Malik Muhammad Akhtar | Groundwater Hydrology | Groundwater Research Excellence Award

Published on by Hydrologists

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Malik Muhammad Akhtar | Groundwater Hydrology | Groundwater Research Excellence Award

Associate Professor at BUITEMS, Pakistan

Dr. Malik Muhammad Akhtar is an accomplished hydrologist and environmental scientist with over 19 years of experience in groundwater research, hydrological modeling, and water resource management. Currently serving as an Associate Professor at BUITEMS in Quetta, Pakistan, he holds a PhD in Environmental Engineering and a Postdoctoral fellowship in Hydraulic Engineering from China. His research spans critical areas such as groundwater flow modeling, aquifer vulnerability assessment, pollutant transport, and GIS-based identification of recharge zones, particularly in regions like Lahore and Quetta. Dr. Akhtar has published over 40 peer-reviewed articles in high-impact journals, holds an H-index of 17, and has led or contributed to 20 national and international research projects. He is actively involved in groundwater policy advisory as a technical expert in the Balochistan Water Task Force and serves as an Academic Editor for PLOS ONE. With a strong track record in research, academic leadership, international collaboration, and practical impact in groundwater science, Dr. Akhtar exemplifies the caliber of a candidate deserving of the Groundwater Research Excellence Award.

Professional Profile 

Education

Dr. Malik Muhammad Akhtar has a robust academic background in environmental and water sciences. He earned his PhD in Environmental Engineering from the China University of Geosciences, Wuhan, under the prestigious Chinese Government Scholarship (CSC), where he conducted advanced research in hydrology and water resource management. Following this, he completed a Postdoctoral Fellowship in Hydraulic Engineering at the same institution, funded by the Hubei Provincial Government, focusing on hydrological modeling and groundwater systems. In addition, he is currently serving as a Guest Researcher at the Climate Change and Policies Research Center at Boğaziçi University, Turkey, under a research fellowship awarded by Türkiye Bursları. His academic qualifications are complemented by his designation as an HEC-approved PhD supervisor in Pakistan, reflecting his commitment to mentoring and research excellence.

Professional Experience

Dr. Malik Muhammad Akhtar brings extensive professional experience in academia, research, and consultancy within the fields of environmental science and water resource management. He currently serves as an Associate Professor in the Department of Environmental Science at BUITEMS, Quetta, Pakistan, a position he has held since December 2021. He has also served in leadership roles, including Chairperson of the department, demonstrating his administrative and academic capabilities. His earlier roles include Assistant Professor at BUITEMS and Postdoctoral Researcher at the China University of Geosciences, Wuhan, where he focused on hydrological and groundwater modeling. Dr. Akhtar has also worked as a Research Officer at K-tron Research Incorporated in Islamabad. In addition to his academic roles, he is an active consultant for various international organizations such as the International Water Management Institute (IWMI), Islamic Relief Pakistan, and Leads Pakistan. His work spans project management, scientific research, and policy advisory, making him a well-rounded professional in the environmental and water sciences sector.

Research Interest

Dr. Malik Muhammad Akhtar’s research interests lie at the intersection of hydrology, environmental engineering, and sustainable water resource management. He focuses extensively on groundwater modeling, aquifer vulnerability assessment, water budgeting, and pollutant transport analysis using tools such as MODFLOW, MT3D, and GIS-based DRASTIC models. His work also encompasses climate change vulnerability and adaptation strategies, drought and flood risk assessment, and the identification of groundwater recharge zones. Dr. Akhtar is particularly interested in the application of remote sensing and GIS technologies for natural resource management and has conducted significant research in complex hydrological settings such as the Indus Basin in Pakistan and river basins in China. His interdisciplinary approach aims to develop practical, science-based solutions to pressing water and environmental challenges, particularly in urban planning, land management, and water governance in arid and semi-arid regions.

Award and Honor

Dr. Malik Muhammad Akhtar has received numerous awards and honors in recognition of his academic excellence, research contributions, and professional service in the field of environmental science and water resources. He was awarded a prestigious PhD scholarship by the China Scholarship Council (CSC) and later secured postdoctoral research fellowships along with provincial project funding from the Hubei Government in China. In 2023, he received a competitive research grant from Türkiye Bursları to serve as a Guest Researcher at Boğaziçi University, Turkey. His research excellence has also been acknowledged through multiple national research grants from organizations such as the Higher Education Commission (HEC) of Pakistan, Pakistan Science Foundation (PSF), and other national bodies. Dr. Akhtar is a recognized PhD supervisor approved by HEC and serves as an Academic Editor for the internationally reputed journal PLOS ONE. Additionally, he was appointed as a Technical Expert in the Balochistan Water Task Force, reflecting his significant contributions to regional water policy and governance.

Conclusion

Dr. Malik Muhammad Akhtar is a strong and well-rounded candidate for the Best Researcher Award.His sustained research productivity, international collaborations, high-impact journal publications, and relevance to critical environmental and water issues in South Asia and beyond make him highly deserving of recognition.

