Ashna Nizar

Ashna Nizar is a Year 2 PhD student working within Heriot-Watt University’s Research Centre for Carbon Solutions, under the supervision of Professor Susana Garcia and Dr. Nasir Al Lagtah. Her research focuses on advancing industrial decarbonization in the UAE through CCUS (Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage). By investigating optimized capture technologies in a region where per capita CO₂ emissions exceed 20 metric tons, she is advancing the UAE’s “Net Zero by 2050” initiative. Her work also involves mapping current and potential CO₂ sources and sinks to develop tailored decarbonization case studies, contributing to cost-effective carbon capture solutions and sustainable industrial practices. In parallel, she is exploring the discovery of advanced adsorbent materials for hydrogen storage, using machine learning to accelerate material screening and optimize performance—aiming to enable efficient, scalable, and safe hydrogen storage solutions for a clean energy future.

Ashna Nizar received her Master’s degree (with Distinction) in Global Sustainability Engineering in 2023, after completing her BEng Chemical Engineering at Heriot Watt University in 2022. Her Master’s Dissertation was on a techno- economic analysis of decarbonized hydrogen production from microalgal biomass.

While advancing her academic pursuits, Ashna has proactively undertaken roles to enhance her skill set and demonstrate a steadfast dedication to addressing the environmental challenges. From September 2022, she has been working as a Teaching Assistant in Chemical Engineering department at Heriot Watt University, Dubai. Ashna transitioned into the sustainability advisory sphere as a Net Zero Intern at AESG, Dubai, in July 2023. In this role, she contributed to creating a decarbonization strategy for ADNOC’s built assets, showcasing proficiency in project management, model creation, and carbon policy drafting. Ashna also played a crucial role in analysing and recommending improvements to regional infrastructure standards emphasizing sustainability. Her proactive involvement also extended to supporting the team in the preliminary research towards achieving status of a Verification and Validation Body (VVB) for Verra and Gold Standard, in UAE.

PhD Student

Carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS), hydrogen, machine learning, artificial intelligence, circular economy, techno-economic assessment, Sustainable Processing, Process Engineering.