Dr. Sohaib Tahir is a seasoned Electrical Engineer and researcher with over 11 years of experience in research, teaching, and technical leadership. With a robust academic foundation, Dr. Tahir has earned a PhD from Shanghai Jiao Tong University, China, and a Master’s degree from Xi’an Jiao Tong University, China. He currently serves as an Assistant Professor at Dhofar University, Oman, and has previously held roles as Head of the Department at COMSATS University, Sahiwal Campus, Pakistan. His career spans academia, technical troubleshooting, team management, and research collaboration with prestigious organizations globally. Dr. Tahir’s research interests primarily focus on power electronics, renewable energy systems, and energy policy. He is dedicated to applying his expertise to solve real-world energy challenges and is a committed mentor and researcher in the field.
Profile
Strengths for the Award
- Extensive Research Contributions: Dr. Sohaib Tahir has made significant contributions to the fields of power electronics, renewable energy systems, and energy policy, with a clear focus on solving contemporary global energy challenges. His work spans across key topics such as hybrid renewable energy systems, grid integration, and optimization of power systems. His research has been published in highly respected journals such as Electronics, Sustainability, Energy Strategy Reviews, and International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, and has been cited numerous times.
- International Experience and Collaboration: Dr. Tahir’s experience with prestigious international institutions (e.g., Shanghai Jiao Tong University and Xi’an Jiao Tong University) and his collaborations with leading researchers globally demonstrate his strong academic network. This exposure has helped him build a solid foundation in research and contribute to impactful projects. Additionally, his bilingual skills (English, Mandarin) enable cross-border collaboration, further elevating his research profile.
- Leadership and Mentoring: His tenure as Head of Department at COMSATS University Islamabad (Sahiwal campus) and his role as an Assistant Professor showcase his leadership abilities. He has also supervised several final year projects, particularly those related to cutting-edge technologies in automation, renewable energy, and IoT, demonstrating his ability to nurture the next generation of engineers and researchers.
- Recognition and Awards: Dr. Tahir has received multiple Research Productivity Awards from COMSATS University Islamabad, which are an indication of his consistent research output and the impact of his work. His recognition as a keynote speaker at international conferences and seminars further solidifies his standing as an expert in his field.
- Teaching and Mentoring Skills: Dr. Tahir has taught a wide variety of courses related to electrical engineering and computer engineering. His ability to impart technical knowledge across topics like power systems, control systems, and digital electronics is commendable. Furthermore, his involvement in various committees and administrative roles reflects his commitment to enhancing the academic environment and improving educational standards.
- Technological Innovation: His research in the optimization of green hydrogen production and his investigation into wind power integration for local communities highlight his focus on sustainable energy solutions. His work on maximum power point tracking (MPPT) in solar and wind systems is also at the forefront of energy efficiency and grid reliability.
Areas for Improvement
- Broader Public Engagement and Outreach: While Dr. Tahir’s academic and technical accomplishments are substantial, there seems to be limited public-facing engagement or media presence. Greater visibility through media outlets, popular science publications, or public-speaking engagements on renewable energy solutions and sustainability could help position him as a thought leader in the broader energy policy and sustainability community.
- Interdisciplinary Research: Although Dr. Tahir’s research is commendable in the electrical engineering and renewable energy domains, there might be an opportunity to expand his focus into more interdisciplinary research. For example, integrating economic modeling or policy analysis into his engineering research could enhance the real-world application and scalability of his findings, especially in developing countries.
- Higher Focus on Funding and Collaborative Grants: Securing larger research grants and collaborating on multi-institutional projects could provide Dr. Tahir with more opportunities to expand the scope of his research. Collaboration with industry partners could help to translate his research into more practical solutions and increase its societal impact.
- Increased Focus on Early-Career Researchers: While Dr. Tahir has mentored many students, further focusing on establishing structured research mentorship programs for early-career researchers, particularly in renewable energy or energy policy, could amplify his contributions to the academic community and research development.
- Diversity of Research Output: Although Dr. Tahir has published extensively, diversifying his research output to include more collaborative papers with researchers from other disciplines, or exploring emerging fields like smart grids, artificial intelligence for energy systems, and energy storage technologies, would enhance his research profile.
