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Rayya Al Balushi

Associate Professors

I received a Ph.D. degree in chemistry in September 2016 from Sultan Qaboos University. In September 2017, I joined A’Sharqiyah University as a part-time assistant professor in chemistry and as full-time on February 4th, 2018. I am currently an Assistant Professor in chemistry and the Head of Basic Science Department at the College of Applied and Health Sciences (CAHS). In my current position, I am responsible for leading and managing the department, which consists of 13 academic staff members and 5 lab technicians. This position carries a range of major leadership, operational and strategic responsibilities. It involves managing academic staff, working load distributions, courses offering, developing new programs, developing curriculum, research, developing collaborative networks within and beyond the university, etc. 

Furthermore, I serve as a chair or member on several committees at the college and university levels. In 2018/2019, I served as a chair of University Research and Enterprise Committee (UREC), and I played a leadership role in promoting research capacity at ASU through the establishment of the annual event “ASU Research Day” which gives ASU researchers and students the opportunity to share and discuss their research outputs. Since Fall 2020, I have been acting as the chairperson of the University Research Ethics and Biosafety Committee (UREBC). At college level, I have been chairing the College Research and Enterprise Committee (CREC) since Fall 2019, and I was the chair of College Community Services Committee in the academic year 2018/2019. Moreover, I am a member on the College Academic Board (CAB) as well as on other college committees where I have effective participation and input. For example, as a chair of CREC, the committee members and I manage all research-related matters, update college staff and students with national and international research-based activities and encourage them to take part in these activities. 

Among my contributions to the local community, I have been working as a member of National Diploma Examination Committee at the Ministry of Education since 2018. I have also participated as a member in the national group of Chemistry Olympiad. In addition, I provide consultancy to school students, teachers, and chemistry course inspectors and evaluate postgraduate study tools for several students from national and international institutions. 

Through my career in teaching, I have taught several chemistry courses in both languages (Arabic and English) at the undergraduate level. I treat my students with respect and courtesy and have the highest expectations. Most of my teaching is based on a research-led approach to bridge theory with practice, provide new insights, and address students’ inquiries. I always display a solid commitment to my students in guiding them through the course curriculum to achieve consistency between the learning outcomes and the assessments. I am always available during my office hours for students who need to get more information or discuss the course content. 

Besides, I have demonstrated unabated enthusiasm, commitment, and passion for research since I joined ASU. I received the Best Researcher Award from ASU as a recognition of my excellent research endeavors. My research interests are in the areas of Organometallic Polymers, New Materials and Coordination Chemistry. The multi-disciplinary research focusses on the design, synthesis, characterization, structure/electronic property relationships and photo-physical measurements of new materials. The materials can harvest solar energy to generate electricity and are suitable for solar cell applications. High quality solar energy research is of strategic importance to Oman. I have started building up my research lab in the college by utilizing the received external and internal research grant funds. My research on materials science has generated 30+ strong publications in high impact international journals, one book chapter, 4 conference proceedings and 16 abstracts in major international conferences promoting ASU in research internationally. I review papers on a regular basis for international journals such as journals of MPDI and Elsevier which are indexed in Web of Science (WoS) and Scopus.

Job Title Associate Professors
College: College of Applied and Health Sciences
Publications: 37 publications
Call:
+(968) 2540 1183
Mobile:
0096899208941
Mail:
rayya.albalushi@asu.edu.om

I received a Ph.D. degree in chemistry in September 2016 from Sultan Qaboos University. In September 2017, I joined A’Sharqiyah University as a part-time assistant professor in chemistry and as full-time on February 4th, 2018. I am currently an Assistant Professor in chemistry and the Head of Basic Science Department at the College of Applied and Health Sciences (CAHS). In my current position, I am responsible for leading and managing the department, which consists of 13 academic staff members and 5 lab technicians. This position carries a range of major leadership, operational and strategic responsibilities. It involves managing academic staff, working load distributions, courses offering, developing new programs, developing curriculum, research, developing collaborative networks within and beyond the university, etc. 

