BioE Postdoc Spotlight: Dr. Qysar Maqbool
This article was written by Rida M., a Bioengineering undergraduate student and student office worker in the Department of Bioengineering.
Dr. Qysar Maqbool, a Postdoctoral Research Associate in Lehigh University’s Department of Bioengineering, brings a global and interdisciplinary perspective to the study of advanced materials. Hailing from Kashmir, a scenic valley nestled in the Himalayas, his educational journey spanned continents, culminating in a Ph.D. in Chemistry and a postdoc in South Korea before he joined Lehigh in 2022, working under the direction of Dr. Niels Holten-Andersen.
Though his background is in chemistry, Dr. Maqbool's interests have always been at the intersection of nanomaterials, self-assembly, and soft matter. This expertise created a perfect foundation for his current work in bioengineering. He explains that the synergy of his prior experience with his current research allows him to develop "advanced inorganic-polymer composite materials akin to what we see in the natural world." His current research focuses on understanding and emulating the design principles of extraordinary natural materials like bone, nacre, and spider silk. These natural structures are often compositionally simple but possess remarkable strength and function, produced sustainably under simple, aqueous conditions.
Dr. Maqbool seeks to manufacture inspired functional materials based on this understanding, with the long-term goal of developing materials useful for bone implants, tooth restoration, and biomedical glues. He is particularly excited about an upcoming paper on physically crosslinked polymer networks created through bio-inspired mineralization. He suggests that the mechanical behaviors observed in these materials "have potential to bring paradigm shift with respect to fundamental theories and models which we currently employ to understand different classes of soft matter.”
Dr. Maqbool’s role is highly collaborative. He emphasizes that the interactions at Lehigh are a two-way process, as he frequently trains and assists students from various departments on his lab’s Rheometer. He encourages students considering a career in this relatively new and demanding field to seek out hands-on experience. His advice is direct: "I would suggest that students should seek research opportunities early and often to get hands on experience, develop technical and non-technical skills needed to succeed in such a demanding field of study.”
Outside the lab, Dr. Maqbool enjoys connecting with nature through camping and hiking and is a fan of the Turkish novel Snow by Orhan Pamuk. He also enjoys cooking on weekends and playing or watching cricket. A small fun fact regarding his arrival in the USA in 2022 is that his idea of American life was largely what he understood through Hollywood and pop culture. As a lifelong admirer, he has watched nearly all of Tom Hanks's movies multiple times during his formative years. He states, "He has such an impact on humane aspects of mine that if I am given a chance to meet one American icon, it would be Tom Hanks."