Lahore, In a landmark achievement for the region, Dr. Faheem Hassan Akhtar, an Assistant Professor at the Syed Babar Ali School of Science and Engineering (SBASSE) at Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS), has been honored with the North American Membrane Society (NAMS) Young Membrane Scientist Award. This prestigious accolade, awarded annually to individuals demonstrating significant contributions to the field of separation science, marks Dr. Akhtar as the first recipient from South Asia, placing him among an elite group of scientists globally.
According to Lahore University of Management Sciences, the NAMS Young Membrane Scientist Award recognizes outstanding achievements in separation technology by professionals with approximately five years of experience. Previous awardees include luminaries from institutions such as Stanford, MIT, University of California, Berkeley, and Imperial College London. Dr. Akhtar’s recognition not only celebrates his individual excellence but also underscores LUMS’s growing reputation in global scientific research.
Dr. Akhtar, leading the Laboratory of Advanced Membranes and Separations (LAMS) at LUMS, focuses on developing high-performance membranes and adsorbents for critical and energy-intensive separations. His work spans ultra-thin membrane applications and the physics of gas and vapor transport through polymer layers, with an emphasis on creating sustainable solutions for water treatment and air dehumidification. Dr. Akhtar’s vision extends to producing low-cost membranes domestically to make portable drinking water more accessible and establishing a startup for membrane production in collaboration with industries for water desalination and vapor separation applications.
Before his tenure at LUMS in 2021, Dr. Akhtar’s distinguished career included industry experience and a postdoctoral position at the Water Desalination and Reuse Center at KAUST. His accolades include the KAUST PhD Fellowship Award and the Patrick Meares Award in Membrane Science. His research contributions have been recognized in prominent publications and he is the co-inventor of seven patents.
Dr. Akhtar attributes much of his success to the supportive environment at LUMS, highlighting the university’s no-borders concept and Faculty Initiative Fund as instrumental in fostering interdisciplinary collaboration and research excellence. His commitment to adding value and delivering sustainable global solutions remains his guiding principle as he continues to advance in his field.