Faculty

Dr. Irshad Baig is an Assistant Professor in the Materials Science and Engineering Department at King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals (KFUPM). He has extensive expertise in the production and processing of polymeric membranes for applications such as water treatment and gas separation. Dr. Baig earned his Ph.D. from the University of Twente, Netherlands, in 2021 under the supervision of Prof. Wiebe de Vos, where he established the Aqueous Phase Separation (APS) technique as a sustainable method for polymeric membrane production. Before joining KFUPM, he worked as a scientific researcher at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), focusing on the development of greener thin-film composite membranes utilizing bio-based monomers for brine separations.

Professional Experience:
Scientific Researcher King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) 2023 – 2024
Scientific Researcher University of Twente, The Netherlands 2021 – 2023 
Research Assistant Korea Institute of Energy Research (KIER), South Korea 2016 – 2017 

Educational Background:
PhD University of Twente, The Netherlands 2017 – 2021
MSc. Korea University of Science and Technology (UST), South Korea 2014 – 2016 

Research Interests 
Dr. Baig's research focuses on the development of polymeric membranes and thin-film composite coatings using sustainable materials for water treatment applications. His work also investigates the fundamental mechanisms of membrane-solute interactions at surfaces and examines the structure-property relationships of various membrane materials. In addition, Dr. Baig aims to develop efficient polymeric membranes for micropollutant removal and other nanofiltration applications. His research extends to resource recovery initiatives, such as brine mining and zero-liquid discharge, promoting a circular economy in alignment with the Kingdom's vision. Ultimately, Dr. Baig's research seeks to enhance the sustainability of polymeric membrane materials and fabrication processes, supporting the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals.

