Department of Chemistry
Chemistry is the study of the composition and properties of matter, and how and why it undergoes change. Its study is central to the development of new medicines, to the secure supply of food and water and to the manufacture of innovative new materials for the 21st century.
The department is dedicated to supporting excellence in chemical education and research to meet the strategic needs of Abu Dhabi, the UAE and the international community. We are committed to teaching and developing the next generation of scientists through a strong, innovative teaching program that equips students with skills that are useful whatever their choice of career. All our students have the opportunity to take part in cutting-edge projects which are part of the substantial research activity undertaken by Faculty members in chemistry. Research is conducted across diverse fields including both fundamental and applied topics covering materials, the environment, energy, and human health. Much of this is multidisciplinary and is conducted in collaboration with colleagues in other departments at Khalifa and around the world.
Expansion of the department has recently added to the number of Faculty, increasing the international dimension of the department and extending the availability of modern analytical and characterization equipment. We are extremely well placed to satisfy our goal of becoming one of the region’s leading educators of chemistry students and researchers.
The department currently offers two programs, an undergraduate BSc degree in Chemistry and a postgraduate MSc in Applied Chemistry.
1) BSc in Chemistry
Chemistry is the study of the structure, composition, properties and reactions of matter. Chemists continue make an enormous contribution to society, for example: development of batteries for portable electronic devices; discovery of drugs and medicines for treating disease; polymers for drug delivery, medical implants and aerospace, flavors and preservatives used in food or water purification and many others. A world of opportunities and huge range of careers awaits students who major in chemistry.
Khalifa’s BSc in Chemistry gives students a broad education in chemistry and supporting subjects in the early stages together with the ability to specialise later on. Three degree-tracks, designed to serve the country’s needs, are currently available:
- The Environmental Chemistry track promotes sustainable development through environmental monitoring and assessment, green chemistry and renewable energies.
- The Materials Chemistry track considers modern applications of downstream petroleum-based industries such as polymers and plastics and also novel nanomaterials such as carbon and metal oxide materials.
- The Forensic Chemistry track will support the analytical and investigative skills linked with industrial and medical applications as well as criminology in the police force and other investigative agencies.
Further details of the programs can be found here
2) MSc in Applied Chemistry
The MSc in Applied Chemistry degree is intended for candidates with a bachelor degree in chemistry or other related specialization. The program is designed to give candidates an opportunity to enhance their knowledge of chemistry and develop research expertise and skills in instrumentation and methodology that will prepare them for careers in applied chemistry, particularly the oil and gas industry. Successful students will also be qualified to pursue a doctorate (PhD) degree. The program’s typical length is four semesters, with the first three semesters requiring the completion of a combination of course work and thesis work, and the final semester only requiring research work and thesis writing.
Further details of the program can be found here
Dr. Gareth Price
Chair and Professor of Chemistry
- Department of Chemistry
- gareth.price@ku.ac.ae
Dr. David Sheehan
Professor
- Department of Chemistry
- david.sheehan@ku.ac.ae
Dr. Syed Salman Ashraf
Professor
- Department of Chemistry
- syed.ashraf@ku.ac.ae
Dr. Avin Pillay
Professor
- Department of Chemistry
- avinash.pillay@ku.ac.ae
Dr. Francis Verpoort
Professor
- Department of Chemistry
- francis.verpoort@ku.ac.ae
Dr. Mirella Elkadi
Associate Professor
- Department of Chemistry
- mirella.elkadi@ku.ac.ae
Dr. Maguy Abi Jaoude
Assistant Professor
- Department of Chemistry
- maguy.abijaoude@ku.ac.ae
Dr. Mohammad Abu Haija
Assistant Professor
- Department of Chemistry
- mohammad.abuhaija@ku.ac.ae
Dr. Sharmarke Mohamed
Assistant Professor
- Department of Chemistry
- sharmarke.mohamed@ku.ac.ae
Dr. Selena Richards
Assistant Professor
- Department of Chemistry
- selena.richards@ku.ac.ae
Dr. Paul Rostron
Assistant Professor
- Department of Chemistry
- paul.rostron@ku.ac.ae
Dr. Mutasem Omar Sinnokrot
Assistant Professor
- Department of Chemistry
- mutasem.sinnokrot@ku.ac.ae
Dr. Sulafudin Vukusic
Assistant Professor
- Department of Chemistry
- sulafudin.vukusic@ku.ac.ae
Dr. Ibrahim Yildiz
Assistant Professor
- Department of Chemistry
- ibrahim.yildiz@ku.ac.ae
Dr. Lina F. Yousef
Assistant Professor
- Department of Chemistry
- lina.yousef@ku.ac.ae
Dr. Ahmed F. Yousef
Assistant Professor
- Department of Chemistry
- ahmed.yousef@ku.ac.ae
Ziad Aoudi
Lecturer
- Department of Chemistry
- ziad.aoudi@ku.ac.ae
Meriem Bildsten
Lecturer
- Department of Chemistry
- meriem.bildsten@ku.ac.ae
Haifa Bayer
Laboratory Technician
- Department of Chemistry
- haifa.bayer@ku.ac.ae
Sanaa Jamaly
Laboratory Instructor
- Department of Chemistry
- sanaa.jamaly@ku.ac.ae
Johnson Manuel
Laboratory Engineer
- Department of Chemistry
- johnson.manuel@ku.ac.ae
Abeer Shunnar
Laboratory Engineer
- Department of Chemistry
- abeer.shunnar@ku.ac.ae
Sasi Stephen
Laboratory Instructor
- Department of Chemistry
- sasi.stephen@ku.ac.ae
Gigi Xavier
Laboratory Technician
- Department of Chemistry
- gigi.xavier@ku.ac.ae
Safaa Yousif
Laboratory Instructor
- Department of Chemistry
- safaa.yousif@ku.ac.ae
Research – the creation and publication of new knowledge – is fundamental to the activity of all good chemistry departments and Khalifa is no different. Among the topics being investigated are new ways of making molecules and other materials, studying the ways that the atoms, ions and molecules are arranged in materials, using biomolecules to purify water measuring tiny amounts of substances to ensure that water is clean, looking at biofuels and renewable energy, methods for delivering drugs and the recovery of useful chemicals from native plant species. Some of this is done using our excellently equipped laboratories (e.g. at the Masdar Institute) while other work is performed using powerful high-performance computers. Much of our work is multidisciplinary and involves collaboration with colleagues in other departments at Khalifa and around the world.
The research interests of individual faculty members and the outputs from our research can be seen on the People page.