Education

M.Sc. Civil Engineering (Structural Engineering), Ghulam Ishaq Khan Institute of Engineering Sciences and Technology (GIKI), Pakistan, 2025 (CGPA: 4.0/4.0)

B.Sc. Civil Engineering, Ghulam Ishaq Khan Institute of Engineering Sciences and Technology (GIKI), Pakistan, 2023 (83.4%)

Employment History

• University of Nebraska–Lincoln, Graduate Research Assistant (GRA), 08/2025–present

• Ghulam Ishaq Khan Institute of Engineering Sciences and Technology (GIKI), Research Assistant, 09/2023–08/2025

Area of Research and Professional Interest

· Sustainable concrete and low-carbon binders

· Concrete rheology and 3D printing

· Machine learning applications in civil engineering

Research Experience

• Valorization of Thar Coal Fly Ash for Sustainable Use in Concrete, Engro Power Gen, 04/2024–2/2025

• A Comprehensive Experimental and Machine Learning Study for Characterizing the Rheological and Mechanical Properties of low carbon binders, GIKI, 02/2024–05/2025

• 3D Printable LC3 and AAM Sourced from Local Materials (Prototype Development), GIKI, 2024–2025

Teaching Experience

• Lab Instructor, Concrete and Materials Technology Lab, GIKI (2024–2025)

Publications and Presentations

• M. Iqbal, M. Ashraf, S. Nazar, L. Alkhattabi, J. Alam, H. Alabduljabbar, Z. Khan, Development of innovative alkali activated paste reinforced with polyethylene fibers for concrete crack repair. PLoS One. 19 (2024) e0305143. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0305143.

• M. Iqbal, M. Ashraf, L. Alkhattabi, S. Nazar, J. Alam, H. Alabdu, A. Husnain, Development of sustainable alkali activated composite incorporated with sugarcane bagasse ash and polyvinyl alcohol fibers. PLoS One. 19 (2024) e0307103. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0307103.

• M. Iqbal, S. Nazar, J. Yang, H.A. Mahmoud, Integrated Machine Learning and Response Surface Methodology for Comprehensive Rheological Characterization of Low-Carbon Binders. Case Stud. Constr. Mater. (2025) e04475. DOI: 10.1016/j.cscm.2025.e04475.

• M. Ashraf, S. Nazar, M. Iqbal, J. Yang, R. Ullah, M.U.L. Hasan, Exploring the rheological and mechanical properties of alkali activated mortar incorporating waste foundry sand: A comprehensive experimental and machine learning investigation. Results Eng. 24 (2024) 102973. DOI: 10.1016/j.rineng.2024.102973.

• A. Husnain, M. Iqbal, M. Ashraf, D. Mohammed Alsekait, M.F. Javed, H. Alabdur, D. Elminaam, Machine learning approaches for predicting shielding effectiveness of carbon fiber-reinforced mortars. Case Stud. Constr. Mater. 20 (2024) e03189. DOI: 10.1016/j.cscm.2024.e03189.

• S. Nazar, J. Yang, M. Iqbal, J. Xie, F. Farooq, Computational intelligence for modeling the rheological properties of the developed hydrated lime-based alkali-activated materials. Mater. Today Commun. 41 (2024) 110602. DOI: 10.1016/j.mtcomm.2024.110602.

• A. Husnain, M. Iqbal, H.A. Waqas, M. El-Meligy, M.F. Javed, R. Ullah, Machine learning techniques for predicting the peak response of reinforced concrete beam subjected to impact loading. Results Eng. 24 (2024) 103135. DOI: 10.1016/j.rineng.2024.103135.

• N. Sohaib, Iqbal, M., A. Muhammad, M. Rizwan, Assessing the impact of acid and sulfate exposure on alkali-activated materials using metaheuristic machine learning DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/suco.70211

• Y. Zaman, F. Amin, M. Iqbal, M. Gerges, M. Asif, K. A. Majid, B. Hussain, Radial compressive behavior of hand-laid GFRP pipes: an experimental and numerical study. Multiscale and Multidisciplinary Modeling, Experiments and Design 8(1): 128 (2025). DOI: 10.1007/s41939-024-00710-1.

Service

• Event Coordinator, Institute of Civil Engineers GIKI, 2022–2023

• Member, GIKI Science Society, 2019–2023

Honors and Awards

• Inter- and Intra-Faculty Gold Medal, GIKI (2025)

• Funding for patent and prototype development, DoST KPK (2024)

• Award for by-product utilization, Engro Power Gen (2024)

• STEM Research Award, DoST KPK (2023)