Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ataf Ali Altaf | Inorganic Chemistry | Best Researcher Award

Associate Professor at University of Okara, Pakistan

Dr. Ataf Ali Altaf is an accomplished Associate Professor in the Department of Chemistry at the University of Okara, Pakistan. He has over 17 years of academic and research experience, with expertise in inorganic and analytical chemistry. His career is marked by leadership roles in teaching, research supervision, and university administration. He has led research projects funded by prestigious agencies like HEC Pakistan and has published over 105 international papers with over 2560 citations. He completed a prestigious postdoctoral fellowship at Cornell University, USA. Dr. Altaf is also recognized for his contributions to nano-materials, catalysis, organometallic compounds, and medicinal chemistry. His dedication to the advancement of computational and synthetic chemistry has garnered several national and international accolades. He continues to influence policy through committee work and contributes to the scientific community as a reviewer and editorial board member of multiple reputed journals.

professional profile

Google Scholar

Education

Dr. Ataf Ali Altaf holds an impressive academic portfolio. He earned his Postdoctoral Fellowship in Inorganic Chemistry from Cornell University, USA, in 2023 under the HEC-funded program. He pursued his Ph.D. in Analytical/Inorganic Chemistry at Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad (2012), and previously earned an M.Phil. in the same field (2008) from the same institution. His academic journey began with a Master’s (M.Sc.) in Inorganic Chemistry from Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan (2006), where he secured 2nd position. He also received prestigious scholarships, including the Indigenous PhD Scholarship and the HEC IRSIP Scholarship, which enabled him to conduct advanced research at Colorado State University, USA. These credentials underpin his strong foundation in both theoretical and experimental chemistry.

Work Experience

Dr. Altaf is currently serving as Associate Professor at the University of Okara since May 2020, overseeing graduate-level teaching and research while also fulfilling key administrative duties, such as Director Administration and Chairperson of the Chemistry Department. From 2015 to 2020, he served at University of Gujrat, guiding students and managing labs and academic programs. His prior roles include Assistant Professorships at GCUF, BZU, and UOM, where he also mentored numerous research scholars. His early professional journey included a research stint at Colorado State University as an IRSIP Scholar, and he began his career as a Chemist at PEPSI Cola, Islamabad. Dr. Altaf has participated in several academic committees and administrative boards, demonstrating leadership in curriculum design, departmental reviews, and strategic policy development across various institutions.

🏆 Awards & Honors

Dr. Ataf Ali Altaf has received numerous prestigious awards and honors throughout his academic career. Notably, he was awarded the HEC Postdoctoral Fellowship for advanced research at Cornell University, USA. He received multiple HEC and PHEC Travel Grants to present his research at international conferences in Japan and elsewhere. His outstanding research output earned him the Research Productivity Award from the Pakistan Council for Science and Technology (PCST). He was also granted an HEC-IRSIP Scholarship for research at Colorado State University, USA. During his MSc, he was honored with the 2nd Position Certificate at Govt. College Sahiwal. Additionally, he benefited from HEC Indigenous Scholarships for his MPhil and PhD programs. These accolades are a testament to his impactful contributions in chemistry and his commitment to research excellence.

Research Focus

Dr. Altaf’s research focuses on both experimental and computational aspects of inorganic and materials chemistry. He is known for his work on Covalent Organic Frameworks (COFs) and Metal Organic Frameworks (MOFs), especially in the areas of adsorption, catalysis, and energy devices. His contributions extend to lithium purification, ferrocene-based organometallic compounds, and metal oxide synthesis. He employs advanced synthetic methods like the Freeze-Thaw technique and characterizes materials using XRD, NMR, FTIR, SEM, EDX, and electrochemical analysis. He also integrates medicinal chemistry approaches, exploring DNA interaction, enzyme inhibition, and membrane transport studies. Furthermore, he applies computational docking to design novel enzyme inhibitors and investigates water purification technologies. Dr. Altaf’s research bridges fundamental science and real-world application, with an interdisciplinary approach encompassing chemistry, biology, and environmental science.

