Polymers and advanced materials
Nano-technology/Nano-composite
Paints and coatings
Graphene, boron nitride and other 2D materials
Fusion 360 3D modelling
3D printing
Python data analysis
The University of Manchester-Manchester
MSc Polymer Materials Science and Engineering, Sept 2016 – Sept 2017 (Distinction: 77.33 %)
Dissertation: “Polymer/boron nitride nanocomposite coatings for corrosion protection” of steel.
Aligarh Muslim University-Aligarh-Bachelor’s of Tech. in chemical Engineering
Bachelor’s of Tech. in chemical Engineering. July 2009-June, 2013 ( GPA of 7.07 out of 10, First Division)
Dissertation: "Graphene cuprous oxide nanocomposite and its photocatalytic and anti-candida application."
International Indian School-Jeddah-Senior Secondary Examination Class XII CBSE
71 % aggregate in Physics, Chemistry, Math and Biology (2007-08)
International Indian School-Jeddah-Class X, CBSE
86 % aggregate in Science, Social Science, Math, English, Urdu (2005-06)
TOEFL (2015) :104 ( TOEFL score card ), GRE General (2015): 312 ( GRE score card )
Application Scientist, Applied Graphene Materials (Feb 2021 - Present)
Applied science
Managed field testing and successful trial of inhouse developed paint for offshore environment on narrow canal boat and bridge gate and railings.
Planned and managed scaled-up production of developed paint for offshore environment.
Senior Technologist, Applied Graphene Materials (Feb 2018 - Jan 2021)
AGM produces graphene nanoparticles (bottom to up approach) and graphene dispersions. The solvent & resin-based dispersions are primarily used in two areas: coatings and nanocomposites. My main responsibilities:
Product Development
Formulating, manufacturing, testing and analysis of graphene dispersions and graphene based paints.
Develop methods to manufacture dispersions and paints on a lab scale and pilot scale and provide technical support to production team for scale-up.
Conduct practical experiments to support knowledge in the coatings and wider technical team.
Develop customers' existing paints with incorporation of graphene.
Identify raw materials for carrying out formulation work and contact raw materials’ providers, such as manufacturer or distributor.
Visit customers and carry out field testing of developed products.
Health and safety
Assist in the development of Technical Guidance Notes, data sheets, and SDS by providing the necessary technical data and test reports.
Write risk assessment forms and standard operating procedures.
Contribute to the maintenance of a safe and clean working environment in all areas by acting as Lab Safety Supervisor (LSS) after undergoing LSS training.
Ensure a clean and working environment complying with relevant SHE regulations. Conduct (weekly) inspections and cleaning ensuring all aspects of equipment and chemical usage. Carry out 2 audits annually with senior managers and SHE coordinator.
Use manufacturing and testing equipment and train new staffs on the equipment using a training record and sometimes using external training providers.
Own testing equipment and carry out/organise maintenance as required.
Project Management
Manage projects using project management software and keep line managers updated.
Present to manager and senior managers about plans, timelines, test reports regarding projects.
Attend training, conferences, exhibitions, webinars and reading magazines and research papers, and leading company websites to develop knowledge of the industry.
Carry out projects to develop dispersions to increase product portfolio and, develop in-house and customers' paints using graphene
Participate in development from formulation to manufacture to scale up to field tests
Achievements
Project Lead for improving customer paints and paints for offshore environment
Developed 5 stable standard dispersions
Improved paints of 2 customers
Improved 1 testing equipment design
Developed 1 better performing paint for offshore environment than the commercial standards. Successfully completed field testing by testing in real life situation
Organised 1 R&D training on a equipment for team members through external training providers
Student Representative at University of Manchester Student's Union (Oct 2016-Sept 2017)
As a Student Representative, I represent my course students in the Student Union and in the Staff-Student Liaison Meeting hold between Student representative and Academic staff where I raise the issues of the student to the meeting to make sure voices of the students are heard.
Product Application Analyst, National Petrochemical Industrial Company, NATPET (Jan 2014 -Sept 2016)
NATPET manufactures different grades of polypropylene homopolymer, random and impact copolymer using State of the Art Spheripol Technology from LyondellBasell. At NATPET I am involved with the following tasks:
1. Polypropylene grades' formulation, and applications
Acquiring knowledge of polypropylene (PP) grades, its processing methods, additives and its impacts on polymer properties.
PP grades formulation
Market driven development of new grades for niche application and enhancement of existing grade through lab tests and trials with machine manufacturers or converters
2. Product Stewardship and regulatory compliance
Monitoring & Handling regulatory compliance for all our grades (REACH, EU, FDA, China) by Conducting lab and regulatory tests.
