Current and Past Appointments
Research & Engagement Experience
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Leading the co-development of bottom-up, stakeholder driven, interdisciplinary research in thematic areas related to sustainable development, water-energy-food-migration nexus, food system transformation, and equitable energy transition
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Leading and contributing to the development of large interdisciplinary proposals with cross-functional national and international experts and external stakeholders, while currently serving on 5 active federally funded projects (NSF and NIH) with thematic areas ranging from improving coastal communities’ resilience, soil and climate change, sustainable food systems, and operating securely through 5G networks
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Managing and building partnerships across government, civil society, private sector, and academia, while leading and contributing to the development of large interdisciplinary proposals with cross-functional national and international experts and external stakeholders
Adjunct Assistant Professor
Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering
Texas A&M University
College Station, TX, USA
May 2020 - Present
Collaborating on interdisciplinary research projects and proposals related to circular food systems and zero waste circular economies
Co-instructing graduate course: “Water-Energy-Food Nexus: Toward Sustainable Resource Allocation”
Advising a capstone project team to develop an ESG strategy for a toll manufacturer of specialty chemicals and lubricant additives in Houston, TX
Research Fellow
Institute for Science Technology & Public Policy
Bush School of Government & Public Service
Texas A&M University
College Station, TX, USA
Sep 2019 - Present
Conducting research related to the social and public policy dimensions of water-energy-food-health nexus challenges, transitioning to resilient agricultural systems, transforming energy systems, and designing climate-resilient coupled human-coastal infrastructure
Research Associate
Water-Energy-Food Nexus Research Group
Department of Biological & Agricultural Engineering
Texas A&M University
College Station, TX, USA
Aug 2014 - Jan 2020
Conducted research focused on addressing the biophysical, socio-economic, governance, and public policy dimensions of interconnected water, energy, and food system challenges across different global resource hotspots; resulting in 26 peer-reviewed contributions and in receiving the 2019 departmental Research Excellence Award
Led multidisciplinary teams; conducted knowledge-sharing and inclusive engagement workshops bringing together governmental, private, and civil society stakeholders to discuss resource allocation challenges, cross-institutional cooperation, and legislative harmonization
Project Coordinator
Water-Energy-Food Nexus Initiative
Texas A&M University
College Station, TX, USA
Aug 2016 - Dec 2018
- Led an interdisciplinary group of 15 researchers with focus areas including water-energy-food systems modeling, trade-off analysis tool development, and resource governance
- Co-organized stakeholder engagement workshops bringing together public, private, and civil society stakeholders to discuss resource allocation challenges in San Antonio, Texas
- Coordinated the development of two Special Issues in Current & Sustainable Energy Reports and Science of the Total Environment
Research Associate
Qatar Environment and Energy Research Institute (QEERI)
Qatar Foundation Research & Development
Doha, Qatar
Jun 2012 - Jul 2014
Developed a decision support tool (Water-Energy-Food Nexus Tool 2.0) to aid Qatari government officials in evaluating the sustainability of different national food security scenarios; tool was highlighted in FAO’s Report “Walking the Nexus Talk” and cited >300 times in academic and non-academic literature
Analyzed complex data from national databases and communicated the trade-offs associated with different scenarios through liaising with key actors and national stakeholders
Research Assistant
Department of Agricultural & Biological Engineering
Purdue University
Indiana, USA
Aug 2010 - May 2012
Conducted research on multiple projects related to environmental sustainability, natural resource management, and decision-support tools development
Undergraduate Researcher
Center for Civic Engagement and Community Service
American University of Beirut
Beirut, Lebanon
Oct 2009 - Jun 2010
Project title: Civil and infrastructural upgrade of an informal setting in Sabra area, Beirut
Research and Engagement projects
2020-2024 | 11 funded projects | $7,918,711
Ongoing funded projects
1. Co-PI, Global Center on Climate Change and Water Energy Food Health Systems, National Institutes for Health, $1,173,517 (2023-2026) – Project Number: 1P20TW012709-01
2. Senior Personnel, AccelNet-Design: Soil and Land Management for Food & Water Security, Adaption and Mitigation to Climate Change, National Science Foundation, $249,968 (2022-2024) – Award Number:2201335 | Project webpage
3. Senior Personnel, AccelNet-Implementation: US-Africa Sustainable Food Systems through Water-Energy- Food Nexus Networking (SustainFood), National Science Foundation, $2,000,000 (2022-2027) – Award Number:2201446 | Project webpage
4. Senior Personnel, NSF Engines: Type I: The Permian Energy Technology and Resilience Alliance (PETRA): Expanding Resilience of Energy Communities through Technology and Social Research, National Science Foundation, $1,000,000 (2023-2024) – Award Number: 2303637
5. Co-PI, Development of the Framework for the Governance of the Water Energy Nexus in Jordan, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) – (2022-2023)
Past projects
6. Senior Personnel, NSF Convergence Accelerator Track G: PETS: Programmable Zero-Trust Security for Operating Through 5G Infrastructure, NSF Convergence Accelerator, National Science Foundation, $750,000 (2022-2023) – Award Number:2226339
7. Collaborator, INFEWS/T3: Decision Support for Water Stressed FEW Nexus Decisions (DS-WSND), National Science Foundation, $2,431,217 (2017-2023) – Award Number:1739977 | Project webpage
8. Senior Personnel, SRS-RN: Integrated Food, Energy, Water Units for Disaster Resilient Sustainable Regional Systems, National Science Foundation, $149,529 (2021-2022) – Award Number:2115442 | Project webpage
9. Co-PI, A projection Tool based on the Water, Energy, Food Nexus and Migration interdependencies – towards a Migration Index. Texas A&M Energy Institute Seed Grants Program. $15,000 (2020-2021).
