author. We will take a closer look at another one of Dr Raheel’s recently published papers in the reputed research journal, IEEE Transactions on Sustainable Energy titled Multi-Timescale Coordinated Control with Optimal Network Reconfiguration using Battery Storage Systems in Smart Distribution Grids
The paper proposes a new optimization framework to improve the performance of power distribution networks, which are responsible for bringing electricity from the transmission system to consumers. While the framework was developed by Dr Raheel, the co-author Dr Hemanshu R. Pota, Associate Professor at the University of New South Wales Canberra in Australia, provided valuable input during the structuring and revision stages of the article.
The paper deals with feeder reconfiguration, which involves changing the network’s topology by opening and closing switches to modify the connections between parts of the network. Dr Raheel proposes the co-optimization of feeder reconfiguration, creating a plan to schedule the use of (1) traditional voltage regulating devices, such as the on-load tap changer (OLTCs), to regulate the voltage of the traditional power grid, and (2) utility-scale distributed energy resources like battery energy storage systems and photovoltaic (solar energy) inverter.
To determine the optimal coordination between these different sources of power, Dr Raheel used a mathematical model called “mixed-integer second-order cone program”. This was solved using the GAMS software, an abbreviation for General Algebraic Modeling System, to find the best solution for the power grid, or “global optimum”, by exploring possible solutions and identifying the combinations that produce the best outcomes. Furthermore, the feasibility of the solution was tested using the Distribution System Simulator (OpenDSS) software. The model calculated an optimal switching plan on a daily basis, using 20-minute intervals for batteries and photovoltaic inverters, and hourly intervals for OLTCs.
Through this model, Dr Raheel was able to reduce energy losses by a staggering 24,1% and improve load balancing by 25%, compared to the current fixed topology system. The model could be used for day-ahead scheduling, making it a promising solution for optimizing power distribution.
Graduate Theses
Name: Mumtaz Khan
Supervisor: Dr. Amer Rasheed
Year: 2022
MS/PhD: PhD
Department: Mathematics
The Particle
The Particle
A Science magazine with research and science stories from SBASSE.
Please click here to read the magazine: Issue 20
Science Stories
Subtitle:
Posted Date:
Reignite your passion for robotics - Join the LUMS team for NERC
Story:
Robots! Drones! Advanced AI! The future has arrived faster than we could have anticipated, and the students of LUMS finally have the opportunity to step into a utopian cyberpunk-esque age. The National Engineering Robotics Contest (NERC 2023) is approaching steadfastly for all you tech enthusiasts wanting to make your mark in the world of Robotics & Mechatronics.
This special collaboration between NUST and the STEM Careers Program HEC arrives again for its 4th edition as the most prominent competition in Pakistan for those aspiring in robotic designs, control algorithms, and architectures. Participants will be able to showcase their talents over 5 days, 11-15th July, at NUST CEME, competing amongst other university representatives and establishing themselves as leading pioneers of robotics research in Pakistan. The Electrical Engineering department of LUMS invites students, even those outside SSE, to team up and unify their creative geniuses to this momentous occasion. Having students even from the SDSB in past, Dr. Jahangir Ikram invites everyone with a burning desire to learn and create to apply.
This year's theme also resonates deeply with Pakistan's future, particularly in developing and integrating robotic elements within agriculture, which is considered primarily a traditionalized industry. Students acquiring recognition and acknowledgement through NERC 2023 would ensure that successful inventions find their way into mainstream technological utilization within this leading industry of Pakistan.
This theme revolves primarily around how robots could improve overall efficiency and quality of crop production, contributing to reduced manual labor and booms in economic growth. Those of you intrigued by the limitless approaches can begin your engineering journey here and expand your vision into creative territories unknown to you until now. Under the expert guidance of Dr. Jahangir Ikram, and Mr. Mudassar Ejaz as your mentor, all that is required for success in the competition is a passionate drive to create. The future awaits!
All interested candidates can reach out to Mr. Mudassar Ejaz on mudassar.ejaz@lums.edu.pk ASAP.
All necessary details and categories are available on the website.
Robots! Drones! Advanced AI! The future has arrived faster than we could have anticipated, and the students of LUMS finally have the opportunity to step into a utopian…
Seminars and Conferences
Date:
Registration Link:
Speaker: Dr. Aeysha Khalique, Associate Professor, Department of Physics, School of Natural Sciences, NUST Islamabad.
Vanue: 10-304 SSE Building LUMS
Reference Department:Department of Physics
Unleashing the Quantum Revolution: The Path to The Quantum Internet
Abstract:Quantum internet combines the powers of quantum networking with quantum computing, promising to have enormous power over classical internet. Starting from the basic quantum principles, I will explore the path leading to the quantum internet, including our little contribution to the field.