Preparing and maintaining of Technical Data Sheets, Safety Data Sheets and Regulatory Compliance Product Declaration.
Responsible Care RC 14001 Product Stewardship compliance.
Technical support and complaint handling.
3. R&D & Scholarly work
Furnishing articles for magazines for awareness about our products, its applications, and associated environmental hazards
Literature Survey and presentation for management for new developments in polymers and research. eg, recyclable self-healing organo-gels of PEG-HDCN, Oxidative coupling of Natural gas to Ethylene
4. Achievements
Product development: Improved a fiber grade, a film grade and a high-pressure extrusion pipe grade. Reformulated injection moulding grade for impact resistance
Regulatory affairs: Led grades’ compliance programs to regulatory standards, viz. REACH, US-EU food contact, RoHS, IMDS, medical devices (USP, EP, ISO 10993, China Medical), automotive (VDA, UL flammability). Qualified grades to regulatory standards of nine countries. Team lead for Product Stewardship activities recognized by GPCA® RC® as the best in the Gulf region
Project Management: Started programs for grades compliance to medical device & automotive application
Speaker Delegate for NATPET at the Gulf Petrochemical and Chemical Association workshop: Gulf Petrochemical and Chemical Association (GPCA) selected NATPET as the company having the best practices in the Product Stewardship code of Responsible Care (RC 14001) among its full 32 member companies in the Gulf region. NATPET was invited to the first RC workshop held by GPCA in Dubai to give a presentation and share its best practices with the other member companies. I was selected by NATPET to represent it as a speaker to present NATPET Product Stewardship practices in this workshop.
Penny Appeal charity fundraising member, ‘Team Orange’ (Oct 2018 – Present)
Match-day catering and kiosk assistant at Manchester United Football Club (Apr 2017-Jan 2018)
Field Active Agent, Nuva water company, Manchester, UK (Feb 2016)
Part-time Retail Assistant for cash handling/checkout operation & monitor stock at local grocery store Manchester, UK (Dec 2016)
@ AGM
Application of CX paint (paint for offshore environment) on real life applications for field trials. As a part of application project, my role was to acquire adequate raw materials, develop manufacturing steps of the paint, manufacture and supervise manufacturing of paint for the project, shipping paint off site for the field trial and providing technical support to paint applicators during the application of paints. Field trials were done on the hull of boats, flood gates and railings of bridges.
Scale up of successfully developed and field tested paint for offshore environment (CX paint).
Benchmarking of paints containing graphene as a barrier pigment with those containing industry standard barrier pigments for comparing their corrosion resistance, mechanical properties and optical properties.
Customer paint development: Developed one of the customer's paint to improve its anti-corrosive properties by incorporating graphene dispersed in solvent based formulation. Solvent borne formulation was used because the customer's paint was single pack, atmospheric curing type. The paint is now a successful commercial product for the customer.
Developing graphene based paints for offshore/marine environment: The offshore and marine structures such as oil rigs and ship's ballast tank are one of the harshest environment. Different types of graphene in epoxy dispersions were used to incorporate into a prototype offshore (CX environment) paint. The paints were adjusted for pigment volume concentration (PVC) by removing some of the pigments from prototype formulation to compensate for the volume of the graphene added. The CX paints formulated, manufactured and spray applied on blasted steel test panels were tested under accelerated corrosion testing such as neutral salt spray, cyclic ageing test and sea water immersion test as per standard ISO 12944 part 9. For comparison two commercial paint standards were also used as control. The results were recorded, analysed and presented. The results were used to publish a paper and also file a patent.
Coating for C4/C5 environment using hybrid dispersion: Hybrid dispersion was manufactured using graphene and one other active corrosion inhibitor in suitable epoxy resin. The dispersion was then added to C4/C5 prototype paint to make the hybrid coating. Paints of two types of graphene in hybrid dispersion were tested against a graphene free control paint using neutral salt spray corrosion test and mechanical tests such as abrasion and impact resistance, flexibility and pull-off adhesion. The whole project was completed over 3 months period. Tasks involved were, making project plan with timelines, making dispersion and paints, preparing steel and aluminium test panels for spraying the paints, backing and edging the test panels to cover the metal completely before putting into the salt spray chamber for corrosion testing, doing mechanical testing, recording and reporting on test results and presenting to management.
