Rabia Ahmad | Petroleum Engineering | Best Researcher Award

Published on by Petroleum Engineering

Dr. Rabia Ahmad | Petroleum Engineering | Best Researcher Award

Post-Doctoral Research Fellow at King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals (KFUPM), Dharan, Saudi Arabia

Rabia Ahmad is a dedicated postdoctoral research fellow at King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, where she explores cutting-edge materials for sustainable energy solutions. Her academic and professional journey reflects a consistent commitment to research excellence in electrochemistry, energy storage, and nanomaterials. She has held diverse roles, including research associate and exchange scholar, gaining experience across Pakistan, the United States, and Saudi Arabia. Rabia has developed an impressive profile through interdisciplinary collaborations and innovation-driven research. Her expertise lies in the synthesis and characterization of novel materials that enhance the efficiency of batteries, supercapacitors, and electro-catalytic systems.

Profile

Google Scholar

Education

Rabia Ahmad holds a Ph.D. in Energy Systems Engineering from the U.S.-Pakistan Center for Advanced Studies in Energy, completed in 2022 at the National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST), Islamabad. Her doctoral work focused on advanced electrochemical materials, particularly for energy storage devices. She previously earned an M.Phil. in Chemistry from Gomal University in 2016, following a Master of Chemistry from Baha Uddin Zakariya University in 2008. Her academic foundation was laid with a Bachelor of Science from Government Degree College for Women, affiliated with BZU. This educational trajectory empowered her with theoretical and practical grounding in materials science.

Experience

Rabia Ahmad brings extensive multidisciplinary experience in materials chemistry and electrochemical systems. She currently serves as a postdoctoral fellow at KFUPM, working on aluminum-air batteries and petroleum coke-derived carbon for electrocatalysis. Previously, she was a research associate at NUST, contributing to electric vehicle components, LFP electrode development, and MOF-based catalysts. Her tenure as a research exchange scholar at Indiana University–Purdue University Indianapolis enriched her expertise in MXene composites. From 2017–2021, she served as a research assistant at NUST, mentoring students and conducting lab demonstrations. Her career reflects a continual focus on sustainable and scalable energy materials.

Research Interest

Rabia Ahmad’s research interests span energy materials and electrochemical systems, with a focus on Metal Organic Frameworks (MOFs), MXenes, nanoporous carbon electrodes, and petroleum coke derivatives. She is particularly invested in the development of hybrid supercapacitors, lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), and metal-air batteries with improved efficiency and sustainability. Her work extends into ORR/OER catalysis and advanced electrochemical characterizations such as cyclic voltammetry and impedance spectroscopy. Her scientific curiosity also includes the synthesis of nanomaterials such as graphene oxide and metal sulfides. Her interdisciplinary approach integrates green chemistry with material innovation for next-generation energy devices.

Awards

Rabia Ahmad has received several accolades recognizing her contributions to energy research. In 2025, she won a Paper Presentation Award at The Electrochemical Society’s 247th Meeting for her work on hybrid capacitors using MXene-CNT composites. Earlier, in 2024, she was honored at the American Chemical Society Fall Conference for presenting on vacuum residue for electrocatalysis. She received a Best Poster Award at PU-AESM-2019 and was a lab demonstrator in multiple workshops at NUST. She also completed a prestigious M-Xene course at Drexel University in 2021 and was a USAID merit scholar during her Ph.D. studies. These honors underscore her excellence and impact.

Publications Top Notes

Rabia Ahmad has authored several influential papers in top-tier journals, contributing significantly to energy materials research:

  1. Effect of barbituric acid in regulating the Al anode/electrolyte interface – Journal of Power Sources, 2025.

  2. Influence of Mechanochemical Processing on Petroleum Coke – Journal of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry, 2025.

  3. Enhanced redox kinetics in ceria-doped MOFs – Journal of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry, 2025, explores supercapacitor electrodes.

  4. Harnessing M-Xenes for hydrogen storage – Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 2025, widely cited in green hydrogen discussions.

  5. Manganese-doped Ni-MOF catalysts for metal-air batteries – Materials Chemistry and Physics, 2025.

  6. Sustainable additives for Aluminium corrosion control – Journal of Electroanalytical Chemistry, 2025.

  7. M-Xenes and electrochemical reduction reactions – Chemical Engineering Journal, 2025, outlining new frontiers in M-Xene chemistry.

Conclusion

Rabia Ahmad is a rising leader in the energy materials research community. Her academic rigor, global collaborations, and impactful contributions to the field of electrochemical energy storage set her apart. Her work not only advances scientific understanding but also aligns with global sustainability goals through green energy innovations. Through high-impact publications, patents, and award-winning presentations, she has demonstrated her capacity for transformative research. As she continues her postdoctoral work on aluminum-air batteries and sustainable electro-catalysts, Rabia remains committed to pushing the frontiers of material science for a cleaner and more efficient energy future.

