- Microsoft Office
- Zoom
- Research & Analysis
- Multiple-Criteria Decision-Making (MCDM)
- Energy in Buildings
- Academic Writting
- Experienced at teaching
- Climate Change communication
Lala Rukh
I don't just research science, I play it, paint it, walk it through the woods, and turn it into board games. My work sits at the intersection of climate science, the built environment, and the people who live in it. I ask questions that matter to real people: Is your energy-efficient home actually comfortable? Is the air you breathe at home healthy? Are you trading warmth for affordability, and at what cost?
For the past three years, I've been deep in data, sensors, and fieldwork answering exactly those questions through my PhD at the University of Galway. It's been intense, rewarding, and full of surprises. But research, for me, has never lived only on paper. I've explained climate science to kindergarteners through play, engaged adult learners in unexpected spaces, and firmly believe that the best science communication sometimes happens on a forest trail. Something new is taking shape, and I'm genuinely excited about where this work is heading next. The focus: research, innovation, and real-world impact. Originally from Pakistan, equity in education and access isn't just a professional value; it's personal. I've been shaped by extraordinary mentors, and I try to pay that forward whenever I can.
If you're looking for opportunities, a conversation, or just someone to geek out about buildings, climate, or science communication, I'm always happy to connect.
- Date of birth: 14/10/1994
- Gender: Female
- Nationality: Pakistani
- Email address: lalarukhmemon@gmail.com
- Website: https://linktr.ee/lalarukhmemon
- LinkedIn: Lala Rukh
- Work: School of Engineering University of Galway, Ireland, Galway, Ireland
Skills
Work experience
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World Energy Council
- London, United Kingdom
Future Energy Leader
As a Future Energy Leader (FEL), my role is to be an integral part of the 'how to' community of World Energy Council. I work alongside experienced professionals, bright minds, and passionate hearts to develop a new shared understanding and foster more effective cooperation in the current era of increased energy and climate neutrality. I actively contribute to the Council's wide-ranging programme of activities and participate in national, regional, and global conversations as part of our global energy community. Through engagement in FEL-100 projects, networking events, and conversations with peers, I have the unique opportunity to grow my personal network of like-minded, equally motivated peers, energy experts, and senior energy leaders. The programme provides me with wide-ranging opportunities to explore my personal areas of interest while ensuring that my work delivers practical and interactive outputs that align with the Council's mission and vision.
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Environmental Education Unit, An Taisce
- Galway, Ireland
Climate Ambassador
Ireland’s first ever initiative to train and support individuals taking action on climate change. The programme is coordinated by the Environmental Education Unit of An Taisce with support from the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications.
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Planet Reimagined
- online , United States
New Future Fellow | Climate + the Renewable Energy Transition
As a New Future Fellow, I worked on the theme ‘Climate + the Renewable Energy Transition’ with Planet Reimagined for summer 2023. At Planet Reimagined Studios, they create thought-provoking audio & video content that incites passionate thoughts about equality and human rights for people on clean, healthy earth. Our team is engaged in the development of a research-based advocacy white paper for colocation initiatives. Colocation involves strategically using a single unit of land for multiple productive purposes. In this case, we are focusing on advocating for the collocation of state trust land, previously used for oil and gas rigs, to be repurposed for renewable energy purposes in the USA. We aim to pave the way for a more sustainable and environmentally conscious approach to land usage, benefiting both renewable energy efforts and the conservation of natural resources, in parallel to supporting communities associated with oil and gas.
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University of Galway
- Galway, Ireland
- Name of unit or department: Civil
Graduate Teaching Assistant
To provide support and assistance to faculty members in teaching at the University of Galway. The responsibilities included conducting discussion sections, grading assignments, holding office hours, preparing and delivering lectures, participating in course planning, and monitoring student progress. This GTA role is important to me as it provides me with valuable teaching experience at an Irish academic institute. In addition to teaching roles, I have also supervised a student research project, titled 'A Perspective on the Global Energy Transition; 1.5 °C Pathway'
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GRETB | Galway and Roscommon Education and Training Board
- Galway, Ireland
Tutor
As a GRETB tutor, I deliver educational and training programs to learners of all ages and abilities. My primary responsibility is to plan, prepare and deliver engaging and effective lessons to help learners achieve their academic goals. Currently, I am teaching the 5S21793 Environmental Sustainability in the Workplace Level 5 course.