Publications Top Noted

1. Title: Geochemical evolution, geostatistical mapping and machine learning predictive modeling of groundwater fluoride: a case study of western Balochistan, Quetta
Authors: Durrani, Taimoor Shah; Akhtar, Malik Muhammad; Kakar, Kaleem Ullah; Habibullah, Habibullah; Khan, Changaiz
Year: 2025
Citations: 0

2.  Title: Spatio-temporal analysis of PM2.5 and its association with elevation by using remote sensing: the scenario of Quetta, Pakistan
Authors: Ehtasham, Laraib; Akhtar, Malik Muhammad; Tariq, Salman; Mian, Ishaq Ahmad
Year: 2025
Citations: 0

 

 

Ruijuan Qu | Environmental Chemistry | Best Researcher Award

Published on by Hydrologists

Dr. Ruijuan Qu | Environmental Chemistry | Best Researcher Award

Nanjing University, China

👨‍🎓Profiles

👩‍🏫 Early Academic Pursuits

Ruijuan Qu completed her PhD from Nanjing University, where she subsequently embarked on her professional career. She started her academic journey as an assistant researcher and progressed to associate researcher. Her continued academic growth led to her appointment as an Associate Professor at the School of Environment, Nanjing University. Her foundational academic pursuits focused on environmental sciences, particularly on the transformation mechanisms of organic pollutants and the development of efficient degradation technologies.

💼 Professional Endeavors

Her professional career has been largely centered around environmental chemistry, with a particular focus on pollution degradation and chemical processes in environmental systems. Her research spans various aspects of environmental transformation, including the fate of organic pollutants, chemical oxidation processes, and the application of computational chemistry. She has made significant contributions to the understanding of complex environmental processes, particularly in the treatment of organic pollutants using advanced oxidation processes. She collaborates internationally, notably with Prof. Virender K. Sharma from Texas A&M University, on Ferrate oxidation treatments of organic pollutants.

🔬 Contributions and Research Focus

She has been instrumental in developing innovative methods and models to study the transformation of organic pollutants. She established a novel "non-target mass spectrometry – preparative separation-characterization - simplified transition state calculation" method for identifying intermediate products in pollutant degradation. Furthermore, she investigated the influence of suspended particles and co-existing components on the heterogeneous photodegradation of persistent organic pollutants in river systems. Her work has led to a deeper understanding of the polymerization processes in chemical oxidation of phenols, and she proposed strategies to regulate this process for low-carbon, efficient oxidation treatments.

🌍 Impact and Influence

Her research has had significant impact in the field of environmental chemistry, particularly in understanding the environmental fate and transformation of organic pollutants. Her innovative methods have been applied to address key challenges in environmental pollution, particularly in water and wastewater treatment. As a recognized leader in the field, Her work has contributed to advancing green chemistry and pollution control technologies. She was named to Stanford University's 2023 World's Top 2% Scientists List, highlighting her significant contributions and the wide recognition her research has gained in the global scientific community.

📚 Academic Cites

Her work has been cited extensively, with a citation index of 6036 times and an H-index of 43 according to Web of Science. This reflects the widespread influence and relevance of her research in the environmental chemistry domain. Her 159 articles published in SCI-indexed journals underscore her prolific contributions to the academic community, advancing the understanding of chemical processes and pollutant management.

🛠️ Technical Skills

Ruijuan Qu possesses advanced technical expertise in environmental chemistry, particularly in the areas of mass spectrometry, computational chemistry, and environmental analytical techniques. Her work in environmental transformation analysis, pollutant degradation technologies, and process optimization highlights her technical proficiency. She also possesses deep knowledge of chemical oxidation processes and their applications in environmental remediation, making her a leader in this niche field of research.

👩‍🏫 Teaching Experience

As an Associate Professor at Nanjing University, She has contributed significantly to educating the next generation of environmental scientists. She teaches courses in environmental chemistry, pollutant treatment technologies, and environmental computational chemistry. Her teaching approach integrates cutting-edge research with practical applications, ensuring that her students are equipped with the knowledge and skills necessary to address current and future environmental challenges.

🏆 Legacy and Future Contributions

Her legacy is grounded in her pioneering work in environmental chemistry and pollution degradation. Through her innovative research, she has not only advanced scientific understanding but has also contributed to the development of green technologies for environmental protection. Her future contributions are poised to further shape the field, particularly in the development of more efficient, sustainable pollution control methods and the application of computational chemistry in environmental research.

🔮 Future Contributions

She continues to push the boundaries of environmental science with ongoing research focused on improving chemical oxidation methods, advancing non-target mass spectrometry for pollutant detection, and developing low-carbon technologies for water and wastewater treatment. Her future work aims to bridge the gap between fundamental environmental chemistry and practical, scalable solutions to global pollution challenges, enhancing both environmental sustainability and human health.

📖Notable Publications