University of Kerbala
Education and Qualifications
- Research Fellow (Post-doc) at University of East Anglia/UK, Energy Materials Lab.
- PhD in Chemistry at University of East Anglia/UK, Energy Materials Lab.
- M.Sc. in Chemical Research with DISTINCTION (72%), UK, University of Surrey, Materials Chemistry Group
- B.Sc. Chemistry (73% average mark), University of Kerbala, Iraq.
Area of Interest
- Research focused on hybrid materials, computational and physical chemistry.
- DFT Mechanistic studies on modular bismacycles for the selective C–H arylation of phenols and naphthols.
- Synthesis and an investigation into hybrid nano-structures as drug delivery systems.
- Synthesis and computational studies, electrochemical and optical properties of organo-POMs derivatives.
- Synthesis and DFT theoretical studies of new diazaadamantane derivatives – MSc student project.
- Surface modification with new conducting polymers for biomedical application
- Influence of Additives on Electrodeposition of Metals from Deep Eutectic Solvents
Academic Experience
- Aug. 2016 – Present
- Assistant Prof. / University of Kerbala, Kerbala, Iraq.
- May 2019 – Present
- Lecturer in Computational/Physical Chemistry at College of Science
- August 2016 – May 2019
- College of Pharmacy
- Teaching and mentoring both undergraduates and postgraduates.
- Research focused on hybrid materials, computational and physical chemistry.
- Jan. 2020 – Dec.2020
- Research Fellow (Post-doc) / With Dr. John Fielden, Energy Materials Lab., CHE, UEA, UK
- Funded by the College of Science, University of Kerbala, Iraq.
- Exploring the Electrochemical and Optical Properties of New Imido-Polyoxometalate based-electropolymers Materials for two photon absorption and energy storage (supercapacitor) applications.
- Published outcome: two papers in high impact peer-reviewed journals.
- 2017 -2019
- Director of Continuing Studies Department / Senate House, University of Kerbala, Kerbala, Iraq
- Planned personal and professional skills development/training for students, academics and staff.
- Established an effective plan to develop an E-Learning system (Moodle) at University of Kerbala funded by the United Nations development programme (UNDP) in Iraq.
- Worked on the confirmed plan with the structural enhancements of the E-learning facilities across the University where 16 Colleges’ sub-units have been created and trained as an earlier stage of the plan.
- Running workshops, and an awareness campaign of E-learning importance.
- 2017 - 2019
- Ranking Evolution committee / Presidency senate house, University of Kerbala, Kerbala, Iraq
- Member of the highest committee (7 members only) chaired by the University of Kerbala’s president for planning and working on improvement the university ranking profile.
- Representative the University of Kerbala in QS world ranking institution, submitting data, and communicating with QS.
- 2012 - 2016
- PhD in Chemistry / With Prof. C. Pickett and Dr. J. Fielden, Energy Materials Lab., CHE, UEA, UK
- Modification of surfaces and photo-physical properties of the new Organo-Imido Polyoxometalate Derivatives, thesis title ‘Synthesis, Non-Linear Optical (NLO) and Electrochemical Properties of Novel Organo-Imido Polyoxometalate Derivatives’.
- Synthesized 12 new organo-imido Lindqvist hexamolybdate derivatives with 9 crystal structures.
- First experimental NLO measurements
- First electropolymers of organo-imido Lindqvist hexamolybdate derivatives.
- Characterisation techniques - X-ray single crystal structure, NMR and IR spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, UV-VIS spectroscopy, electrochemical techniques, NLO measurements, and surface characterisation techniques (e.g. SEM, TEM).
- Synthetic techniques (classical organic and inorganic methods) including Sonoga-Shira coupling, POM synthesis (DCC coupling), and Paal-Knoor methods.
- Handling compounds under inert conditions (Schlenk line techniques) with experience in handling and dispose of highly toxic, pyrophoric materials (Health and Safety issues).
- Computational calculations – Gaussian, and ADF to calculate the photonic properties (NLO-beta values) of these derivatives.
- Five papers published in peer-reviewed journals, see publications.
- 2009 - 2012
- Assistant lecturer and Deputy Head Chair Dep. of Pharmaceutical Chem. / College of Pharmacy, University of Kerbala, Iraq
- Assistant lecturer teaching practical Physical Chemistry.
- Supervising project students (six students).
- Dec. 2009
- Higher Education Practice (HEP) / University of Kerbala, Iraq.
- Attending a course in developing teaching skills in the higher education sector.