10. Co-PI, Pilot Study on Evapotranspiration and Trade-offs in the Water-Energy Food Nexus in Bekaa Valley in Lebanon. UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). $99,480 (2019-2020).
11. Co-PI, FORWARD: Toward Resilient and Food Secure Communities in the Face of Global Threats. Texas A&M Global Engagement Grants. $50,000 (2020-2022).
Other projects
Teaching Experience
Visiting Lecturer | Texas A&M Energy Institute, College Station, TX, USA | April 2023
Course: ICPE 631: Sustainability Considerations In Energy, offered to Master of Science in Energy students
Co-Instructor | Texas A&M Energy Institute, College Station, TX, USA | Feb – April 2023
Course: ICPE 610 The Global Energy Future, offered to Master of Science in Energy students
Co-Instructor | Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA | Jan – May 2022
Course: CVEN/BAEN 642 Water-Energy-Food Nexus: Toward Sustainable Resource Allocation offered to Civil Engineering and Biological and Agricultural Engineering
Teaching Assistant | Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA | Jan 2017 – May 2020
Assisted with the design and delivery of the course “Water-Energy-Food Nexus: Toward Sustainable Resource Allocation”. The course is cross-listed in multiple engineering and interdisciplinary programs at Texas A&M University
Teaching Assistant | Global Engineering Program, Purdue University, IN, USA | Aug 2010 – Jun 2011
Led a Global Design Team of graduate and undergraduate students from multiple disciplines, who proposed and delivered designs for a water harvesting system to a low-income urban community in Beirut, Lebanon
Teaching Assistant | Global Policy Research Institute, Purdue University, IN, USA | Jan – May 2011
Mentored a group of 20 students in the course “Global Policy Issues” which focused on understanding global challenges including water, food, cyber, and energy securities
Students advised
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Sai Kapalayam (Ongoing). Toward evidence-based decision making for improved sustainability and resilience of urban communities: Localizing UN SDGs in San Antonio, Texas. Ph.D. in Interdisciplinary Engineering. Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA
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Rasha Hassan (Ongoing). Bridging science and policy: Toward advancing water and food security under climate change stresses in the Eastern Mediterranean. Ph.D. in Geography, Land Planning, and Environmental Management. The University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
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Kyle Wilson (Ongoing). Using WEF Nexus methodology to analyze hypertension in Jordan. Master of Energy. Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA
- Thomas Machetti (2023). Investigating the Feasibility of Engaging the Catholic Community of San Antonio, TX in Sustainable Interventions. Master of Biological and Agricultural Engineering. Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA
- Mohammad Nahidul Karim (2020). Evaluating the potential of adopting a water-energy-food nexus approach toward sustainable development: A case study from Bangladesh. Master of Energy. Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA
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Bakhtibeki Otambekzoda (2019). Investigating the relation between climate change and conflict in Gorno Badakhshan Autonomous Oblast, Tajikistan. Master of Arts in Politics and Security Programme. Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Academy, Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan
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Mirsaid Uzakov (2019). Evaluating the role of governance on drinking water and sanitation management: The case of Fergana Valley in Uzbekistan. Master of Arts in Politics and Security Programme. Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Academy, Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan