Work & research experience

• Apr 2022 – Jul 2026
  Assistant Professor, Chemistry & Academic Coordinator
  University of Central Punjab (UCP) · Lahore, Pakistan
  Assistant Professor, Jan 2026 – Jul 2026 · Lecturer, Apr 2022 – Dec 2025
  • Promoted from Lecturer to Assistant Professor effective January 1, 2026, in recognition of performance and contributions to the university.
  • Delivered lectures to undergraduate and postgraduate students in Organic, Physical, Analytical, Environmental Chemistry, Spectroscopy, Instrumental Analysis, and Entrepreneurship.
  • Supervised laboratory sessions, ensuring adherence to safety protocols and development of students' experimental and analytical skills.
  • Coordinated faculty examinations: question paper preparation, scheduling, invigilation, and transparent evaluation.
  • Served as Social Media and Events Coordinator, leading departmental outreach, academic seminars, conferences, and workshops.
  • Guided and supervised MPhil and BS research students in proposal writing, experimental design, data analysis, and thesis completion; supervised 13 research projects (1 MPhil, 12 BS), 2022–2026.
  • Conducted independent research on green adsorbent synthesis and characterisation for wastewater remediation, contributing to peer-reviewed publications.
  • Developed and optimised analytical protocols using UV–Vis, FTIR, and AAS for research validation and student project support.
  • Served as peer reviewer for multiple indexed journals including Scientific Reports, Microchimica Acta, and Archives of Microbiology.
  • Faculty Partner in the LIC Student Pedagogy Partnership (SPP) Programme, Spring 2026 (UCP): co-designed an AI-resilient interdisciplinary Environmental Chemistry course and embedded AI-resilience strategies across the curriculum.
  • Organised and coordinated international academic sessions, seminars, and the Global Scholars Connect Series.
• Mar 2023 – Aug 2023
  Visiting PhD Researcher (HEC IRSIP Fellow)
  Scottish Universities Environmental Research Centre (SUERC), University of Glasgow · Scotland, UK
  • Six-month research placement funded by the Higher Education Commission (HEC) Pakistan under the International Research Support Initiative Program (IRSIP); on leave from UCP.
  • Host: Gillian MacKinnon, Lecturer in Biogeochemical Tracers.
  • Carried out PhD experiments, instrumental analysis, and material characterisation for thesis research on textile dye removal.
• Mar 2021 – Mar 2022
  Full-time Doctoral Researcher
  School of Chemistry, University of the Punjab · Lahore, Pakistan
  • Full-time work on PhD thesis research between university appointments.
• Oct 2018 – Mar 2021
  Lecturer, Chemistry
  Minhaj University Lahore · Lahore, Pakistan
  • Delivered lectures in Physical, Organic, Analytical, and Inorganic Chemistry, integrating theory with applied research.
  • Supervised laboratory sessions ensuring compliance with safety standards and accurate experimental execution.
  • Evaluated student performance in lab work, assignments, and research projects with constructive, timely feedback.
• Jul 2017 – Jul 2018
  Research Analyst
  School of Chemistry, University of the Punjab · Lahore, Pakistan
  • Operated, calibrated, and maintained advanced analytical instruments: ICP-OES, AAS, FTIR, HPLC, and Flame Photometry.
  • Conducted comprehensive water quality analyses quantifying heavy metals and organic/inorganic contaminants using standardised protocols.
  • Contributed to environmental monitoring research: data interpretation, report preparation, and publication support.
• Aug 2016 – Jul 2017
  Senior Science Teacher
  Ideal College of Science · Lahore, Pakistan
  • Taught Chemistry to HSSC students with emphasis on conceptual understanding and exam preparation.
  • Guided students in science project planning, execution, and presentation.
• Mar 2014 – May 2016
  Senior School Teacher
  Ideal Grammar School · Lahore, Pakistan
  • Taught Physics, Chemistry, and Biology to SSC students using inquiry-based and demonstration-driven methods aligned with the national curriculum.
  • Monitored student progress through regular assessments and personalised feedback.

Education

• Oct 2018 – May 2025 · Result: A
  PhD in Chemistry
  School of Chemistry, University of the Punjab · Lahore, Pakistan

  Thesis: A green approach for the removal of textile dyes from simulated wastewater · Supervisor: Dr Muhammad Salman

  • Developed eco-friendly remediation techniques: biosorption, phytoremediation, and nanomaterial-based adsorption for textile dye removal.
  • Operated UV–Vis, FTIR, and AAS instruments for monitoring dye degradation and result validation.
  • Investigated adsorption kinetics, thermodynamics, and surface chemistry to optimise process conditions.
  • Assessed economic feasibility and scalability of green wastewater treatment processes.
  • Thesis defended 25 April 2025; degree conferred at the 135th Convocation of the University of the Punjab.
  • HEC IRSIP Fellowship — six-month PhD research placement at the Scottish Universities Environmental Research Centre, University of Glasgow, Scotland, UK (Mar – Aug 2023).
• Feb 2016 – Mar 2018 · Result: A
  MPhil in Chemistry
  School of Chemistry, University of the Punjab · Lahore, Pakistan

