I am Environmental Engineer and Group Leader with the United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA). I focus on PFAS treatment at the Center for Environmental Solutions and Emergency Response (CESER), Cincinnati, OH. My research targets the development of new materials and techniques to adsorb and/or degrade emerging water pollutants (e.g. PFAS, DBPs, PPCPs, illicit drugs) as well as the mobility of new classes of contaminants in the environment (e.g. microplastics). My research at the EPA’s Office of Research and Development targets the removal of micropollutants (mostly PFAS) and the assessment of various separation and destruction technologies from lab-scale to Superfund sites.
[Link to Profile Page on US EPA Website]
[Link to Profile Page on Rice University Website]
[Click Here for detailed Research Activities]
[Download Full CV]
[Headshot]
Professional Preparation
Adj. Assistant Professor
[01/2023 – Current] – Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering Department.
Rice University, TX, USA.
Environmental Engineer / Group Leader
[08/2021 – Current] – US Environmental Protection Agency
Office of Research and Development
Center for Environmental Solutions & Emergency Response
Research Associate
[11/2019 – 07/2021] – Department of Chemistry.
Northwestern University, USA.
PI: Dr. William Dichtel [Website]
Postdoctoral Fellow
[11/2017 – 10/2019] – Environmental Engineering and Earth Sciences.
Clemson University, SC, USA. [Distinguished Postdoctoral Award ★]
PI: Dr. Tanju Karanfil [Website]
Ph.D.
[10/2014 – 09/2017] – Civil and Environmental Engineering
(Minor in Material Science Engineering).
Tokyo Institute of Technology, Tokyo, Japan. [Best Ph.D. Dissertation Award ★]
Advisor: Dr. Chihiro Yoshimura [Website]
Visiting Researcher
[06/2015 – 10/2015 & 07/2016 – 10/2016] – Environmental Chemistry
Department of Chemistry, University of Copenhagen, Denmark.
Host: Dr. Matthew S. Johnson [Website]
Master of Engineering
[10/2012 – 09/2014] – Civil and Environmental Engineering
(Minor in Material Science Engineering).
Tokyo Institute of Technology, Tokyo, Japan.
Advisor: Dr. Chihiro Yoshimura [Website]
Intern
[08/2013 – 09/2013] – Science Communication for Global Scientists (Intern)
The Royal Society & The Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology (POST), London, UK.
Host: Dr. Michael Norton [Website]
Bachelor of Science
[09/2005 – 06/2009] – Environmental and Agricultural Engineering.
Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt.
Awards & Honors
11. 11/2022: 2022 40 under 40 Recognition Program, The American Academy of Environmental Engineers and Scientists.
10. 08/2019: 2019 Clemson University Distinguished Postdoctoral Award, Clemson University, USA. [Click Here]
9. 06/2019: Certificate of Merit, Division of Environmental Chemistry, American Chemical Society.
8. 04/2019: Outstanding Presentation Award, American Chemical Society (ACS) 257th National Meeting and Exhibition, April 2019, Orlando, FL, USA. [Click Here]
7. 12/2017: The Best Ph.D. Dissertation Award. First Place Prize. Kikkawa-Yamaguchi Award 2017, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Japan. [Click Here - In Japanese]
6. 11/2015: The First Place Prize. Honda Young-Engineers-Scientists (Y-E-S) Forum, Tokyo, Japan. [Click Here]
5. 12/2014: Best Presentation Award, ACEEES Third International Educational Forum on Environment and Energy Sciences, Perth, Australia.
4. 11/2014: Best Presentation Award for Young Researchers, 9th IWA International Symposium on Waste Management Problems in Agro-Industries, International Water Association (IWA), Kochi, Japan.
3. 10/2014 – 09/2017: Japanese Government Scholarship (MEXT).
2. 10/2013: Certificate of Excellence - Best Presentation Award, Tokyo Tech-KU joint seminar, Tokyo, Japan.
1. 10/2012 – 09/2014: Japanese Government Scholarship (MEXT).
Services & Professional Activities
President, Clemson University Postdoc Association (CUPDA) (02/2019 – 10/2019).
Vice President, Clemson University Postdoc Association (CUPDA) (08/2018 – 02/2019).
Co-Founder, BENAA Association, NGO based in Egypt/Switzerland [benaa-global.org] (10/2015 – Present).
Discussion Leader, ‘The Graduate School Experience: What to Expect’ Workshop, Spring ACS National Meeting, Orlando, FL (04/2019).
Trainer, ‘Tips for Effective Communications & Collaborations’ Workshop, GRAD360, Clemson University (02/2019).
Judge, ‘6th Annual Summer Undergraduate Research Symposium’, Clemson University (06/2018).
Trainer, ‘Life After Ph.D.’ Workshop, GRAD360 Program, Clemson University (03/2018).
Speaker: TEDxTitech. Title: (Pause .. Rethink), Tokyo, Japan (01/2017).
Professional Memberships:
Holding memberships of:
- American Chemical Society (Environmental Chemistry Division).
- Association of Environmental Engineering and Science Professors (AEESP).
- National Postdoc Association (NPA).
Journal Reviewer for:
Water Research, Environmental Science and Technology, ACS Applied NanoMaterials, Chemosphere, Science of the Total Environment, Environmental Chemistry Letters, Water Process Engineering, Journal of Environment and Health Science, Applied Water Science, Journal of Nanostructure in Chemistry, and Phycological Research.