@ University of Manchester, MSc Project
Synthesis of polymer-nanocomposite coatings for corrosion protection of steel: Boron nitride 2-D nanoparticles were incorporated in a 2-pack epoxy resin and coated over steel panel for corrosion testing. Coatings were tested using salt solution test, water absorption test, gas permeability test, acid exposure test, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy test, tensile test and surface hardness test. A particular loading of boron nitride in epoxy passed all the test and outperformed in most of the tests indicating that corrosion and mechanical properties of epoxy can indeed by improved by boron nitride nanoparticles.
@ NATPET
Natpet grades for Medical application: Appointed as Project Coordinator for qualifying and promoting NATPET's Random polypropylene copolymers for Medical and labware application. Major task includes, arranging the biocompatibility testing, finding customers and arranging trial runs, ISO 10993 certification, evaluating plant capabilities.
Recyclable strong thermosets and self-healing organogels via paraformaldehyde condensation with di-amines: Performed literature survey and the techno-economic feasibility study for NATPET to invest in the research of this new polymer discovered by scientist from IBM and King Abdulaziz City for Science & Technology (KACST)
Undergraduate projects
Nanotechnology: B. tech Final year Project work on “Synthesis and Characterization of Graphene-cuprous Oxide Nano-composite and its photo catalytic and anti-fungal (candida) application”.
Plant Design (Techno-economic feasibility report): B. Tech Final year Project work on “Techno-economic feasibility report for the production of Propylene Glycol from Glycerol and Hydrogen”.
Process Design
B. tech 3rd year Project work on “Design of Sieve tray distillation column for separation of n-heptane-toluene system”.
Literature survey and seminar presentation on “Hydrogen: The fuel of the future” as a part of course during third year under graduate studies.
Autodesk Fusion 360 Certified User (18 Nov, 2021)
Passed the certification course with 78 percent marks. It confirms students have developed the design skills to effectively use Autodesk Fusion 360 software. Knowledge demonstrated includes part and assembly modeling, 3D printing, sculpting, editing, and more. Check the badge on: https://www.credly.com/badges/23383c1a-0a9b-4249-80d2-e38b459aff48/public_url
Certified Fine Finish – HVLP & Conventional spraying (2 Nov, 2021)
As a part of the certification training was provided and at the end, a written exam was taken to confirm the knowledge of the participants. The course covered assembling, operating & shutting down spraying equipment; applying health & safety measures to protect operatives & the public; preparing coatings; applying techniques to protect the surfaces & immediate environment; applying correct spraying techniques and troubleshooting spray equipment & coating problems. Check the badge on:
https://www.credly.com/badges/7db96f8d-eec1-4f5a-a97a-882d1032d0dd/public_url
Certified Intensive Airless Spraying (31 Aug, 2021)
The programme comprised of classroom learning, practical activity to introduce to airless spraying and explore how it can help business evolve. Learnt about & demonstrated techniques including spraying on walls, ceilings, architraves, skirtings, doors & spindles. Explored the health & safety aspects of airless spraying and have also learnt how to set up & clean down the machines including basic maintenance. The course ended with a written exam to confirm the knowledge gained. Check the badge on:
https://www.credly.com/badges/e9e66e9f-2d2b-45f6-b654-90876a3a6eb8/public_url
Fusion 360 Beginner to Certification (10 Jan, 2021), Online course
Complete the course organised by SolidProfessor and passed the exam with 84% marks, more than the minimum 80 % marks required to pass the exam. The course started with basic overview of the Fusion 360 3D design software and user interface. Subsequently, the following topics were discussed: Sketching, dimensions and constraints, applying sketched based features to create 3D model from sketches, replicating geometry for patterning, construction geometry, part design techniques using direct modelling, sculpt modelling using forms, assembly structure, joints and motion, collaboration with team, drawing on a 2D canvas and finally mock exams to prepare for the Fusion 360 User Certification exam organised by Autodesk. Verify on:
First aid at work (02 Dec, 2020), Middlesbrough, UK
Completed the 3 day course organised by St John Ambulance. It provided me with knowledge, practical know-how and confidence to act as first aider at workplace. The course equipped me with knowledge of safely assessing the emergency situation, acting promptly, asking for help, giving effective treatment, maintaining hygiene of self and the casualty during choking, severe bleeding and shock, unresponsive casualty, unbreathing and arm injury. It also explained the five ways in which a poison can enter a body, assessing degree and size of burn, treating heat exhaustion and hypothermia. The important part of giving first aid treatment was also presented such as proper resting position for the casualty during different scenarios, medication and type of help o be given. Practical training included doing primary survey (DRABC) and CPR (Cardiac Pulmonary Resuscitation).
