Ibrahim Yahya Hakeem | Engineering and Technology | Best Researcher Award

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ibrahim Yahya Hakeem | Engineering and Technology | Best Researcher Award

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ibrahim Yahya Hakeem | Engineering and Technology | Best Researcher Award | Associate Professor | Najran University | Saudi Arabia 

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ibrahim Yahya Hakeem is a highly accomplished scholar and Associate Professor of Structural Engineering, Building Materials, and Concrete Technology at Najran University, Saudi Arabia, where he has made significant contributions to civil and environmental engineering education and research. He holds a Ph.D. in Civil and Environmental Engineering from King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals (KFUPM), Saudi Arabia, where his doctoral research focused on developing sustainable and high-performance concrete materials. His academic foundation includes an M.Sc. in Civil and Environmental Engineering from KFUPM and a B.Sc. in Civil Engineering from Aden University, Yemen, both earned with high distinction and multiple honors. Over the years, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ibrahim Yahya Hakeem has built an impressive professional career marked by excellence in teaching, research, and institutional leadership. He currently serves on several key committees at Najran University, including the Supreme Standing Committee for Renewing Institutional Accreditation, the Standing Committee for Program Accreditation, and the Executive Committee for Monitoring the Quality of Teaching and Learning. His professional expertise encompasses structural design, ultra-high-performance concrete (UHPC), sustainable construction materials, fiber-reinforced composites, and the use of industrial and agricultural waste for green concrete development. His active research projects—funded by national and institutional bodies—focus on eco-friendly, high-strength concrete formulations, advancing environmental sustainability in the construction sector. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ibrahim Yahya Hakeem has demonstrated remarkable research skills in experimental design, finite element modeling, and materials characterization, complemented by his leadership as Principal Investigator in more than twenty funded projects. His strong publication record includes articles in high-impact journals indexed in Scopus, IEEE, and other prestigious databases, alongside patented innovations such as the “Flexural Hybrid Span Beam” and developments in sustainable ultra-high-performance concrete. His international collaborations with institutions like KFUPM and partnerships with industrial entities such as SABIC reflect his ability to integrate research, application, and innovation effectively. Recognized among the Top 2% World Scientists in Construction by Stanford University, Dr. Hakeem has also served as a certified academic reviewer for the National Center for Academic Accreditation and Evaluation (NCAAA). His numerous academic honors, leadership positions, and professional memberships underscore his ongoing commitment to academic excellence, sustainability, and research-driven education. In conclusion, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ibrahim Yahya Hakeem stands out as a visionary academic leader whose sustained research productivity, innovative contributions, and institutional service continue to influence the global field of structural and materials engineering, promoting environmentally responsible construction practices and advancing engineering education standards worldwide.

Profile:  Scopus | ORCID | Google Scholar

Featured Publications 

  1. Hakeem, I. Y. (2025). Date palm fibers (from Najran city) as reinforcement in UHPC: Design, performance, and microstructural analysis. AIP Advances.

  2. Hakeem, I. Y. (2025). Flexural performance and ductility of UHPC incorporating Najran City’s lathe waste powder (LWP) for substitution of cement. Innovative Infrastructure Solutions.

  3. Hakeem, I. Y. (2025). Sustainable high strength polymer concrete with high ratios of recycled aggregate from different decades under heat curing. Revista Materia.

  4. Hakeem, I. Y. (2024). Corrigendum to “Experimental investigation and analytical verification of buckling of functionally graded carbon nanotube-reinforced sandwich beams.” Heliyon, 10(8), e28388.

  5. Hakeem, I. Y. (2023). Application of waste ceramic powder as a cement replacement in reinforced concrete beams toward sustainable usage in construction. Case Studies in Construction Materials, 19, e02444.

  6. Hakeem, I. Y. (2023). Effects of glass fiber on recycled fly ash and basalt powder-based geopolymer concrete. Case Studies in Construction Materials, 19, e02659.

  7. Hakeem, I. Y. (2014). Ultra-high performance concrete reinforcement bars. U.S. Patent Publication No. US20140190113A1.

