Dr. Parveen Akhter

Associate Professor

Chemistry

Biography

Dr. Parveen Akhter obtained her B.Sc (Hons) leading M.Sc degree in Chemistry from Bahauddin Zakariya University (BZU) Multan, Pakistan. Then, she visits to South Korea but she could not continue her study due to very short stay there. When she came back to Pakistan, very soon she decided to peruse her career and moved to Italy for Ph.D study. Dr. Parveen Akhter successfully got her Ph.D degree from Politecnico di Torino (Turin), ITALY that is a reputed world class University not only in Italy but in Europe as well. She was honored to receive Italian Government Scholarship for PhD degree during her study plan. Furthermore, by pursuing her PhD work she got experienced to work on very fascinating “European Project (309701-2 Eco2CO2 CP-FP FP7-NMP-2012-SMALL-6) and had a very good exposure for synthesizing various nano-materials, characterized these and applied for the chemical reaction of photocatalytic reduction of CO2 to produce alternative renewable energy fuels. It was very charming topic because CO2 emission has been a global warming issue from last few decades. This research field is equivalent to ‘hunting two birds with a single stone’ means saving the environment (from CO2 greenhouse gas) and providing the future energy demands (by alternative fuels). Dr. Parveen Akhter is author of total of Author/Co-Author of total of 37 Publications with cumulative impact factor >292 and 05 Conference proceedings papers in the well-reputed journals including Applied Catalysis B: Environmental & Catalysis review [ISI/Scopus; SCI very good IF] and 05 International Conference proceedings (Bangkok-THAILAND, Acapulco- MEXICO, Las Vegas NV-USA, Isola di Procida- ITALY, Milan-ITALY). She is the author of a “Hottest Article” in “Top 25 Hottest Articles” in Category of Chemical Engineering in the journal “Fuel” reported by Elsevier and this paper was published in 2014. Currently, she is serving as Assistant Professor in the Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Sciences at The University of Lahore (UOL), Pakistan. She is teaching PhD, M.Phil, M.Sc/B.Sc specialised courses. Her current research expertise cover the areas of Catalysis, Photocatalysis, Wastewater treatment dye degradation of novel nanomaterials and study on antioxidant activities of various citrus fruit etc. She is HEC approved supervisor.

Education

SrNo.	Year	Degree	Board/University
1	2015	Ph.D	Politecnico di Torino, (Turin) Italy
2	2006	M.Sc	Bahauddin Zakariya University, BZU Multan, Pakista
3	2004	B.Sc (Hons)	Bahauddin Zakariya University, BZU Multan, Pakista

Experience

SrNo.	From	To	Category	Designation	Organization
1	February 2017	till date		Assistant Professor	Department of Chemistry,The University of Lahore,

