PEOPLE

Get to know the passionate experts driving our mission forward. Our team is a diverse group of scientists, researchers, and innovators, each bringing unique skills and perspectives to our work. United by a shared commitment to excellence and impact, we collaborate to push boundaries, solve challenges, and make a difference. Meet the people who are turning ideas into breakthroughs.

Qudsia Kanwal

POSTDOCTORAL FELLOW

Postdoctoral Fellow

(May 2024 - Present)

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Biography

Qudsia Kanwal earned her Ph.D. in Environmental Science and Engineering from Tsinghua University, Beijing, in 2023. Her research focuses on Anthropogenic Circularity, Waste Management, Circular Economy, and Sustainability. While at Tsinghua, she completed a National R&D project on industrial waste recovery and served as a Research Assistant at the Basel and Stockholm conventions Regional Centre (BCRC-SCRC China). She also worked as a research fellow at the University of Southern Denmark (SDU), in the EU project TREASoURcE. Qudsia was a remote visiting Ph.D. candidate at KAUST, KSA. Alongside her doctoral work, she published articles on hazardous waste, toxicity, and sustainable recycling, and served as a teaching assistant in Research Writing, Material Flow Analysis, and English Communication Skills.

Research Interests

Qudsia’s research focuses on advancing recycling, urban mining, and circular economy practices within industrial ecology. Her work involves applying Material Flow Analysis to optimize waste management and enhance resource efficiency. By examining material lifecycles and exploring innovative recycling technologies, she develops sustainable solutions that minimize waste and maximize resource recovery. Her research contributes to a circular economy by identifying opportunities for industrial symbiosis and effective waste management, supporting the transition to more sustainable and resilient urban systems.

Selected Publications

  • Kanwal, Q., Tahir, F., Al-Humaiqani, M., Al-Qawasmeh, R., Mir, B.A., Azmeer, A., Terán-Cuadrado, G., Yu, Z., Nurdiawati, A., Al-Ghamdi, S.G., (2025). Building a National Framework for Life Cycle Assessment: Pathways to Sustainable Development in Saudi Arabia. King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, Saudi Arabia. https://doi.org/10.25781/kaust-8w573
  • Yu, Z., Kanwal, Q., Wang, M., Nurdiawati, A., & Al-Ghamdi, S. G. (2025). Spatiotemporal dynamics and key drivers of carbon emissions in regional construction sectors: Insights from a Random Forest Model. Cleaner Environmental Systems. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cesys.2025.100257 
  • Yu, Z., Nurdiawati, A., Kanwal, Q., Al-Humaiqani, M., & Al-Ghamdi, S. G. (2024). Assessing and mitigating environmental impacts of construction materials: insights from environmental product declarations. Journal of Building Engineering. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jobe.2024.110929 
  • Kanwal, Q., Akhtar, M. S., & Al-Ghamdi, S. G. (2024). Evaluating the Global Processability of Anthropogenic Metals from Mining Waste. Resources.  https://doi.org/10.3390/resources13090126
  • Kanwal, Q., Zeng, X., & Li, J. (2023). Measuring the recycling potential of industrial waste for long-term sustainability. Humanities and Social Sciences Communications, 10(1). https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-023-01942-1

Education

  • PhD Environmental Science and Engineering, School of Environment, Tsinghua University, China
  • M.S. Environmental Science, College of Earth & Environmental Sciences, University of the Punjab, Pakistan.
  • B.S. Environmental Science, College of Earth & Environmental Sciences, University of the Punjab, Pakistan

Professional Profile

  • 2024-Present: Postdoctoral Fellow, Environmental Science and Engineering Program, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Saudi Arabia.
  • 2023-2024: Research Fellow, University of Southern Denmark (SDU).
  • 2022: Visiting PhD Researcher, Energy GeoScience and Engineering Laboratory, Georgia Tech, USA & KAUST.
  • 2018-2023: Research Assistant, Basel, and Stockholm Conventions Regional Centre (BCRC-SCRC), Beijing, China.
  • 2014-2015: IOSH, UK Trainer, Noor Safety Institute, Lahore, Pakistan 

Awards

  • 2021: All-round Excellent Scholarship: Friends of Tsinghua-Weichai Power Scholarship
  • 2020: Best Award for Innovator Team (SDG Open Hack; University de Genève, UNITAR, UNDP, Tsinghua X-lab, iCenter, and Tsinghua University).
  • 2020: Best poster presentation. 2nd Graduates Forum of the Global Alliance of Universities on Climate (GAUC) Tsinghua University.
  • 2019: Award for Social Innovation Team & Award for Outstanding Team (SDG Open Hack; University de Genève, UNITAR, UNDP, Tsinghua X-lab, iCenter, and Tsinghua University).
  •  2018-2023: Chinese Government Scholarship, Tsinghua University.

KAUST Affiliations

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

Research Interests Keywords

Circular Economy Urban Mining Material Flow Analysis Waste management LCA Industrial Ecology
UrbanLab. Talent. Affirmations. Thought. Inspiration. Transmission. Knowledge. Meeting. Community. Future. Transition.