Furthermore, I serve as a chair or member on several committees at the college and university levels. In 2018/2019, I served as a chair of University Research and Enterprise Committee (UREC), and I played a leadership role in promoting research capacity at ASU through the establishment of the annual event “ASU Research Day” which gives ASU researchers and students the opportunity to share and discuss their research outputs. Since Fall 2020, I have been acting as the chairperson of the University Research Ethics and Biosafety Committee (UREBC). At college level, I have been chairing the College Research and Enterprise Committee (CREC) since Fall 2019, and I was the chair of College Community Services Committee in the academic year 2018/2019. Moreover, I am a member on the College Academic Board (CAB) as well as on other college committees where I have effective participation and input. For example, as a chair of CREC, the committee members and I manage all research-related matters, update college staff and students with national and international research-based activities and encourage them to take part in these activities. 

Among my contributions to the local community, I have been working as a member of National Diploma Examination Committee at the Ministry of Education since 2018. I have also participated as a member in the national group of Chemistry Olympiad. In addition, I provide consultancy to school students, teachers, and chemistry course inspectors and evaluate postgraduate study tools for several students from national and international institutions. 

Through my career in teaching, I have taught several chemistry courses in both languages (Arabic and English) at the undergraduate level. I treat my students with respect and courtesy and have the highest expectations. Most of my teaching is based on a research-led approach to bridge theory with practice, provide new insights, and address students’ inquiries. I always display a solid commitment to my students in guiding them through the course curriculum to achieve consistency between the learning outcomes and the assessments. I am always available during my office hours for students who need to get more information or discuss the course content. 

Besides, I have demonstrated unabated enthusiasm, commitment, and passion for research since I joined ASU. I received the Best Researcher Award from ASU as a recognition of my excellent research endeavors. My research interests are in the areas of Organometallic Polymers, New Materials and Coordination Chemistry. The multi-disciplinary research focusses on the design, synthesis, characterization, structure/electronic property relationships and photo-physical measurements of new materials. The materials can harvest solar energy to generate electricity and are suitable for solar cell applications. High quality solar energy research is of strategic importance to Oman. I have started building up my research lab in the college by utilizing the received external and internal research grant funds. My research on materials science has generated 30+ strong publications in high impact international journals, one book chapter, 4 conference proceedings and 16 abstracts in major international conferences promoting ASU in research internationally. I review papers on a regular basis for international journals such as journals of MPDI and Elsevier which are indexed in Web of Science (WoS) and Scopus.

  • Ph.D. in ChemistryMSc. in Chemistry Bachelor of Education (Major: Chemistry; Minor: Physics).

Organometallic Polymers, Coordination Chemistry,  conjugated polymers, Organic synthesis, spectrophotometric characterization

Chapter

Ashanul Haque, Rayya A. Al-Balushi, Paul R. Raithby and Muhammad S. Khan, Recent Advances in π-Conjugated NˆC-Ch
DOI/URL: http://www.mdpi.com/books/pdfview/book/3944

