User:Roheen

The research field of interest lies at the interface of Supramolecular chemistry and material sciences. I did almost all of my Ph.D work at Max-Planck Research Institute for Polymer Mainz Germany in the group of Prof. Adelheid Godt. During my doctoral work I was able to synthesize ultra large three rings in 23 consecutive high yielding and reproducible steps. Out of these three rings the diameter of one ring was 13 nm which turned out to be the largest monodisperse ring in the history of chemistry (Shah, M.R.; Duda, S.; Godt, A.; Malik, A.; J. Am. Chem. Soc.; 2003; 125(18); 5408-5414.). These ultra large rings got practical applications in the field of coiled polymer. Active research in my group is underway to explore the potential of large rings in the domain of polymer chemistry. This Ph.D work also resulted in the synthesis of three new catenane molecules in 23 consecutive steps which are high yielding and reproducible involving a variety of reactions like oxidation, reduction, protecting group chemistry, addition, substitution, metal catalyzed coupling reaction, etc. Most of my Ph.D work has not been published yet due to the move of my research supervisor from Max-Planck to Bremen University and then from Bremen to Beliefeld University Germany where she is now chairing the department along with many other organizations which she is currently chairing. She is going to publish the results in next couple of months. After successful completion of doctoral work I proceeded to Switzerland for postdoctoral research where I conducted one year of active research in the field of artificial ion channels and was able to synthesize some exciting ion channels and explored their potential in the field of molecular recognitions which we published in JACS, AFM and Chimia [(1) J. Am.Chem. Soc. 2004; 126(32); 10067-10075.(2) Advanced Functional Materials 2006, 16(2), 169-179]. Taking into account my excellent track record in research and basic knowledge of the field I received an offer from Prof. Atta-ur-Rahman Director International Center for Chemical Sciences, HEJ Research Institute of Chemistry University of Karachi to join HEJ as faculty member. I joined HEJ Research Institute of Chemistry at 13th March 2004 and established two world class labs for supramolecular chemistry and organic synthesis. I also provided help in the chemical characterization of various organic compounds isolated by various research groups in our institute. We conducted derivatization of various natural products and elucidated their structures for various groups of our institute. In a very short time I got funding from various International and National funding agencies, like OPCW (Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons based in Netherland) is financing one of my project of worth 21400$ which is the first project from Pakistan to be financed by OPCW. Similarly HEC has also approved two of my projects for funding of worth 5 million rupees. TWAS has already successful reviewed one of my project and hopefully we will get funding soon from them. Similarly IFS has also successfully reviewed one of my project and hopefully we will get final decision from them in next couple of months. I also organized an International symposium on nanochemistry and was able in bringing together a large number of scientists from Pakistan and abroad. I also served in HEC as member of selection committee for overseases scholarships. I also remained as member or chair of various committees at HEJ Research Institute of chemistry University of Karachi. I also remained as visiting professor in various universities like Gomal University DI Khan and Peshawar University. I got a very distinctive Max-Planck International Research Fellowship for Material Sciences, which is clearly an honor. Similarly I also won on competitive basis a postdoctoral fellowship from Swiss Science Foundation. I also remained member of Member of Max-Planck International Research School for Material Sciences. I am also member of Swiss Chemical Society and Pakistan Chemical Society.