Courses Taught
MSE 202 – Materials Lab

List of publications:
  1. M.I. Baig, R. Hardian, F.A. Alharthi, C.M. Fellows, G. Szekely, Brine separation with polyamide and polyimine thin film composite nanofiltration membranes obtained from biobased monomers, Journal of Membrane Science 713 (2025) 123324. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.memsci.2024.123324. 
  2. L. Li, M.I. Baig, W.M. de Vos, S. Lindhoud, Biocatalytic PEI–PSS membranes through aqueous phase separation: influence of casting solution pH and operational temperature, Soft Matter 20 (2024) 5425–5434. https://doi.org/10.1039/D4SM00311J.
  3. R. Nickisch, W.M. de Vos, M.A.R. Meier, M.I. Baig, Removal of Transition-Metal Ions by Metal-Complexing Polythiosemicarbazone Membranes, ACS Appl. Polym. Mater. 5 (2023) 7240–7251. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsapm.3c01192. 
  4. L. Li, M.I. Baig, W.M. de Vos, S. Lindhoud, Preparation of Sodium Carboxymethyl Cellulose–Chitosan Complex Membranes through Sustainable Aqueous Phase Separation, ACS Appl. Polym. Mater. 5 (2023) 1810–1818. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsapm.2c01901. 
  5. J.J. van Lente, M.I. Baig, W.M. de Vos, S. Lindhoud, Biocatalytic membranes through aqueous phase separation, Journal of Colloid and Interface Science 616 (2022) 903–910. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcis.2022.02.094. 
  6. M.I. Baig, M. Pejman, J.D. Willott, A. Tiraferri, W.M. de Vos, Polyelectrolyte Complex Hollow Fiber Membranes Prepared via Aqueous Phase Separation, ACS Appl. Polym. Mater. 4 (2022) 1010–1020. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsapm.1c01464. 
  7. M.I. Baig, J.D. Willott, W.M. de Vos, Enhancing the Separation Performance of Aqueous Phase Separation-Based Membranes through Polyelectrolyte Multilayer Coatings and Interfacial Polymerization, ACS Appl. Polym. Mater. 3 (2021) 3560–3568. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsapm.1c00457. 
  8. M.I. Baig, P.P.I. Sari, J. Li, J.D. Willott, W.M. de Vos, Sustainable Aqueous Phase Separation membranes prepared through mild pH shift induced polyelectrolyte complexation of PSS and PEI, Journal of Membrane Science 625 (2021) 119114. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.memsci.2021.119114. 
  9. M.I. Baig, J.D. Willott, W.M. de Vos, Tuning the structure and performance of polyelectrolyte complexation based aqueous phase separation membranes, Journal of Membrane Science 615 (2020) 118502. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.memsci.2020.118502. 
  10. E.N. Durmaz, M.I. Baig, J.D. Willott, W.M. de Vos, Polyelectrolyte Complex Membranes via Salinity Change Induced Aqueous Phase Separation, ACS Appl. Polym. Mater. 2 (2020) 2612–2621. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsapm.0c00255. 
  11. M.I. Baig, E.N. Durmaz, J.D. Willott, W.M. de Vos, Sustainable Membrane Production through Polyelectrolyte Complexation Induced Aqueous Phase Separation, Advanced Functional Materials 30 (2020) 1907344. https://doi.org/10.1002/adfm.201907344. 
  12. M.I. Baig, P.G. Ingole, J. Jeon, S.U. Hong, W.K. Choi, H.K. Lee, Water vapor transport properties of interfacially polymerized thin film nanocomposite membranes modified with graphene oxide and GO-TiO2 nanofillers, Chemical Engineering Journal 373 (2019) 1190–1202. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2019.05.122. 
  13. M.I. Baig, P.G. Ingole, J. Jeon, S.U. Hong, W.K. Choi, B. Jang, H.K. Lee, Water vapor selective thin film nanocomposite membranes prepared by functionalized Silicon nanoparticles, Desalination 451 (2019) 59–71. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.desal.2017.06.005. 
  14. P.G. Ingole, M. Sohail, A.M. Abou-Elanwar, M.I. Baig, J.-D. Jeon, W.K. Choi, H. Kim, H.K. Lee, Water vapor separation from flue gas using MOF incorporated thin film nanocomposite hollow fiber membranes, Chemical Engineering Journal 334 (2018) 2450–2458. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2017.11.123. 
  15. P.G. Ingole, M.I. Baig, W. Choi, X. An, W.K. Choi, J.-D. Jeon, H.K. Lee, Synthesis of superhydrophilic Nafion based nanocomposite hollow fiber membranes for water vapor separation, Chemical Engineering Research and Design 127 (2017) 45–51. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cherd.2017.09.003. 
  16. P.G. Ingole, M.I. Baig, W. Choi, X. An, W.K. Choi, H.K. Lee, Role of functional nanoparticles to enhance the polymeric membrane performance for mixture gas separation, Journal of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry 48 (2017) 5–15. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jiec.2016.09.041. 
  17. M.I. Baig, P.G. Ingole, W.K. Choi, J. Jeon, B. Jang, J.H. Moon, H.K. Lee, Synthesis and characterization of thin film nanocomposite membranes incorporated with surface functionalized Silicon nanoparticles for improved water vapor permeation performance, Chemical Engineering Journal 308 (2017) 27–39. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2016.09.033. 
  18. P.G. Ingole, R.R. Pawar, M.I. Baig, J.D. Jeon, H.K. Lee, Thin film nanocomposite (TFN) hollow fiber membranes incorporated with functionalized acid-activated bentonite (ABn-NH) clay: towards enhancement of water vapor permeance and selectivity, J. Mater. Chem. A 5 (2017) 20947–20958. https://doi.org/10.1039/C7TA04945E. 
  19. M.I. Baig, P.G. Ingole, W.K. Choi, S.R. Park, E.C. Kang, H.K. Lee, Development of carboxylated TiO2 incorporated thin film nanocomposite hollow fiber membranes for flue gas dehydration, Journal of Membrane Science 514 (2016) 622–635. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.memsci.2016.05.017. 
  20. M.I. Baig, P.G. Ingole, W.K. Choi, S.R. Park, E.C. Kang, H.K. Lee, Water vapor permeation behavior of interfacially polymerized polyamide thin film on hollow fiber membrane substrate, Journal of the Taiwan Institute of Chemical Engineers 60 (2016) 623–635. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jtice.2015.11.010. 
  21. P.G. Ingole, M.I. Baig, W.K. Choi, H.K. Lee, Synthesis and characterization of polyamide/polyester thin-film nanocomposite membranes achieved by functionalized TiO2 nanoparticles for water vapor separation, J. Mater. Chem. A 4 (2016) 5592–5604. https://doi.org/10.1039/C6TA00100A. 
Book Chapter:
M.I. Baig, W.M. de Vos, Chapter 11 - Aqueous phase separation technology, in: L.F. Dumée, M. Sadrzadeh, M.M.A. Shirazi (Eds.), Green Membrane Technologies towards Environmental Sustainability, Elsevier, 2023: pp. 295–340.

Dr. Irshad Baig Assistant Professor Building 16 178-2 +966 13 860 5886 +966 13 860 2949 (MSE Dept.) muhammad.baig@kfupm.edu.sa