Journal paper
11. Nisar Ali, Fawad Khan, Wang song, Ibrahim Khan, Abdul Kareem, Suhaib Rahman, Adnan Khan, Farman Ali, Rayya Ahmed Al Balushi, Mohammad M. Al-Hinaai, Arif Nawaz, Robust polymer hybrid and assembly materials from structure tailoring to efficient catalytic
DOI/URL: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2024.142408
10. Nisar Ali, Ibrahim Khan, Zhang Jing, Adnan Khan, Farman Ali, Abdul Kareem, Yangshuo Sun, Rayya Ahmed Al Balushi, Mohammad M. Al-Hinaai, Thuraya Al-Harthy, Arif Nawaz, Fawad Khan, Biopolymer‑carbonaceous composites, progress, and adsorptive mitigation o
DOI/URL: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.133379
9. Nawaz F, Ali M, Ahmad S, Yong Y, Rahman S, Naseem M, Hussain S, Razzaq A, Khan A, Ali F, Al Balushi RA, Al Hinaai M, Ali N. "Carbon based nanocomposites, surface functionalization as a promising material for VOCs (volatile organic compounds) treatment.
DOI/URL: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2024.143014
Mohammed M Al Hinaai, Rayya Al Balushi, Mohammed Al Bahri and Thuraya Al Harthy, Suitable Catalysts for Electrosynthesis of Ammonia as Green Hydrogen Storage, Journal of Environmental and Soil Sciences (OAJESS), 6(5),885-889 (DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3247
DOI/URL: lupinepublishers.com/environmental-soil-science-journal/pdf/OAJESS.MS.ID.000246.pdf
Rayya A. Al-Balushi, Ashanul Haque, Mohd. Saeed, Thuraya Al Harthy, Mohammed Al Hinaai, Salim Al Hashmi, Unlocking the Anticancer Potential of Frankincense Essential Oils (FEOs) Through Nanotechnology: A Review, Molecular Biotechnology, November 2023, 65(1
DOI/URL: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12033-023-00918-5
Mohammad Changez, Mohammad Faiyaz Anwarb, Said Al-Ghenaimea, Sumeet Kapoorc, Rayya Al- Balushi, Antara Chaudhurid, Synergic Effect of Ocimum Sanctum and Trigonella Foenum-graecum L Water Extract on In-Situ Green Synthesis of Silver Nanoparticles and as an
DOI/URL: https://doi.org/10.1039/D1RA08098A
Rayya A. Al-Balushi, Idris Juma Al-Busaidi, Ashanul Haque, Md. Serajul Haque Faizi, Necmi Dege, M. S. Khan,Tarek A. Mohamed. Synthesis, structural, photo-physical properties and DFT studies of some diarylheptanoids, Journal of Molecular Structure, 2022, 1
DOI/URL: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.molstruc.2022.133254

Mohammad Changez, Mohammad Faiyaz Anwarb, Said Al-Ghenaimea, Sumeet Kapoorc, Rayya Al- Balushi, Antara Chaudhurid, Synergic Effect of Ocimum Sanctum and Trigonella Foenum-graecum L Water Extract on In-Situ Green Synthesis of Silver Na
DOI/URL: https://doi.org/10.1039/D1RA08098A

    Rayya A. Al-Balushi, Idris Juma Al-Busaidi, Ashanul Haque, Md. Serajul Haque Faizi,  Necmi, M. S. Khan, Synthesis, photo-physical properties, structural, and Hirschfeld analysis of some β-diketones, Journal of Molecular Structure,<
DOI/URL: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.molstruc.2022.133254

Rayya A. Al-Balushi, Ashanul Haque, Idris J. Al-Busaidi, Houda Al Sharji, Muhammad S. Khan, Heterometal grafted metalla-ynes and poly(metalla-ynes): A review on structure property relationships and applications, Polymers, 13(21), 2021. (DOI: https://doi.or
DOI/URL: https://doi.org/10.3390/polym13213654

Rayya A. Al-Balushi, Ashanul Haque, Idris J. Al-Busaidi, Houda Al Sharji, Muhammad S. Khan, Heterometal grafted metalla-
DOI/URL: https://doi.org/10.3390/polym13213654

Mohammad Changez, Mohammad Faiyazanwar, Rafia Khatoon, Thuraya Al-Harthy, Mohammed Al-Hanaai, Rayya Al Balushi, Controll
DOI/URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.21172/1.194.04 (https://www.ijltet.org/pdfviewer.php?id=972&j_id=5022

Rayya A. Al Balushi, Ashanul Haque, Thuraya Al Harthy, Muhammed Al Hinaai and Mohammad S. Khan, Conjugated Pt(II) Poly-y
DOI/URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.31031/ACSR.2021.02.000542

Idris Juma Al-Busaidi, Ashanul Haque, Rayya Al-Balushi, Jahangir Ahmad Rather, Abdul Munam, Paul R. Raithby, Rashid Ilmi
DOI/URL: https://doi.org/10.1039/D1NJ00925G