 

Mohammad Ansar Vakkattil | Advanced Materials Engineering | Cross-disciplinary Excellence Award

Mohammad Ansar Vakkattil | Advanced Materials Engineering | Cross-disciplinary Excellence Award

Mr Mohammad Ansar Vakkattil, FHNW, India

Mr. Mohammad Ansar Vakkattil is a dynamic interdisciplinary researcher whose work bridges polymer science, biomedical engineering, and 3D bioprinting. With a solid foundation in Rubber and Polymer Technology from premier Indian institutions like IIT Kharagpur and CUSAT, he has contributed significantly to intelligent materials, medical devices, and bioremediation. His roles as Senior Project Engineer at SCTIMST and researcher at institutions in Switzerland and Estonia reflect his global engagement. His pioneering work on smart materials and 3D-printed implantables, like cranioplasty scaffolds, showcases his innovation at the intersection of healthcare, materials science, and sustainability. With a flair for EU grant writing and multilingual expertise, he embodies the spirit of collaborative, cross-domain research. Through academic supervision, teaching, and publication, Mr. Vakkattil continues to inspire a new generation of material scientists and bioengineers worldwide.

Publication Profile

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Orcid

Education

Mr. Ansar earned his M.Tech in Rubber Technology from the Rubber Technology Centre, IIT Kharagpur, with a CGPA of 8.02/10, supported by a prestigious GATE scholarship. His thesis focused on castor oil extended epoxidised natural rubber, emphasizing sustainable material innovation. He completed his B.Tech in Polymer Science and Engineering from Cochin University of Science and Technology (CUSAT) with a CGPA of 7.23/10. His academic projects and thesis explored topics such as SBR-tire compounds and mechanical properties of latex films, grounding him in applied polymer engineering. Further technical training at the Indian Rubber Board and multiple industrial internships enriched his hands-on expertise in polymer processing, rubber compounding, and materials testing. His academic journey reflects not only intellectual merit but also a strategic focus on sustainable, biomedical, and smart material innovations.

Experience

Mr. Ansar’s professional experience reflects a blend of academic research and applied engineering. He served as a Senior Project Engineer at Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology, where he contributed to the development of Parylene coatings for implantable medical devices. At the University of Tartu and University of Applied Sciences Northwestern Switzerland, he specialized in 3D printing of artificial muscles and bioprinting for bioremediation. His skills span FDM, SLA, electrospinning, ceramic nanoparticles, and hydrogel synthesis. In addition to his lab work, he has acted as a supervisor, educator, and EU project contributor. His roles demonstrate advanced proficiency in additive manufacturing, smart biomaterials, and digital fabrication—key areas shaping future biomedical and environmental technologies.

Awards and Honors

Mr. Ansar’s academic and professional excellence has been consistently recognized. He was awarded the GATE Masters Scholarship (2016–2018) and achieved an All India Rank of 32 in the GATE Polymer Science and Material Science category. He was the Runner-Up in the Brand D Management Competition during Spring Fest at IIT Kharagpur in 2017. He has also earned accolades for multiple poster presentations, including on biomedical coatings and sustainable rubber materials, at IRMRA and other prestigious platforms. These honors underscore his creativity, technical acumen, and capacity to translate theoretical knowledge into impactful innovations. His teaching merits and development of study materials for GATE aspirants further reflect his commitment to academic excellence and mentorship in polymer sciences.

Research Focus

Mr. Ansar’s research focuses on intelligent materials, additive manufacturing (3D printing), and biomaterials for medical and environmental applications. His work integrates polymer science, smart textiles, hydrogel-based systems, electrospun materials, and bioprinting technologies for creating actuators, biomedical implants, and sustainable filtration systems. Notably, he has investigated bioprinting for bioremediation, parylene coatings for implants, and artificial muscles using FDM and photopolymer techniques. His interdisciplinary approach, combining biopolymer engineering, chemical vapor deposition, and cytocompatibility testing, has led to novel insights in the development of responsive materials and devices. His goal is to bridge the gap between ecological sustainability and human health by advancing customizable, low-impact technologies in the polymer and medical materials domain.

Publication Top Notes