Lala Rukh
PhD Candidate | University of Galway, Ireland
Research: Energy performance in buildings, indoor environmental quality & building retrofits
Background: B.E. and two M.Sc. degrees in Engineering & Marine Plastics Abatement
About Lala Rukh
Lala Rukh is co-founder and CEO of QuantumBeads and a PhD candidate at the University of Galway, where her research examines the interrelationships between energy efficiency, indoor environmental quality, and the people who occupy buildings. She brings a rare combination of deep research expertise, international leadership experience, and a genuine commitment to making complex science accessible to real people.
Originally from Pakistan, Lala Rukh has worked across three continents, from fieldwork in Ireland to research fellowships in Germany, Thailand, and the United States. Her work sits at the intersection of climate science, the built environment, and human behaviour, and she believes that the best science communication sometimes happens in the most unexpected spaces.
As CEO of QuantumBeads, she leads operations, strategy, and outreach, driving the startup's mission to make quantum computing accessible and impactful for organisations worldwide.
Professional Background
Education
PhD - Energy Performance Contracting Assessment Framework
University of Galway, Ireland
2022 - Present | Full Scholarship recipient (ERBE Centre for Doctoral Training)
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
Master's in Marine Plastics Abatement
Asian Institute of Technology, Thailand
2021 | Japan Government Scholarship
Thesis: Situational Analysis of Plastic Waste Management in Pakistan
Master of Engineering (M.E.): Energy Systems
Mehran University of Engineering & Technology, Pakistan
2017 - 2019 | British Council (Pakistan Scottish Scholarship)
Thesis: Cost-Benefit Analysis of Different Biomass Resources for Clean Electricity Generation
Bachelor of Engineering (B.E.): Electrical Engineering
Mehran University of Engineering & Technology, Pakistan
2013 - 2016 |
Professional Experience
Co-Founder & CEO — QuantumBeads
Leading operations, strategy, and outreach for a quantum computing consultancy and research startup based in Galway, Ireland.
Future Energy Leader — World Energy Council
London, United Kingdom | 2023 - Present
Contributing to the global energy community through FEL-100 projects, networking events, and national, regional, and global conversations on energy and climate neutrality.
Climate Ambassador — An Taisce
Galway, Ireland | 2024 - Present
Part of Ireland's first initiative to train and support individuals taking action on climate change, coordinated by the Environmental Education Unit of An Taisce.
Graduate Teaching Assistant — University of Galway
Galway, Ireland | 2022 - Present
Delivering lectures, supervising student research projects, and supporting faculty in the Civil Engineering department. Also supervised a student research project titled 'A Perspective on the Global Energy Transition; 1.5°C Pathway'.
Tutor — GRETB (Galway and Roscommon Education and Training Board)
Galway, Ireland | 2023 - Present
Delivering the Environmental Sustainability in the Workplace (Level 5) course to learners of all ages and abilities.
New Future Fellow — Planet Reimagined
Remote | May - September 2023
Developed a research-based advocacy white paper on co-locating renewable energy on state oil and gas lands in the USA.
Fellow Researcher — Energy and Environmental Engineering Research Group (EEERG), Mehran UET
Pakistan | 2015 - Present
Conducted research including projects funded by the World Bank, USAID, and British Council.
Honours & Awards
Digital GreenTalents Award
German Federal Ministry of Education and Research — Awarded for innovative green ideas at the intersection of digitalization and sustainability. Included a research fellowship at a German institute and collaboration with Cirplus GmbH.
Future Energy Leader
World Energy Council (2023) — Selected as one of the global community of exceptional young professionals committed to humanising energy and advancing climate neutrality.
69th Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting
Selected in a global competition among young scientists to participate in the 69th Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting dedicated to Physics, Germany (2019).
Max Planck Institute Research Engagement
Max Planck Society — Selected in a global competition to conduct research at the Max Planck Institute for Dynamics and Self-Organization, Germany (2019).