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Mehran University of Engineering & Technology, Jamshoro, Pakistan
- Jamshoro, Pakistan
Graduate Teaching Assistant
To provide support and assistance to faculty members in teaching in the department of electrical engineering (Power). The responsibilities included conducting discussion sections, grading assignments, holding office hours, preparing and delivering lectures, participating in course planning, and monitoring student progress. This role is important as it provided me with valuable teaching experience at the start of my career.
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Energy and Environmental Engineering Research Group (EEERG), Mehran UET
- Jamshoro, Pakistan
Fellow Researcher
As an EEERG group member, I assisted senior researchers in conducting research activities at Mehran UET. The responsibilities included conducting literature reviews, collecting and analysing data, assisting in research proposal preparation, developing research protocols, and presenting findings. This role is important as it provided me with valuable research experience and contributed to the advancement of knowledge in their field of study. Also, this provided me with an opportunity to work on various research projects including those with World Bank, USAID and British Council.
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Mehran University of Engineering & Technology, SZAB Khairpur Campus, Pakistan
- Khairpur, Pakistan
Research Associate
To provide support and assistance to faculty members in teaching in the department of electrical engineering (Power). The responsibilities included conducting discussion sections, grading assignments, holding office hours, preparing and delivering lectures, participating in course planning, and monitoring student progress. This role is important as it provided me with valuable teaching experience at the start of my career.
Language skills
Mother tongue(s)
Sindhi
Other language(s)
| Listening | Reading | Spoken interaction | Spoken production | Writing | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
English |
C1:
Proficient user
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B2:
Independent user
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C2:
Proficient user
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C2:
Proficient user
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C2:
Proficient user
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Education and training
University of Galway
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PhD
- Galway, Ireland
- Thesis: ‘Interrelationships between operational energy demand practices, internal environmental conditions in buildings, people occupying the buildings and the materials and technology used in the retrofit of buildings’
Asian Institute of Technology, Thailand
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Master's in Marine Plastics Abatement
- 12120, Klong Lunag, Thailand
- occupational techniques (making of standard breads, fancy breads, cakes and pastries) - science applied to food and equipement (microbiology, biochemistry, hygiene) - occupational technology (basic principles, hygiene and safety) - knowledge of business and its economic, legal and social context
- Final grade: 3.78
- Thesis: ‘Situational Analysis of Plastic Waste Management in Pakistan’ under supervision of Prof. C. Visvanathan
Mehran University of Engineering & Technology, Jamshoro
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Master of Engineering
- Jamshoro, Pakistan
- Final grade: 3.7
- Thesis: Cost-Benefit Analysis of Different Biomass Resources for Clean Electricity Generation’ British Council co-funded Project conducted at Coventry University, United Kingdom under supervision of Prof. Khanji Harijan, Dr. Nayyar Hussain, and Dr. Jonathan Nixon
Mehran University of Engineering & Technology, Jamshoro
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Bachelor of Engineering
- Jamshoro, Pakistan
- Final grade: 3.3
- Thesis: Design and Fabrication of Hybrid (Solar – Wind) Power Generation Model’ under supervision of Dr. Parvaiz Shaikh
Honours and awards
Digital GreenTalents Award
The German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) hosts the prestigious "Digital GreenTalents –High Potentials in Sustainable Development" Award to promote the international exchange of innovative green ideas in the field of digitalization and sustainability. It focuses on how digitalization can promote greater sustainability in science and society. Aspiring young scientists are invited to share their ideas and ambitions with a broad public and to conduct research in Germany. As part of this award, I had the opportunity to work with a German institute and collaborate with Cirplus GmbH for seven months. I led the Cirplus podcast project, which revolved around the circularity of plastic. Cirplus is the AI-powered backbone for recycled plastics procurement, combining a vast materials portfolio with intelligent automation and standardised, traceable data. During the podcast project, I organised the podcast narration to be told as a story of a German entrepreneur who came out to fight the war against the petrochemical giants and make a way for circular, recycled plastics in this competitive industry.