Publications

SrNo.	Title
1	CO2 from waste to resource by developing novel mixed matrix membranes
2	A state-of-the-art review on wastewater treatment techniques: the effectiveness of adsorption method
3	KIT-6 induced mesostructured TiO2 for photocatalytic degradation of methyl blue.
4	Synergistic effect of NS co- doped TiO2 adsorbent for removal of cationic dyes
5	Efficient catalyst development for deep aerobic photocatalytic oxidative desulfurization: recent advances, confines, and outlooks
6	Oxidative desulfurization of refinery diesel pool fractions using LaVO4 photocatalyst.
7	Development of highly efficient solid acid catalysts supported on mesoporous KIT-6 for esterification of oleic acid
8	Development of hierarchically porous LaVO4 for efficient visible-light-driven photocatalytic desulfurization of diesel
9	Effect of Urea Addition on Anatase Phase Enrichment and Nitrogen Doping of TiO2 for Photocatalytic Abatement of Methylene Blu
10	Recent breakthroughs in deep aerobic oxidative desulfurization of petroleum refinery products
11	CO2 from waste to resource by developing novel mixed matrix membrane.
12	Influence of silica materials synthesis of elastomers nanocomposites” A review
13	Conversion of poly-isoprene based rubber to value-added chemicals and liquid fuel via ethanolysis: Effect of operating parameters on product quality and quantity.
14	Recent developments in alumina supported hydrodesulfurization catalysts for the production of sulfur-free refinery products”. A technical review.
15	Development of recoverable magnetic mesoporous carbon adsorbent for removal of methyl blue and methyl orange from wastewater
16	Thermal conversion of polystyrene plastic waste to liquid fuel via ethanolysis
17	Development of AgFeO2/rGO/TiO2 Ternary Composite Photocatalysts for Enhanced Photocatalytic Dye Decolorization
18	Bioenergy potential and thermochemical characterization of lignocellulosic biomass residues available in Pakistan
19	Potential for Sustainable Utilisation of Agricultural Residues for Bioenergy Production in Pakistan”: An Overview
20	Potential for Sustainable Utilisation of Agricultural Residues for Bioenergy Production in Pakistan”: An Overview
21	Recent breakthroughs in deep aerobic oxidative desulfurization of petroleum refinery products
22	The effect of crystal facets and induced porosity on the performance of monoclinic BiVO4 for the enhanced visible-light driven photocatalytic abatement of methylene blue
23	Influence of silica materials on synthesis of elastomer nanocomposites: A review
24	Carbon nanotubes incorporated Z-scheme assembly of AgBr/TiO2 for photocatalytic hydrogen production under visible light irradiations
25	Vocs photocatalytic abatement using nanostructured titaniasilica catalysts
26	VOCs photocatalytic abatement using nanostructured titania-silica catalysts
27	Environmenatl isuues regarding CO2 and recent strategies for alterative fuels through photocatalytic reduction with titania based materials
28	Nanostructured TiO2/KIT- 6 photocatalysts for improved photocatalytic reduction of CO2 to tunable energy products
29	New optimized mesoporous silica incorporated isolated Ti materials towards improved photocatalytic reduction of carbon dioxide to renewable fuels
30	Novel nanostructured-TiO2 materials for the photocatalytic reduction of CO2 greenhouse gas to hydrocarbons and syngas
31	New nanostructured silica incorporated isolated Ti material for the photocatalytic conversion of CO2 to fuels
32	Modified KIT-6 and SBA-15- spherical supported metal catalysts for N2O decomposition
33	Novel Ti-KIT-6 material for the photocatalytic reduction of carbon dioxide to methane

Conferences

Awards

SrNo.	Year	Awarding Organization	Description
1	January 2012 to December 2015	Politecnico di Torino, (Turin) ITALY	Honor to receive Italian Government Scholarship for PhD degree

Memberships

Courses Taught

SrNo.	Type	Title	University	Semester
1	Applied Chemistry	Nanomaterials & their Applications	The University of Lahore, Lahore Campus	BS-7 /M. Sc -2
2	Applied Chemistry	Applied Chemistry	The University of Lahore	MS 2nd Semester (Regular)
3	Applied Chemistry	Applied Chemistry	The University of Lahore, UOL	MS 2nd Semester (Weekend))

Project Supervisor

Services

Books

Research Fundings

Extracurricular Activities

SrNo.	Hobbies	Interests
1	Reading scientific articles, newspapers, cooking e	Fond of traveling to various countries, curiosity

Languages and Skills

SrNo.	Langues	Skills
1	Urdu	Written, speaking
2	English	Written, speaking
3	Punjabi	Written, speaking
4	Korean	Written, speaking
5	Italian	Written, speaking

Active Collabrations

Consulting Experience

Achievements / Rewards

Dr Akhtar represents Pakistan, explores collaboration with Germany on global issues

Description

In a substantial ambassadorial effort, Prof Dr Rabia Akhtar (Director of the Center for Security, Strategy, and Policy Research (CSSPR)) represented Pakistan as a thought leader in a delegation of five eminent scholars from Asia. This delegation, constituted by the Asia chapter of Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES), visited Berlin, Germany, to engage in dialogues and meetings aimed at understanding Germany’s viewpoints on key global issues, from June 13-15, 2023.

The FES Strategic Foresight Group, comprising scholars from Pakistan, Thailand, India, South Korea, and Indonesia, sought to gain insights into Germany’s perception of the world, the interconnectedness of geopolitics and geoeconomics, and the overall security and stability of different regions. By interacting with parliamentarians, scholars, and think tank experts, the group aimed to identify Germany’s foreign policy direction amidst intensifying great power competition, technological advancements, and the Russo-Ukrainian war.

Dr Akhtar articulated Pakistan’s aspirations to become a regional and global connector, and expressed her belief that the country could serve as Germany’s partner in promoting peace. She said academic collaboration between the two countries must lay the groundwork for better ties. In that regard, she hoped that the University of Lahore (UOL) and CSSPR will like to establish linkages, to work on security and strategic issues with policymakers, universities, and think tankers in Germany.

Moreover, during the meetings with German officials and academicians, including Dr.Martin Thummel (Deputy Head for East Asia, Southeast Asia and the Pacific, Federal Foreign Office), Dr Akhtar along with the delegation underlined the importance of collaboration between nations in an increasingly interconnected world. It was argued that Europe and Asia should not be considered separate arenas, as common threats and opportunities necessitate a collective approach.

