Dr. Saba Ashraf

Biography:

Dr. Saba Ashraf is working as Assistant Professor in Department of Chemistry, Rawalpindi Women University (RWU) since August 2022. She completed her PhD in Organic Chemistry from Quaid-i-Azam University, Pakistan and North Carolina State University (NCSU), USA under International Research Support Initiative Program, HEC for doctoral studies in June, 2018. Before joining RWU, she also served as Assistant Professor in CIRBS, International Islamic University from Feb, 2019 – Feb, 2020. She has done Postdoc in Pak-UK funded project named as Innovative and Collaborative Research Grant (ICRG) under Higher Education Commission, Pakistan and British Council Education Gateway from Oct 2021 – Aug 2022.
During her academic career, she won various scholarships such as PhD fellowship by Quaid-i-Azam University, Pakistan and IRSIP fellowship at North Carolina State University, USA by HEC Pakistan. Dr. Ashraf carried out her PhD research work at the Wilson College of Textiles, Textile Engineering, Chemistry and Science (TECS) Department, North Carolina State University (NCSU), USA in Prof. Dr. Ahmed El-Shafei’s research group. In NCSU, she worked on synthesis of novel energy harvesting materials and fabricated solar cells. Her PhD dissertation title is “Molecular Engineering and Photophysical Characterizations of Heteroleptic Ru(II) Sensitizers for Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells.” The main focus of her PhD research work was to develop new synthetic methods to synthesize Ru (II) polypyridyl dyes for energy applications in dye-sensitized solar cells. She has authored/co-authored several research papers in high impact peer reviewed international journals. She also has presented her research work in various national and international conferences/symposia including American Chemical Society (ACS) Meeting 2016. Presently, she is establishing a well‐equipped lab for the synthesis and fabrication of devices using various active material and medicinal related scaffolds.

Brief statement of Research Interest:

Research interests include “Design & Synthesis of Organic/Inorganic Hybrid Scaffolds for the Applications in Materials and Medicinal Chemistry”
o Self-powered Flexible Energy Systems (FleEnSys)
o Heteroleptic Ru(II) Sensitizers for Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells
o Heterocyclic Compounds (Thioureas & Iminothiazolidines) and their biological evaluation
o Deposition of Copper sulfide thin films using single-source precursors via:
i. Aerosol-assisted chemical vapour deposition (AACVD) technique
ii. Decomposing agents at room temperature

Qualification:

PhD (Sep 2013 – June 2018) Area of Expertise: Organic Chemistry with specialization in energy harvesting devices like Solar Cells, DSSC etc)
PostDoc (Oct 2021 – Aug 2022) Topic: Flexible Advanced Energy Systems)

Honors and Awards:

2022 Attended as Young Scientist for Lindau Nobel Laureates Meeting (Chemistry) 2022, Germany.
2021 CAEPE Postdoctoral Fellowship – Centre for Advanced Electronics & Photovoltaic Engineering (CAEPE) International Islamic University Islamabad Pakistan.

2021 Attended (Online) 70th Interdisciplinary Lindau Nobel Laureates Meeting 2021, Germany.
2017 – 2018 QAU–Merit Fellowships – Ph.D. Quaid-I-Azam University, Islamabad.
2015 – 2016 HEC–International Research Support Initiative Program (IRSIP) – Ph.D. Organic Chemistry, Wilson College of Textiles, Textile Engineering, Chemistry and Science (TECS), North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27606 USA
2013 – 2014 QAU–Merit Fellowships – Ph.D. Quaid-I-Azam University, Islamabad.
2010 – 2012 QAU–Merit Fellowships – M.Phil. Quaid-I-Azam University, Islamabad.
2008 – 2010 QAU–Merit Fellowships – M.Sc. Quaid-I-Azam University, Islamabad.
2008 – 2010 Merit Scholarship – HSSC Pre-Medical, I.M.C.G. G-10/2 Islamabad Pakistan.

Supervisions:

Two M. Phil Chemistry (CIRBS, International Islamic University, Islamabad).