Satyen Kumar Das | Petroleum Refining, sustainability & Circularity | Best Researcher Award

Published on by Petroleum Engineering

Dr. Satyen Kumar Das | Petroleum Refining, sustainability & Circularity | Best Researcher Award

Chief General Manager at Indian Oil Corporation Limited, R&D Centre, India

Dr. Satyen Kumar Das is an accomplished chemical engineer and a senior research leader with nearly three decades of expertise in petroleum refining technology, sustainability, and circular economy initiatives. Currently serving as the Chief General Manager at the IndianOil R&D Centre, he leads the Refinery Technology area and has been instrumental in driving innovation, commercialization, and strategic deployment of advanced refining technologies. His groundbreaking work in residue upgradation, crude-to-chemicals conversion, and plastic circularity solutions has significantly contributed to energy transition goals and environmental sustainability in India’s refining sector.

Profile

Scopus

Education

Dr. Das obtained his Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, after completing his M.Tech in Chemical Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur. His foundational studies began with a B.Tech in Chemical Engineering from Calcutta University. These prestigious academic credentials laid the groundwork for his exceptional research capabilities and technical leadership in the domain of refining technologies.

Experience

Since joining the IndianOil R&D Centre in 1995, Dr. Das has steadily advanced through technical and leadership roles, amassing nearly 30 years of experience in industrial R&D, troubleshooting, pilot-scale validation, and full-scale commercialization. Between 1995 and 2013, he played a pivotal role in developing and implementing a range of catalytic and refining processes, such as INDMAX, INDALIN, DIST-Extra, and Fischer Tropsch synthesis. From 2014 to 2025, he has spearheaded the Refining Technology division, driving the development of strategic technologies including Ind-Coker for residue upgradation, Needle Coke Technology, INDEcoP2F for plastic circularity, and novel methods for waste-to-energy and CO₂ valorization. His hands-on involvement spans across the development pipeline—conceptualization, R&D, scale-up, plant design, and commercialization of technologies now operating in several IndianOil refineries.

Research Interests

His research interests are multidisciplinary, encompassing catalytic cracking, heavy oil upgradation, production of light olefins and aromatics from crude oil, needle coke synthesis, isomerization, and bio-oil and plastic waste processing. More recently, his focus has expanded to circular economy solutions like INDEcoP2F, aiming to convert waste plastics into fuels, and Crude-to-Chemical technologies that align with future net-zero and energy-efficient refinery configurations. Dr. Das’s intellectual rigor is demonstrated through over 210 patents (144 granted globally), more than 90 journal and conference publications, and numerous collaborative industry-academic R&D projects.

Awards

Dr. Das’s distinguished career is recognized through a series of national-level accolades. He received the National Petroleum Management Program (NPMP) award twice (2002–03 and 2003–04) for INDMAX and Needle Coke technologies, respectively.

In 2004, the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research (DSIR) awarded him for INDMAX commercialization. He was honored with the AIMA Breakthrough Innovation in R&D award in 2017 and again in 2025 under Business Model Innovation for IV-IZOMaxCATR technology.

Among his most recent accolades are the 2019–20 Innovation Award for Delayed Coker Technology, the 2022–23 Innovation Award for INDEcoP2F plastic-to-fuel technology, and the 2023–24 Innovation Award for IV-IZOMaxCATR.

In 2025, he was also conferred the “Jewel of India” award by the KTK Outstanding Achievers and Education Foundation for his remarkable contributions to the petroleum sector.

Publications

Among his notable publications are:

“CO-Hydrogenation over silica supported iron based catalysts: Influence of potassium loading” in Applied Energy (2013); “Silica supported Fe-Cu-K catalysts for Syngas conversion to fuel” in Fuel Processing Technology (2014);

“Molecular Level Structural Insight into Clarified Oil by NMR Spectroscopy” in Energy & Fuels (2017);

“Study of thermal cracking kinetics and co-processing of bio-crude” in Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry (2023); “Experimental study on feasibility of using delayed coking for high acidic crude oil” in Journal of Analytical and Applied Pyrolysis (2025);

“Octamax®: IndianOil technology for olefinic C4 valorization” in Oil Gas & Power Magazine (2025); and “Co-conversion of Biomass and Petroleum Vacuum Residue” submitted to Fuels (2025).

These contributions have been cited in numerous academic and industrial studies, reflecting his impact across research communities.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Dr. Satyen Kumar Das exemplifies technical excellence, innovation, and leadership in refining science. His work not only aligns with the strategic goals of energy security and sustainable development but also advances the Indian oil refining industry’s global competitiveness. His unparalleled achievements in research, technology development, and commercialization make him an outstanding candidate for any award recognizing excellence in engineering innovation and impact.

