faculty rese arch intere sts

FACULTY RESEARCH INTERESTS

TABLE OF CONTENTS

RESEARCH AT THE AUSTRALIAN COLLEGE OF KUWAIT

VISION AND MISSION

RESEARCH INTERESTS – CIVIL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT

RESEARCH INTERESTS – ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT

RESEARCH INTERESTS – MATHEMATICS AND PHYSICS DEPARTMENT

RESEARCH INTERESTS – MECHANICAL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT

RESEARCH INTERESTS – PETROLEUM ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT

RESEARCH INTERESTS – SCHOOL OF BUSINESS – MANAGEMENT

RESEARCH INTERESTS – SCHOOL OF BUSINESS – MARKETING

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02

03 - 05

06 - 08

09 - 10

11 - 13

14 - 16

17 - 19

20 - 21

Research at ACK has undergone a fundamental transformation within the last few years.

The College redesigned its research strategy and governance framework to ensure that

research with impact becomes a core function and a strategic priority. The College has

been focusing on the following research areas: water and environment, energy, materials,

mechatronics and automation, learning philosophies and frameworks in higher education,

innovation and entrepreneurship, business management and finance, as well as marketing

and communication.

The College progressed to establish national and international partnerships to strengthen

its research capabilities and enhance knowledge exchange. These partnerships provided

the College with access to resources and networks. ACK signed agreements with its

international partner the Central Queensland University (CQU) in Australia. Currently,

faculty members from both institutions are working on joint research projects. ACK has

considerable common grounds with CQU in terms of areas for research. Currently, faculty are

conducting research projects in collaboration with scholars from international universities

in USA, Canada, and Australia. On the national level, the College broadened its research

scope through collaborations with local funding institutions such as Kuwait Foundation for

the Advancement of Science (KFAS) and industry.

ACK implemented an internal grant scheme to fund multidisciplinary research that focuses

on key national priority research areas relevant to Kuwait Vision 2035 “New Kuwait”.

Furthermore, incentive plans were designed and executed to encourage faculty to

engage in research and publication. Faculty members at ACK have always been involved

in conducting research on individual and collaborative basis and they strive to produce

graduates that can face the constantly changing and challenging demands of the industry.

ACK encourages and supports faculty members to publish and disseminate their research

work in high impact scientific journals and to present it at international conferences and

seminars.

ACK has aligned its research and teaching to suit students’ development. Senior

undergraduate students work on research with faculty members through their research

projects, thereby allowing students to experience firsthand the translation of theoretical

work into applied research. ACK has celebrated the outstanding performance of students

who have successfully worked with faculty and published scientific research papers in

scientific journals and conference papers.

RESEARCH AT THE AUSTRALIAN COLLEGE OF KUWAIT (ACK)

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VISIONOur research vision is to enhance the profile of ACK as a higher educational institution by contributing to the pursuit of original research aimed at extending the boundaries of applied knowledge.

MISSIONThe ACK’s research mission is as follows:

• To enhance the research profile of ACK locally, regionally, and internationally;

• To create a national and international impact in the field of applied research;

• To establish a research program supportive of the applied teaching model at ACK;

• To create interdisciplinary and collaborative research; and

• To sustain strong partnerships with research funding organizations such as Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Sciences (KFAS), Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research (KISR), and the industry.

ACK RESEARCH VISION AND MISSION

FACULTY RESEARCH INTERESTACK has diverse, highly qualified faculty members with extensive levels of expertise over a broad range of subject areas as follows:

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Dr. Muhannad Ismeik • Ground Improvement• System Characterization and Modeling

Dr. Mohamed Salem• Indoor and Outdoor Thermal Comfort

• Advances of Facilities Management in

the Built Environment

• Transportation and Smart cities

• Building Performance and Renewable Energy

• Whole Life Cycle Costing of PPP/PFI Projects

• Econometrics

• Real Estate Finance and Investment

Dr. Zein-Eddine Merouani• Reliability of Geo-Structures

Dr. Martin Jaeger• Engineering Education

• Project Management Related Challenges

• Construction Management

Eng. Marwa Waly• Project Management

• Water and Environmental Management

• Planning for Urban Infrastructures

Eng. Sana Al Azzeh• Construction Management

• Energy Conversion Technologies in Buildings

• Environmental Engineering

• Thermal Comfort in Buildings

GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING

CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT

RESEARCH INTERESTSCIVIL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT

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Dr. Taha Ahmed• Transportation Engineering• Pavement Engineering• Pavement Materials• Recycled Construction Materials

