Education:
2005 - 2010 Ph.D. Biomedical Engineering, Cleveland State University, Ohio, USA.
2002 – 2004 M.S. Chemical Engineering, Cleveland State University, Ohio, USA.
2000 – 2002 B.S. Chemical Engineering, Cleveland State University, Ohio, USA.
1993-1998 M.S. Chemistry, Lebanese University, Faculty of Science II, Beirut, Lebanon.

Academic Experience:

October 2013-present: University of Balamand
Chemical Eng Dept
Assistant Professor
January 2005-May 2010 Cleveland State University, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
Research Assistant: MIMS (Center for Modeling Integrated Metabolic System)
Mathematical Model of Metabolism and Transport in the Liver
- Developed a distributed-in-space model of carbohydrate metabolism in the human liver that employs a simplified reaction network, and used this model to investigate the role of zonation in the relative rates of glycolysis and gluconeogenesis along the sinusoid in the fasted, resting state, as well as to study the effect of high-intensity exercise on glucose production.
- Developed an in silico liver capable of accurately predicting the in vivo state of fasted rat liver. Biochemical pathways were represented by key kinetic reactions that include allosteric and substrates effectors, and phosphorylation /dephosphorylation enzyme regulation. The prototype also incorporates the compartmentation and inter-compartmental transports between the cytosol and the mitochondria, a detailed model for ketogenesis, and transport of metabolites between blood compartment and the tissue. - Performed parameter estimations in order to obtain a set of physiological parameters capable of simulating the liver under various nutrients.
- Generated parameter sensitivity analysis in order to check the importance and contribution of each parameter on the model output.
- Collected available data in the published literature from in vivo studies that include flux measurements, metabolite concentrations in tissue and blood obtained from labeling studies and perfuse rat livers experiments in order to validate the model.
- Supervised two undergraduate research assistants

Non-Academic Experience:

January 2010-March 2013 Immunetrics Inc., Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Lead and managed a team of engineers and biologists to design and develop mathematical models of complex biological systems of adaptive immunity and related diseases. These models are used for predicting the effect of various drugs developed by pharmaceutical companies on a population level.
- Worked on planning, designing and developing a comprehensive model of rheumatoid arthritis disease in human that encompassed essential details of biological pathways, intra cellular signaling, cell-cell interactions, organ systems up to the whole organism.
- Researched biological literature in addition to biological pathways and related physiological processes.
- Analyzed and researched a wide variety of clinical trials data.
- Performed fits of mathematical models to experimental and clinical data.
- Worked and collaborated with a team of software engineers and statisticians to generate various populations from these models that represent patients in clinical trials with different characteristics.
- Performed and designed clinical trial simulations that helped in predicting the effect of various drugs that are in development or in early clinical trial phases.
- Met on regular basis with clinicians, physicians and pharmaceutical experts to discuss effective ways of modeling these complex biological systems and provide them with physiologic and predictive models for their drugs and clinical trials and helping them cut the cost and the time associated with these clinical trials.
- Performed regular presentations of our research findings.
- Planed, scheduled and organized tasks and duties for a team of biologists and engineers

Current membership in professional organizations:
American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AICHE)
Biomedical Engineering Society (BMES

Awarded a two-year Cellular and Molecular Medicine Specialization (CMMS) Fellowship, August 2006 - July 2008.
Leadership and outstanding achievement and services to the Chemical Engineering department at Cleveland State University, Ohio, USA