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Furqan Tahir

POSTDOCTORAL FELLOW

Postdoctoral Fellow

(Nov 2020 - Present)

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Biography

Furqan Tahir is a professional in sustainable energy and environmental fields with both academic and industrial experience. He holds a Ph.D. in Sustainable Energy from Hamad Bin Khalifa University, Qatar, and is currently a Postdoctoral Fellow at KAUST, Saudi Arabia. Furqan’s expertise spans desalination, life-cycle thinking, sustainability, decarbonization, and energy efficiency. His career includes roles as a Postdoctoral Fellow at HBKU and a QA/QC Engineer in Saudi Arabia’s manufacturing sector. Furqan’s research focuses on advancing sustainable energy practices and environmental solutions, contributing to global efforts in decarbonization and energy efficiency through innovative approaches and life-cycle assessments.

Research Interests

Furqan’s research focuses on Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) to evaluate the environmental impacts of desalination processes and their energy demands. His work investigates how desalination contributes to climate change and explores strategies for enhancing water system resilience. By analyzing the life cycle of energy-intensive desalination technologies, Furqan identifies opportunities for reducing environmental footprints and improving sustainability. This research contributes to innovative solutions that balance water security with climate resilience, optimizing water resource management in response to climate challenges.

Selected Publications

  • Alhaj, M., Tahir, F., & Al-Ghamdi, S. G. (2022). Life-cycle environmental assessment of solar-driven Multi-Effect Desalination (MED) plant. Desalination. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.desal.2021.115451
  • Tahir, F., Baloch, A. A. B., & Al-Ghamdi, S. G. (2022). Impact of climate change on solar monofacial and bifacial Photovoltaics (PV) potential in Qatar. Energy Reports. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.egyr.2022.02.197
  • Tahir, F., Baloch, A. A. B., & Ali, H. (2020). Resilience of Desalination Plants for Sustainable Water Supply in Middle East. In P. A. Khaiter & M. G. Erechtchoukova (Eds.), Sustainability Perspectives: Science, Policy and Practice, Strategies for Sustainability. Springer Nature Switzerland AG. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-19550-2_15

Education

  • PhD - Sustainable Energy, Hamad Bin Khalifa University, Qatar, 2020
  • MSc - Mechanical Engineering, King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, Saudi Arabia, 2014
  • BE - Mechanical Engineering, NED University of Engineering and Technology, Pakistan, 2011

Professional Profile

  • 2023-Present: Post-Doctoral fellow, Environmental Science and Engineering Program, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Saudi Arabia
  • 2020-2023: Post-Doctoral fellow, College of Science and Engineering, Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), Qatar.
  • 2016-2020: Graduate Researcher, Qatar Environment and Energy Research Institute (QEERI)/College of Science and Engineering, Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), Qatar.
  • 2014-2016: QA/QC Engineer, Titanium and Steel Manufacturing Co. Ltd., Saudi Arabia.

Awards

  • 2016: Full Scholarship for PhD program at Hamad Bin Khalifa University, Qatar.
  • 2012: Full Scholarship for MS program at King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, Saudi Arabia.
  • 2011: Gold Medal for Securing 1st Position during undergraduate

KAUST Affiliations

• Climate and Livability Initiatives
• Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering
• Urban Lab

Research Interests Keywords

LCA Desalination Clean Energy Energy System Modeling Climate change impact Resilience Water Resource Management
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