Azka Arshad
Bio
I was born and raised in the vibrant city of Lahore, Pakistan—a place full of rich culture, history, and some seriously amazing food (ask me for my favorite biryani and chicken seekh kabab spots!). I completed my undergraduate degree in Chemistry at the Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS), where I had the chance to work under the mentorship of Prof. Basit Yameen. My research focused on polymer-drug conjugates for targeted drug delivery systems, and my honors thesis was titled Reduction Sensitive Dextran-Paclitaxel Polymer-Drug Conjugate & Reduction Responsive Theragnostic Drug Delivery Systems based on Polymer-stabilized Iron Oxide Nanoparticles. (Yes, it’s a mouthful, now try saying it five times fast!)
After graduating in May 2021, I packed my bags and moved to the U.S. to begin my PhD in Chemistry at NC State University. I now work with Prof. Felix N. Castellano, where I explore the fascinating world of photochemistry and photophysics.
Beyond the lab, I’m deeply passionate about community building and student advocacy. I’ve always thrived when I’m part of something bigger than myself. During my time at NC State, I’ve served as the Media Chair for the CGSA (2022–2023) and currently represent our department as the GSA rep, making sure the voices of our 150+ chemistry grad students are heard loud and clear at the university level.
When I’m not in the lab or in a meeting, you’ll probably find me creating a cozy little corner somewhere with fairy lights, cute trinkets, and, of course, a perfectly brewed cup of tea.
Contact
Education
Bachelor of Science Chemistry Syed Babar Ali School of Science and Engineering at the Lahore University of Management Sciences 2021
en route Masters Chemistry North Carolina State University 2025
Area(s) of Expertise
As a researcher in the NSF CCI Center for Accelerated Photocatalysis (CAPS), my work centers on collaborative efforts to develop automated platforms for photocatalysis. I'm particularly excited about combining high-throughput photochemical experimentation with robotics and machine learning to speed up the discovery of new photo(bio)catalytic transformations and photostable materials. A big part of my research involves time-resolved spectroscopy—especially nanosecond and ultrafast transient absorption—to investigate excited-state dynamics and uncover underlying reaction mechanisms. Alongside this, I study the photophysics and photochemistry of photosensitizers involved in homomolecular triplet-triplet annihilation, with potential applications in solar energy conversion and free radical polymerizations.
Publications
- Homomolecular Triplet-Triplet Annihilation in Metalloporphyrin Photosensitizers , JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY A (2024)
- Conductive Polymers for Cardiovascular Applications , Nanoscale Engineering of Biomaterials: Properties and Applications (2022)
- Reduction-Sensitive Dextran–Paclitaxel Polymer–Drug Conjugate: Synthesis, Self-Assembly into Nanoparticles, and In Vitro Anticancer Efficacy , Bioconjugate Chemistry (2021)