The participants engaged in thought-provoking discussions on how Germany’s foreign policy has evolved amid geopolitical tensions and how the country aims to strike a balance between values-based and interests-based approaches, particularly in the face of the evolving Sino-U.S. rivalry. Central to these discussions was Germany’s embrace of Zeitenwende, signifying a transformative shift in its foreign and defence policies following the war in Ukraine. German officials highlighted that this philosophy would enable their country to contribute positively to regional and global stability.

Furthermore, the delegation stressed the importance of inter-regional dialogues, trade, and economic cooperation between Germany and Asian countries during their meetings with parliamentarians. Geoeconomics emerged as a key theme, with experts acknowledging its potential to promote interdependence, peace, and stability. However, they also expressed caution, and were mindful of the geopolitical complexities that could hinder its effectiveness.

Dr Ashraf becomes Pakistan’s top and world’s 12th most cited Plant Science researcher

Description

What traits set exceptional academic leaders apart? One is their ongoing commitment to academic excellence. Prof Dr Muhammed Ashraf (Rector, UOL), in an interview with the Press and Publications Cell (PPC) of the University of Lahore (UOL), shared how his commitment to academics and research led him to stand amongst the top-cited Plant Science researchers in the world.

The second edition of Research.com rankings of the best researchers was released recently. According to these rankings, Dr Ashraf stood 12th in the list of top-cited researchers with a massive number of 72,461 citations and 1,169 publications in the field of Plant Science.

While sharing his sentiments with the PPC team, he said, “It is a great honour and privilege for me to be among the world’s top-cited Plant Science researchers. Barely people from third-world countries like Pakistan get such immense acknowledgement for research, but I, hailing from a developing country, take pride in the fact that I was able to garner the limelight along with researchers from advanced countries like America, Germany, etc.”

Motivation for Plant Science Research

For most of his academic life, Dr Ashraf has been conducting research anchored on Plant Science, his field of specialisation for which he has recently been recognised globally. Revealing his motivation behind his research drive, he mentioned that “Research is the key element for institutions and even for academicians to leave an unprecedented imprint on the global academic spectrum. The only sound way to project novel ideas pertaining to your field is through research, and that is what keeps me right on track with research. To make significant contributions to the field of Plant Science, I try to continually explore and conduct impactful research.”

Global Acclamation

In continuing the discussion of his research motivation, on a lighter note, he shared that he received a congratulatory email from Mr Rattan Laal (The Ohio State University, the United States). “To my surprise, Mr Laal, the world’s most cited researcher, shared his congratulatory remarks with me. I am humbled to the core by this global acclamation that I have received so far,” he said.

Catering to Contemporary Plant Science Issues

In every field of study, researchers try to address and explore solutions for the most pressing issues. In Plant Science and Agronomy, the focal point of researchers nowadays is the impact of climate change on plants and, broadly, on the agriculture sector. Upon being asked about the impact of his research, the UOL Rector stated that “Climate change, undoubtedly, has adversely affected the lives of plants, animals, and even humans. My focus is particularly on plants and agriculture. Through my research, I have always tried to address and highlight the pressing issues that are being faced mainly by Asian and African countries, and this is also one of the reasons that my research is getting global acknowledgement because it caters to global issues. Majorly, my work is based on different plant stresses such as drought, salinity, waterlogging, temperature extremes etc.”

Fundamentals of Research, Publications, and Rankings

Not many people are familiar with the Research.com rankings, and in fact, they lack even the most basic knowledge of research rankings. During his interview with PPC, Dr Ashraf summarised the entire research ranking process by saying that “A researcher gets ranked based on his number of publications and citations. Researchers should try to publish their work in international journals, which will increase their chances of maximum citations. The more publications and citations, the higher the H-index, and ultimately, the better the chances of getting ranked at the top.”

Tips for soon-to-be Early-career Researchers

There is no short cut to conduct profoundly organic research, and that is what Dr Ashraf said. “Dedication and hard work are the keys to achieve research goals. Nevertheless, to stand out in the pool of researchers, it is pertinent, especially for Plant Science research aspirants, to focus on technological and digital advancements, keeping oneself up-to-date with international contemporary research trends, and fuelling the urge of discovery by gaining more and more knowledge,” he advised the students.

