Iqra Said

Curriculum Vitae

Education

  • 2025-Present
    PhD Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena, Germany
  • 2020-2022
    M.Phil University of Okara (Okara, Pakistan) | CGPA: 3.60
  • 2016-2020
    B.S Chemistry University of Sahiwal (Sahiwal, Pakistan) | CGPA: 3.36

Research Experiences

  • Biological potential; Essential oil of plants, Solar cell applications; DFT- based analysis, Transition metal catalysis: C-H activation via iridium catalyzed borylation, Click Chemistry: SuFEx, Conventional Organic Synthesis: Selanadiazoles synthesis

Projects

  • Fractionation and biological potential of Eucalyptus citriodora essential oil (Department of Chemistry, University of Okara)
  • Non-fullerene based photovoltaic materials for solar cell applications: DFT-based analysis and interpretation (Department of Chemistry, University of Okara)
  • Biopesticidal potential of Eucalyptus camaldulensis and Eucalyptus citriodora essential oils collected from subtropical desert climate of Okara (Department of Chemistry, University of Okara)
  • Synthesis of new selenadiazole derivatives by using advanced transition metal catalysis, especially Irdium catalysis (Department of Chemistry, Syed Babar Ali School of Science and Engineering, Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS), Pakistan)

Certificates 

  • Certificate of Active member (participant) in 2nd International Research Symposium, University of Okara, Okara, Pakistan
  • Certificate of participant (2nd position) in 2nd Natural Products Exhibition, organized by Department of Botany, University of Okara, Okara, Pakistan
  • Certificate of course completion ‘Advance Ultrafiltration’ organized by IM Group of Researchers and Review Hub

Work Experience 

  • Internship at Department of Chemistry, Syed Baber Ali School of Science and Engineering, Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS), Pakistan
  • Research Assistant (RA) at Department of Chemistry, Syed Baber Ali School of Science and Engineering, Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS), Pakistan

Technical Skills 

  • Hands on Instrument Training: GC-MS, GC-FID, FT-IR, UV-VIS, Schlenk technique, Vacuum fractional distillation, Centrifugation, Rotary evaporator, Flash Column Chromatography
  • Analytical methods Bioassays: Antibacterial activity, Antioxidant activity, Hemolytic activity, Insecticidal activity, Repellent activity, Antibiofilm activity
  • Software Expertise: Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, ChemDraw, Power Point, Endnote, Gaussian 09 (DFT studies), Autodock Vina (Molecular Docking), Discovery Studio (Molecular Docking), Pymol(Molecular Docking), Open Bebel GUI (Molecular Docking), M-Nova, Topspin, Origin

PhD Project

Transversal Polarization of Molecularly Thin Membranes for Light-Driven Charge Separation

This PhD project aims to investigate the fundamental mechanisms behind light-induced charge separation in molecularly thin membranes, with a particular focus on the role of transversal polarization. Molecularly thin membranes—such as monolayers or bilayers—offer a unique platform to study photo responsive behavior at the nanoscale, where interfacial and dipolar interactions can be precisely tuned. These systems are of great interest for artificial photosynthesis, photocatalysis and energy conversion technologies.

A central hypothesis of the project is that the polarization across the membrane—transversal to its plane—can facilitate efficient charge separation upon light excitation. This polarization arises from the intrinsic dipole moments of the molecular components or from the asymmetric arrangement of molecules within the membrane. By engineering the molecular orientation and composition of these thin films, the project seeks to modulate the internal electric field, which can assist in spatially separating photo-generated electron-hole pairs and reduce recombination.

The experimental approach integrates molecular self-assembly techniques, such as the Langmuir-Blodgett method, with advanced spectroscopic tools including time-resolved fluorescence and transient absorption spectroscopy. Additionally, surface-sensitive techniques such as quartz crystal microbalance (QCM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), and second harmonic generation (SHG) may be employed to probe membrane structure, orientation, and polarization behavior.

The project is highly interdisciplinary, bridging photo physics, surface chemistry, and nanomaterials science. It contributes to the PHINT (Photo-polarizable interface and membranes) framework by exploring how controlled molecular interfaces can be used to direct light-driven processes. Understanding transversal polarization in such systems could pave the way for designing next-generation optoelectronic devices and energy-harvesting materials that mimic natural photosynthetic systems.

Publications