Dr. Aeysha Khalique is an Associate Professor at Department of Physics, in School of Natural Sciences, NUST Islamabad. Dr. Khalique have a PhD in Physics from Technische Universitat Darmstadt, Germany in 2008 and since then she is working in NUST. She have been working in quantum communication since two decades and started working in quantum computation for a few years, including guiding research students in these areas at all undergraduate and graduate levels. She have several current national and international collaborations and publications in reputable journals.
Dr. Aeysha Khalique is an Associate Professor at Department of Physics, in School of Natural Sciences, NUST Islamabad. Dr. Khalique have a PhD in Physics from Technische Universitat Darmstadt, Germany in 2008 and since then she is working in NUST.…
Date:
Registration Link: Register Here.
Speaker: Lauren Marbella, Associate Professor, Department of Chemical Engineering - Columbia University
Vanue: ZOOM
Reference Department:Department of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering
Tracking Degradation in Commercial Li Batteries with High Chemical and Temporal Resolution
Abstract:Although Li metal anodes offer the highest possible specific energy density for Li-based batteries, their application is plagued by the growth of high surface area Li deposits. The presence of these Li filaments is correlated with the formation of dead (electrochemically inactive) Li that leads to low Coulombic efficiency (CE) and serious safety concerns due to short-circuiting. Li filament growth is strongly coupled to the composition and the spatial arrangement of the solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) that forms during contact with a liquid electrolyte and continues to evolve over the course of electrochemical cycling. In a practical battery, the properties of the SEI layer can be altered by decomposition products formed at the cathode and thus, understanding degradation across the entire cell is critical to understanding performance. In this talk, I will discuss our efforts to use operando nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy to probe interfacial instabilities in these systems and quantitatively detect Li microstructural growth, dead Li formation, and electrode/electrolyte decomposition to determine the precise mechanisms of failure in realistic Li battery materials, including commercially-available multilayer pouch cells.
Lauren Marbella is an Associate Professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering at Columbia University. Her research group focuses on understanding the relationship between electrochemical performance and interfacial chemistry in devices for energy storage and conversion. Her research relies heavily on the use of nuclear magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and spectroscopy to evaluate changes in material properties in real time to elucidate the chemical mechanisms underpinning degradation in Li and beyond Li-ion battery systems. Marbella’s research has received numerous awards including the ACS Materials Au Rising Stars in Materials Research Award (2022), Cottrell Scholar Award (2022), the National Science Foundation (NSF) Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) Award (2021), and the Scialog Collaborative Innovation Award for Advanced Energy Storage (Sloan Foundation, 2019).
She received her PhD in chemistry from the University of Pittsburgh in 2016, under the direction of Prof. Jill Millstone. In 2017, she was named a Marie Curie Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Cambridge in the group of Prof. Clare Grey. There, she was also named the Charles and Katharine Darwin Research Fellow, which recognizes the top junior fellow at Darwin College at the University of Cambridge. She joined the chemical engineering faculty at Columbia University in 2018.
Lauren Marbella is an Associate Professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering at Columbia University. Her research group focuses on understanding the relationship between electrochemical performance and…
Public Lecture Series
Date:
Registration Link:
Speaker: Dr. Sarah Qureshi, CEO/Founder Aero Engine Craft (Pvt.) Ltd.
Vanue: Auditorium 10-301, Syed Babar Ali School of Science and Engineering, LUMS
Reference Department:Department of Electrical Engineering
Environment Friendly Aerospace Technologies for Pakistan
Abstract: Aero Engine Craft is developing contrail-free aero-engines for the reduction of global warming and to induce artificial rain during aircraft flight through on-board water recovery from fuel emissions; creating a vision of the future for the aviation industry whereby it can not only reduce aviation induced global warming but also adopt an approach to treat the fuel emissions as a resource. A revolutionary technology is employed that eliminates contrails at source and recovers water from fuel exhaust emissions as a net positive product. This is a true definition of a disruptive technology; a global first attempt to create water within the aero-engine from the exhaust plume during flight, carry it aboard and release it as rainfall prior to landing. Our product is a low cost alternative to aero-engine redesign, and offers revenue potential to the aviation industry while solving a crucial environmental challenge.
Biography:
Dr. Sarah Qureshi is working on contrail-free aero engines as the CEO and founding director of Aero Engine Craft (Pvt) Ltd. She is also a visiting fellow at the School of Aerospace at Cranfield University. Sarah has a PhD degree in Aerospace Engineering from Cranfield University, UK. Her area of specialization is Propulsion whereby she worked on the development of a contrail-free aero-engine that has been derived from a novel patented technology. Sarah was actively involved with the invented technical outcome of the engine. The innovated engine has a tremendous potential in bringing about an environmental revolution in the context of aviation.
