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.
To provide accessible, hands-on training in advanced simulation tools like CASTEP, DMol³, Forcite, and Materials Studio — empowering the next generation of computational scientists.
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.
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.
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.
No need for expensive lab equipment or physical presence. Learn from anywhere in the world with real simulation workflows.
Direct training from Zeshan Ahmed with personalized feedback on your simulations and research problems.
Get digitally signed, QR-verified certificates for every program you complete — recognized and shareable instantly.
Specialized support for students working on MPhil/PhD theses involving DFT or MD simulations.
Train using the same professional tools used by top research institutes — CASTEP, DMol³, Forcite, VASP.
We plan to grow into a physical research center where researchers can collaborate, experiment, and publish together.
Zeshan Ahmed launched SHAN Academy as a virtual platform to provide accessible DFT and MD simulation training to students who lacked lab access.
Successfully trained the first cohort of students in Materials Studio — covering CASTEP band structure, DMol³ geometry optimization, and Forcite MD modules.
Introduced a digitally verified certificate system with QR-code validation — allowing students to share and verify their credentials globally.
Working towards evolving SAQSM into a fully equipped physical research center for collaborative computational materials science.
Quantum Physics Dept
PhD in Quantum Physics from Oxford. Specialist in computational crystallography and quantum computing architectures....
dr.shan@shanacademy.eduComputational Chemistry Dept
PhD in Chemistry from MIT. Focused on ab initio calculations, energy materials, and catalyst simulations....
s.jenkins@shanacademy.eduMaterials Science Dept
PhD in Condensed Matter Physics from NUST. Expert in superconductor modeling and molecular simulations....
t.mahmood@shanacademy.edu