About Dr. Usman
Dr. Usman Bin Shahid is an Assistant Professor (tenure-track) in the Department of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering at the Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS), Pakistan. His research integrates electrocatalysis, process systems engineering, and sustainability analysis, with a strong emphasis on translating fundamental research into industrially relevant solutions.
Dr. Shahid received his Ph.D. in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering from the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) as a recipient of the Hong Kong Postgraduate Fellowship Award. His doctoral work focused on electrochemical ammonia synthesis and nitrate reduction in highly alkaline molten hydroxide systems, combining catalyst development, reactor design, and techno-economic analysis. He also holds an M.S. in Sustainable Environment from Hamad Bin Khalifa University, Qatar, and a B.Eng. in Chemical Engineering from McGill University, Canada.
At LUMS, Dr. Shahid is actively engaged with industry across multiple sectors, including the brick manufacturing, pharmaceutical, and salt industries. In the brick sector, his work focuses on optimizing kiln firing processes, developing alternative firing configurations beyond conventional zig-zag kilns, and systematic control of firing conditions to improve fuel efficiency, emissions performance, and brick colour consistency. These efforts aim to modernize a traditionally energy-intensive industry through engineering-driven innovation.
In parallel, Dr. Shahid leads research projects on decarbonizing the chemical industry through detailed life cycle assessment (LCA) of industrial processes. His work identifies critical environmental hotspots and informs targeted sustainability interventions at the process and systems levels. His broader research portfolio also includes water harvesting technologies, where waste plastics are upcycled into biomimetic, superhydrophobic/hydrophilic surfaces for atmospheric water capture.
Dr. Shahid has published extensively in high-impact journals, including Angewandte Chemie, ACS Catalysis, Nano Energy, and Energy Storage Materials. At LUMS, he teaches core chemical engineering courses, supervises graduate research, and works closely with industry to ensure that research outcomes remain technically rigorous and practically deployable.
Dr. Usman Bin Shahid
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