Future Energy Leader
The World Energy Council supports and promotes energy leaders of the future through the Future Energy Leaders platform. The Future Energy Leaders are a global impact community of exceptional young professionals who share a commitment to:
- Address the urgent need to humanise energy
- seek innovative solutions for more energy and climate neutrality in the context of affordability and equality
-Engage in national, regional, and global activities and events
-Deliver innovative projects in support of our global energy community
Received full scholarship to pursue PhD at the University of Galway
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1-year Master’s Degree Program in Marine Plastic Abatement (MPA)
Received Japan Government scholarship for 1-year Master’s Degree Program in Marine Plastic Abatement (MPA), School of Environment, Resources and Development (SERD), Asian Institute of Technology, Thailand for 2021.
Participation in 69th Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting
Qualified in a global competition among young scientists worldwide to participate in the 69th Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting dedicated to Physics, Germany (2019)
Research Engagement
Qualified in a global competition among young scientists worldwide to participate at the Max Planck Institute for Dynamics and Self-Organization Germany (2019)
Pakistan Scottish Scholarship Scheme
Scholarship recipient under Pakistan Scottish Scholarship Scheme-(2017-2018)
Summer exchange student in CERIA ‘Community EmpowERment Program’
Summer exchange student in CERIA ‘Community EmpowERment Program’, Universitas Airlangga, Indonesia (2018)
Research Engagement
Student research fellow at Coventry University, United Kingdom by HEC/British Council, Pakistan (2018)
Global UGRAD cultural exchange program
Global UGRAD cultural exchange program for one semester at Middle Tennessee State University, Murfreesboro, Tennessee, United States of America (2015)
Publications
Residential Building Performance Analysis to Enhance Comfort and Energy Saving: analysis of thermal and air quality parameters
Journal Name:
Clima World Congress
Empowering Our Homes: The Imperative for Energy Performance Contracting (EPCs) in Residential Buildings
Journal Name:
CIBSE Technical Symposium
AI and IoT enabled Home Energy Management System (HEMS) for Hybrid Renewable Energy Sources
Journal Name:
Clima World Congress 2025
Situational Analysis of Plastic Waste Management in Pakistan- Policy Perspective and Circular Economy Recommendations
Situational Assessment of Plastic Waste Management in Pakistan: Insights from Public Awareness and Stakeholder Engagement
Evaluating Residential Buildings Performance: A Categorical Analysis of Temperature, Humidity, and CO2
ISBN 978-1-3999-9618-1
Published by: Civil Engineering Research Association of Ireland
Design and Implementation of Bi-Axis Bifacial Solar Concentrator with the Tracking System
SSRN Preprints
Assessing the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats of Energy Performance Contarcting implementation in the Irish Residential Sector
World Sustainable Energy Days
Techno-economic analysis of aluminium busbar in low voltage electrical distribution panel
5th International Conference on Sustainable Energy Technologies (ICSET 2023)
Pages: 293-301
A Review of Methods for Examining Behaviours of Occupants in Residential Buildings
Techno-Economic Analysis of HVDC Transmission Line Project of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor
Techno-Economic Analysis of HVDC Transmission Line Project of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (Conference Proceeding in IEEE Indexed International conference via Conference Code # 44306, ISBN No. 978-1-5386-7027-9)
A Multi-criteria Analysis of Options for Power Generation from Biomass in Pakistan
A Multi-criteria Analysis of Options for Power Generation from Biomass in Pakistan ISBN No. 918-969-7710-02-7, Jamshoro, Pakistan (Conference Proceeding)
Fabrication of Smart Road Prototype Using Piezo-Electricity Technique
Fabrication of Smart Road Prototype Using Piezo-Electricity Technique ISBN No. 918-969-7710-02-7, Jamshoro, Pakistan
Identification of Different Solar Water Heating Systems
Identification of Different Solar Water Heating Systems ISBN No. 918-969-7710-02-7, Jamshoro, Pakistan
Development of standalone hybrid solar wind generation model for remote areas of Pakistan
Development of standalone hybrid solar wind generation model for remote areas of Pakistan, ISBN No. 978-969-7710-00-3, Jamshoro, Pakistan (Conference Proceeding)
Creative works
State Trusts, Just Transitions: Co-locating Renewables on State Oil and Gas Lands
This report delves into the critical potential of co-locating renewable energy sources on state oil and gas lands as a viable strategy for a rapid and sustainable energy transition.
