Rabia Ahmad | Petroleum Engineering | Best Researcher Award

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

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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.

Taiba Kouser | Petroleum Engineering | Best Researcher Award

Dr. Taiba Kouser | Petroleum Engineering | Best Researcher Award

Postdoctoral Fellow at King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals Dhahran, Saudi Arabia

Dr. Taiba Kouser is a distinguished postdoctoral researcher at the Advanced Research Center for Modeling and Simulation Technologies (ARCMST), King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals (KFUPM), where she has been contributing significantly to the advancement of computational fluid dynamics (CFD). Her research spans diverse fields such as drag and noise reduction, high-Reynolds-number flow analysis, multiphase flows, and advanced fluid-surface interactions. With a strong academic background rooted in applied mathematics and aerospace-related fluid mechanics, she has developed novel approaches to tackle fluid dynamic challenges in petroleum, marine, and aerospace industries. Dr. Kouser’s intellectual rigor, multidisciplinary collaborations, and innovative thinking have earned her a reputation as a rising leader in CFD research.

Profile

Scopus

Education

Dr. Kouser earned her Ph.D. from Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST), Wuhan, China, where she specialized in low Reynolds number flow behaviors and noise suppression mechanisms via superhydrophobic surfaces. Her doctoral research made notable contributions to the understanding of flow-induced vibrations and aerodynamic noise over hydrofoils. Prior to her Ph.D., she developed a robust foundation in applied mathematics, which she skillfully applies in solving complex fluid dynamic problems. Her interdisciplinary training has empowered her to integrate theoretical modeling with practical experimentation, an approach that continues to shape her current research at KFUPM.

Experience

Over the years, Dr. Kouser has amassed significant experience in both academic and research domains. At KFUPM, she has contributed to teaching undergraduate and graduate-level courses in fluid mechanics and mathematics, while also mentoring young researchers in computational methods. Her current role as a postdoctoral fellow involves extensive involvement in research initiatives related to CFD and aerodynamic simulations. Dr. Kouser has played a pivotal role in incorporating CFD into aerospace-focused curricula and projects, demonstrating both technical mastery and leadership. Her involvement in collaborative RDIA projects with faculty from various departments showcases her capacity to bridge disciplines and contribute to real-world engineering challenges.

Research Interest

Dr. Kouser’s core research interests revolve around computational fluid dynamics, aeroacoustics, drag and noise reduction, and multiphase flow dynamics. She focuses on studying flow over NACA airfoil profiles under varying Reynolds numbers, investigating how superhydrophobic surfaces and viscoelastic fluids affect wall slip and turbulence modulation. Additionally, she explores fluid behavior in complex geometries, such as pipe systems relevant to the petroleum industry. Her recent work investigates the application of modified surface textures to control flow separation and reduce drag. Through simulations and validations, she strives to optimize flow efficiency, reduce energy consumption, and design quieter, more efficient vehicles and transport systems.

Awards

Dr. Kouser’s work has been acknowledged through her active participation in national and international research projects and her inclusion in competitive funding proposals such as the RDIA-sponsored UAV-based agri-tech and unmanned systems laboratories. Her multidisciplinary collaborations and recognized publications in prestigious journals also attest to her standing in the scientific community. She is currently nominated for the Best Researcher Award by the Petroleum Engineering Awards for her innovative contributions in CFD, particularly in the domains impacting petroleum transport and flow control technologies.

Publications

Dr. Kouser has published several peer-reviewed journal articles indexed in SCIE and Scopus. Her recent publications include:

(1) “Numerical simulation of vortex shedding and noise reduction over hydrofoil using superhydrophobic surfaces” in Physics of Fluids, 2022, cited by 18 articles;

(2) “Drag and lift variation in NACA0012 with viscoelastic fluid” in IEEE Access, 2023, cited by 9 articles;

(3) “Multiphase flow modeling for pipeline transport” in ChemBioEng Reviews, 2022, cited by 11 articles;

(4) “Machine learning-based prediction of flow behavior in aerospace applications” in Neural Computing and Applications, 2023, cited by 7 articles;

(5) “Effect of riblets on turbulent pipe flow using CFD modeling” in Acta Mechanica, 2021, cited by 6 articles;

(6) “Low Reynolds number CFD analysis over airfoil profiles” in International Journal of Micro Air Vehicles, 2021, cited by 5 articles; and

(7) “Superhydrophobic textures and fluid-structure interaction in pipelines” in Advances in Mechanical Engineering, 2023, cited by 5 articles.

These publications reflect a consistent trajectory of high-impact research across interdisciplinary platforms.

Conclusion

Dr. Taiba Kouser’s groundbreaking research in CFD and surface-fluid interactions has significantly contributed to the understanding and optimization of flow behavior in petroleum, aerospace, and marine engineering. Her scientific contributions—particularly in drag and noise reduction—address critical challenges in pipeline design, energy conservation, and aerodynamic performance. Through interdisciplinary collaboration and advanced simulation methodologies, she continues to make strides toward practical, scalable solutions for complex engineering problems. With her impressive portfolio of published research, successful grant involvement, and dedication to academic mentorship, Dr. Kouser stands out as an exemplary candidate for the Best Researcher Award in Petroleum Engineering. Her ongoing work promises to yield transformative insights and practical benefits for the broader engineering and scientific communities.