Rashed Sahraeian | Sustainability in Oil and Gas | Best Scholar Award

Published on by Petroleum Engineering

Prof. Dr. Rashed Sahraeian | Sustainability in Oil and Gas | Best Scholar Award

Professor at Shahed University, Iran

Professor Rashed Sahraeian is a distinguished full professor in the Department of Industrial Engineering at Shahed University, Tehran, Iran. His career reflects a deep dedication to the fields of optimization, supply chain management (SCM), facility location problems (FLP), and location-routing problems (LRP). Professor Sahraeian is widely recognized for his extensive contributions to academia through impactful research, prolific publications, mentorship of graduate students, and active participation in peer reviewing for top international journals. His scholarly excellence and commitment to industrial engineering have made him a prominent figure both nationally and internationally.

Profile

Google Scholar

Education

Professor Sahraeian’s educational foundation is rooted in industrial engineering, where he specialized in operations research and optimization methodologies. Throughout his academic training, he developed a keen interest in complex decision-making models, quantitative analysis, and supply chain design. His formal education provided him with advanced competencies in mathematical modeling, computational techniques, and logistics systems, setting a robust stage for his future contributions to the domain.

Experience

With an academic career spanning over two decades, Professor Sahraeian has amassed extensive experience in teaching, research, and supervision. He has taught specialized courses including Facility Layout and Location, Supply Chain Management, Scheduling and Sequencing, and Integer Programming. As a dedicated mentor, he has supervised over 55 Master’s theses and 12 Ph.D. dissertations, nurturing the next generation of engineers and researchers. His practical involvement extends beyond academia, where he applies his research findings to real-world industrial problems, emphasizing sustainable and resilient supply chain solutions. Furthermore, his active role as a reviewer for high-impact journals underscores his expertise and reputation in the global academic community.

Research Interest

Professor Sahraeian’s primary research interests encompass optimization in industrial systems, closed-loop supply chain design, facility location under uncertainty, and robust scheduling. He is particularly passionate about solving multi-objective optimization problems in logistics and production environments, employing innovative methods such as hybrid evolutionary algorithms, constraint programming, and grey system theory. His recent work also extends into sustainable supply chain network design, considering environmental factors and resilience against disruptions, aligning closely with contemporary industrial needs and global sustainability goals.

Award

Throughout his academic journey, Professor Sahraeian has been recognized for his outstanding research and educational contributions. He has earned awards and acknowledgments for his significant role in advancing industrial engineering, particularly for his impactful publications and excellence in student supervision. His recognition as a leading figure in optimization and supply chain management is further evidenced by his continuous invitations to review papers for prestigious journals such as the Journal of Cleaner Production, Computers & Industrial Engineering, and Applied Mathematical Modelling.

Publication

Among his many publications, seven notable works illustrate his influential contributions.

(1) In 2012, he co-authored “An interactive possibilistic programming approach for a multi-objective closed-loop supply chain network under uncertainty” in Applied Mathematical Modelling (cited by 340 articles).

(2) In 2013, he published “The hierarchical hub covering problem with an innovative allocation procedure covering radiuses” in Scientia Iranica (cited by 85 articles).

(3) In 2014, his study on “Dynamic multi-commodity inventory and facility location problem in steel supply chain network design” appeared in the International Journal of Advanced Manufacturing Technology (cited by 110 articles).

(4) In 2015, he explored “Optimal modeling and evaluation of job shops with a total weighted tardiness objective” in Applied Mathematical Modelling (cited by 92 articles).

(5) That same year, he co-authored “Augmented ε-constraint method in multi-objective flow shop problem with past sequence setup times” in the International Journal of Production Research (cited by 70 articles).

(6) In 2016, he contributed “MULTI-OBJECTIVE OPTIMIZATION OF INTEGRATED LOT-SIZING AND SCHEDULING PROBLEM IN FLEXIBLE JOB SHOPS” to RAIRO Operations Research (cited by 60 articles).

(7) In 2024, he published “Decision-Making Approach to Design a Sustainable Photovoltaic Closed-Loop Supply Chain Considering Market Share for Electric Vehicle Energy” in Sustainability (garnering growing citations). These selected publications emphasize his research depth and broad application impact.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Professor Rashed Sahraeian has made outstanding contributions to the advancement of industrial engineering, particularly in optimization and supply chain network design. His research innovations, leadership in education, and strong publication record position him as a leading figure in his field. Through a combination of theoretical rigor and practical relevance, he continues to influence the discipline of industrial engineering, inspiring students and colleagues alike. His career trajectory exemplifies academic excellence, practical relevance, and a deep commitment to solving real-world industrial challenges through advanced research methodologies.