New Faculty

Please welcome the College of Engineering’s newest faculty members!

Mahmoud Abdelwahed
Associate Professor in Biomedical Engineering (Chemical Engineering program)
Ph.D., Zagazig University & Cairo University

Dr. Mahmoud Abdelwahed’s research focuses on making a variety of novel nanomaterials and studying their optical, catalytic, biological, sensing, electrical, and mechanical properties. Colloidal chemical techniques are used to prepare different shapes, sizes, and structures of metallic and semiconductor nanoparticles on large scales. The prepared nanoparticles are assembled into 2-D or 3-D arrays and can be functionalized with organic polymers for use in optoelectronics, solar cell materials, optical filters and polarizers, nanocatalysis and photocatalysis, nano-sensing, and nano-switching. High-resolution electron and optical microscopic techniques and ultrafast spectroscopy are used to resolve the fine structure and properties of the nanomaterials.

Guenevere Qian Chen
Assistant Professor in Electrical and Computer Engineering
Ph.D., Mississippi State University

Dr. Guenevere (Qian) Chen received her Ph.D. in Electrical and Computer Engineering from Mississippi State University in 2014. Her primary research area is autonomic computing and cybersecurity. Dr. Chen’s current research involves autonomic security management for distributed systems, industrial control systems, high performance computing, and healthcare information systems. Her research topics include risk assessment, attacks estimation, vulnerabilities investigation, intrusion detection and response, and end-to-end security solution development. Her research projects were funded by the National Science Foundation, the Department of Energy, the Department of Defense, Mississippi State University and Savannah State University. She also focuses on producing underrepresented cybersecurity workforce to address the cybersecurity expertise shortage issues for enhancing national cybersecurity.

Zhan Qin
Assistant Professor in Electrical and Computer Engineering
ABD, State University of New York at Buffalo

Dr. Zhan Qin’s research area is in computer science/engineering and focuses on the security and privacy aspects of cloud-based computation, IoT devices, and critical infrastructure. His other research interests include secure computation outsourcing, privacy-preserving data collection, sharing and publication, cybersecurity of smart grid control and communication system, and cyber-physical security for smart devices with the current focus on exploring and improving the security and privacy assurance on cloud computing.

Eric Brey
Professor and Department Chair in Biomedical Engineering
Ph.D., Rice University

Dr. Eric Brey’s research interests are in tissue engineering and biomaterials, and he has made significant contributions in these fields. Specifically, he has contributed to new methods for engineering vascularized tissues and is a leader in evaluating new imaging methods for analysis of engineered tissues. Dr. Brey’s research has resulted in over 100 peer-reviewed publications, nine book chapters, over 300 presentations, and 50 invited talks. Dr. Brey is a fellow of the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineers and was awarded the 2015 Educational Award from TERMIS, a Young Investigator Award from the International Society of Applied Cardiovascular Biology, a Sigma Xi Award for Excellence in Research, and a visiting professorship at Chang Gung Memorial Hospital in Taiwan.

Gary Jacobs
Assistant Professor in Biomedical Engineering (Chemical Engineering program)
Ph.D., University of Oklahoma

For over 16 years, Dr. Gary Jacobs’ research has been directed at understanding catalytic phenomena, developing new catalyst formulations, and characterizing catalysts for natural gas conversion technologies. Examples include cobalt catalysts for converting natural gas-derived syngas by Fischer-Tropsch synthesis, as well as metal/ceria and related catalysts for hydrogen production and purification (e.g., low temperature water-gas shift) for fuel cell applications. In addition, he has researched renewable technologies, such as bioethanol reforming into hydrogen for fuel cells, carbon dioxide conversion to chemicals, and hydrodeoxygenation of pyrolysis oils.

Gabriela Romero Uribe
Assistant Professor in Biomedical Engineering (Chemical Engineering program)
Ph.D., University of Basque Country (Spain)

Dr. Gabriela Romero Uribe’s research interests lie within the field of biomaterials, specifically the development of macromolecular bio-interfaces that challenge biomedical problems. The synthesis of multifunctional, biocompatible and stimuli-responsive materials is driving the development of novel approaches for the diagnosis and treatment of diseases. As a polymer and biomaterials chemist, she aspires to design and engineer soft matter platforms that enable the precise control of cellular signals and behaviors.