Student Spotlight: Dr. Ashfaq Iftakher

Dr. Ashfaq Iftakher: Ph.D. Defended on July 2025

This month Student Spotlight is on Dr. Ashfaq Iftakher, who defended his Ph.D. in July. He is a member of Prof. Hasan’s group and his thesis title is, “Modeling and Computing Approaches for Computer-Aided Molecular and Process Design.” Congratulations, Dr. Iftakher! 

For Dr. Ashfaq Iftakher, the motivation behind pursuing a PhD in chemical engineering was rooted in a strong belief: that chemical engineering has the power to drive real, transformative change—especially toward a more sustainable future. He said, “During my PhD, I have explored how we can design better materials and processes—from identifying optimal ionic liquids for hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) separation, to accelerating chemical process design using quantum optimization and machine learning. In Professor Faruque Hasan's group, I have been fortunate to work on problems that reside at the intersection of chemistry, computation, and systems engineering. I find deep motivation in building new methods and tools that can contribute towards making chemical processes cleaner, more energy-efficient, or more scalable. “

One unforgettable highlight of his PhD occurred at his Ph.D. defense where he received a compliment from his committee members that his thesis had "set a new standard." To Dr. Iftkaher, “That recognition was humbling, but the journey to that point taught me something even more valuable: perseverance is more powerful than talent alone. I faced moments of failure and uncertainty, but I learned to persevere, break problems into pieces, and keep showing up. Ultimately, I have realized that the PhD is not just about producing new knowledge; it is about transforming oneself into someone who can thrive in ambiguity and solve complex problems. Most of all, the biggest outcome of a PhD is the ability to learn how to learn and ask good, probing questions.”

To current graduate students, Dr. Ashfaq Iftakher offers the advice, “Don’t measure your progress by someone else’s timeline. Research is inherently messy and uncertain, and each of us brings a unique perspective to the table. Work on problems that genuinely interest you. Find mentors who believe in you, even when you are doubting yourself. Most importantly, it is important to remember that self-worth is not defined by productivity. Take care of your mental health and celebrate small wins. Grad school is tough, but it is also an extraordinary privilege to spend 4+ years learning, exploring, and doing some cool science.”

If you would like to learn more from Dr. Iftakher, you can connect with him at  LinkedIn (click here to visit his profile).