In today’s world of innovation and cross-disciplinary collaboration, few professionals manage to bring together deep academic expertise, global teaching experience, and practical industry know-how as seamlessly as Dr. Sidra Afzal Shaikh. With a PhD in Electronic Engineering from the University of Liverpool and a body of work that spans organic semiconductors, renewable energy, higher education, and logistics operations, her career is anything but conventional.
From classrooms in Karachi and Dubai to cleanrooms in the UK and logistics hubs in Texas, Dr. Shaikh has cultivated a multidisciplinary identity. In this conversation, she shares the turning points of her journey, her insights on the future of education and engineering, and why adaptability is no longer optional.
Sidra, thank you for joining us. What sparked your initial interest in electrical engineering?
It began with a desire to understand how things work. I was one of those kids who were always curious about the inner mechanics of gadgets and machines. That curiosity turned into fascination, and engineering felt like the natural path forward. While studying at the University of Liverpool, I found myself drawn to medical instrumentation. The idea that technology could directly improve human life made it more than just technical work. It gave it purpose.
Your PhD research focused on organic electronics, which remains a niche field. Can you tell us about that work?
Organic electronics appealed to me because it combined advanced materials science with real-world potential. My research focused on the electrical characteristics of polycrystalline-based organic semiconductors, particularly devices made using TIPS-pentacene. I spent a lot of time fabricating and analyzing Schottky diodes, trying to understand how organic materials could be used as a viable alternative to silicon in applications like flexible displays or biomedical sensors.
What made it particularly exciting was the hands-on aspect. I was in the lab constantly, running tests, collecting data, and interpreting device behavior under various thermal and environmental conditions. That experience helped me develop a sharp understanding of experimental precision and analytical thinking, which I carry with me even outside the lab.
After completing your doctorate, you transitioned into teaching. What did that phase of your journey teach you?
Teaching was never a backup plan for me; it was something I felt naturally drawn to. I began in Pakistan and later moved into academic roles in the UAE. Whether I was working with early-career engineers or professionals taking on advanced projects, my goal was always the same: to create an environment where learning felt active, relevant, and empowering.
I taught subjects such as sensors, actuators, electronics, and signal processing, while also contributing to curriculum design, lab development, and accreditation processes. Engaging with professionals across different countries gave me a broader perspective on how technical training and education must adapt to industry demands and cultural contexts without compromising rigor.
In a surprising shift, you entered the world of operations management and later trained in data analytics. What inspired that transition?
After several years in academia, I wanted a new challenge. I joined a third-party logistics company in Texas as an operations manager, overseeing warehouse fulfillment, team performance, and client coordination. It was a very different environment from academia, but I found that many of the same problem-solving skills still applied. Whether you’re debugging a circuit or streamlining a supply chain, you’re dealing with systems that require optimization and clarity.
To complement that role, I completed a bootcamp that focused on SQL, Power BI, and Microsoft Azure. That opened up new ways of working with data. Now I could visualize trends, identify inefficiencies, and make informed decisions quickly. That combination of engineering discipline and data fluency is something I believe will be essential in almost every field going forward.
What challenges did you face while transitioning from a technical engineering role into managerial leadership?
The biggest challenge was learning to let go of the urge to solve everything myself. As an engineer, you’re trained to analyze, model, and fix. As a manager, your success depends more on enabling others, setting a vision, and letting the team take ownership. That shift from personal execution to collaborative leadership was a steep but rewarding learning curve. I learned to value communication as much as technical accuracy.
You’ve also published significant work in the renewable energy space, particularly on solar radiation studies in South Asia and the Gulf. What motivated that research?