Dr. Ahmad Saad• Structural and Bridge Engineering

• Seismic Evaluation of Structures and Bridges

• Sustainable Ideas in Civil/Structural

engineering

• Retrofitting and Rehabilitation of

Structures Large-Scale Structural Testing

Dr. Sayed Soleimaniructural and Bridge •

• Bridge Engineering

• Specialized Concretes

• Sustainable Construction Materials

• Fiber Reinforced Polymers (FRPs) in

Concrete Structures

• Evaluation, Strengthening, Protection,

Repair and Retrofit of Structures

• Performance of Materials and Structures

under Impact and Blast Loadings

Dr. Rana Lakys• Materials Engineering

• Rehabilitation Techniques

• Construction Management

Eng. Abdulhadi Kazem• Traffic Engineering• Pavement Maintenance Investigation• Sediment Transfer• Pavement Management Systems

Dr. Mohammad Yassin• Bridge Design and Construction; Post-Earthquake Fire Performance of Structures (PEF)• Seismic Soil Structure Interaction of Bridges SSSI• Rehabilitation of Bridges with FRP• Forensic Engineering Analysis• Big Data in Structural Application


TRANSPORTATION

STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING

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STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING (CONTINUED)

Eng. Faisal Alotaibi

• Design for Upcycling and Environmentally Conscious Construction

Dr. Reza Soleimanpour

Eng. Rawaa’ Al Muzaini• Structural Engineering

• Steel Structural Design & Modelling

• Efficient Demolishing Technology and Waste Management

• Structural Dynamics


• Structural Health Monitoring and Nondestrutive Testing

• System Identification

• Vibration Based SHM and Vibration

Measurement

• Smart Structures, Composite Material,

Seismic Evaluation of the Structures

• Application of Dampers in Buildings

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Eng. Hania El Kanj

Eng. Reem Akasha

Eng. Magid Rady

Eng. Sami Asaad

Eng. Mohammad Zaki

TELECOMMUNICATIONS ENGINEERING

• Communications and Electronics

• Management Systems

• Renewable Energy

• Learning Management Systems

• Antennas for Communication

• Microwave Engineering


• Electronics

• Communications Engineering

• Microwave Patch Antennas

• Optical Antennas

• Electronics and Telecommunications: Wireless Communications and Signal Processing

• Mobile Networks

• Visible Light Communication

• Fiber Optics


• Project Management

• Telecommunication and Electronics• Wireless Communication • Data Networks • IOT • E-learning Technology • Sensor Networks

RESEARCH INTERESTSELECTRICAL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT

