TRAILBLAZER
“I remained in the group for several years, before taking up an opportunity to pursue a PhD in applied mathematics at the University of Cambridge.” When he returned to the CSIR and it restructured, he moved to modelling and digital science, which merged to form the NextGen Enterprises and Institutions Cluster. Suliman’s primary role is in applied mathematical modelling, computational modelling and simulation. “I work on developing mathematical models
data and trends is used
project-specific delivera-
and advisory councils,
and computational tools,
to drive decision making
bles.
and being invited to de-
to understand and simu-
and inform policy.
Suliman highlights
liver keynote addresses at
publishing research
national and international events,” he says.
late physical systems,
Suliman, who has been
primarily involving the
working from home since
in international sci-
flow of fluids or dynamic
the start of the pandemic,
entific indexing-rated,
behaviour of structures
goes into the office when
peer-reviewed journals
milestones include sum-
and the interaction of
needed.
and presenting research
miting Mount Kilimanjaro,
Suliman’s personal
at international scientific
surviving a week in the
Examples include
depending on where
conferences as two of his
Amazon, memorising the
modelling wing flutter
in the epidemiological
professional milestones.
Quran, completing a half-
of aircrafts in flight, the
trajectory of COVID-19
“Completing my PhD
marathon and meeting
combustion of coal in a
we are, with COVID-19
abroad was a significant
the late iconic physicist
power plant and the sim-
commentary taking up
milestone, as it came with
Professor Stephen Hawk-
ulation of smart biomate-
more time as the num-
multiple challenges, but I
ing.
rials in tissue engineering
bers surge.”
believe it created oppor-
both.”
applications.
Informing policy
“My days now vary,
In his spare time, he
He typically spends a
tunities for my career too.
enjoys nature and hiking;
few hours a day updat-
“More recently, I value
sport, particularly squash
ing virus indicators, a few
being involved in and
and road-running; read-
In addition to this, his
hours in meetings and
serving on national
ing; travelling and good
analysis of COVID-19
the remaining time on
research working groups
food.
6
Public Sector Manager • October 2021
