About SAQSM

SHAN Academy of
Quantum Simulation & Materials

A virtual research lab founded to democratize computational materials science

Core Values

Our Vision, Mission & Purpose

Our Vision

To become a globally recognized virtual platform where students and researchers — regardless of their geographic or financial limitations — can master computational materials science and apply it to real-world problems.

Our Mission

To provide accessible, hands-on training in advanced simulation tools like CASTEP, DMol³, Forcite, and Materials Studio — empowering the next generation of computational scientists.

Our Objective

To evolve from a virtual academy into a physical research center — a collaborative hub where learners, scholars, and researchers meet, experiment, and advance science together.

About SAQSM

A Virtual Lab Built for
Real Computational Research

SHAN Academy of Quantum Simulation & Materials (SAQSM) is a virtual lab founded to promote hands-on learning and research in computational materials science. The lab focuses on advanced simulation methods — Density Functional Theory (DFT) and Molecular Dynamics (MD) — to explore materials at the atomic level.

SAQSM is designed for students, researchers, and early-career scientists who want to gain real-world skills in tools like CASTEP, DMol³, and Materials Studio — even without access to physical laboratories or expensive infrastructure.

The mission is to create a collaborative, knowledge-sharing platform where learners from across the world can engage in training, research, and innovation. Whether you're working on a thesis, publishing papers, or learning simulations for the first time — SAQSM offers the guidance, tools, and inspiration to support your journey.

Materials Studio
CASTEP
DMol³
Forcite
VASP
Quantum ESPRESSO
Simulation Workstation Research Computing
Materials Science Lab Data Visualization
The Founder

Meet Zeshan Ahmed

Zeshan Ahmed

Zeshan Ahmed

Founder & Director

MPhil Scholar · Physics
Specialization in Materials Science

150+
Students
12+
Courses
3+
Years
About Me

From Research Passion to
Building a Virtual Academy

My name is Zeshan Ahmed, and I am an MPhil scholar in Physics with a specialization in materials science. My passion lies in quantum simulations and computational research — working with advanced simulation tools to explore the electronic, optical, thermal, and adsorption properties of functional materials.

My main focus is on Density Functional Theory (DFT) and Molecular Dynamics (MD) simulations. I use industry-standard software including Materials Studio — with modules like CASTEP, DMol³, Forcite, and more — to conduct and teach real-world computational research.

To help students and researchers learn these tools, I founded SHAN Academy (SAQSM) — a virtual platform offering hands-on training. I aim to simplify complex simulations and make them accessible, especially to those who are just beginning or who don't have access to advanced labs.

DFT Simulations
Electronic & optical properties via CASTEP/DMol³
MD Simulations
Molecular dynamics using Forcite & LAMMPS
Band Structure
Electronic band structure & DOS analysis
Thermal Properties
Phonon dispersion & thermal conductivity
Why Choose Us

What Makes SAQSM Different

Fully Virtual Access

No need for expensive lab equipment or physical presence. Learn from anywhere in the world with real simulation workflows.

Live Expert Guidance

Direct training from Zeshan Ahmed with personalized feedback on your simulations and research problems.

Verified Certificates

Get digitally signed, QR-verified certificates for every program you complete — recognized and shareable instantly.

Thesis Support

Specialized support for students working on MPhil/PhD theses involving DFT or MD simulations.

Real Simulation Tools

Train using the same professional tools used by top research institutes — CASTEP, DMol³, Forcite, VASP.

Looking Ahead

We plan to grow into a physical research center where researchers can collaborate, experiment, and publish together.

Our Journey

The SAQSM Timeline

2023
SAQSM Founded

Zeshan Ahmed launched SHAN Academy as a virtual platform to provide accessible DFT and MD simulation training to students who lacked lab access.

2024
First Cohort Trained

Successfully trained the first cohort of students in Materials Studio — covering CASTEP band structure, DMol³ geometry optimization, and Forcite MD modules.

2025
Certificate Registry Launched

Introduced a digitally verified certificate system with QR-code validation — allowing students to share and verify their credentials globally.

2026+
Growing Vision

Working towards evolving SAQSM into a fully equipped physical research center for collaborative computational materials science.

Our Team

Academic Advisors & Instructors

Dr. Arsalan Shan
Dr. Arsalan Shan
Director & Lead Scientist

Quantum Physics Dept

PhD in Quantum Physics from Oxford. Specialist in computational crystallography and quantum computing architectures....

dr.shan@shanacademy.edu
Prof. Sarah Jenkins
Prof. Sarah Jenkins
Senior Fellow

Computational Chemistry Dept

PhD in Chemistry from MIT. Focused on ab initio calculations, energy materials, and catalyst simulations....

s.jenkins@shanacademy.edu
Dr. Tariq Mahmood
Dr. Tariq Mahmood
Associate Professor

Materials Science Dept

PhD in Condensed Matter Physics from NUST. Expert in superconductor modeling and molecular simulations....

t.mahmood@shanacademy.edu

Start Your Computational Research Journey

Contact Zeshan Ahmed for training, thesis support, simulation consultancy, or collaboration opportunities.