- Passed successfully and resulted in securing assistant lecturer position.
- 2007 - 2009
- M.Sc. in Chem. with DISTINCTION (72%) / with Prof. P. R. Slater, Materials CHE., University of Surrey, UK
- M.Sc. dissertation ‘Synthesis and Surface Characteristics of Titanium-containing Compounds for Environmental Applications’.
- The synthesis and the effect of Ti-doping high-oxygen-content silicate based apatites, La10Si6-xTixO27 (0.25 ≤ x ≤ 2.0) with conductivity data, for solid oxide fuel cells electrolytes.
- Characterisation techniques: Chromatography methods, X-ray diffraction, thermal methods, IR spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, UV-VIS spectroscopy, BET surface area, conductivity measurements and microscopy techniques.
- Synthetic techniques including solid state, sol gel and co-precipitation methods.
- One paper published in peer-reviewed journals, see publications.
- 2005 - 2007
- Research Manager Various positions in industry
- Managed a team of manufacturing personnel
- Quality control testing using a variety of instrumentation and feedback to the manufacturing process.
Research Experience
- PhD in Physical Chemistry - University of East Anglia.
- Researcher in inorganic-organic hybrids synthesis, conducting polymers, transition metal complexes and computational chemistry.
- Excellent Background in supervision and management
- Laboratory Demonstrator in inorganic chemistry for undergraduate program/ University of East Anglia (2014-2015).
- Expertise in Health and Safety issues, handling and dispose of highly toxic, pyrophoric materials.
- Expertise in handling compounds under inert conditions (Schlenk line techniques), 2D-NMR, Multi-Nuclear NMR, UV-Vis, electrochemistry, DFT calculations and IR spectroscopy, in addition to X-ray crystallography data analysis.
Software and ComputerSskills
General
- Team Leadership.
- High motivation Laboratory researcher and high Responsibility.
- Risk management processes and analysis.
- Expertise in Health and Safety issues.
- Passion to Work, working collaboratively.
- Extremely organised and Time Management.
Scientific
- Expertise in organic ligand and molecular metal oxide syntheses.
- Expertise in conductive polymer fabrication.
- Expertise in computational chemistry.
- Expertise in handling compounds under inert conditions (Schlenk line techniques).
- Excellent Background in supervision and management
IT Skills
- ADF
- Gaussian
- ORCA
- GAMESS
- WingGX
- OLEX
- XPREP
- Diamond, Mercury
- ChemDraw
- Sigma-plot
- MS Office
- Top spin
- Nova
International Conferences and Meetings
Dalton Joint Interest Group Conference 2021
- June-July 2021
- Participating in the online conference.
Battery 2030+ European Perspectives on Batteries of the Future
- May 2020
- Participating in the online conference where up to 900 researchers attending this event.
First conference of College of Pharmacy, University of Kerbala
- Nov. 2017
- Presented (talk) my work on conducting polymers for biomedical applications.
Dalton 2016 Joint Groups meeting, University of Warwick, UK
- March 2016
- Presented a poster to 300 delegates from multiple countries.
Advanced Complex Inorganic Nanomaterials (ACIN 2015) Namur, Belgium.
- July 2015
- Selected to give a flash presentation (10 minutes) to an audience of 300 attending this international conference as a result of competition for the best presented poster.
Department of Chemistry, University of Leuven, Belgium
- May 2015
- Giving a talk during my visit to run NLO measurements, showing my work.
SET for Britain, Parliament House, London, UK
- SET for Britain, Parliament House, London, UK
- Selected to present my work out of 350 submitted abstracts over all UK, to the MPs of the Parliament house showing the importance of my science.
50th Anniversary Research Day
- Sep. 2014
- Presented (talk) at School of Chemistry, UEA.
Dalton 2014 Joint Groups meeting
- Mar. 2014
- Presented a poster in a Dalton meeting University of Warwick, UK.
Challenge in Chemical Renewable Energy (ISACS12)
- Sep. 2013
- Presented a poster at an international conference attended by more than 500 scientists.
Published Papers
Sleep Waveforms Detection in Sleep Stage 2 Using EEG Signals: Applying Different Set of Features and Classification Algorithm," 2022 3rd Information Technology To Enhance e-learning and Other Application (IT-ELA)
- Ashraf H. S. AlSilaykhee, A. Al-Yasari*, Hasan F Alesary
- International Journal of Quantum Chemistry-Wiley, 2023, 123, 9. DOI:10.1002/qua.27086