Haque, Ashanul; https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.inorgchem.0c02747

Idris Juma Al-Busaidi, Ashanul Haque, John Husband,
DOI/URL: 10.1039/D0DT04198J

Ashanul Haque ,https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules25112645

Changez, Mohammad; Anwar, Mohammad; <
DOI/URL: https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.langmuir.0c01876

Rayya A. Al Balushi<
DOI/URL: https://doi.org/10.1107/S2056989020015935

Haque, A., https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jorganchem.2019.04.017

Haque, A.  Xu, L., <
DOI/URL: 10.1039/C8CS00620B  

Jayapal, Maharaja; Haque, Ashanul; Al-Busaidi, Idris ; A
DOI/URL: https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.inorgchem.8b01684

Ashanul Haque, Rayya A. Al-Balushi, Idris Juma Al-Busaid
DOI/URL: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.8b00022

Khan, M. S.; Al-Suti, M.
DOI/URL: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jorganchem.2015.10.003

Shah, H. H.; DOI/URL: https://doi.org/10.1039/C3DT52914B

Shah, H. H.; DOI/URL: https://doi.org/10.1021/ic401803p

Al-Suti, M. K.; A
DOI/URL: https://doi.org/10.1063/1.2200351

Conference paper

Rayya A. Al Balushi, Ashanul Haque, Mohammad S. Khan, Conjugated Poly(platinayne)s for New Materials Applications, 4th I
DOI/URL: http://icnmsme2021.web.ua.pt/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Proceedings-book-ICNMSME-2021.pdf

Membership of College and University Committees 

A member (as CAHS Representative) in the QS University Ranking Committee, A'Sharqiyah University (ASU), (December 2021 - to date).Head of Basic Science Department, College of Applied and Health Sciences, A’Sharqiyah University (ASU), (September 1, 2021- to date).A member in Management Committee, College of Applied and Health Sciences, A’Sharqiyah University (ASU), (September 2021- to date).A member in Assessment Review Committee, College of Applied and Health Sciences, A’Sharqiyah University (ASU), (September 2019- to date).Chairperson of The University Research Ethics & Biosafety Committee (UREBC), A`Sharqiyah University (ASU), (December 2020 -to date).Acting Head of Basic Science Department, College of Applied and Health Sciences, A’Sharqiyah University (ASU), (Summer 2020).Chairperson of The University Research and Enterprise Committee (UREC), A`Sharqiyah University (ASU), (October 2018 - October 2019).A member in University Research and Enterprise Committee (UREC), A`Sharqiyah University (ASU), (October 2019 - to date).Chairperson of the College Research and Enterprise Committee (CREC), A`Sharqiyah University (ASU), (October 2019 - to date).A member in College Academic Board (CAB), College of Applied and Health Sciences, ASU (Fall 2019 - to date).A member in College Community Services Committee, College of Applied and Health Sciences, ASU (Fall 2018 – Summer 2019)Member of Learning and Teaching Committee, College of Applied and Health Sciences, ASU (Fall 2018 - to date).Chairperson of College Community Services Committee, College of Applied and Health Sciences, ASU (September 1, 2019- August 31, 2020).Member of College Community Services Committee, College of Applied and Health Sciences, ASU (Fall 2020 - to date).A member of University Academic Board (UAB), A`Sharqiyah University (ASU), (October 2018 - October 2019).

Program Management and Course Co-ordination 

Chair of the validation panel team of reviewing new program of Master in Records and Archives Management (16 Feb 2022).A member in preparation of Industrial Chemistry Program which was approved by MoHERI in AY 2020-2021.A member in the validation panel for the new program BSc in Water Engineering (2020/2021)A member of the panel team of reviewing new program of Master of Psychology (18 Dec 2019).Since Spring 2018, I coordinated the following chemistry courses: CHEM201E, CHEM101E, CHEM201, CHEM202E, CHEM102, CHEM181, CHEM281, CHEM101, CHEM182. 

