Class of 2026 · IB Diploma · Mumbai
Taher
Kachwala

Physicist, engineer, and builder — curious about how systems work, from glass manufacturing processes to space settlements to air quality.

Dhirubhai Ambani International School · DAIS, Mumbai · Mar 2013 – Present
Academic Snapshot
40/42
IB Term 1 Score
9×
Subject Awards
9×
IGCSE A* Grades
1/8
Outstanding Learner
01

Education

IB Diploma Programme · Grade 12
40/42
HL: Mathematics AA · Physics · Economics
SL: English Language & Literature · Chemistry · Spanish B
Cambridge IGCSE · Grade 10 — 9 × A*
Int'l Mathematics A* Add. Mathematics A* Physics A* Chemistry A* Biology A* English Language A* World Literature A* Business Studies A* Spanish A* Geography A
02

Work Experience

Future Architecture Glass
Research Intern
Dubai
  • Conducted market and competitor research on dynamic glass technologies, comparing switching speed, durability and performance in high-temperature environments.
  • Analysed FutureX Eclipse differentiation — sub-1-second switching speed and heat resistance suited for Middle Eastern climates.
  • Translated glass performance metrics (VLT, SHGC, U-values) into business use cases for architects, consultants and clients via technical submittals.
  • Collaborated with sales and engineering teams to prepare procurement proposals aligned with tender requirements.
  • Documented full-scale mock-up test results showing ~66–75% reduction in heat transfer.
Dynamic Glass Technical Writing B2B Sales Support
FG Glass
Project Lead
Mumbai
  • Mapped water usage in the edging/arrising process and identified inefficiencies in the existing ETP and discharge pipeline.
  • Evaluated 3 filtration systems on maintenance, reliability, floor space, and water quality metrics.
  • Achieved ~8% reduction in monthly water consumption and ~13% reduction in water procurement cost post-implementation.
  • Analysed byproduct output: ~1,800 kg of compressed glass fines generated annually from the new system.
  • Developed a commercial use case for repurposing glass "cakes" as factory flooring, reducing sand and aggregate procurement and transport costs.
  • Seeded a circularity mindset within the organisation; approach adopted as template for future plant expansion.
Process Engineering Sustainability Circular Economy KPI Tracking
03

Leadership

National Space Society
President, DAIS Team — Space Settlement Design Competition
Apr 2023 – Present
Delhi · Dubai · Orlando
DAIS
Vice House Captain Boy — Jaguar House
Nov 2023 – Dec 2024
DAIMUN
Deputy President — COPUOS
May 2025 – Sep 2025
04

Research & Projects

INDEPENDENT PROJECT · DEC 2025 – PRESENT
Cyclone Separator for Glass Dust Mitigation
Designed and fabricated a cyclone separator to capture fine glass dust in grinding environments. Applied fluid dynamics to optimise inlet velocity, cone angle, and vortex finder dimensions. Modelled in CAD; integrated a sensor-based monitoring system to measure particulate concentration and reduce respiratory risk for workers.
INDEPENDENT RESEARCH · DEC 2025 – PRESENT
Glass Waste → Construction Materials
Investigating conversion of waste glass and glass cake into value-added construction materials. Conducting material analysis (particle size, composition, binding behaviour), testing feasibility as a supplementary cementitious material, and evaluating compressive strength vs conventional aggregates. Authoring a research paper on large-scale applications.
SCIENCE JOURNAL · AUG 2025 – PRESENT
DAIS Junior Science Journal (DAISJS)
Founded the school's first science journal for middle and high school students. Curated 8 research papers from high school contributors, trained contributors in research methodology, and compiled the inaugural issue.
MAKER PROJECT · SEP 2024 – JUL 2025
AQI Detection Device
Makers Asylum, Goa. Designed a PCB-based air quality detector (Fusion360, KiCAD, Arduino IDE) that displays AQI and autonomously triggers the nearest air purifier when levels exceed harmful thresholds. Selected to mentor future students at the workshop.
RESEARCH PAPER · JAN 2023 – AUG 2024
Structural, Morphological & Optical Properties of V₂O₅
Central University of Jammu. Investigated vanadium pentoxide using 20 keV He⁺ ion implantation; processed data from AFM and SEM instrumentation.
BUILD · NOV 2023  |  EVENT · AUG 2024
Telescope + National Space Day Assembly
Built a functional reflecting telescope at Nehru Planetarium under Arvind Paranajpye (Head of Planetarium), capable of resolving lunar craters and Jupiter's moons. Organised and presented ISRO's milestones to 400 students for India's inaugural National Space Day.
05

Honors & Awards

April 2025 · DAIS
Outstanding Learner Award
1 of 8 students in a cohort of 75 awarded for being among the highest academic achievers in school.
April 2025 · DAIS
Citizenship Award
1 of 3 students in the batch recognised for compassion, empathy, and collaboration as a global and digital citizen.
April 2025 · Subject Awards
9 Subject Awards
Top 10 in Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Geography, Spanish, World Literature, Business Studies, Int'l Math (Accelerated), and English.
April 2024 · Subject Awards
7 Subject Awards
Top 10 in Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Geography, Spanish, World Literature, and First Language English.
NSSC 2023 · Kennedy Space Centre
1st Runner-Up — Space Settlement Design Competition
International final at Kennedy Space Centre in the competition's first year of DAIS participation.
SSDC 2026 · Asian Regional
Asian Regional Round Winner
Won the Asian Regional Round as President of the DAIS team; advanced to ISSDC at Kennedy Space Center.
06

Community Service

FG Glass · Mumbai · 2022 – Present
Sustainability Initiatives
  • Researched and recommended a closed-loop water filtration system reducing municipal supply reliance.
  • Achieved ~8% monthly water reduction, translating to ~13% cost savings.
  • Created a sustainability template adopted for future plant expansion.
Mumbai · Dec 2024 – Present
Air Purifier Restoration Drive
  • Initiated and led a campaign to collect and restore unused and broken air purifiers for old age homes and local schools.
  • Collected 20 purifiers; raised ₹10,000 via Rotary Club sponsorships.
  • Coordinated repair of 9 units and replacement of 12 filters; donated to local schools, improving air quality for students and staff.
Extracurricular
Model UN
Sep 2022 – Present

Represented Saudi Arabia, Israel, Tunisia and Nigeria at DAIMUN (4 editions), Rome International MUN, and THIMUN The Hague. Drafted and negotiated resolutions on pressing international issues. Developed expertise in international law, global governance, and multilateral negotiation. Also chaired a committee.