Uzma Hira

General Info

What will be your most valuable contribution to your TechWomen mentorship?

I have expertise to synthesize inorganic oxide materials for energy conversion and storage applications by using various methods and I also have good command to perform microstructural analysis structural analysis of these materials through Rietveld analysis (GSAS, FP Suite and Jana2006 softwares) of X-ray diffraction, synchrotron diffraction and neutron diffraction data. Apart from the above mentioned expertise I can also share my data analysis, manuscript writing, industrial and renewable energy project design by keeping minimum cost of raw materials, team management, leadership and networking skills to the host company.

The Top Three Things I Would Like to Learn or Experience During my Mentorship

1. Learn how to design new functional energy materials in the advanced research labs by using new approaches/synthesis methods for energy harvesting applications.
2. Learn how to characterize and analyze these materials by using advanced instrumentations/techniques and then investigation of electrical, magnetic, electrocatalytic and thermoelectric properties, etc.
3. Networking, leadership, research collaboration and strong team building.

Mentorship Characteristic

• Focus on leadership skills building
• Expand on a project that I’m working on in my current role at home
• Have exposure to basic industry techniques
• Gets me involved in day-to-day activities of the mentor and partnering company.

Ideal Company Type

As I already mentioned that I am trying to establish my own research group and mentoring M.Phil and PhD students in industrial chemistry degree programs and therefore I would like to prefer to get mentoring in a research based academic institution with industrial collaboration. My focus will be there to learn new experimental techniques and instrumentations for renewable energy materials synthesis and analysis.

What are three adjectives that best describe you in the work place?

1. Curious
2. Serious
3. Reliable

What impact will your mentorship have on your career and professional path?

Currently I am mentoring graduate students in my home university and therefore TechWomen training will be a great opportunity for me to get international exposure and guidance from world renowned mentors or implement my own career objective. This training program will also groom my personality in a way that ultimately contributes effectively in executing good supervision of young students. All young academics undergo an annual performance review conducted by their respective education departments and focused on achieving research- and training-based targets. Therefore collaboration with U.S.-based mentors will be a great opportunity in my early years of an independent research career.

After participating in the TechWomen program, how will you leverage your mentorship experience to make an impact in your home country?

Techwomen mentorship will be a great source of learning and inspiration. I have a plan to utilize Techwomen experience to expand my business ideas and learn how to translate the success factors for innovation and development of sustainable solutions in Pakistan. I will work with TechWomen Mentors, as well as the other TechWomen Emerging Leaders in Pakistan to create a support network and prioritize initiatives that we can actively engage Pakistani females in science and technology. It is a key factor to transform my community and specifically the fate of Pakistan.

Work History

Years of Full-time Work Experience

4

Primary Professional Focus

• Educational technology
• Energy, renewable technology or green technology
• Scientist and researcher in technical science and/or engineering discipline

Education History