Living in countries that receive intense sunlight year-round, I often wondered why we weren’t doing more with solar energy. That curiosity became a research focus and has since shaped a series of publications:
- Solar and Wind Energy Potential Study of Lower Sindh, Pakistan for Power Generation (2016)
- Solar Radiation Studies for Dubai and Sharjah (2013)
- Total, Beam, and Diffuse Solar Radiation Studies on Horizontal Surfaces for Rohri, Sindh (2013)
These studies, widely cited in regional energy research, provided some of the earliest structured data for solar feasibility in South Asia and the Gulf. Even today, as countries revisit renewable strategies, they remain a reference point.
Most recently, my 2025 peer-reviewed article, The Review of Enhancing Semiconductor Supply Chain Resilience through Organic Electronics: A Materials Engineering Perspective (IJARESM), expands this trajectory by linking renewable energy adoption with the global semiconductor ecosystem. It argues for organic semiconductors not only as technical alternatives but also as resilience tools against global supply shocks.
Beyond published work, I am currently collaborating on new studies that examine flexible organic devices for renewable integration, AI-driven forecasting of solar and wind resources, and IoT-enabled energy harvesting systems. Several of these are under academic review and are already generating discussions in research circles. The fact that both policymakers and doctoral fellows are engaging with this line of work shows how scholarship can move from lab data to real-world energy strategies.
You’ve also distilled your research into the Book, Applied Organic Electronics: Polycrystalline Semiconductors for Modern Devices.. What gap were you aiming to fill with this work, and how do you see it shaping conversations in sustainable electronics and IoT?
The idea for the book grew out of the global semiconductor shortage of 2020, which highlighted just how dependent modern technologies are on silicon. I wanted to present organic polycrystalline semiconductors as a serious, scalable alternative — materials that could support low-power, flexible applications in renewable energy systems, IoT devices, and AI-driven sensors.
Since its release, Applied Organic Electronics: Polycrystalline Semiconductors for Modern Devices has gone beyond academic circles. In 2024 and 2025, it has been cited by industry professionals designing IoT prototypes and sustainable energy devices, while also being adopted in academic training. At ETL Online’s doctoral fellowship program and at ITKAN (itkan.one), where I serve as a mentor and advisor, PhD scholars regularly use the book’s methodologies in their coursework and applied projects. For industry readers, it has become a practical bridge between lab research and deployable technologies. For doctoral fellows, it provides structured pathways to connect material science with AI-driven data modeling. That blend of industrial and academic relevance is exactly what I hoped to achieve.
You’ve worked with industries and professionals across different countries. From your perspective, what do they need most to thrive today?
I think the biggest need is clarity and courage. There’s so much information out there that it can feel paralyzing. I often tell my students: don’t wait for a perfect plan — just start. Follow the idea or project that excites you, even if it doesn’t fit neatly into a box. Skills and tools will change, but curiosity and confidence are what carry you forward. And mentors who give you space to grow and challenge you at the same time can make all the difference. I was lucky to have that support, and I try to pay it forward.
Looking ahead, what are you currently focused on and what excites you most about the future?
I’m exploring opportunities that allow me to integrate engineering, data science, and educational development. Whether it’s consulting for smart infrastructure, contributing to digital transformation in academia, or leading data-driven innovation in logistics, I’m interested in roles that challenge me and create positive outcomes.
What excites me most is the increasing fluidity between disciplines. We are moving into an era where a person with technical depth, communication skills, and cross-functional thinking will be far more valuable than someone siloed in one domain. That’s where I want to be — at the intersection of ideas and impact.
And personally, what keeps you motivated through such a dynamic and evolving career?
Gratitude and purpose. I remind myself often why I started. Not to chase titles but to contribute something meaningful. Whether I’m helping a young professional understand a tough concept, optimizing an operation, or designing a new system, I see it as a form of service. That mindset keeps me grounded and hungry to do more.
Any final thoughts for our readers?
Stay curious. Don’t box yourself into one version of success. The world is changing rapidly, and so can you. Reinvention isn’t failure, it’s growth. Embrace it, and never stop learning. Readers who wish to follow my work and ongoing research can connect with me on LinkedIn
