Dr. Imran Akhtar currently serves as an Associate Professor in the National University of Sciences & Technology. His research interests include high performance computing, nonlinear systems, reduced-order modeling and simulation, flow control, and energy harvesting. He has published over 50 research articles in international journals and conference proceedings. Dr. Akhtar has delivered multiple talks as Keynote Speakers and Guest Lectures, namely in the University of Ohio and Wright State University (USA), and at the Inauguration Session for Supercomputing Facility, National University of Sciences & Technology, Islamabad, Pakistan.

Dr. Akhtar recently received an international research grant from The World Academy of Sciences (TWAS) on “High Performance & High Productivity Computing (HP2C) based integration and automation in Energy Efficiency Buildings”.

Dr. Imran Akhtar currently leads Mechanarium Research Group in the Department with over 10 PhD and MS students conducting research on topics ranging from aerospace applications to flow control to cardio-electrophysiology. He strongly believes and advocates promoting interdisciplinary research to explore new ground breaking ideas and innovations.

WORK EXPERIENCE

2015 – Present           Associate Professor

• Department of Mechanical Engineering, NUST College of EME, Rawalpindi, Pakistan

2010 – 2015                Assistant Professor

• Department of Mechanical Engineering, NUST College of EME, Rawalpindi, Pakistan

2008 – 2010                Postdoctoral Research Associate

• Interdisciplinary Center for Applied Mathematics (ICAM), Virginia Tech, USA

2003 – 2008                Research Assistant with Dr. Ali H. Nayfeh

• Nonlinear Dynamics Research Lab, Department of Engineering Science and Mechanics, Virginia Tech
• Developed 3D parallel Navier-Stokes equations code with reduced-order modeling capability

2005 – 2006                Engineering Education Software Developer with Dr. L. Glenn Kraige

• Developed educational software in the Department of Engineering Science and Mechanics, Virginia Tech, USA

2001 – 2003                Research Assistant with Dr. Rajat Mittal

• Flow Simulations and Analysis Group (FSAG), The George Washington University, Washington DC, USA

1996 – 2001                Miscellaneous Projects in Pakistan

• Worked as an Aviation Maintenance Engineer of training fixed-wing aircrafts/helicopters
• Design and Technology Engineer

TEACHING

• Graduate Level: Computational Fluid Dynamics, Nonlinear Dynamics, Continuum Mechanics, Linear Systems & Control, Nonlinear Systems & Control, Advanced Incompressible Flows, Advanced Numerical Techniques.
• Undergraduate: Fluid Mechanics I, Fluid Mechanics II, Computational Fluid Dynamics

RESEARCH GRANTS/PROJECTS

• Co-Principal Investigator Analytics and Computation of Energy Systems in Digital Pakistan Lab of National Center of Big Data and Cloud Computing funded by Planning Commission, Govt of Pakistan – Rs 89 million (2018 – 2021)
• Principal Investigator of the Research Project titled “High Performance & High Productivity Computing (HP2C) based Integration and Automation in Energy Efficiency Buildings” funded by The World Academy of Sciences (TWAS) – US$ 8500.00 (2013 – 2015)
• Principal Investigator of the Research Project titled “Modeling of Suspension System of 6 Axle Vehicle” from NUST – Rs 200,000 (8 months from 7/2015)
• Principal Investigator of the Research Project titled “Modeling of Steering System of 6 Axle Vehicle” from NUST – Rs 100,000 (8 months from 7/2015)
• Principal Investigator of the Research Project titled “Life Prediction of Dental Implants” funded by local dental college – Rs 100,000 (4 months from 9/2013 – 12/2013).
• Principal Investigator of the Research Project titled “Improving Service Value of Ceiling Fan through Improved Aerodynamic Fan Design” funded by local fan industry – Rs 500,000 (12 months from 5/2012 – 5/2013).

HONORS & AWARDS

• Certificate of Appreciation – ASME Early Career Technical Conference 2010, Oct 1-2, Atlanta, GA.
• Garnett-Powers & Associates, Inc. funded National Postdoctoral Association travel award for the 8^th Annual Meeting, Philadelphia, PA, Mar 12-14, 2010.
• Job offer of regular employment with ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company, Feb 2008.
• Daniel Frederick Scholarship – Outstanding Doctoral Student in Engineering Mechanics, Virginia Tech (2007-2008).
• Paul E. Torgerson Graduate Student Research Excellence Award – 2^nd Place in Ph.D poster presentations, College of Engineering, Virginia Tech (2007-2008).
• Best Paper Presentation Award in 2007 ASEE National Conference (Mechanics Division) – Session “What’s New in Dynamics?”
• Pratt Fellowship – College of Engineering, Virginia Tech (2006-2007).
• Sigma Xi Grant-in-Aid of Research Award – The George Washington University (2002).
• Teachers and Researcher Overseas Scholarship Award – The Government of Pakistan (2001-2005).
• Gold Medal – Best Academic Result in Bachelors of Aerospace Engineering, NUST, Pakistan (1993-1996).
• Merit Certificate – Best Seniors Project in Aerospace Engineering, NUST, Pakistan (1993-1996).
• Gold Medal – Best Result in Matriculation Exam in Sadiq Public School, Bahawalpur, Pakistan (1987-1989).