Professor Isam Zabalawi

Dr. Michel Nahas

Dr. Hasan Salti

Dr. Mohamad Farhat

• Cellular Communications, Design of Digital FIR and IIR Filters

• Digital Equalizers, Digital Image Processing, Spectral Estimation

• Median Filtering and its Applications

• Electronics and Telecommunications

• Wireless Communications and Signal Processing

• Mobile Networks

• Heterogeneous Networks

• Green Communications


• Electronics

• Telecommunication and Computer Engineering

• Antenna Design and Optimization

• Engineering Education

• Electronics and Telecommunication

• Microstrip Filters Design

• Fiber Optic Sensor

• Structural Health Monitoring


6

Dr. Arash Mehdizadeh

Dr. Mohammed Abdul-Niby

Eng. Mohammad Ishaque

Dr. Mohammad Sabati

Dr. Amin Al Kaabi

• Biomedical Engineering

• Computational Biology

• Process Optimization

• NEMS/MEMS Technologies

• VLSI Systems

• Characterization of Implanted Silicon

• Renewable Energies

• Signal Processing

• Electronics and Communication

• Power Electronics

• Computer Architecture

• Digital and Microprocessor Based System

Design

• Real Time Embedded System Design in FPGA using Verilog/VHDL

• Medical Imaging

• Signal and Image Processing

• Biomedical Devices

• Telecommunication Systems

• Radio Frequency Circuits

• Instrumentation

• Energy Conservation

• Computer Simulation

• Wireless Communications

• Signal Processing

• Antenna Design

BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING

COMPUTER ENGINEERING

SIGNAL PROCESSING


7

Eng. Eman Al-Salem

Dr. Majdi Al Omari

• Nonlinear Control Systems

• Stochastic Control

• Power System Analysis

• Power System Stability and Control

• Power System Planning

• Power System Protection

• Power Electronics

• Electrical Machines and Drives

• Electric Machine Design


CONTROL SYSTEMS

POWER ENGINEERING

• Smart Grid Technology

• Energy Planning and Policy

• Control Systems

• Optimal Control

• Nonlinear Dynamics

• Linear System Analysis

• Learning Management Systems


8

• Application of Statistics• Methodological Developments in Applied Statistics• Sampling Techniques, Model Selection Techniques, Modeling Checking, Recursive Estimation and Residuals, and their applications

• Combinatorial Optimization

• Mathematical Modeling of Dynamical Systems

• Robust Control Systems Design

• Robotics, Automation, and Intelligent Systems

• Human-in-the-Loop and Man-Machine Control Systems

• Game Theory and Evolutionary Dynamics

• Quantum Control

• Stability Analysis of Dynamical Systems

• Control of Infinite-Dimensional Systems

• Nonlinear Partial Differential Equations

• Approximating Solution for Dynamical Systems

Modeled by Partial Differential Equations

RESEARCH INTERESTS MATHEMATICS AND PHYSICS DEPARTMENT

Dr. Ahmed Bani-Mustafa

Dr. Mohamed Abdalla Mabrok

Dr. Rasha Al Jamal

Dr. Mamoon Al Ameen

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• Far-Infrared Spectroscopy

• NMR Spectroscopy

• Superconductivity

• Experimental Data Analysis

• Applied physics and its applications in engineering

• Teaching and Education

• Metaheuristic Optimization

• Mathematical and Theoretical Biology

• Mathematical Education

• Inter and Transdisciplinary Approaches

• Financial Modelling and Econometrics

• Neural Networks and Data Mining in Managing Financial Risk

• Engineering and Mathematics Education

• Interdisciplinary Studies

RESEARCH INTERESTS MATHEMATICS AND PHYSICS DEPARTMENT

Dr. Sadeq Damrah

Dr. Leila Borvayeh

Dr. Loris Serafino

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THERMOFLUIDIC SCIENCES

Dr. Khalil Khanafer

Dr. Hayder Salem

Dr. Wisam Al-Saadi

Dr. Hayder Abdul-Razzak

Dr. Ehab Bani-Hani

Dr. Ahmad Sedaghat

Dr. Ghinwa Sleiman

• Computational Fluid Mechanics and Heat Transfer• Transport in Porous Media


• Biomechanics

• Multiphysics Modeling of Additive Manufacturing

• Nanotechnology

• Thermofields

• Instrumentation

• Mechatronics

• Experimental Fluid Mechanics

• Computational Fluid Dynamics and Heat Transfer

• Heat Transfer Enhancement using Nanoparticles

• Renewable Energy • Energy

• Atmospheric Sciences


• Thermal Systems

• Environment


• Wind Turbine

• Aeroelasticity

• Rheology

• Nanofluids

• Fluid Dynamics and Heat Transfer

in Polymers

• Rheology

• Crystallization Kinetics of Plastics

RESEARCH INTERESTSMECHANICAL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT

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NANOTECHNOLOGY

Dr. Abeer Al-Enezi

Dr. Adel Younis

Dr. Nader Ghareeb

Dr. Majed Al-Sarheed

Dr. Raouf Mbarki

Dr. Farhad Sabri

Dr. Abbas Amini• Micro-, Nano- and Bio-Fluidics

• Engineering Design and Optimization

• Applied and Computational Solid Mechanics

• Mechatronics

• Additive Manufacturing

• Design and Control of Smart Structures

• Finite Element Analysis

• Multi-Body Simulation

• Blast Simulation


• Design

• Manufacturing

• Control System

• Entrepreneurship


• Theoretical and Computational Materials Science• Atomistic Simulations

• Flexoelectricity

• Nano Scale Piezoelectricity

• Size-Dependent Elasticity

• Physics of Nanostructures

• Nanomaterials

• Aeroelasticity

• Fluid-Structure Interaction

• Structural Dynamics

• MDO

• Nanotech Materials

• Nano Biotech

• Nano Energy

• Biomedical

ENGINEERING DESIGN AND OPTIMIZATION


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ENGINEERING DESIGN AND OPTIMIZATION (CONTINUED)