Service Activity:

Performing various departmental administrative duties as below:
• Member QEC Program Team
• Exam Coordinator
• Organizer of various seminars and pre-conference workshops

Journal Publications:

  1. Sidrah Zafar, Saba Ashraf, Urooj Iqbal, Sammer Yousuf, Humaira Masood Siddiqi, Faroha Liaqat, Hafiza Maria Rehman, Zareen Akhtar, Ahmed El-Shafei, Nadia Shahzad. Synthesis of new benzimidazole based ruthenium (II) dyes for application in dye-sensitized solar cells with detailed spectroscopic and theoretical evaluation (2023). Journal of Molecular Structure. (IF 3.841). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.molstruc.2023.135860
  2. Aamer Saeed, Saba Ashraf, Mubashir Aziz, Pervaiz Ali Channar, Syeda Abida Ejaz, Ammara Fayyaz, Qamar Abbas, Fatmah Ali Alasmary, Abdulnasser Mahmoud Karami, Arfa Tehzeeb, Amara Mumtaz, Hesham R. El-Seedi. Design, synthesis, biochemical and in silico characterization of novel naphthalene-thiourea conjugates as potential and selective inhibitors of alkaline phosphatase (2023). Medicinal Chemistry Research. (IF 2.351) https://doi.org/10.1007/s00044-023-03051-9
  3. Aamer Saeed, Saba Ashraf, Ghulam Shabir, Tuncer HĂśkelek, Ulrich FlĂśrke, Asma Mukhtar, Muhammad Saeed. Synthesis, X-Ray crystallography and HF/DFT analysis of N(diethylcarbamothioyl) furan-2-carboxamide, analyzed by experimental and theoretical methods (2022). Journal of Molecular Structure. (IF 3.841). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.molstruc.2022.133721
  4. Saba Ashraf, Rui Su, Javeed Akhtar, Humaira M. Siddiqi, Ahmed Shuja, Ahmed El- Shafei. Molecular Engineering of Ruthenium-based Photosensitizers with Superior Photovoltaic Performance in DSSC: Novel N-Alkyl 2-Phenylindole-based Ancillary Ligands (2022). New Journal of Chemistry. (IF 3.591). https://doi.org/10.1039/D1NJ04362E
  5. Rabail Ujan, Pervaiz Ali Channar, Aamer Saeed, Qamar Abbas, Hummera Rafique, Saba Ashraf, Mahboob Ali Rind, Abbas Hassan, Anwar Ul-Hamid, Mubashar Hassan, Hussain Raza, Sung-Yum Seo. Benzimidazole tethered thioureas as a new entry to elastase inhibition and free radical scavenging: Synthesis, molecular docking, and enzyme inhibitory kinetics (2021). Journal of Heterocyclic Chemistry. (IF 2.193). https://doi.org/10.1002/jhet.4318
  6. Madeeha Tariq, Monazza Serwar, Saba Ashraf, Tariq Yasin & Humaira Masood Siddiqi. Synthesis of tri-functional allyl-endcapped triphenylmethane crosslinker and evaluation of crosslinking effect on properties of high-density polyethylene (2021). Polymer Bulletin. (IF 2.870). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00289-021-03684-z
  7. Rabail Ujan, Aamer Saeed, Saba Ashraf, Pervaiz Ali Channar, Qamar Abbas, Mahboob Ali Rind, Mubashir Hassan, Hussain Raza, Sung-Yum Seo &Hesham R. El- Seedi. Synthesis, computational studies and enzyme inhibitory kinetics of benzothiazole-linked thioureas as mushroom tyrosinase inhibitors (2020). Journal of Biomolecular Structure and Dynamics. (IF 3.392). https://doi.org/10.1080/07391102.2020.1804459
  8. Rui Su, Saba Ashraf, Luping Lyu, Ahmed El-Shafei. Tailoring dual-channel anchorable organic sensitizers with indolo[2,3b]quinoxaline moieties: Correlation between structure and DSSC performance (2020). Solar Energy. (IF 5.742). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.solener.2020.06.020
  9. Saba Ashraf, Aamer Saeed, SeongHee Moon, Ulrich FlĂśrke, Seong Hwan Kim, Zaman Ashraf, Muhammad Yaseen, Muhammad Latif. Design, Synthesis and Biological Evaluation of 2-(naphthoyl) iminothiazolidin-4-ones as Potential Anticancer Agents (2020). ChemistrySelect. (IF 2.109)
    https://doi.org/10.1002/slct.202000579
