This year, SBASSE presented the inaugural Dean's award for PhD supervision to Dr Maryam Mustafa after receiving enthusiastic nominations from the School’s PhD students.

The Dean, Dr Walther Schwarzacher wanted to give recognition to the key role that a PhD supervisor plays in student life at SBASSE and explore the qualities and practices that define a great PhD supervisor. The students were invited by the Dean to highlight what makes their PhD supervisor truly special. 
After careful consideration, the Dean decided to award Dr Maryam Mustafa (from the Dept of Computer Science) a shield, followed by a celebratory dinner with her students and the Dean.

The SBASSE has also launched its first PhD supervision manual this year, which outlines the key qualities of effective PhD supervisors and best practices as highlighted by the students.
 

In a significant stride towards improving maternal health outcomes in Pakistan, Dr. Maryam Mustafa from the Department of Computer Science at SBASSE LUMS along with her Co-PI Dr. Beena Ahmed at the University of New South Wales, have been awarded the Google Academic Research Award for 2024 (GARA). This honor acknowledges her innovative research aimed at addressing the pressing challenges faced by pregnant women in underserved communities.
Dr. Mustafa's pioneering project, APPA: AI Antenatal and Postnatal Pregnancy Assistant, harnesses the power of Large Language Models (LLMs) to develop an AI, speech based virtual midwife capable of delivering critical information and support in Urdu to expecting mothers. Designed specifically for low-literate pregnant women, APPA provides accessible at-home resources, timely reminders, guidance, and support directly through smartphones through speech.
The Google Academic Research Award not only recognizes Dr. Mustafa’s outstanding research but also highlights the transformative role of technology in improving maternal health care outcomes in low and middle income countries. As Dr. Mustafa advances her project, APPA has the potential to significantly improve maternal health outcomes in Pakistan, reducing mortality rates and enhancing care quality for mothers and their children.
For more information about Dr. Maryam Mustafa’s innovative work, visit her website here. 
This award underscores Dr. Mustafa’s commitment to integrating technology and healthcare to serve the most vulnerable communities, and we look forward to the positive changes her efforts will bring to maternal health in Pakistan. 
Congratulations to Dr. Mustafa on this well-deserved recognition!
 

We are delighted to announce that Dr. Agha Ali Raza has been promoted to the rank of Associate Professor with Tenure in the Syed Babar Ali School of Science and Engineering.

Dr. Raza completed his PhD from the School of Computer Science at Carnegie Mellon University in 2015. He joined LUMS as an Assistant Professor (tenure-track) in January 2020, following his tenure as an Assistant Professor at Information Technology University, Lahore, from 2015 to 2019.

Dr. Raza’s research spans speech and natural language processing and machine learning, with a focus on enhancing IT access for underserved and offline populations. His work includes the development of practical, speech-based service systems accessible via phones. Dr. Raza serves as an Associate Editor for the ACM Journal on Computing and Sustainable Societies and has been a member of organising committees for top conferences in his field. As a teacher, his innovative use of the flipped classroom model has fostered student engagement, and he has actively contributed to several School and University committees.

Please join us in congratulating Dr. Raza on this significant achievement and in wishing him continued success at LUMS!

We are delighted to announce Dr. Naveed Arshad’s promotion to Full Professor with Tenure at SBASSE. Since joining in 2006, following his PhD from the University of Colorado, Dr. Arshad has made significant contributions to research, teaching, and service.

His work in energy informatics has been transformative, addressing challenges such as load forecasting, electricity theft detection, EV battery degradation, and floating solar photovoltaics. Published in esteemed journals like Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews and Energy Policy, his research has had a notable impact. 

As founding director of the LUMS Energy Institute, Dr. Arshad has spearheaded initiatives tackling Pakistan’s energy issues, including the development of the first National Electric Vehicle Policy. His leadership at the National Centre for Big Data and Cloud Computing (NCBC) has promoted collaboration among universities nationwide.

Dr. Arshad’s tenure as Chair of the Computer Science Department (2014-2017) was marked by growth and innovation. In 2023, he received the Pride of Performance Medal from the President of Pakistan in recognition of his outstanding contributions.

Please join us in congratulating Dr. Naveed Arshad on this well-deserved achievement.

We’re pleased to share that CS340: Database Systems, taught by Dr. Basit Shafiq, has been featured as a success story on the Oracle Academy portal. The spotlight highlights how the course draws on Oracle Academy’s curriculum and tools to offer students a strong foundation in database technologies through a combination of conceptual learning and practical experience.
At SBASSE, considerable thought goes into designing courses that are both academically rigorous and closely aligned with real-world needs. CS340 is one such example where our commitment to bridging theory with application comes through clearly. Designed from the ground up by Dr. Basit, this core course shows the depth of our faculty’s expertise. While the curriculum is entirely homegrown, Oracle’s tools are thoughtfully integrated to enrich the applied learning experience.
This feature also reflects how collaborations such as the one with Oracle Academy can enrich our teaching practices and better prepare students for emerging challenges in a data-driven world. Dr. Shafiq’s engagement with this platform is part of our broader effort to create learning experiences that are current, relevant, and impactful.

Read the full story here: Oracle Academy Spotlight – Dr. Basit Shafiq
 

From 9th to 12th August 2025, the Syed Babar Ali School of Science and Engineering (SBASSE) hosted the fifth edition of the LUMS Science Symposium (LSS), welcoming over 500 high school students from across Pakistan. Organised by SPADES, the student-led science society at LUMS, the symposium has grown into a landmark event that helps young learners take their first confident steps into research and discovery.

This year’s edition, convened by Kiswah Saboor and Wasay Rafaqat, offered four academic streams: AI/ML, Life Sciences, Autonomous Systems, and Quantum Computing. Each guided by SPADES stream leads and mentors from LUMS and beyond. Delegates worked closely with them to design projects and research papers, with the best submissions celebrated at the closing ceremony.

The Life Sciences stream delved into artificial organs, CRISPR, and bioethics debates, while Autonomous Systems focused on Arduino programming and agricultural prototypes. Quantum Computing introduced delegates to quantum gates, cryptography, and hardware with lectures by faculty experts, and AI/ML progressed from coding challenges to neural networks and no-code tools.

For the first time, a Women in STEM round was launched, led by Roshanay Fatima and Wardah Rasheed. In a Shark Tank–style competition, delegates proposed STEM-based solutions to challenges in FemTech, Domestic Safety, and Financial Empowerment, culminating in impactful pitches on Day 4.

The symposium also featured a cultural first: LSS Social, Qawali Night, adding celebration to four days of intense learning. 

Closing the event, Dean Dr. Walther Schwarzacher commended the delegates for their creativity and curiosity, marking the symposium as not just a competition, but a starting point for future innovators.