Hafsah Akhtar | Biomaterials | Best Researcher Award

Dr. Hafsah Akhtar | Biomaterials | Best Researcher Award

Dr at COMSATS University Islamabad, Pakistan

Pranali Parab is a highly skilled researcher with extensive experience in biomaterials and biomedical engineering. With a Ph.D. in Biomaterials from The University of Sheffield and a Master’s in Biomedical Sciences from NUST Islamabad, her expertise spans ceramic and polymer synthesis, chemical characterizations, and cell culture techniques. Pranali has demonstrated leadership as a research associate, lab in-charge, and graduate teaching assistant, supervising numerous projects and interns. She has received several awards and grants for her outstanding contributions to the field. Pranali is passionate about bone repair and regeneration and actively contributes to research and technology awareness initiatives.

Profile

 

Scholar

Education🎓

PhD in Biomaterials Faculty of Engineering, The University of Sheffield, United Kingdom2017-2022 PhD Thesis: Metal Oxide Substituted Polyurethane foams for enhanced craniofacial bone repair: Exploring the properties of Cerium, Zirconium, and Copper-doped Zinc Oxide nanoparticles as potential additives for bone regeneration and angiogenesis. Project Supervisor: Prof. Gwendolen Reilly MS in Biomedical Sciences School of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, NUST Islamabad, Pakistan 2013-2015 Master’s Thesis: Designing and Fabrication of a functional stent graft for the treatment of Oesophageal Cancer (Higher Education Commission funded project). Project Supervisor: Dr. Murtaza Najabat Ali BS in Applied Biosciences Atta ur Rehman School of Applied Biosciences, NUST Islamabad, Pakistan 2009-2013 Bachelor’s thesis: Identification of Mycoviral infections in environmental fungal isolates (Higher Education Commission Project). Project Supervisor: Dr. Muhammad Faraz Bhatti

 

Professional Experience

Research Associate ‘Member Bone Research Group’ Interdisciplinary Research Centre in Biomedical Materials (IRCBM), Lahore. 2016-Present Lab In-charge & Advanced User Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscope. Graduate Teaching Assistant University of Sheffield, United Kingdom. 2018-2021 Professional Behaviour and Ethical Conduct Module for PhD Students. Diamond Labs. Chemical and Biological Engineering Labs. Department of Mechanical Engineering Labs. Research Supervision Master’s Students (2 Co-supervisions), IRCBM, COMSATS University Islamabad, Lahore campus. Master’s Students (2 Co-supervisions), Undergraduate Summer Student (1 Co-supervision), University of Sheffield, United Kingdom. Research Internees (2) from Jagiellonian University Krakow, Poland. Erasmus Research Mobility Program. Intern Seed Biotech Lab, Centre for Excellence in Molecular Biology (CEMB), Lahore, Pakistan. 2012 (6 weeks) Intern Molecular Biology Lab, Atta ur Rahman School of Applied Biosciences, NUST Islamabad, Pakistan. 2010 (6 weeks)

Academic Projects 🎓🔬📚

Solvent Casting/Particle Leaching (SCPL) Scaffold Synthesis for Craniofacial Bone Repair (Completed) Role of Zinc Oxide in Bone Regeneration (Completed) Cell Attachment and Biocompatibility of Next Generation Oxide Containing Bioactive Scaffolds for Craniofacial Vascularization and Bone Regeneration (Completed) Cell Viability, Mineralization, and Collagen Production of hTERT BMSCs in Basal and Osteogenic Media (Completed) Bioactive Scaffolds for Orbital Floor Repair and Regeneration (Completed) Evaluation of Analgesic Effect of Honey, Mint, Aloe Vera, and Rose Water in Balb/c Mice: Comparative Study (Completed) Development of Novel Biofunctional Polymer-Based Natural Biomaterial Films and Surfaces for Biomedical Applications (Completed) Evaluation of LDA, QDA, and Decision Trees for Multifunctional Controlled Below Elbow Prosthetic Limb Using EMG Signals (Completed) Designing and Simulation Analysis of Tracheal Splint Coated with Adipose Stem Cells for the Treatment of Weak Trachea (Birth Disorder) (Completed)

 

