Department of Mechanical Engineering Technology,
National Skills University Islamabad,
Faiz Ahmed Faiz Road, H-8/1, Islamabad
Dr Zaffar Mohammad Khan’s research interest focuses on improving the mechanical properties of advanced composite materials of aerospace, energy, and transportation systems. He has worked on affordable composite manufacturing using non autoclave processes and mechanical testing aligning with NASA Technology Readiness Level. This has led to development of all composite structural systems using innovative vacuum assisted processes through university-industry collaboration
His key area of latest research is embedded strain sensing and structural health monitoring using additively deposited piezoresistive nanosensors. He has investigated graphene-enhanced nanopolymer composites (PVDF) to improve performance of human-machine interface, smart textiles and robotic motion in Industry Level-4 environment. Overall, his research correlates microstructure-propertiesperformance that has led to 100+ research journal/ conference publications, & 3 book chapters.
Dr Zaffar Mohammad Khan is Professor Emeritus in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at National Skill University, Islamabad. He earned his Ph.D. from Salford University, UK in collaboration with British Aerospace and completed a Fulbright Postdoctoral Fellowship from Iowa State University contributing to NASA-related research. He was awarded Sitar-e-Imtiaz and earned international awards i.e. MoST, IDB, Blackburn, NSF for his significant contribution in the field of engineering education.
He has held senior executive roles including Founding Vice Chancellor, Director General, Dean, Head of Mechanical Engineering Department and CEO of university private company (ISTech) at leading national institutions. As Founding Vice Chancellor of University of Technology, he established the Quality Cell, ORIC and implemented far institutional reforms that significantly enhanced its standing. As Director General (Research, Innovation & Commercialization) at the Institute of Space Technology, he led its elevation to innovation based research intensive university through commercialization of research of faculty and students from laboratory to market. As Head of Mechanical Engineering Department at NUST College of E&ME, he initiated graduate program in mechanical engineering in collaboration with Michigan State University, USA. He has established a Composite Research Center and two Research Laboratories at AERO, UET and IST to supervise his PhD/ MS and UG students.
On international level, he has taught academic courses at Winona State University, Iowa State University and Nanjing University, China on sabbatical and technology expert. He has made presentations about advanced materials at Michigan State University, University of Toronto, Concordia University, Iowa State University, Nanjing University, China and International Center for theoretical Physics, Italy. He has organized numerous national and international conferences as principal speaker in collaboration with PUM, Netherland, ASEAN countries and IBCAST etc. He has jump started student chapters of SAMPE, SEM and CAS and is member of leading professional bodies; SAMPE, CANCOM