🛠️ Skills

Dr. Ataf Ali Altaf possesses a diverse skill set in chemical research and academic leadership. Technically, he is proficient in organic and inorganic synthesis, especially involving ferrocene derivatives, metal complexes, and COFs/MOFs. His instrumental expertise spans NMR, FTIR, XRD, UV-Vis spectroscopy, SEM, EDX, and cyclic voltammetry. In computational chemistry, he is adept at molecular docking and structure-activity relationship modeling. He has significant experience in project management, grant writing, and academic publishing, having secured national-level HEC research funding. As a seasoned educator, he supervises both undergraduate and postgraduate research with a focus on publication and innovation. His leadership roles include departmental head, research board director, and admissions/purchase/exam committee member, showcasing strong organizational and policy-building capabilities. His cross-disciplinary insights allow him to integrate chemistry with energy, health, and environmental solutions.

Conclusion

Dr. Ataf Ali Altaf is a highly meritorious candidate for the Research for Best Researcher Award. His remarkable publication record, pioneering work in COFs and nanomaterials, extensive grant history, and cross-disciplinary innovation place him in the top tier of chemical and materials science researchers in the region. With minor enhancements in public engagement and industry collaboration, he would be an ideal recipient of this prestigious honor.

Publications to Noted

A Review on the Medicinal Importance of Pyridine Derivatives

Authors: A.A. Altaf, A. Shahzad, Z. Gul, N. Rasool, A. Badshah, B. Lal, E. Khan

Citations: 441

Year: 2015

Thiourea Derivatives in Drug Design and Medicinal Chemistry: A Short Review

Authors: A.B. Azeem Shakeel, Ataf Ali Altaf, Ashfaq Mahmood Qureshi

Citations: 193

Year: 2016

Miscellaneous applications of ferrocene‐based peptides/amides

Authors: B. Lal, A. Badshah, A.A. Altaf, N. Khan, S. Ullah

Citations: 126

Year: 2011

Advanced polymeric/inorganic nanohybrids: An integrated platform for gas sensing applications

Authors: A. Shakeel, K. Rizwan, U. Farooq, S. Iqbal, A.A. Altaf

Citations: 106

Year: 2022

Synthesis, Characterization and Antitumor Activity of New Ferrocene Incorporated N,N’-Disubstituted Thioureas

Authors: B. Lal, A. Badshah, A.A. Altaf, M.N. Tahir, S. Ullah, F. Huq

Citations: 83

Year: 2012

Effect of Soft Template Variation on the Synthesis, Physical, and Electrochemical Properties of Mn₃O₄ Nanomaterial

Authors: M. Danish, M. Tayyab, A. Akhtar, A.A. Altaf, S. Kausar, S. Ullah, M. Iqbal

Citations: 81

Year: 2020

Density Functional Calculations: Recent Progresses of Theory and Application

Author: G. Yang (book with reference to DFT where A.A. Altaf may be cited)

Citations: 70

Year: 2018

Electrodeposited Zinc Electrodes for High Current Zn/AgO Bipolar Batteries

Authors: S. Ullah, A. Badshah, F. Ahmed, R. Raza, A.A. Altaf, R. Hussain

Citations: 69

Year: 2011

Terpyridine-metal complexes: Effects of Different Substituents on Their Physico-chemical Properties and Density Functional Theory Studies

Authors: E.U. Mughal, M. Mirzaei, A. Sadiq, S. Fatima, A. Naseem, N. Naeem, N. Fatima, et al.

Citations: 61

Year: 2020

Synthesis, Chemical Characterization, DNA Interaction and Antioxidant Studies of Ortho, Meta and Para Fluoro Substituted Ferrocene Incorporated Selenoureas

Authors: R.A. Hussain, A. Badshah, M. Sohail, B. Lal, A.A. Altaf

Citations: 58

Year: 2013

Ataf Ali Altaf | Inorganic Chemistry | Best Researcher Award