  Thesis: Equilibrium, kinetics and thermodynamics in reactive dye removal via biosorption

• Oct 2013 – Dec 2015 · Result: A
  MSc in Chemistry
  School of Chemistry, University of the Punjab · Lahore, Pakistan

  Thesis: Biosorptive removal of Brilliant Green dye using Sorghum bicolor L.

• Oct 2012 – Sep 2013 · Result: A (3rd position in batch)
  B.Ed in Science
  Institute of Education and Research, University of the Punjab · Lahore, Pakistan
• Oct 2010 – Aug 2012 · Result: 1st Division
  BSc — Botany, Zoology, Chemistry
  Punjab College of Sciences · Lahore, Pakistan

Publications

Nine peer-reviewed articles in internationally indexed journals, newest first — 59 citations and an h-index of 4 on Google Scholar (September 2026). My name is in bold; figures and summaries are on the Publications page.

1. Nagra, S. I., Akram, M., Iftikhar, T., & Raja, M. (2026). Aloe barbadensis-mediated green synthesis of zirconium nanohybrids for carbon tetrachloride-induced hepatotoxicity in Wistar rats. BioNanoScience, 16, 609. Corresponding author DOI ↗
2. Tahir, S., Akram, M., Salman, M., Ahmad, B., Farooq, U., & Ali, F. (2026). Synergistic effect of Zn and Mo co-doping in ZrO₂ for efficient photodegradation of Congo Red and Ciprofloxacin under visible irradiation. Chemical Papers, 1–23. DOI ↗
3. Tahir, S., Waheed, F., Akram, M., Salman, M., Farooq, U., Saleem, S., & Ehsan, A. (2026). Vanadium-doped zirconia as an efficient visible-light photocatalyst for advanced treatment of dye-loaded wastewater. Iranian Journal of Catalysis, 16(2), 218–237. DOI ↗
4. Wahab, A., Akram, M., Salman, M., Shakoor, A., Tahir, S., Farooq, U., & Majeed, M. (2023). Sorptive activity of potential native biosorbent for the elimination of lead and cadmium in one and two-component systems: characterization, kinetic activity, and mechanism exploration. Desalination and Water Treatment, 290, 82–93. DOI ↗
5. Saleem, U., Akram, M., Salman, M., Farooq, U., Dar, A., & Tahir, S. (2022). Biosorption activity of chemically modified Trifolium alexandrinum for the detoxification of Cr(III) contaminated water. Desalination and Water Treatment, 246, 212–225. DOI ↗
6. Akram, M., Salman, M., Rehman, R., Farooq, U., Tahir, S., & Nazir, H. (2021). Kinetic and isothermal investigations of cost-effective sorptive elimination of Gentian Violet dye from water using Haplophragma adenophyllum biowaste. Journal of Chemistry, 1–12. First author DOI ↗
7. Akram, M., Salman, M., Farooq, U., Saleem, U., Tahir, S., Nazir, H., & Arsalan, H. M. (2020). Phthalate-functionalized Sorghum bicolor L.: an effective biosorbent for the removal of Alizarin Red S and Bromophenol Blue dyes from simulated wastewater. Desalination and Water Treatment, 190, 383–392. First author DOI ↗
8. Nazir, H., Salman, M., Athar, M., Farooq, U., Wahab, A., & Akram, M. (2019). Citric acid functionalized Bougainvillea spectabilis: a novel, sustainable, and cost-effective biosorbent for removal of heavy metal (Pb²⁺) from waste water. Water, Air, & Soil Pollution, 230(12), 303. DOI ↗
9. Nazir, H., Salman, M., Athar, M., Farooq, U., Akram, M., & Saleem, N. (2019). A novel biosorbent Bougainvillea spectabilis stalks leaves for removal of Cd(II) and Cu(II) from wastewater. Desalination and Water Treatment, 148, 222–228. DOI ↗

Research supervision

13 research projects supervised at the University of Central Punjab, 2022–2026 (1 MPhil, 12 BS) — spanning green nanoparticles, photocatalysts, adsorbent beads, trace-metal detection, RP-HPLC method design, and herbal formulations. Full list with titles and students on the Research page.

Honours & awards

Peer review & academic service

Selected conferences & seminars

Skills

Certifications & professional development

Courses, trainings, workshops, and seminars, newest first. View the certificates themselves on the Certifications page.

References

Academic and professional references are available on request — get in touch.