Ali S. Alshami

• CHE 305 Separations
• CHE 315 Engineering Statistics and Design of Experiments
• CHE 431 Chemical Engineering Laboratory IV
• CHE 397 Cooperative Education
• CHE 505 Biochemical Engineering
• CHE 511 Advanced Chemical Engineering Kinetics
• CHE 515 Design of Engineering Experiments

Membranes

Plymeric - our activities involve synthesis and development of advanced polymeric membrane material constructs for both fundamental and application-oriented research. Activities span topics including membrane transport, membrane formation and structure, fouling, process design, and integrated applications. Primary emphasis is on development and fabrication of advanced membranes for precise molecular separation under critical environmental conditions. Our research is multidisciplinary involving complementary methodical approaches from materials sciences, polymer engineering, chemical engineering, and environmental science and engineering.

Bioinspired - most living cells contain specialized “water-channels” in the cell membrane which transport water and exclude salt with very high efficiency. Our group aims to model and understand the function of the natural water channel and build a hybrid synthetic membrane which mimics the natural function.

Biocatalysis

The application of biological cells and enzymes as biocatalysts has been widely spread within the area of biotechnology and biochemical engineering.  Apart from being able to biologically regenerate from small quantities, such bio-based catalysts can be designed in such a way that it can mediate only a specific type of reaction. Nowadays, despite the emergence of new types of catalysts, biocatalysts have been one of the most reliable and acceptable substitutes compared to its synthetic counterparts.  In order to tackle the specificity and selectivity of a biocatalysts, the genes responsible for the production of a particular enzyme for bioconversion can be enhanced or perhaps over-expressed within another host.  Our research focuses on the applied aspects of using enzymes and living cells to manufacture chemicals, pharmaceuticals and food ingredients.

Biomaterials

Research deals with mathematical modeling and prediction of the dielectric properties of biological materials for purposes of electromagnetic heating applications.  Dielectric heating of biomaterials is investigated from the physical, chemical, and electrical properties perspectives.  Primary focus is on the electrical properties, especially dielectric properties, and their relations to the structure-function of the biological molecule in an electromagnetic field.  The specific objectives of the research are: 1) to investigate the nature of the EM phenomenon and the mechanisms of its application on biological materials at Industrial, Scientific, and Medical frequencies, especially the MW and RF of the spectrum; 2) to investigate the relations between system thermodynamic and chemical properties and their material dielectric behavior; 3) to establish a physical-chemical basis of dielectric behavior in biological systems as a mean of predicting dielectric properties at various frequencies of interest in dielectric heating processes.

2007   Ph.D. Chemical Engineering Science, Washington State University, Pullman, WA  

2001   M.S. Biochemical Engineering Science, Washington State University, Pullman, WA                 

1996   B.S. Chemical Engineering, Washington State University, Pullman, WA                                  

2019-present  University of North Dakota, Associate Professor                                                           

2014-2019     University of North Dakota, Assistant Professor                                                             

2010-2014    King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, Assistant Professor                             

1996-2010     Pace Intl/Valent Biosciences, Engineering and Services Manager                                    

2000-2003     Eaton/Cutler-Hammer Corp, Technology Development Engineer