Remote Rheology Training (23rd Jul & 6th Aug, 2020)
Attended the 2 day bespoke training, online, along with my colleagues. The first day of the course covered the basics of rheology, difference between, elastic and plastic behaviour, Newtonian and non-Newtonian fluid, difference between honey like substance and toothpaste like substance and terms like viscoelasticity, storage and loss modulus. The second day of the training was more of a demonstration showing different testing that can be performed on our viscometer. Information such as viscosity at different shear rate, and shear stress, oscillatory sweeps for structured liquids, graphs for viscoelastic material and recommended machine settings to get these information were discussed.
Six Sigma Black Belt (20th Apr, 2020), LinkedIn Learning
Completed the Six Sigma Black Belt training course on LinkedIn, mainly taught by Richard Chua and Eddie Davila. The course is designed to prepare for the Six Sigma Black Belt certification exam. Various topics that were covered was, operational excellence, Six Sigma Foundation, Statistics Foundations 2 & 3, Learning Minitab, Six Sigma Green and Black Belt project management process, and few topics on leading a team, carrying out effective communication and change management.
Learning Minitab (10th Apr, 2020), LinkedIn Learning
Completed the course taught by Richard Chua. The topics covered included going through the Minitab user interface, charts and graphs display for continuous and discreet data, confidence interval plots, compare data using variance test, median tests, means test, ANOVA test for multiple means, curve fitting using regression, proportions test instead of mean for discreet data, test for independence for discreet data and methods to share work. Also taught was how to perform design of experiment to generate data using Minitab. The course gave me knowledge about the importance of statistics and generating and analysing data which can be useful when designing lab based experiments.
Paint Technology (29th Oct-1 st Nov, 2018), Melton Mowbray, UK
Attended the 4 day course organised by the PRA. The Course was about the markets for coatings, properties of coatings, raw materials of coatings, solvent borne, waterborne and high solids coatings, radiation cured coatings, powder coatings, surface preparation before coating, legislations arounds coatings and future challenges.
Fusion 360 Essential Training (12th Jul 2017), LinkedIn Learning
The LinkedIn course was very helpful in providing me the knowledge to use Fusion 360 3D designing software. It was helpful in building up my basic information about the platform and then providing me enough skills to design products and take my learning to the next level. Some of the topics that were discussed include: Using Fusion 360, 3D objects from sketches, sketch into a surface, adding a cutting tool, creating joints, surface modelling, sketching from sculpting, playing with complex meshes, 3D printing and simulations.
Polymer and Polymerization Technology (24-26th Nov, 2015), Al-Khobar, KSA
Attended training course organized by King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals (KFUPM) in Al-Khobar, Saudi Arabia. This industrial short course was about polymers, polymerization technology and its application in plastics and rubber.
( KFUPM Short course Polymer and polymerization participation certificate )
GPCA Responsible Care (RC) Workshop (12-13th Nov, 2014), Doha, Qatar
Participated in GPCA RC practitioner Implementation workshop organized in Doha, Qatar, by TransReg LLC, Westwood, NJ, USA.
( Trans Reg LLC RC14001 workshop participation certificate )
Graphene and 2-dimensional Materials, The University of Manchester (online course)
Completed the course, "Graphene and 2-dimensional Materials", offered online by The University of Manchester through Coursera.org
Python for Everybody Specialization, University of Michigan (online course)
Completed the course "Programming for Everybody (Getting Started with Python)" and "Python Data Structures", which are two of the five course offered online by University of Michigan in the complete certificate course, Python for Everybody Specialization.
National symposium on “Nanotechnology for Chemical Applications” held at Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh on 27th of Feb. 2013.
Participation ( Nano tech for chemical application-National symposium certificate )
Workshop on “Process Modeling and Simulation” held at Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh on March, 23-24, 2013.
( Process modeling and simulation workshop participation certificate )
YUVA Meet 2013 on “Green Growth: Preparing Youth for Sustainable Living”, organized by The Energy and Resource Institute, New Delhi.
( YUVA meet-green growth sustainable living participation certificate )
Chartered Engineer (CEng), 16 Jun, 2021
I was awarded the CEng status by the Engineering Council. The application was facilitated by Institute of Materials Minerals and Mining (IOM3). The criteria to become a CEng is to be able to show practical experience relating to science discipline, exercising managerial skills and judgement at work, and demonstrating my competency in develop solutions to engineering problems using new or existing technologies, through innovation creativity and change. I successfully completed the four stages of the assessment, namely, my educational competency, continued professional development throughout my career, professional peer review, and my interview.