Dr Tahir explores the role of financial risk-taking attitude in consumer satisfaction

Description

A consumer’s attitude of financial risk tolerance (FRT) plays an important role in his/her financial decisions, thereby determining his well-being. FRT is a consumer’s preference for the amount of risk he undertakes while making investments. Recently, a lot of research studies have been conducted on consumer well-being and FRT. Being motivated by this trend in financial research, Dr Muhammad Tahir (Assistant Professor, Lahore Business School, the University of Lahore (UOL)) and fellow researchers explored the relationship amongst financial literacy, propensity to plan (PTP), FRT, financial satisfaction, and life satisfaction.

Though scholarly acumen for consumer well-being is rapidly developing, not much is known regarding the collective roles of financial literacy, PTP, and FRT. Dr Tahir’s study addressed this gap by showing that financial literacy, risk-taking attitudes, and planning propensities are all interconnected and necessary ingredients to improve financial and life satisfaction.

Dr Tahir’s analytical study titled “Role of financial risk-taking attitude in personal finances and consumer satisfaction: evidence from Australia” revealed a strong partial mediation of FRT between financial literacy and financial satisfaction. Moreover, the analysis showed that a high PTP combined with a high FRT results in high financial satisfaction.

For achieving the main objective of the research, the Household, Income, and Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA) survey was taken into consideration. Furthermore, Dr Tahir used the variance-based partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM), also known as the PLS path modelling approach, to test the proposed hypotheses of the study empirically.

The findings of Dr Tahir’s research study showed the importance of creating financial plans in accordance with risk tolerance. Considering the relevance of increasing financial literacy, Dr Tahir suggested that the use of tools that could help consumers plan and spent in risky investments might lead them to have a more financial and life satisfaction.

UOL chemist explores an eco-friendly alternative thickening agent for textile printing

Description

Textile printing is the most versatile and vital methodology for introducing colour and design to textile fabrics. Different types of thickeners (chemical compounds) are used for printing, such as polysaccharide thickener, synthetic thickener, and emulsion thickener. Synthetic thickeners are highly criticised for endangering the environment at the manufacturing stages.

Dr Dure Najaf Iqbal (Associate Professor, Department of Chemistry, The University of Lahore) and her team of researchers explored an eco-friendly alternative for synthetic thickeners that is effective in the textile printing process. The team revealed that guar gum could serve as an outstanding natural thickener, stabiliser, and gelling agent and could as well be used in various industrial units, including food, cosmetics, textiles, oil fracturing, and mining. Guar gum is one of the most important naturally occurring non-ionic high molecular weight polysaccharides and consists of galactomannan, which has vast applications in various fields.

Dr Iqbal and her team synthesised carboxymethyl guar gum (CMG) via monochloroacetic acid under alkaline conditions. The carboxymethylation of guar gum was accomplished by the Willianson ether technique and the reaction conditions were optimised during the course of the experiment. Guar derivatives with variable degrees of substitution (DS) were prepared and confirmed by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The DS was determined quantitatively by the titration method for each derivative.

For this research study, native guar gum was purchased from National Guar Industries, Karachi, with a molecular weight of 1.043 106 g/mol. Whereas, all the chemicals and reagents used were of analytical grade and were purchased from Merck, Germany.

The result proved that the substituted guar gum is an eco-friendly, non-hazardous thickener as compared to synthetic thickeners. Furthermore, the penetration properties, fixation ability, and colour fastness of guar gum were compared with those of commercial alginate thickeners. The printing trial of the thickener CMG also showed that carboxymethyl guar gum could easily replace conventional thickeners without any compromise on printing results and could prevent fabric stiffness. The tested water-holding capacity (a central aspect that determines commercial applications of gums) of guar gum made it ideal for improving the texture of end products in diverse industrial formulations.

Also, it was revealed that the implementation of carboxymethyl guar gum in textile printing can reduce the economic burden associated with exporting alginate and other synthetic thickeners. This, in turn, could enable exporters to offer competitive pricing without compromising on quality.

Faculty / Staff Profiles

Dr. Parveen Akhter

Associate Professor

Chemistry

Biography

Education

Experience

Publications

Conferences

Awards

Courses Taught

Project Supervisor

Services

Books

Research Fundings

Extracurricular Activities

Languages and Skills

Active Collabrations

Consulting Experience

Dr Akhtar represents Pakistan, explores collaboration with Germany on global issues

Dr Ashraf becomes Pakistan’s top and world’s 12th most cited Plant Science researcher

Dr Tahir explores the role of financial risk-taking attitude in consumer satisfaction

UOL chemist explores an eco-friendly alternative thickening agent for textile printing