Dr. Muthanna H. Al-Dahhan, a professor of energy, environmental and chemical engineering at Washington University in St. Louis, will become chair of chemical and biological engineering at Missouri University of Science and Technology effective Jan. 1.

Al-Dahhan (pictured at left) will succeed Dr. Judy Raper as chair.

A member of the Washington University faculty since 1994, Al-Dahhan also serves as co-director of Washington University’s Chemical Reaction Engineering Laboratory. His research activities include work with alternative energy, including biofuels.

“Dr. Al-Dahhan’s background in energy and environmental research is a perfect fit with Missouri S&T’s emphasis on renewable energy and environmental sustainability,” says Dr. Warren K. Wray, Missouri S&T provost. “He has demonstrated leadership skills and will be a great addition to our university. We look forward to his joining us.”

Al-Dahhan holds three degrees in chemical engineering. He received his doctoral degree from Washington University in 1993, his master of science degree from Oregon State University in 1988 and his bachelor of science degree from the University of Baghdad in 1979.

Following graduation with a bachelor’s degree, Al-Dahhan held various engineering positions with companies and research laboratories in Baghdad, Italy, and the former republic of Yugoslavia.

After short industrial experience (1993-1994), he first joined Washington University in 1994 as an adjunct assistant professor of chemical engineering and became associate director of the Chemical Reaction Engineering Laboratory (CREL) that same year. In 1999, he became an assistant professor and director of Washington University’s Clean Alternative Energy Using Slurry Bubble Column Reactors Consortium, a multi-university initiative to convert “syngas” (a mixture of hydrogen and carbon monoxide obtained from partial oxidation of methane gas, biogas, coal, and biomass) to liquid fuels and chemicals.

Al-Dahhan is also active with the International Atomic Energy Agency, where he chairs an advisory group for the agency’s proposed research projects.

Al-Dahhan became associate professor in 2002 and full professor in 2005. Since 2003, he has served as co-leader of the National Science Foundation Engineering Center for Environmental Beneficial Catalysis at Washington University. Also in 2003, he was named CREL co-director.

His research activities include more than 150 publications and proceedings in refereed scientific and technical journals and hundreds of conference presentations. He is also a member of the American Institute for Chemical Engineers, the American Society for Engineering Education and the American Chemical Society.