Chartered Scientist (CSci), 18 Apr, 2021
I was awarded the CSci status by the Science Council. The application was facilitated by IOM3 of which I am a member. The criteria to become a CSci is to be able to show practical experience relating to science discipline, exercising managerial skills and judgement at work, and demonstrating effective leadership, specialist knowledge and application of science at work. I successfully completed the four stages of the assessment, namely, my educational competency, continued professional development throughout my career, professional peer review, and my research work presentation.
MIMMM, Profession Member of the Institute of Materials Minerals and Mining, Mar 16, 2020
The Institute of Materials Minerals and Mining or IOM3 awarded me with the MIMMM grade membership as I hold Masters Degree in Polymer Materials Science and Engineering (the minimum requirement is of a Bachelor’s degree, be it a BEng, BSc, BSc(Eng), BTech etc., or equivalent RQF Level 6/SCQF Level 9/10 qualification in a relevant engineering, science, technology or environmental subject). I also fulfill their other requirement which is to have at least 4 years relevant working experience. This will enable me to apply for the Chartered Engineer.
Second best employee of the year award at NATPET Annual Staff Party, March 16, 2016
Awarded the second best employee of the year award for contributions and dedications shown during the year 2015. ( NATPET second best employee of the year award certificate )
GPCA, Gulf Petrochemical and Chemical Association
NATPET was awarded by GPCA as the company following best practices in implementing the Product Stewardship code of Responsible Care, RC 14001 among other GPCA member companies. As a result GPCA invited NATPET to share its best practices in Product Stewardship in the first GPCA RC workshop held on 11-12th March, 2015, at Dubai. I was selected to represent NATPET as a co-speaker in this workshop.( GPCA RC workshop certificate )
Paper Presentation on “Synthesis & Characterization of Graphene-Cuprous oxide Nanocomposite & its photocatalytic & Anticandidal Application”
Team awarded 1st position for this project at Avant Garde, Zarf 2013, organized by our College, AMU.( Avant Grade-Nanotechnology paper presentation certificate )
United Nations RIO+20 India Certification Program a “Short Term Case Study in Sustainable Development”
Organized by IARC Education & Outreach Division. I was awarded excellence grade B.( Rio +20 India program certificate )
Frictional Path
A design game which required to build a sliding path so that when a dropped ball travels through it takes maximum time to reach from top to the bottom and completely halt. Team received first prize.( ZARF-frictional path certificate )
Penny Appeal fundraising volunteer (Oct. 2018 - Present)
Volunteering for PennyAppeal fundraising organisation since October of 2018. PennyAppeal is a charity organisation registered in the UK which work for helping people in some of the poorest countries by providing food, shelter and clothing. They also help during emergencies such as natural disasters and calamities. Apart from that, they also undertake work to help various causes such as helping orphans find homes, building schools for children, supporting vulnerable women and supporting homeless people. They have worked around the world in 30 countries and also do charitable work in UK. I have helped raise funds by participating in running events, helping organising charity dinners and movie nights. I also take part in the regular meetings held in our area where we have around more or less 20 volunteers.
English tutor, Recognize Refugee Rights, University of Manchester (Sept 2016 - May 2017)
Volunteer for English Conversation Classes: Joined the Recognise Refugee Rights Society at the University of Manchester. The Society works for the refugees from all over the place who have ended in Manchester and UK. There are many activities and events organised by the society and one of it is the English Conversation Classes for refugees taking place weekly and I have volunteered myself to take the classes and hence helping the refugees with what I am able to do.
Polio Vaccination, Anti-polio campaign, International Indian School Jeddah, 2004
Ahmed N., Tamim F., Karimi A., " Polypropylene in Medical Application ,"Xpression issue 29, pp. 24-25 (Q3, 2015)
Karimi A., Ahmed N., Tamim F., " Additives and their significant roles in shaping the plastic performance ,"Xpression, issue 28, pp. 34-36 (Q2, 2015)
Karimi A., Ahmed N., Tamim F., " Regulatory Compliance of Product ," xpression, issue 26, pp. 29-31 (Q3, 2014)
Ahmed N., Tamim F., Karimi A., " Plastics Thermoforming Technology and Polypropylene ," Xpression, issue 27, pp. 33-35 (Q4. 2014-Q1, 2015)
Institute of Materials Minerals and Mining (IOM3), Professional member , MIMMM (Oct 2016-Present)
SCE: Saudi Council of Engineers, Chemical Engineer (Dec 2014-Oct 2017)
( SCE Engineering accreditation certificate )