Dr. Fadi Al-Khatib

Dr. Malek Adouni

Dr. Mohamed El Badawy

Dr. Armin Eilaghi

Dr. Zainab Al Hajaj Dr. Afif Gouissem

• Design and Optimization

• FEA

• Biomechanics

• Vibrations

• Biomechanics

• Solid Mechanics

• Optimization, Vibrations

• Advanced Bio-Modeling

• Mechanobiology

• Multiscale Modeling

• Inverse and Forward Dynamics

• Advanced Finite Element Applications

• Biomaterials

• Dynamical Systems and Control Systems

• Solid Mechanics

• FE Modeling

• Biomechanics

• Medical Imaging and Image Analysis

• Advanced Materials

• Composite Material

• Natural Fibers

• Mechanical Testing

• Damage Mechanics

• Heat Transfer

• Molecular Dynamics and DFT Calculations

• Accelerated Molecular Dynamics

• Multi-Scale Material Modeling

• Mechanical Properties of Materials

BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING

MATERIAL SCIENCE


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Dr. Mohamed Omar

Dr. Biltayib Misbah Biltayib

Eng. Kingsley Amadi

Dr. Masoud Rashidi

Eng. Sharoh Galeon Marquez

Dr. Suad Al Radhwan• CFD Modeling

• Production Optimization

• Artificial Lift Techniques

• Enhanced Oil Recovery

• Production Optimization

• Drilling Engineering and Wellbore Stability Related Drilling Problems and Drilling Fluid System

• Reservoir Engineering• Drilling Engineering• Petrophysics

• Liquid Loading in Gas Wells

• Well Completion Design and Optimization

• Smart Fields

• Enhanced Oil Recovery

• Vapor Extraction (VAPEX) Processes

• Gas Injection

• Drilling Data Management

• Refineries Including Process

• Project

• R&T


• Crude Characterization and Heavy Crude Upgrade/Processing

• Natural Gas Processing

PRODUCTION ENGINEERING

DRILLING ENGINEERING

RESEARCH INTERESTSPETROLEUM ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT

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DRILLING ENGINEERING (CONTINUED)

Dr. Mortadha T. Alsaba

Dr. Seyed Mehdi Alizadeh Eng. Sharoh Galeon Marquez

Eng. Kingsley Amadi

Eng. Mufazzal Kabuli• Prevention and Mitigation of Lost

Circulation Events

• Laboratory Evaluation of Wellbore Strengthening Techniques

• Drilling Fluids Design and Optimization

• Environmental Drilling Fluids

• Application of Nanoparticles for Drilling Fluids

• Reservoir Characterization and Simulation

• Digital Rock Physics

• Formation Evaluation

• EOR Processes

• Mechanical Properties of Porous Materials

• 4D-History Matching Using Time-Lapse

Seismic• Compositional Modeling and Simulation

• Real-Time Reservoir Modeling

• Bottom-Hole Assembly Modeling and

Optimization

• Drilling System Automation and Digitalization

• Eco-Solution to Drilling Fluid Design and

Optimization

• Directional Drilling, Wellbore Placement,

and Survey Management

• Drilling Fluids Technology

• Formation and Evaluation

RESERVOIR ENGINEERING AND SIMULATION

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Dr. Seyed Mehdi Seyed AlizadehEng. Fahad Abu Mallouh

Dr. Malyuba Abu Daabes

Eng. Mufazzal Kabuli

Dr. Rana Malhas

Eng. Koshy Vaidyan

• Wastewater Treatment Techniques in Oil and Gas Industry • Wastewater Treatment

• Oil Refining

• Petrochemical Technologies

• Adsorption and Membrane Separation

• Water and Wastewater Treatment

• Air Pollution

• Unconventional Resources (Shale Gas and Coal Bed Methane)

