Music: Pink Floyd
Food: Biryani
Website: www.cricinfo.com
Quote: `The only lasting beauty is the beauty of the heart.'
Animal: Eagle
Quote: `Rabi Zedni Ilma' - Oh God increase my knowledge
Place in the Netherlands: Enschede
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| Sajid Khan preparing a solution in a nitrogen environment by using a glove box. |
Born in Thana, Pakistan, Khan studied metallurgy and materials science at Dawood Engineering College, Mehran University in Karachi. He completed his masters in materials science at Christian Albrechts University in Kiel, Germany. In May 2006 he joined the UT's Inorganic Materials Science group at the Faculty of Science and Technology to research new techniques for patterning advanced functional materials. He says, `Materials science is a versatile subject. It leads to so many different avenues: physics, chemistry or engineering. Doing a PhD is the best part of education. It brings the best out of you and tells you what your potential is.'
The primary objective of Khan's research is to establish new techniques for patterning oxides. `We use sol-gel based solutions and apply soft-lithographic techniques, such as micromolding in capillaries (MIMIC) to create patterned oxide microstructures. Nowadays modern technology is all about downsizing, making things smaller, and at the same time increasing capacity.' Khan claims the soft-lithographic techniques are an improvement on photolithography, negating the need for clean room facilities and providing reliable three dimensional patterning. He says, `We are using cheap means to make high functional materials at nanoscale. And the many techniques for soft-lithography means there are more options and fewer limitations. If one technique doesn't work, we can modify it or apply another technique, or perhaps a combination. It all depends on the application.'
Khan's focus is now on checking the electrical properties of the material, examining its functional behavior and making comparisons. His techniques for micro-patterning have tremendous potential in a wide range of applications, such as scaffolds for biological tissue growth, creating sensors and miniaturized electronic components. He is working on the project under Professor Dave Blank and Dr. André ten Elshof and will defend his PhD in the first half of 2010.
When he is not working or playing sports, Khan enjoys walking. He says, `The campus is beautiful, it's quiet. I like it here.' His home town of Thana is situated in a rural part of northern Pakistan. He describes it as being, `the most beautiful part of the country where you can get the warmest summers and the coldest winters.' He says, `Where I come from the winter is quite extreme. Our houses have big wood-burning stoves in the kitchen where we cook and eat. In summer, after dinner, we go and sit outside. Sometimes we even sleep in the open. That is something I miss, sitting out under the open sky at night.'
Although fluent in Pashto, Urdu and English, Khan prefers to read in his native language of Urdu in order to tap into his imagination. The late Ashfaq Ahmed, his favorite author, wrote in the Afsana or short story style, and inspired Khan with his spiritual lessons. `I like his work very much. He gave many messages, how you can become a better person and purify your heart.' Khan is engaged to be married. He hopes to join a research organization when he has completed his PhD.
A black chapter for cricket
Although Khan enjoys a variety of sports, his greatest passion is for cricket. `I love cricket,' he says. `I play as a bowler for my team in Hengelo. I used to be a fast bowler, now I'm only medium-fast. I got a little fatter during my PhD.'
On Tuesday, March 3, the Sri Lankan national cricket team was attacked by gunmen in Lahore, Pakistan. They were on their way to the Gaddafi Stadium for a test match. That same morning, Khan logged onto his favorite cricket website to get an update on the match scores. He says, `I was shocked and saddened by the news. The people of Pakistan love cricket. It was a sad day for the game of cricket and for all the fans. I hope it won't affect the future of cricket in our country. Still, it will remain a black chapter in the history of the sport.'
Eight members of the Sri Lankan touring party were injured in the attack which claimed the lives of six security personnel and a driver. Pakistan officials are still trying to establish who was responsible for the attack. The International Cricket Council will decide on Pakistan's future as a host nation for the World Cup in 2011.
