The Intellectual Heart of ICRI–STE
Global Research Community
We unite the world’s brightest minds—from Principal Scientists to emerging innovators—to solve complex global challenges through the convergence of biological systems and artificial intelligence.
Principle Scientists
Dr. Didar Murad
Principal Scientist (R3-B) & Founding Director, CHI Lab | PhD in Computational Science & Engineering | Visiting Research Fellow, University of South Wales
Research Profile
Dr. Didar Murad works at the intersection of systems biology, intelligent biomedical control, and AI-driven computational healthcare research, leading interdisciplinary initiatives that bridge computational science, machine learning, and biomedical innovation.
Research expertise:
- Systems biology and immune signaling network modeling
- Intelligent biomedical control systems
- AI and machine learning for healthcare
- Computational modeling of complex biological systems
- Transcriptomics and pathway analysis
Selected Contributions
- Published research in Frontiers in Immunology, PeerJ, IEEE, and Springer Nature, with contributions spanning systems biology, computational immunology, transcriptomics, and AI-based biomedical control systems.
- Developed computational models of SARS-CoV-2 complement and coagulation signaling, advancing the understanding of immune dysregulation and therapeutic target identification.
- Led the design of AI-enhanced intelligent biomedical control frameworks, integrating artificial neural networks with nonlinear control strategies for healthcare applications.
- Leading Privacy-Preserving AI-Driven Virtual Lab initiative, leading computational cancer research in lung adenocarcinoma and pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma through federated learning, agentic AI, and multi-cohort genomic analysis.
- Mentored MS and BS researchers in systems biology, machine learning, and computational oncology, supervising interdisciplinary research projects and contributing to the development of the book Computational Healthcare Intelligence: New and Emerging Trends.
Dr. Maryam Nisar
Principal Scientist (R3-B) | PhD in Computational Science & Engineering | Bioinformatician | Computational Biologist
Research Profile
Dr. Maryam Nisar has an interdisciplinary background spanning bioinformatics, computational biology, systems biology, transcriptomics, drug design, metagenomics, and
machine learning. Her research integrates computational and data-driven approaches to address complex biological questions, with a strong focus on advancing healthcare and biotechnology through research, innovation, and scientific collaboration.
Core Expertise:
- Bioinformatics and computational biology
- Systems biology and signaling network analysis
- Transcriptomics and genomic data analysis
- Drug design and computational therapeutics
- Metagenomics and biological data analytics
- Machine learning for biomedical research
Dr. Saima Ejaz
Principal Scientist (R3-A) | PhD Computational Science & Engineering | Pharm-D | M.Phil. Pharmaceutical Chemistry
Research Profile
Dr. Saima Ejaz works at the intersection of computational drug discovery, antibody engineering, and pharmaceutical sciences, combining expertise in medicinal chemistry with AI-driven computational research.
Research expertise:
- Antibody modeling and engineering
- Structure-based drug design
- Computational drug discovery
- Medicinal and pharmaceutical chemistry
- Pharmaceutical quality analysis
- Computational approaches for biomedical research
Selected Contributions:
- PhD research focused on antibody modeling and structure-based drug design using computational methods.
- Built a strong interdisciplinary foundation through Pharm-D and Phil. in Pharmaceutical Chemistry, specializing in medicinal chemistry and drug design.
- Served as a Quality Control Analyst at Medizan Laboratories (Pvt.) Ltd. for 1 year and 7 months, gaining industrial experience in pharmaceutical quality control and analytical evaluation.
- Worked as a Junior Lecturer at Riphah Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Islamabad, for 1.8 years, contributing to teaching and research in Pharmaceutical Chemistry.
Dr. Nabila Sultan
Field: MBBS ( KMC ), FCPS (General Medicine), MRCP 1, MRCP 2 (Royal College of Physicians London)
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Engg. Dr. Omar Zeb
Principal Scientist (R3-B) | PhD in Electrical Power & Control System Engineering | Electrical Engineer | Renewable Energy Researcher
Research Profile
Engg. Dr. Omar Zeb has a research background spanning renewable energy systems, electrical power engineering, robust nonlinear control, AI-based intelligent controllers, and modern power systems. His research integrates advanced nonlinear control theory with artificial intelligence techniques to develop intelligent, adaptive, and energy-efficient solutions for next-generation energy technologies.