Education
Dr. Sohaib Tahir completed his PhD in Electrical Engineering from the School of Electronic, Information and Electrical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University (2015-2018), ranked 46th internationally. Prior to that, he earned his Master of Engineering (ME) in Electrical Engineering from Xi’an Jiao Tong University, China (2012-2014), ranked 302nd globally. He also holds a Bachelor of Science (BS) in Electrical Engineering from COMSATS Institute of Information Technology, Lahore, Pakistan (2005-2009), ranked 1105th globally. His academic journey has been marked by excellence, with early graduation honors, scholarships, and a consistent record of achievement. His strong educational background laid the foundation for his deep expertise in renewable energy, power systems, and electronics, which he continues to apply in both teaching and research settings.
Experience
Dr. Sohaib Tahir has accumulated more than a decade of diverse experience across academia, research, and technical roles. He is currently an Assistant Professor at Dhofar University, Oman, where he focuses on electrical and computer engineering. Prior to this, he served as Head of Department at COMSATS University, Sahiwal, Pakistan, overseeing faculty and academic affairs from 2022 to 2023. Dr. Tahir’s academic career also includes roles as an Assistant Professor and Lecturer at COMSATS University, Sahiwal Campus, where he contributed to curriculum development and research initiatives. His earlier experience includes research assistant positions at Shanghai Jiao Tong University and Xi’an Jiao Tong University, where he worked on projects related to power electronics and renewable energy. Dr. Tahir’s technical experience also spans industry roles, such as Field Engineer, Regional Coordinator, and Project Manager in Pakistan, demonstrating his versatile skill set.
Awards and Honors
Dr. Sohaib Tahir has received multiple prestigious awards throughout his career, highlighting his excellence in research and academic contributions. He was honored with the Research Productivity Award for four consecutive years (2018-2021) at COMSATS University Islamabad, recognizing his substantial contributions to the field of electrical engineering and renewable energy. He was also named Best Motivational Speaker for his inspiring talk on “Teaching is an Art” at Mehran University of Engineering & Technology. Dr. Tahir has been a Keynote Speaker at several international conferences, including the Frontiers in Information Technology (FIT) Conference and workshops on research writing and renewable energy. He has received fully funded scholarships for his studies in China, including at Shanghai Jiao Tong University and Xi’an Jiao Tong University, where he was also recognized with the Early Graduation Student Award. These accolades reflect his dedication to advancing knowledge in his field.
Research Focus
Dr. Sohaib Tahir’s research focuses on power electronics, renewable energy systems, and energy policy. His work explores advanced control techniques in power electronics, particularly for renewable energy applications like solar and wind power integration. His research aims to improve energy efficiency and sustainability through hybrid systems, such as the integration of photovoltaic (PV) and wind energy technologies. Dr. Tahir is particularly interested in the optimization of renewable energy systems, including the development of algorithms for maximum power point tracking (MPPT) and control systems for voltage-source inverters (VSI). He also investigates the potential of green hydrogen production in hydroelectric-PV grid-connected power stations and the role of smart grids in energy distribution. His work has significant implications for energy policy, particularly in the context of rural electrification and sustainable development. By applying his expertise to both practical and theoretical aspects of energy systems, Dr. Tahir seeks to address critical energy challenges.
Publications Top Notes
- Digital control techniques based on voltage source inverters in renewable energy applications: A review 🌱
- Hybrid energy sources status of Pakistan: An optimal technical proposal to solve the power crises issues 🌍
- A research on electricity generation from wind corridors of Pakistan (two provinces): A technical proposal for remote zones 💨
- Optimization of green hydrogen production in hydroelectric-photovoltaic grid connected power station 🔋
- Design and analysis of robust fuzzy logic maximum power point tracking based isolated photovoltaic energy system ☀️
- A review of 4D printing–technologies, shape shifting, smart polymer based materials, and biomedical applications 🖨️
- Wind power integration: An experimental investigation for powering local communities 🌾
- Integration of renewable energy project: a technical proposal for rural electrification to local communities ⚡
- Sustainable development and multi-aspect analysis of a novel polygeneration system using biogas upgrading and LNG regasification processes 🔄
- Wind Energy Potential at Badin and Pasni Costal Line of Pakistan 🌊
Conclusion
Dr. Sohaib Tahir is an exceptionally well-qualified candidate for the Best Researcher Award due to his outstanding contributions to power electronics, renewable energy systems, and sustainability. His work is innovative, highly impactful, and globally recognized. While he has demonstrated excellent leadership, research output, and academic commitment, opportunities exist for him to increase his public visibility, expand his interdisciplinary collaborations, and continue pushing the boundaries of energy innovation. With minor enhancements in these areas, Dr. Tahir could further cement his reputation as a pioneering researcher in his field.