• Water and Wastewater Treatment Process

• Nanotechnology

• Ultrafiltration Separation

• Environmental Issues

• Seismic Data Acquisition

• Modelling and Inversion

• Instructional Practices Using Proven and Experimental Pedagogies

• Reservoir Characterization of Unconventional Petroleum Resources

• Carbon Sequestration that Evaluates CO2

Fixation Pathways to Offset Greenhouse

Gas Production

WASTEWATER TREATMENT

GEOPHYSICAL APPLICATIONS


DECISION AND RISK ANALYSIS

Dr. Seyed Mehdi Seyed Alizadeh• Economic Analysis of Fossil

• Renewable Energy Resources

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RESEARCH INTERESTSSCHOOL OF BUSINESSMANAGEMENT DEPARTMENT

MANAGEMENT

Dr. Steven Telford

Dr. Omar AlHussainan

Ms. Aleksandra Jovanovic

Ms. Sapheya Aftimos

Dr. Dieter Thom

Dr. Andri Ottesen

• Development Economics

• Welfare Economics

• Behavioral Economics and Political Economy

• Behavioral Economics

• Islamic Banking and Finance

• Econometrics

• Development Economics

• Empirical Economics

• Monetary Theory

• Finance

• Public Economics and Regulations

• Strategic Management

• Business Communication

• Human Resources Management

• Project-Based Learning

• Human Resources Management

• Organizational Performance

• Strategic and International

Perspectives of HRM

• E-Learning

• Project-Based Learning

• Organizational Behavior

• Quality Management

• Professional Development


• Human Resource Development and Leadership

• Underlying Reasons for Low Adoption of

Electric Cars in Kuwait

• Study of Vitamin D Deficiency Among College Students

• Qualitative Case Study of Stages in Development and Financing for 5

Successful Kuwait Entrepreneurial Firms

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Dr. Mohamad Atyeh

Dr. Richard Rutter

• Stock Markets

• Business Valuation

• Banking Sector

• Management and Leadership

• Equities

• Data Analytics

• Digital Marketing

• Branding

• Social Media

• Marketing Innovation and Technology

• Artificial Intelligence

• Convolutional Neural Networks

• Consumer Behavior


MANAGEMENT (CONTINUED)

Dr. Wael Dabboussi

Ms. Rupali Bhagat

• Artificial Intelligence in Business

• Innovation and Entrepreneurship


• Integrated Learning System

• STEM Education


• Social Entrepreneurship

• Business Process Management

• Skill Development and Skill Gap

• Globalization and Sustainability

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MANAGEMENT (CONTINUED)

Dr. Farid Abdallah

Prof. Rifat Kamasak

• Crisis Management with Emphasis on Middle East Region• Contingency Planning

• Public International Law


• Information and Innovation Management

• Business Ethics

• Equality

• Diversity and Inclusion

Dr. Bashayer Al Khalifah• Leadership


• Entrepreneurial Leadership


• Educational Leadership

• Gender Differences in Leadership

• Leadership and Organizational Performance

Dr. Oualid Abidi• Entrepreneurship

• Human Resource Management

• Diversity Management

• International Business

• Learning and Education Management


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Ms. Rola Mourdaa

Ms. Hamsa Sarhan

Ms. Marcelle de la Roche

Dr. Bedour Al ShakhssDr. Faidon Theofanidis

Ms. Dania El Achmar

• Macro-Economics

• Economic Diversification

• Higher Education

• Business Law

• Human Resources

• Employee Relations


• Entrepreneurship and Finance


• International Marketing in SMEs

• Retail Marketing

• College Student’s Perception of Academic

Advising Online during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Kuwait

• Information Seeking Behavior

in Organizations

• Marketing Research

• Competitive Advantage Between

Organizations in Kuwait

• Advertising Research

• Marketing Research


• Competitiveness of Greek and European SMEs

• European Social and Economic Policies

• College Student’s Perception and Needs of Academic Advising in Kuwait

• Accounting and Education Accounting

• Economics

• Emotional Intelligence and Leadership

• Practical Teaching Theories

• Learning Strategies

• Methods of Curriculum Development

• Online Learning and Teaching and Assessing

MARKETING

RESEARCH INTERESTSSCHOOL OF BUSINESSMARKETING DEPARTMENT

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Dr. Samer Hajjar

Dr. Vladimir Simovic


• Marketing Education


• Digital Entrepreneurship

• Digital Entrepreneurial Competences


• Artificial Intelligence in Business

Dr. Doha Al Mutawa

• Consumer Behavior with Specific Focus on

Gender Issues • Social Identity and Cultural Rituals

MARKETING (CONTINUED)

RESEARCH INTERESTSSCHOOL OF BUSINESSMARKETING DEPARTMENT

Dr. Sam Toglaw


• Start-ups and Business Model Innovation

• Applied Education and Project-Based Learning

• Business Sustainability

• Integrated Strategic and Digital

Marketing

Communications

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THANK YOU

faculty rese arch intere sts

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