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)

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

Education

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

Professional Profile

  • 2023-2024: Research Fellow, University of Southern Denmark (SDU), Nov 2023 – April 2024
  • 2022: Visiting Researcher, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), April 2022 – Dec 2022
  • 2018-2023: Graduate Research Assistant, Tsinghua University
  • 2020: Teaching Assistant, Tsinghua University, Feb 2020 – July 2020, Material Flow Analysis and its Application (70050362)
  • 2019-2020: Teaching Assistant, Tsinghua University, Sep 2019 – Feb 2020, Research Paper Writing (14201092)
  • 2021-2022: Teaching Assistant, Tsinghua University, Sep 2021 – Feb 2022, Tsinghua Global Summer School (June 28 - July 6, 2021), Tohoku University's Graduate School of Environmental Studies (Sep 6-8, 2021)

Awards

  • 2021, All-round Excellent Scholarship: Friends of Tsinghua-Weichai Power Scholarship (2)
  • 2020, Best Award for Innovator Team (SDG Open Hack; University de Genève, UNITAR, UNDP, Tsinghua X-lab, iCenter, and Tsinghua University (28th -29th Nov).
  • 2020, 2nd Graduates Forum of the Global Alliance of Universities on Climate (GAUC) Tsinghua university, Best Poster presentation.
  • 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 (30th Nov-1st Dec).
  •  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
UrbanLab. Talent. Affirmations. Thought. Inspiration. Transmission. Knowledge. Meeting. Community. Future. Transition.