Dr. Sarah Qureshi , along with the inventor of technology Mr. Masood Latif Qureshi has now set up Aero Engine Craft (Private) Limited as Pakistan's first commercial engine and aircraft company to convert this patented technology into a full scale commercial application ready to be used by modern civil transport aircraft. During her PhD, Sarah supervised a number of MSc. students for their research projects on Jet Engine Technology. Prior to this, Sarah completed her master’s degree in the field of Aerospace Dynamics from Cranfield University, UK. Her research involved the design of a trajectory following controller inclusive of stability augmentation, attitude control system and outer loop autopilot for unmanned aircraft (UAVs) flying in close formation for the purpose of air to air refuelling. After graduating as a Mechanical Engineer from Pakistan, Sarah gained extensive experience of working in the local automotive and engineering industry.
Her bachelors' research project involved the development of a measurement and data logging system for the in-cylinder temperature and combustion of an internal combustion engine. Her prime technical interests are focused upon engine technology and aircraft design. Sarah holds a Private Pilot License (PPL) with 70 hours of Flying Experience. She has also learned acrobatic flying and several flight manoeuvres while at Cranfield.
Biography:
Dr. Sarah Qureshi is working on contrail-free aero engines as the CEO and founding director of Aero Engine Craft (Pvt) Ltd. She is also a visiting fellow at the School of Aerospace at Cranfield University. Sarah has a PhD degree in Aerospace Engineering from…
سائنس اور ٹیکنالوجی کی کہانیاں
خواب سے حقیقت تک - ایم ایس ڈیجیٹل اینڈ ایمبڈڈ سسٹم
دنیا بھر میں جدت کے معیار کو برقرار رکھنے کے لئے آئے روز ٹیکنالوجی کی دنیا میں ترقی کی نئی مثالیں قائم ہو رہی ہیں۔ بیشتر ممالک کی طرح ٹیکنالوجی کی اس تگ و دو میں ہم قدم رہنے کے لیے لمز یونیورسٹی کے الیکٹرکل انجینیرنگ ڈیپارٹمینٹ نے رواں سال ایم ایس ڈیجیٹل اینڈ ایمبڈڈ سسٹم پروگرام کی شروعات کیں۔ یہ پروگرام اپنے طرز کا پہلا اور اکیلا پروگرام ہے ۔ جس کا مقصد ٹیکنالوجی کے حصول کے لیے بہترین ممکنہ راہ فراہم کرنا ہے ۔ حالیہ دور میں ڈیجیٹل اینڈ ایمبڈڈ سسٹم کی افادیت و استعمال کو زیرِ غور رکھتے ہوئے اس پروگرام کو تشکیل دیا گیا ہے۔
فروری2023 میں شروع ہونے والا یہ دلچسپ پروگرام بنیادی طور پر دو مضامین پر مشتمل ہے جنھیں تکنیکی زبان میں ڈیجیٹل انٹیگریٹڈ سرکٹ(IC) اور ایمبڈڈ سسٹم کہا جاتا ہے۔ اس پروگرام کے ذریعہ طلبہ کو نہ صرف جدید و نفیس ہارڈویر ذرائع سے روشناس کرایا جائے گا جو ڈیجیٹل سسٹم کی ڈیزایئننگ کے لیے اہم ہیں بلکہ ساتھ ہی ساتھ اعلی درجے کی تربیت کے ذریعے طلبہ کو ایسے سافٹ ویئر ہنروں سے متعارف کرایاجائے گا جو ایمبڈڈ سسٹم کی بین الا قوامی سافٹ ویئر مارکیٹ میں نہایت قدرو قیمت کے حامل ہیں۔