Articles in The Conversation UK
RTE Brainstorm
- Could co-location help solve the renewable energy land squeeze?
- Can buildings really be net zero or is this more greenwashing?
- Has the cost of living crisis changed how we live at home?
- Where does 99% of the plastic debris dumped into our oceans go?
Engineer Ireland | Engineer's Journal
- The land use challenge in Ireland: Creating a system to deliver net zero
- Why the circularity gap in the clean energy transition pathway endangers our net zero 2050 and climate goals?
- Beyond the green gloss: Apple's eco claims, carbon credits, and the quest for true environmental standardization
- Debunking the quantum computer myths in ‘Heart of Stone’
- Harnessing Aluminum: A techno-economic breakthrough in low voltage electrical distribution
- From quantum dots to quantum computers
Architecture Ireland |The Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland (RIAI) Publications | Issue 330
Comparing architectural responses to heat
Networks and memberships
European Institute of Policy Research and Human Rights
Junior Research Fellow and Intern
Pakistan Engineering Council
(ELECT-59116)
Lindau Nobel Laureates Meeting Alumni Network
Pakistan United States Alumni Network
Global UGRAD Fellow
Professional Certificates
Energy Performance Contracting (EPC) Facilitator Training
Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) 2-days training
Student Leaders Programme
International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA)
The Paris Agreement on Climate Change as a Development Agenda
An online course by the United Nations System Staff College
GROWTH Student Leaders Programme
International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA)
Buildings as Sustainable Energy Systems
At DelftX- initiative of Delft University of Technology
Six-weeks online STEM Communication Training Program
The Alan Alda Center for Communicating Science at the Stony Brook University
Energy Transformation Expert
EnerTracks Online Training by Renewables Academy (RENAC)
The Economics of Energy Transition
At DelftX- initiative of Delft University of Technology
Clean Power at ImperialX
An online learning initiative of Imperial College, London
2months National Entrepreneurship Program
Institute of Business Administration, IBA-Karachi
Recommendations
Jamie Goggins
Professor
I am currently persuing my PhD under kind supervision of Prof. Jamie Goggins
Roisin McCormack
Programme Coordinator
Roisin is Programme Coordinator for Science programmes at Centre for Adult Learning and Professional Development in the University of Galway
- (+353) 091493909
- roisin.mccormack@universityofgalway.ie
Christian Schiller
founder and CEO of Cirplus
Christian is the founder and CEO of Cirplus, a Hamburg-based startup that’s Europe’s largest digital procurement platform for circular plastics. I worked with him during my research stay in Germany as part of the Digital Green Talent Programme.
- (+49) 4021997224
- christian.schiller@cirplus.com
Communication and interpersonal skills
Climate change communicator
Through Climate Action in Pakistan, I am trying to raise awareness about issues such as climate change, climate action, energy transition, marine plastic pollution, and sustainable development in the form of blogs, workshops, webinars, essay and video contests among young students in Pakistan and globally.