  10. Nasima Arshad, Mamoona Rafiq, Rabail Ujan, Aamer Saeed, Saba Ashraf, Manpreet Kaur, Jerry P. Jasinski (2020). Synthesis, X-ray crystal structure elucidation and Hirshfeld surface analysis of N-((4-(1H-benzo[d]imidazole-2-yl)phenyl)carbamothioyl) benzamide: investigations for elastase inhibition, antioxidant and DNA binding potentials for biological applications (2020). RSC Advances. (IF 3.360). https://doi.org/10.1039/D0RA02501A
  11. Saba Ashraf, Rui Su, Mira Abed, Javeed Akhtar, Humaira M. Siddiqi, Ahmed Shuja, Ahmed El-Shafei. Effect of Fluoro-substituted Electron Acceptor Ancillary Ligands on the Photocurrent and Photovoltage in Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells (2020). Solar Energy. (IF 5.742). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.solener.2020.02.016
  12. Saba Ashraf, Rui Su, Javeed Akhtar, Humaira M. Siddiqi, Ahmed Shuja, K. A. Al-Saad, S. Y. Al-Qaradawi, Ahmed El-Shafei. Investigations into Structure- Property Relationships of Novel Ru(II) Dyes with N,N′-Diethyl Group in Ancillary Ligand for Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells (2019). Dyes & Pigments. (IF 4.889). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dyepig.2019.107754
  13. Rui Su, Saba Ashraf, Ahmed El-Shafei. Structure-property relationships: “Double-tail versus double-flap” ruthenium complex structures for high efficiency dye-sensitized solar cells (2019). Solar Energy. (IF 5.742). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.solener.2018.11.038
  14. Saba Ashraf, Rui Su, Javeed Akhtar, Humaira M. Siddiqi, Ahmed El-Shafei. Influence of brominated-TPA-stilbazole based ancillary ligand on the photocurrent and photovoltage in dye-sensitized solar cells (2018). Dyes & Pigments. (IF 4.889). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dyepig.2017.12.035
  15. Saba Ashraf, Erol Yildirim, Javeed Akhtar, Humaira M. Siddiqi, Ahmed El- Shafei. A Comparative Study of the Influence of N,N′ -Dialkyl vs. N,N′ -Diaryl- Based Electron Donor Ancillary Ligands on Photocurrent and Photovoltage in Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells (DSSCs) (2017). Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics. (IF 3.676). https://doi.org/10.1039/C7CP02530K
  16. Saba Ashraf, Erol Yildirim, Javeed Akhtar, Humaira M. Siddiqi, Ahmed El- Shafei. Thiocyanate-Free Ruthenium(ii) Sensitizers with a Bi-Imidazole Ligand in Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells (DSSCs) (2017). New Journal of Chemistry. (IF 3.591). https://doi.org/10.1039/C7NJ01363A
  17. Aamer Saeed, Saba Ashraf, Ulrich Flörke, Zuly Yuliana Delgado Espinoza, Mauricio F. Erben, Hiram Pérez. Supramolecular Self-Assembly of a Coumarine-Based Acylthiourea Synthon Directed by π-Stacking Interactions: Crystal Structure and Hirshfeld Surface Analysis (2016). Journal of Molecular Structure. (IF 3.196). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.molstruc.2016.01.074
  18. Aamer Saeed, Sumera Zaib, Saba Ashraf, Javeria Iftikhar, Muhammad Muddassar, Kam Y.J. Zhang, Jamshed Iqbal. Synthesis, Cholinesterase Inhibition and Molecular Modelling Studies of Coumarin Linked Thiourea Derivatives (2015). Bioorganic Chemistry. (IF 5.275). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bioorg.2015.09.009
  19. Aamer Saeed, Saba Ashraf, Jonathan M. White, Delia B. Soria, Carlos A. Franca Franca, Mauricio F. Erben.. Synthesis, X-ray Crystal Structure, Thermal Behavior and Spectroscopic Analysis of 1-(1-Naphthoyl)-3-(Halo-Phenyl)-Thioureas complemented with Quantum Chemical Calculations (2015). Spectrochimica Acta Part A: Molecular and Biomolecular Spectroscopy. (IF 4.098). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.saa.2015.05.068
  20. Saba Ashraf, Aamer Saeed, Mohammad Azad Malik, Ulrich FlĂśrke, Michael Bolte, Naghmah Haider, Javeed Akhtar (2014). Phase-Controlled Deposition of Copper Sulfide Thin Films by Using Single-Molecular Precursors. European Journal of Inorganic Chemistry. (IF 2.524). https://doi.org/10.1002/ejic.201301008