اس کورس کی تشکیل کے وقت مقامی مارکیٹ میں پیدا ہونے والے مسائل اور ضروریات کو زیر غور رکھا گیا ہے۔ اس پروگرام کا حصہ بننے والے طلبہ کو بنیادی سے اعلی درجے تک کی سسٹم ڈیزائننگ کی مشق دی جائے گی۔ اس تعلیم کے ذریعے نہ صرف وہ ڈیجیٹل اینڈ ایمبڈڈ سسٹم کی مقامی بلکہ بین الا قوامی مارکیٹ میں بھی اہم پیشرفت کرنے کے قابل ہوں گے اور الیکٹرانک اور سیمی کنڈکٹر انڈسٹری میں بھی اپنا لوہا منوا سکیں گے۔
اس کورس کے بارے میں مزید جاننے کے لئے ہم نے ایم ایس ڈیجیٹل اینڈ ایمبڈڈ سسٹم کی اولین جماعت کا حصہ بننے والے ہنر مندطالبعلم محمد احد کا انٹرویو کیا۔ احد کا تعلق بورے والا شہر سے ہے اور انہوں نے اپنی بیچلرز کی ڈگری کمپیوٹر انجینیرنگ میں یو ای ٹی UET ٹیکسیلا سے حاصل کی۔ ڈگری حاصل کرنے کے بعد احد نے نہ صرف انڈسٹری بلکہ فری لانسنگ میں قسمت آزمائی اور 10x نامی انجینیرنگ کمپنی میں ٹریننگ حاصل کرنے کا موقع پایا۔
احد کا کہنا تھا کہ بچپن سے ہی ریموٹ کنٹرول کار چلانے سے زیادہ دلچسپی انہیں اس چیز میں تھی کہ یہ چلتی کیسے ہے۔ ان کا کہنا تھا کہ ان کے بچپن میں آنے والی موبائل اور کمپیوٹر جیسی ایجادات نے جہاں دنیا کو حیران کردیا وہیں انہیں اتنا متاثر کیا کہ انہوں نے اس کم عمری میں ہی سوچ لیا کہ انہیں اسی علم کو حاصل کرنا ہے۔ بڑے ہوتے ہوئے جب احد نے ٹیکنالوجی کو پوری دنیا پہ قابض ہوتے دیکھا تو ان کا یہ ارادہ مزید پختہ ہو گیا۔
10x انجینیرنگ میں ٹرینینگ کے دوران انہیں 10x انجینیرنگ کے LinkedIn پیج سےلمز کے ایم ایس ڈیجیٹل اینڈ ایمبڈڈ سسٹم پروگرام کا علم ہوا۔ وہ اس پروگرام کے بارے میں جانتے ہی سمجھ گئے کہ یہی وہ موقع ہے جسکی انہیں تلاش تھی اور انہوں نے بلا تاخیر اس کے لئے درخواست جمع کرائی جہاں ان کا انتخاب ہوا اور وہ ان چند خوش نصیب لوگوں میں شامل ہو سکے جنھیں اس پروگرام کے پہلے دستے کے طور پر چنا گیا۔
احد کا کہنا تھا کہ اس کورس میں کثیرالاہمیت تجرباتی تعلیم, پروجیکٹس اور لیکچرز کے ذریعے ان کی تکنیکی ہنر اور ذہنی قابلیت کو ترقی حاصل ہوئی. ان کا کہنا تھا کہ اس سے قبل (Field Programmable Gate) FGPA Array) جیسا آلہ انہیں دستیاب نہیں تھا۔ لیکن اس کورس میں انہیں اس جدید آلے کی رسائی حاصل ہوئی ۔اس کے ذریعے آپ فیلڈ پر موجود اپنے خیالات کو عملی تشکیل دے سکتے ہیں ۔ایمبڈڈ سسٹم کی فیلڈ میں کام کرنے والوں کے لئے یہ بہترین مو قع فراہم کرتا ہے۔
احد کا مزید کہنا تھا کہ چار ماہ کے مختصر عرصے میں جدید طرز کی تجربہ گاہوں، آلات ،ورکشاپس اورصنعتی دوروں کی صورت میں ملنے والی تعلیم نے انہیں ابھی سے اس قابل بنا دیا ہے کہ وہ ایک اساسی درجے کی ایپ تیار کر سکیں۔ پراسیسر اور کنٹرولر کی کوڈنگ اور ڈیزائیننگ بھی اب ان کے لیے مشکل کام نہیں۔ مختصراً اس کورس کے مواد سے ان کی سوچنے سمجھنے کی صلاحیتوں اور تکنیکی قابلیت کو بے حد فروغ ملا ہے۔
جاتے جاتے احد کا کہنا تھا کہ یہ پروگرام ہر لحاظ سے ان کی امیدوں سے بڑھ کر ثابت ہوا اور وہ ڈیجیٹل اینڈ ایمبڈڈ سسٹم کے شعبے سے منسلک ہر شخص کو یہ تجویز دیں گے کہ اس کورس کا حصہ بنیں۔ انھوں نے مزید کہا کہ اس کورس کے ذریعے انہیں سیکھنے کے ایسے مواقع فراہم ہوئے ہیں جس سے وہ اپنے سیلیکون ویلی میں کام کرنے کے خواب کو عملی جامہ پہنا سکیں گے اور اس کے لیے وہ لمز کے تہہ دل سے شکر گزار ہیں۔
دنیا بھر میں جدت کے معیار کو برقرار رکھنے کے لئے آئے روز ٹیکنالوجی کی دنیا میں ترقی کی نئی مثالیں قائم ہو رہی ہیں۔ بیشتر ممالک کی طرح ٹیکنالوجی کی اس تگ و دو میں ہم قدم…