Core Expertise:
- Renewable energy systems and applications
- Electrical power and control systems
- Robust nonlinear control design
- Artificial Neural Networks (ANN) and ANFIS controllers
- Power converters and electric vehicle control
- AC/DC microgrids and power loss minimization
Senior Research Scientists
Mr. Atif Rehman
Senior Researcher (R2-C) | MS Computational Science & Engineering, SINES, NUST | PhD Researcher University of Wollongong, Australia
Research Profile
Atif Rehman works at the intersection of intelligent control systems, biomedical systems engineering, reinforcement learning, and scientific machine learning.
Research expertise:
- Nonlinear and advanced sliding mode control
- Intelligent biomedical control and therapeutic optimization
- Reinforcement learning and scientific machine learning
- Cancer therapy and glucose regulation control
Selected Contributions:
- Over 21 peer-reviewed publications, including research in leading Q1 journals
- International research experience across Cyprus, Saudi Arabia, and Pakistan
- Contributing to EU-funded research on autonomous mobility
- Developing intelligent control strategies for cancer therapy and glucose regulation
- Pursuing interdisciplinary research connecting computational intelligence, control theory, and biomedical systems
Mr. Kashif Saleem
Senior Scientist (R2-B) | MS Bioinformatics | Doctoral Researcher, Charles University (Univerzita Karlova)
Research Profile
Kashif Saleem works at the intersection of bioinformatics, reproducible computation, and public-health research.
Research expertise:
- Bulk and single-cell RNA-seq
- Multi-omics integration and host–pathogen genomics
- Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) surveillance
- Nextflow, Snakemake, Docker and Singularity
- Machine learning for biological analysis
Selected Contributions:
- 5 peer-reviewed publications and preprints in SLE transcriptomics, AMR, drug discovery and multi-omics
- Developed PHEGEN, a gene-prediction tool for AMR detection in metagenomic datasets
- Co-Founder of Bioinfocamp, supporting early-career researcher training internationally
- MS thesis on SLE computational analysis using sequencing, systems biology and machine learning at NUST
Engg. Huzaifah Abbas
Field: MS Electrical Engineering, SEECS, NUST
About me: I am a researcher specializing in advanced control systems, with a focus on linear and nonlinear Model Predictive Control (MPC) and reinforcement learning-based strategies. My work centers on developing RL-based model-free controllers and RL-based control optimizers, bridging classical control theory with artificial intelligence techniques. Currently, I have two journal publications under review and am exploring applications of these methods for embedded systems and real-time autonomous control. Passionate about translating complex control algorithms into practical, deployable solutions, I aim to advance intelligent control in domains ranging from biomedical systems to robotics and energy management.
Engg Rimsha Ghias
Field: MS Electrical Engineering and PhD Scholar SEECS, NUST
About me: As a dedicated and highly motivated electrical engineering master’s student, my expertise encompasses both linear and nonlinear control systems. Currently immersed in the research phase of my program, I am passionate about advancing electrical engineering. Looking ahead, my commitment is to apply this knowledge to real-world challenges, aspiring to lead innovative projects and contribute meaningfully to the field as a professional electrical engineer.
Miss Maheera Amjad
Field: MS Bioinformatics PhD Scholar Bioinformatics, SINES, NUST.
About Me: PhD Candidate and analytical thought leader at the intersection of Bioinformatics and Generative AI. Proven capacity to lead independent research, translating advanced bioinformatics and machine learning models into safer, more effective preclinical drug candidates with clear commercial and clinical value. Committed to rigorous academic investigation and effective public communication (via blogging) to ensure high-impact scientific breakthroughs are accessible and trustworthy.
Junior Scientists
Miss Saddia Bano
Junior Research Scientist (R1-C) | Bioinformatician | MS Bioinformatics
Research Profile
Miss Sadia Bano is a Bioinformatician with an academic background in MS Bioinformatics, contributing to computational and data-driven biomedical research.
Core Expertise:
- Bioinformatics and computational biology
- Genomic and transcriptomic data analysis
- Biological data processing and interpretation
- Computational approaches to biomedical research
Mr. Zohaib Alam
Junior Research Scientist (R1-A) | Computer Scientist | BS Computer Science
Research Profile
Zohaib Alam is a Computer Scientist with an academic background in BS Computer Science, contributing to computational research through programming, data analysis, and AI-driven problem-solving approaches.
Core Expertise:
- Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning
- Software Development and Programming
- Data Analysis and Computational Methods
- Algorithm Design and Problem Solving
- AI-assisted research workflows