Area of Specializations:

• Sustainable construction materials.
• Waste valorization in cementitious composites.
• Hydrothermal carbonization
• Carbon-negative concrete technologies.
• Green and low-carbon concrete
• Durability of cement-based composites
• Advanced material characterization technique

Teaching:  7+ years

Industrial Experience: 2 + years

Educational Profile:

• PhD(Pursuing)

University:  VIT university, Vellore ,TamilNadu

College: Vellore Institute of Technology (2022- Present)

Specalization :  Sustainable construction materials using biomass-derived hydrochar as a partial replacement in cementitious systems.

• M.Tech.

             University: A. P. J. Abdul Kalam Technological University, Kerala

             College: Amal Jyothi College of Engineering and Technology (2015-2017)

             Specialization: Structural Engineeering and Construction Management

• B.Tech.

             University: Kerala University

             College: Rajadhani Institute of Engineering and Technlogy (2011-2015).

            Specialization : civil engineering

Publications:

•  S.L. Lafiya,, & M.Sambasivam, K. (2026). Sustainable cementitious materials from bamboo leafderived hydrochar: Process optimization and mechanical performance. Case Studies in Construction Materials, 24, e05677.

• S.L. Lafiya, , K. M․Sambasivam, Enhancing the efficiency of mortar mixes by rice husk hydrochar using response surface methodology: An experimental study for property improvement and sustainable construction applications, Results in Engineering 27 (2025) 106019.

• S.L. Lafiya, Laila, K. M․Sambasivam, Valorization of Mango Seed Waste into Hydrochar: Optimization, Characterization, and Potential for Energy and Environmental Applications,Biomass Conversion and Biorefinery,45(2025)

• S.L. Lafiya, M.S. Kavitha, Mango seed derived hydrochar as a sustainable additive incementitious materials: microstructural and performance analysis, Mater Lett 403 (2026)139483.
• Sambasivam, K. M., Kuppan, P., S.L. Lafiya, Shashirekha, V., Tamilarasan, K., & Abinandan, S. (2023). Kernel-Based Biodiesel Production from Non-Edible Oil Seeds: Techniques, Optimization, and Environmental Implications. Energies, 16(22), 7589
• K. Sambasivam, P. Kuppan, S.L. Lafiya, N. Rajamohan, S. Abinandan, Valorizing Azolla pinnata Biomass for Sustainable Bioenergy Production: A Novel Catalyst Transesterification Approach, Waste Biomass Valorization (2024).

AWARDS AND RECOGNITIONS DETAILS

• Raman Research Award -January 2026 for publication in Case Studies in Construction Material from VIT UNIVERSITY,Vellore 
• Raman Research Award- September 2025 for publication in Results in Engineering from VIT UNIVERSITY,Vellore.
• Raman Research Award -January 2026 for publication in Biomass Conversion and Biorefinery from VIT UNIVERSITY,Vellore
• Raman Research Award -November 2026 for publication in Materials Letters from VIT UNIVERSITY,Vellore

LICENCES

• Engineer A (Structural Engineer) license from the Department of Urban Affairs from 2017  (Reg no E-7895/17/EA/2337/KLM). 

CONFERENCE PRESENTATION/SEMINARS

• Presented an oral presentation titled “Process optimization and performance evaluation of rice husk hudochar as a sustainable cementitious supplement” at the International Conference on surface engineering of sustainable and biomaterials ,IIT Madras, December, 2025.
• Presented an oral presentation titled “Transforming mango seed waste into hydrochar:Asustainable approach to cementitious materials ” at the National Conference on Functional Materials, SRM University, October 2025.
• Attended conference on International Conference on Electrochemistry for Industry, Health and Environment – EIHE 2024, VIT university, Vellore WORKSHOPS/ FACULTY DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME:
• Participated FDP on “Employability skills in time of disruption” from RIET, Nagaroor.
• Attended FDP on “Emerging opportunities in civil engineering” from YCET, Kollam.
• Attended FDP on “on "Condition Monitoring and Reliability Assessment in Civil Engineering Applications," organized by Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Coimbatore, in association with ASCE Student Chapter Coimbatore