Learned Society Involvement

I am a member in the following Scientific Societies:

A member (MRSC) in the Royal Society of Chemistry, Membership ID: 702858, February  2022 to date. A member in American Chemical Society (ACS), ACS Member Number – 31641627, January 2022 to date.A member in Society for Teaching and Learning in Higher Education strives (STLHE), Regular Membership, January 2022 to date.A web member in the Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC), Membership ID: 702858, 2019 to 2022. https://members.rsc.org/?_ga=2.267788878.1102482337.1640357509-1465395744.1629977157 A member in encyclopedia.pub https://encyclopedia.pub/user/scholar/info 

External membership

External Examinar of MSc. Thesis Examiner for Najat Al Riyami, Title of Thesis: New Ln(III) Complexes with Schiff-Base and Diketone ligands: Synthesis, Photophysical Properties and Applications in LED, Department of Chemistry, College of Science Sultan Qaboos University, Muscat (August 25, 2021).External Examinar of MSc.Thesis Examination for Anwaar Al Maqbali (101286), Title of Thesis: Synthesis and Phase Transition Behaviour of a Novel Series of Fluorinated Organosiloxane Liquid Crystals, Department of Chemistry, College of Science Sultan Qaboos University, Muscat (9-10 am, December 16, 2019)Institutional Research Focal point (IRFP), A`Sharqiyah University (ASU), (October 2018- October 2019)Reviewer, The Ministry of Higher Education, Research & Innovation, 2020-dateExternal MSc.Thesis Examiner for Khadija Al Yahmedi ( 121367 ), Title of Thesis: Synthesis and Characterization of Copper(I) Complexes of Pyrazole and Benzotriazole-Derived Ligands for Electroluminescence Applications, Department of Chemistry, College of Science Sultan Qaboos University, Muscat (10-11:30 am, December 24, 2020).External MSc.Thesis Examiner for Ms. Houda Al Sharji (88517), Title of Thesis: Copper(I) and Cadmium Complexes of 1-Substituted Benzotriazole and Pyrazole Ligands: Structural and Photophysical Properties, Department of Chemistry, College of Science Sultan Qaboos University, Muscat (10 am-12 pm, May 25, 2021).A member in the reviewer board of Research and Scientific Innovation Society (RSIS) Journals, RSIS-JRS-2471, March 2022 to date.A member (MRSC) in the Royal Society of Chemistry, Membership ID: 702858, February 9, 2022 to date.A member in the National Diploma Examination Committee at the Ministry of Education, Sep 2016 to date. A member of the Chemistry Olympic Committee in the Ministry of Education, 2019-2020.A member in the reviewer Board of MPDI (Polymers, Sensors), 2020 to date.A member in the Editorial Topics Board of Polymers (MPDI), 2020 to date.