Japan Government Scholarship
Full scholarship for Master's in Marine Plastics Abatement at Asian Institute of Technology, Thailand (2021).
Pakistan Scottish Scholarship
British Council — Scholarship for research at Coventry University, United Kingdom (2018).
Global UGRAD Cultural Exchange
United States Educational Foundation in Pakistan — One semester at Middle Tennessee State University, USA (2015).
PhD Full Scholarship
Energy Resilience and the Built Environment (ERBE) Centre for Doctoral Training — University of Galway (2022).
Research Focus
One Health & Built Environment
The One Health framework recognises that human health, animal health, and environmental health are deeply interconnected. Lala Rukh explores how the buildings we live and work in sit at the heart of this relationship, shaping air quality, thermal comfort, mental wellbeing, and disease exposure. This approach is gaining strong traction across EU research and policy agendas.
Democratising Quantum
Making quantum computing genuinely accessible requires more than simplifying jargon. Lala Rukh explores informal teaching methodologies, gamification, and play-based learning as tools for building quantum literacy among diverse audiences, from school students to corporate teams. The goal is quantum understanding without the intimidation.
Climate Action, Quantum & AI
The climate crisis demands faster and smarter solutions. Lala Rukh explores how emerging technologies including quantum computing and artificial intelligence can accelerate climate action, from optimising energy systems and modelling climate scenarios to enabling smarter building management. The intersection of technology and climate responsibility is where the next generation of solutions will emerge.
Energy in Buildings
Examining operational energy demand and how retrofit technologies affect real-world energy consumption in residential buildings.
Indoor Environmental Quality
Measuring and analysing temperature, humidity, CO2, and air quality parameters to understand how buildings affect occupant health and comfort.
Plastic Waste & Circular Economy
Policy and situational analysis of plastic waste management, with a focus on sustainable solutions and circular economy recommendations.
Publications & Research Contributions
Articles — Engineers Ireland
Co-authored with Abdul Fatah Jamro.
Quantum Dreams: What the 2025 Nobel Prize in Physics Tells Us About the Future We Are Building
From Quantum Dots to Quantum Computers
Debunking the Quantum Computer Myths in 'Heart of Stone'
Academic Publications
Residential Building Performance Analysis to Enhance Comfort and Energy Saving
Empowering Our Homes: The Imperative for Energy Performance Contracting (EPCs) in Residential Buildings
AI and IoT Enabled Home Energy Management System (HEMS) for Hybrid Renewable Energy Sources
Situational Analysis of Plastic Waste Management in Pakistan — Policy Perspective and Circular Economy Recommendations
Evaluating Residential Buildings Performance: A Categorical Analysis of Temperature, Humidity, and CO2
Assessing the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats of Energy Performance Contracting Implementation in the Irish Residential Sector
Techno-Economic Analysis of Aluminium Busbar in Low Voltage Electrical Distribution Panel
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
State Trusts, Just Transitions: Co-locating Renewables on State Oil and Gas Lands
Skills & Expertise
Research & Analysis
- Research & Analysis
- Multiple-Criteria Decision-Making (MCDM)
- Data Collection & Fieldwork
- Sensor & IoT Data Analysis
- Academic Writing
Sustainability & Energy
- Energy in Buildings
- Climate Change Communication
- Renewable Energy Systems
- Circular Economy
- Environmental Sustainability
Teaching & Leadership
- University Teaching
- Science Communication
- Community Engagement
- Project Management
- International Collaboration
Vision
Lala Rukh believes that science only matters when it reaches people. Through QuantumBeads, she is working to bridge the gap between frontier research and real-world impact — ensuring that quantum computing becomes a tool that empowers organisations, communities, and individuals rather than remaining locked behind academic walls.
Equity in education and access is a core personal value. Having been shaped by extraordinary mentors across Pakistan, Ireland, Germany, Thailand, and the United States, she is committed to paying that forward — building pathways for the next generation of researchers and innovators.
Connect
Interested in collaboration, partnerships, or a conversation about quantum computing, sustainability, or science communication?