Awards 🏆🎖️

Learned Society University of Sheffield Travel Grant WBC Glasgow 2020 (Virtual), United Kingdom (2020) Learned Society University of Sheffield Travel Grant TERMIS EU MEETING 2019, United Kingdom (2019) Armours and Brasiers Travel Grant TERMIS EU MEETING 2019, United Kingdom (2019) Learned Society University of Sheffield Travel Grant BioMedEng 2019, United Kingdom (2019) Engineering Research Symposium – University of Sheffield, United Kingdom (1st Position – Materials, 2019) 2nd Year Postgraduate Poster Presentation – University of Sheffield, United Kingdom (Runners Up, 2019) Doctoral Academy Award, University of Sheffield for Doctoral Studies (2017) Best Poster Presentation Award, COMSATS University, Islamabad, Pakistan (2014) 3rd Position in Annual Career Fair Poster Presentation ASAB, NUST, Pakistan (2014) Rector’s High Achiever’s Award for Position and Participation in All Pakistan Competitions, NUST, Pakistan (2013) 3rd Position ‘Invent a Blueprint’ All Pakistan Math Olympiad, GIK Institute of Engineering, Pakistan (2012) Member of the Year Award NUST Science Society, NUST, Pakistan (2011) Fauji Fertilizers Company Merit Scholarship (2009-2015)

 

Technical Skills 💻🔧📊

  • Technical Procedures: Ceramic and Polymer Synthesis, Chemical and Physical Characterizations, Cell Culture, ELISA.
  • Equipment Trainings: Fluorescent Microscope, Scanning Electron Microscope, Transmission Electron Microscope, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscope, RAMAN Spectroscopy, Plasma Spray Coating, Confocal Microscopy, X-Ray Diffraction.
  • Technical Software: GraphPad Prism, Image J, Wildfire PRO Engineer, AUTOCAD, SolidWorks, Fusion 360.
  • Application Packages: MS Office (Word, PowerPoint, Excel), Mendeley, EndNote.

Administrative Skills 📊📝📋

  • Management, Analytical, and Coordination Skills

Extracurricular Activities 🌟📰📚

Founder of ‘The Inside Story’ – A Social Media Project for the Awareness of Research and Technology Among Masses (2014-2016), Author at Student Run Online Magazine ‘I R Nustian’ (2013-2014), Joint Secretary Information, NUST Science Society (2011-2012), Director Public Relations, NUST Science Society (2010-2011)

Research Interests 🧪🔬

    • Biomaterials, Ceramics, and Bio composites for Bone Repair and Regeneration, Multifunctional Biomaterials

 

Publications Top Notes 📝

  • Therapeutic efficacy of neurostimulation for depression: techniques, current modalities, and future challenges
    • Authors: H Akhtar, F Bukhari, M Nazir, MN Anwar, A Shahzad
    • Journal: Neuroscience bulletin
    • Pages: 115-126
    • Year: 2016
    • Citations: 60

 

  • Development of K-doped ZnO nanoparticles encapsulated crosslinked chitosan based new membranes to stimulate angiogenesis in tissue engineered skin grafts
    • Authors: L Shahzadi, AA Chaudhry, AR Aleem, MH Malik, K Ijaz, H Akhtar, F Alvi, …
    • Journal: International journal of biological macromolecules
    • Volume: 120
    • Pages: 721-728
    • Year: 2018
    • Citations: 37

 

  • Development of biocomposites from coir fibre and poly (caprolactone) by solvent casting technique
    • Authors: HC Obasi, AA Chaudhry, K Ijaz, H Akhtar, MH Malik
    • Journal: Polymer Bulletin
    • Pages: 1-13
    • Year: 2017
    • Citations: 19

 

  • New biofunctional loading of natural antimicrobial agent in biodegradable polymeric films for biomedical applications
    • Authors: B Ghafoor, MN Ali, U Ansari, MF Bhatti, M Mir, H Akhtar, F Darakhshan
    • Journal: International journal of biomaterials
    • Year: 2016
    • Citations: 18

 

  • Zinc containing calcium phosphates obtained via microwave irradiation of suspensions
    • Authors: AA Chaudhry, H Khalid, M Zahid, K Ijaz, H Akhtar, B Younas, F Manzoor, …
    • Journal: Materials Chemistry and Physics
    • Volume: 276
    • Pages: 124921
    • Year: 2022
    • Citations: 8

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