External Grants

Acetylide-Functionalized Hybrid Metal Complexes as Electrocatalysts for CO2 Reduction (BFP/RGP/EI/22/229), Ministry of Higher Education, Research, and Innovation (MoHERI), OMR 20,000, 2022-2024. Role: Principal Investigator (PI), Status: Submitted.Synthesis and characterization novel reusable sensing probs based on magnetic nanoparticles decorated with Ru(II) complexes for future medical application (BFP/RGP/EBR/22/016), Ministry of Higher Education, Research, and Innovation (MoHERI), OMR 20,000, 2022-2024. Role: Co-Investigator (Co-I), Status: Submitted.Metal-based Materials for Light Emitting Diode (LED) Applications (GRG), Ministry of Higher Education, Research, and Innovation (MoHERI), OMR 3000, 2022-2024. Role: Supervisor, Status: Submitted.Treatment of Wastewater by E- Nephron (URG), Ministry of Higher Education, Research, and Innovation (MoHERI), OMR 1000, 2022-2023. Role: Faculty Mentor, Status: Submitted.Copper(I) complexes of Acetylide-Functionalized Pyridine Ligands for Opto-Electronic Applications (BFP/RGP/EI/18/076), Ministry of Higher Education, Research, and Innovation (MoHERI), OMR 2,700, 31/07/2019- 30/07/2021. Role: Principal Investigator (PI), Status: Completed.Smart Homopolymer Nano-Bag for Removal of Fused Poly-Nuclear Aromatic Hydrocarbons from Environments and its Re-utilization for Organic Electronics. (BFP/RGP/EBR/18/077), Ministry of Higher Education, Research, and Innovation (MoHERI), OMR 3,800, 31/07/2019- 30/07/2021Role: Co-Principal Investigator (Co-PI), Status: Completed.Utilization of produced water as a growth medium for algae cultivation and biofuel production (BFP/RGP/EBR/21/224), Ministry of Higher Education, Research, and Innovation (MoHERI), OMR 20,000, 01/12/2021-30/11/2023. Role: Co-Principal Investigator (Co-PI), Status: On-goingFrankincense Oil/Omega Fatty Acid Oil based Nano-emulsion for Transdermal Delivery of Anti-Cancer Drugs for Treatment of Breast and Skin Cancer (BFP/RGP/HSS/20/105), Ministry of Higher Education, Research, and Innovation (MoHERI), OMR 20,000, 01/11/2020-30/10/2022. Role: Principal Investigator (PI), Status: On-goingHarvesting Solar Energy Using Conjugated Organic and Organometallic Poly-ynes. (EG/SQU-BP/SCI/CHEM/19/01), 28/09/2018-27/09/2021, British Petroleum Company PLC (BP), OMR 20,000.  Role: Collaborator, Status: Completed.New Transition and Lanthanide Metals-based Hybrid Materials for Opto-Electronic (O-E) Applications. (SR/CHEM/16/02), Ministry of Higher Education, Research, and Innovation (MoHERI), OMR 85,000, 2016-2020 Role: Collaborator, Status: Completed.Conjugated Organic and Organometallic Polymers for Opto-Electronic Application. (ORG/EI/SQU/13/015), Ministry of Higher Education, Research, and Innovation (MoHERI), OMR 234400, 2014-2017. Role: Research Assistant (RA), Status: Completed.

Internal Grant (IG)

Synthesis and Characterization of Copper(1) complexes for Opto-Electronic Application, RO 1000 (ASU-FSFR/CAS/BS-01/2019), A`Sharqiyah University, OMR 1000, 19/06/2019-18/06/2021. Role: Principal Investigator (PI), Status: Completed.

International/National Collaborations 

PeriodCollaborative Partner's NameInstitutionType of Collaboration2016 to dateProf. M. S. KhanSQU, Oman

-Journal and conference publications.

 

- research grant proposals and projects.

 

2018 to dateDr. Nawal Al RasbiSQU, Oman2018 to dateDr. Ashanul HaqueThe University of Hail, KSA2018 to dateProf. Paul RaithbyThe University of Bath, UK2018 to dateDr. Jonathan SkeltonUniversity of Manchester, UK

International/National Collaborative Research visits 

PeriodInstitutionPurpose of Visit03-23/07/2021Sultan Qaboos University, OmanSynthesis of pyrazole-based compounds along with their ligand precursors and characterize them using different analytical & spectroscopic methods such as IR, NMR, UV-Vis and mass spectrometry.25/07-19/08/2021Sultan Qaboos University, OmanConducting the experimental work and characterization of compounds of a collaborative work.04-06/02/2021Sultan Qaboos University, OmanCharacterization of newly synthesized compounds of a collaborative work.24/08-03/09/2020Sultan Qaboos University, OmanConducting the experimental work and data analysis of a collaborative funded project.27-31/01/2019Sultan Qaboos University, Oman

Meeting for Research Collaboration and preparation of research grant proposal to be funded by TRC for the year 2018/2019. 

Visiting CARRU in College of Science to check for all available facilities/instruments which can be assisting ASU faculties in their research.

23/06-04/08/2014University of Bath

Training on: 

X-ray crystallography instrumentation and software (OLEX2 & WinGx program) under the supervision of Prof. Paul Raithby.DFT and TD-DFT calculations under the supervision of Dr. Jonathan Skelton.