Conference Papers / Presentations:

  1. Saba Ashraf, Rui Su, Mira Abed, Javeed Akhtar, Humaira M. Siddiqi, Ahmed Shuja Syed, Ahmed El-Shafei. Heteroleptic Ruthenium (II) Sensitizers in Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells. Pak-Belarus International Conference on Chemical Sciences, April 24th – 26th, 2019, Department of Chemistry, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad Pakistan.
  2. Saba Ashraf, Javeed Akhtar, Humaira M. Siddiqi, A. El-Shafei. Effect of Fluoro– substituted Electron Acceptors on the Photocurrent and Photovoltage in Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells (DSSCs) 9th Chemistry Conference 19th-21st September, 2017 PINSTECH, Islamabad, Sep 19-21, 2017.
  3. Saba Ashraf, Javeed Akhtar, Humaira M. Siddiqi, Ahmed El-Shafei. Efficient and Stable Ruthenium Sensitizers for Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells (DSSCs)”. International Conference on Sustainable Energy Technologies, Islamabad, Sep 12 – 13, 2017.
  4. Saba Ashraf, Erol Yildirim, Javeed Akhtar, Humaira M. Siddiqi, Ahmed El-Shafei. Novel Heteroleptic Bromo-based TPA-containing Electron Donor Ru(II) Dye Outperformed the Benchmark Dye N719 as Photosensitizer in Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells. National Conference on Green Energy Technologies USPCASE, UET Peshawar, May 18, 2017.
  5. Saba Ashraf, Erol Yildirim, Javeed Akhtar, Humaira M. Siddiqi, A. El-Shafei. Highly Efficient Panchromatic Heteroleptic Ru(II) Sensitizers for Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells. 3rd Conference on Frontiers of Nanoscience & Nanotechnology, PINSTECH Islamabad, Oct 25 – 27, 2016.
  6. Saba Ashraf, Erol Yildirim, Javeed Akhtar, Humaira M. Siddiqi, Ahmed El-Shafei. A Comparative Study of the Influence of N,N’-dialkyl vs N,N’-diaryl Electron Donors Ancillary Ligands on the Photocurrent and Photovoltage in Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells (DSSCs). 252nd ACS National Meeting & Exposition, University of Pennysylvania, Philadelphia USA, Aug 21 – 25, 2016.
  7. Saba Ashraf, Erol Yildirim, Hammad Cheema, Javeed Akhtar, Humaira M. Siddiqi, Ahmed El-Shafei. Novel Amphiphilic Heteroleptic Ru(II) Sensitizers For Fabrication of High Performance DSSC device for Microgeneration Applications. Appalachian Energy Summit, Appalachian State University, USA, July 18 – 20, 2016.
  8. Saba Ashraf, Aamer Saeed, Naghmah Haider, Javeed Akhtar. Facile Deposition of Hierarchical Structures of Copper Sulfide. 11th International and 23rd National Chemistry Conference, University of Peshawar, Oct 15 – 17, 2012.
  9. Saba Ashraf, Aamer Saeed. Synthesis & Characterization of Some New 2- Naphthoyliminothiazolidin-4-one acetates. 11th International and 23rd National Chemistry Conference, University of Peshawar, Oct 15 – 17, 2012

Poster Presentations:

Saba Ashraf, Erol Yildirim, Hammad Cheema, Javeed Akhtar, Humaira M. Siddiqi, Ahmed El-Shafei. Novel Ruthenium Dyes Outperformed The Benchmark Dye N719 For High Efficiency Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells (DSSCs). NOOR 2nd International Symposium, NILOP Islamabad, Nov 14 – 16, 2016. (3rd prize in poster competition)Saba Ashraf, Erol Yildirim, Javeed Akhtar, Humaira M. Siddiqi, A. El-Shafei. Highly Efficient Panchromatic Heteroleptic Ru(II) Sensitizers for Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells. 3rd Conference on Frontiers of Nanoscience & Nanotechnology, PINSTECH Islamabad, Oct 25 – 27, 2016. (1st prize in poster competition)Saba Ashraf, A. El-Shafei 252nd ACS National Meeting & Exposition, University of Pennysylvania, Philadelphia USA (Aug 21 – 25, 2016)

Saba Ashraf, A. El-Shafei. Appalachian Energy Summit, Appalachian State University, USA (July 18 – 20, 2016)

Research Projects:

• Start-up Research Grant (SRGP), Higher Education Commission of ~0.5 M
Title: “Synthesis and characterization of heteroleptic Ru(II) sensitizers for the application in dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC)”
Principal Investigator: Dr. SABA ASHRAF